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.
Week at a Glance...
Diving right into our first Module this week we have started having in depth class discussions relating to the first Module's focal points!!
In 5th grade We have begain to explore the Culture and Lifestyle of the Nez Perce Homeland while gaining background knowledge on the expansion of America. Also, we have started identifying the main idea and key details of articles, practicing annotating and summarizing complex text; Along with expanding our academic vocabulary.
In 6th Grade we have started reading our core Text Bud, Not Buddy. Students have been analyzing & explaining character development and story elements. Also students students have participated in a Academic Vocabulary deep dive using context clues to determine the meaning of the anchor key term (Depression)
Next week in ELA 5th Grade 9/8
Wit and Wisdom Module1: Conflict In Culture
In this module students will explore how cultural collisions shape identity and society through texts like Thunder Rolling in the Mountains and Pedro's Journal.
Students will
- Explore and host class discussions on the Nez Perce Homeland and different aspects of the tribes culture and lifetstyle.
- Explain the significance of one's own observations, inferences and questions about informational text.
-Summarize using main ideas and key details & Summarize story elements
- Determine the meaning of unfamiliar words by using Context Clues
-Complete a Student Lead Group Project
Next week in ELA 6th Grade 9/8
Wit and Wisdom Module 1: Resilience in The Great Depression
In this module, students will analyze how authors develop perspective and character voice. Through text Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis and Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse.
Students will
- Observe Character Development
- Analyze Figurative Language
- Explore Connecting Evidence to Elaborations
- Complete a Student lead Group Project!
Best Practices
5th and 6th Grade have been practicing annotating and citing textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly. As well as drawing inferences using informational text. At home you can assist students by encouraging critical thinking. Prompting students to make observations or formulate questions about historic images or situations such as daily news topics. Ask students "What do you Notice and Wonder?" and engage in meaningful discussions about said topics or images.
Homework 9/8/25-9/12/25
5th Grade Fluency Tracker 1, Prepositional Phrases Handout, Main Idea Handout, Nez Perce Summary and Continue Reading assigned Text for the upcoming project due 9/30/25
6th Grade Fluency Tracker 2, Semantic Chart, and Continue Reading assigned Text for the upcoming project Due 9/30/25
Upcoming Tests and Projects:
9/5/25 6th Grade Focusing Task 1
9/5/25 Writing Workshop:FocusTask Guided Practice
9/6/25 5th & 6th Grade In Class Group Project
9/10/25 5th Grade Focusing Task
9/11/25 District Mandated CER Task 5th and 6th Grade
9/30/25 5th Grade Clothes Hanger Project Due
9/30/25 6th Grade Out of the Dust Project Due
School and Class Events:
9/5/25- Nacho Sale
9/12/25 Snoball Sale
9/12/2025 Goodies with Grands @ 2:00
9/26/25- Snack Sale
Materials
Marble Composition Notebook (Response Journal)
Workbook
Red ELA Folder
Planner
Pencils (NO PENS)
WATER BOTTLES: 5th Grade Specifically
Students ARE allowed to bring water bottles to school, preferably durable reusable water bottles or even the stainless steel bottles. Please do not send students to school with manufacture packaged plastic water bottles. We have had countless spills this year and they are causing a huge liter issue. Also, please explain to students that water is not to be constantly consumed during instructional time as several students have been causing disruptions this week with "emergencies" due to water consumption during class.
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]
Update-Yellow Cam Communication Folders are in!
The Communication folders will be sent home every Wednesday with 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.
This is the first 9 weeks of school; 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...
We are making magic here in ELA !!!
Parents, you should be so proud of the scholars!