5th Grade - Mrs. Hartz
• Return to Main Teacher/Staff List
Sandy Hartz is the 5th grade teacher. Mrs. Hartz has been teaching for 25 years, 12 of them at St. Brigid. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from Wright State University and a Master of Science degree in Education Technology from the University of Dayton. Mrs. Hartz is the school representative on the Local Professional Development Committee. Mrs. Hartz is married to her husband, Bob, and has two children, Jen and Bryan, and a new granddaughter, Claire. Her hobbies include quilting and scrapbooking.
In looking back over her teaching career, Mrs. Hartz said, “Having taught preschool through junior high, I am always amazed at the amount of learning that comes to me from my students.”
______________________________________________________________
Information for Parents and Students
Fifth Grade Curriculum:
This is a brief synopsis of what your student will learn during fifth grade. The curriculum follows the Graded Course of Study developed by the Archdiocese of Cincinnati and adheres to the State of Ohio Standards. (This information is also found in the "Information for Parents and Students" link above.)
Religion - Fifth grade Religion centers upon the Sacraments. The seven sacraments are studied in relation to the Church and the life of Jesus. Please join us for Mass at 8:15 a.m. on Wednesdays and 10:00 a.m. on Holy Days of Obligation. Sunday liturgy is an important part of our total faith development. Additionally, students will participate in numerous activities throughout the liturgical year. These activities include Communities and Outreach Programs. We will work on developing a positive Christ-like atmosphere in which to help one another become better Disciples of Christ.
Math - Fifth grade Math curriculum continues to use the spiral approach to learning. Students build on skills learned at an earlier time. Some areas we study are: problem solving strategies, place value, estimation, measurement, basic computation, word problems, fractions, decimals, geometry, probability and ratios. Additionally, the students use the Simple Solutions workbook which consistently reviews basic math skills. Fifth graders develop confidence in learning to communicate mathematically and in becoming problem solvers.
Social Studies - Social Studies is divided into two focal areas: Geography and Ancient History. Geography is studied during the first two quarters with an emphasis on the five themes of Geography. Although these two quarters concentrate solely upon geography, map skills and other geographical related activities will continue throughout the entire school year. During the third and fourth quarters, students will study Ancient History beginning with the Paleolithic Era and continuing through the Fall of the Roman Empire.
Science - The fifth grade Science curriculum focuses upon the following subjects: Space and Astronomy, Human Body and Nutrition, Force and Energy, Electricity, Sound, and Basic Chemistry. Hands-on experiments and labs will be conducted where students will complete basic level scientific methods. Additionally, D.A.R.E. occurs during the third and fourth quarters courtesy of the Xenia City Police Department.
Language Arts and Reading - The Language Arts curriculum includes reading, writing, vocabulary, spelling, and grammar. Reading includes fiction and non-fiction genres. Students are involved with individual, partner, and small group readings. A tentative reading list for classroom novels is listed. For non-fiction, The Dayton Daily News is delivered on a weekly basis. Throughout the year, Scholastic News magazine is a supplement. The Accelerated Reader program is also used in fifth grade, with each student selecting an Accelerated Reader book according to his/her goal and targeted reading area. These goals and reading levels will be reassessed each quarter according to test results and current reading levels. The goal of Accelerated Reader is to strengthen comprehension skills, not to read the thickest book, or get the highest number of points, only to result in poor assessments. Students are expected to have a novel of choice at all times and will have the opportunity to complete various projects with self-selected, but teacher-approved novels. Writing encompasses multiple styles including expository, narrative, descriptive, persuasive, and poetry. Student writing is incorporated in every subject but will have a main focus of idea gathering and organization, revision, and editing. Vocabulary is mainly from the classroom novels, with spelling from the textbook and frequently misspelled words. Grammar will include parts of speech, sentence structure, and language study with a strong incorporation into the writing curriculum. The areas of speaking and listening are addressed in Language Arts, with an opportunity for students to progress through presentations within all curricular areas.
Novel List-Fifth Grade - Pedro’s Journal George Washington’s Socks Charlie and the Chocolate Factory From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler Dear Mr. Henshaw The Mouse and the Motorcycle The Watson’s Go to Birmingham Freedom Crossing Call it Courage The Trumpet of the Swan
Art - Elements of Art are taught once a week through many projects. The Attention to the Arts Program also includes Picture Lady sessions, the Dayton Philharmonic, and the Dayton Art Institute.
Computers - Students will have access to computers in the classroom and in the computer lab. Weekly library time allows for computer lab access. Please be sure to sign the Acceptable Use Policy; all students and parent volunteers are required to sign this form prior to computer use.