Welcome Back Eagle Parents and Scholars,

 

 

 SO GLAD YOU'RE HERE !!!

 

Are You keeping your Eyes on the Prize ???

 

As you may know  my name is J. Gilmore, I am elated to annouce that I will be the English Language Arts teacher for grades 5th and 6th for the 2025-2026 school year. I am so excited to join you in this journey of learning and growing... ELA is my absolute favorite subject and we have will have a great time in Teaching and Learning this year.

 

 Project- Based Learning

In our classroom, we use Project-Based Learning (PBL) to help students think deeply, make meaningful connections, and apply their skills to real-world tasks. Each project is designed to strengthen reading comprehension, writing, creativity, and critical thinking. Due to the fact that these projects build on one another, it is important that students complete each assignment fully and on time so they can grow with the class. Please ensure students are completing their own reading and writing for the projects.Students are also expected to choose new books for each project rather than repeating titles they have already used. Parent's assisstence is always great! However, I want to ensure my students are learning and strengthining their standards and skills independently in an affort to master the skill area independently on LEAP

  This ensures they are continually expanding their reading experiences, exploring fresh ideas, and challenging themselves as learners. Together, these expectations will help students take ownership of their work and get the greatest benefit from Project-Based Learning.

 

Week at  a Glance...

 

 

 5th Grade ELA

Wit and Wisdom Module 3, The War Between Us, students explore how the Civil War affected individuals, families, and communities in the United States. Through historical fiction, poetry, and informational texts, students examine multiple perspectives from the era, including soldiers, children, enslaved people, and families divided by the war.

 

Throughout this module, students build key literacy skills by:

• Closely reading complex texts and citing strong evidence

• Analyzing themes such as conflict, courage, loyalty, and division

• Comparing how different authors present the same historical events

• Writing clear, well-organized responses that explain ideas using text evidence

• Strengthening vocabulary and background knowledge about the Civil War

By the end of the module, students will better understand how historical events shape people’s lives while continuing to grow as critical readers, writers, and thinkers.

 

6th Grade ELA 

 

Wit and Wisdom Module 3, Narrating the Unknown, students explore how authors use storytelling to describe unfamiliar, mysterious, or unexplained experiences. Through a mix of literary and informational texts, students examine how point of view, description, and structure help readers understand the unknown.

 

 

Throughout the module, students develop key skills by:

 

• Closely reading complex texts and citing strong textual evidence

• Analyzing how authors develop theme, perspective, and mood

• Comparing how different texts present similar ideas or events

• Building academic vocabulary and background knowledge

• Writing organized narratives and explanatory responses based on evidence

 

By the end of the module, students will better understand how authors help readers make sense of the unknown while continuing to strengthen critical reading, writing, and thinking skills.

 

 

 

Upcoming Tests and Projects

1/15/26 5th Grade HBCU Flag Project (In class)

1/15/26 6th Grade Shoebox Project (In Class)

1/21/26 5th grade Poem submission Due

1/21/26 Winning Wednesday Writing Task

2/5/26  Cereal Box Projects Due 

 

School and Class Events:

1/15/26 - Early Dismissal

1/16/26- No school for students

1/19/26- MLK Holiday (No School)

 

 

Class Materials 

Marble Composition Notebook (Response Journal)

Workbook

Red ELA Folder

Planner

Highlighters

Pencils (NO PENS)

 

Accountability and Responsibility

As 5th and 6th grade students, this is an important time for children to develop accountability and responsibility, especially as they prepare for the expectations of middle school. In our class, all projects and assignments are explained thoroughly, and it is the student’s responsibility to communicate this information to their parents or guardians. I will not be contacting parents individually to restate project instructions that have already been taught in class. It is essential that we work together to hold students accountable, help them take ownership of their learning, and encourage them to become more responsible and independent. Building these habits now will support their long-term academic success.

 

 

Teacher Contact Chain of Command:

I have sent home numorous documents in reference to the district's chain of command policy.. No parent should be contacting any other teachers, parents or adminstrators about minor questions and concerns about ELA or any other5th or 6th grade course.

The chain of Command follows:

1. Contact Classroom teacher (Teacher has 48 busisness hours to respond)
2. If your matter was not handled you contact the school assistant principal Mindy Lester
3. If you are not satisfied with the outcome or fear saftey for your child you then contact the principal Mrs. Hughes
4. If you still feel your matter has not been addressed then you may contact the schoolboard. 

There has been a number of parents totally disreguarding the  district's chain of command and policy for minor questions and concerns... As a reminder no one outside of your child's classroom can give you a better insight or answer to questions and concerns than the teachers who are servicing your child.

 

 

Attendance: 

Attendance is NOT a grade students are expected to complete all task assigned to them!

 

Grades:

 Grades will be submitted Weekly to ensure students are keeping up with their grades and making up missed or assignments with low percentages !!!

Students take home yellow folders every Wednesday and they are expected to return them on Thurday mornings. Please return folders with any questions you may have Thursday.. Also, please stay up to date with grades online if you have access to the portal, please review grades with your scholar. It is imperative students turn in any every assignment assigned to them. If you need any assistance with these matters please contact me via email at [email protected] 

 

 

 

Yellow Cam Communication Folders 

Check yellow Cam folders for communication,Test papers and CAM Point sheets. Please return them signed by Thurday morning. Students will lose a Cam point every day  the folder has not been returned.

 

 

 The 3rd nine weeks of school for students is here!!!

This is a fresh start for students!!!

Please understand your child recieves points daily for class participation, completing  homework assignments, being prepared, respecting school and classroom rules, and turning in assignments on time..

 

 

John L. Ory is a project based school all students in both 5th and 6th grade are required to complete projects assigned following instructions and rubric given... At no point will a student be excused from a completing.