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5th Grade Syllabus (Mrs. Genera’s class)
Contact Information:
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Mrs. Tammy Genera
Phone: (916) 714-0106, Fax: (916) 714-0828
Email: tgenera@egusd.net
Class Website: http://blogs.egusd.net/MrsGenera
School Website: http://www.egusd.net/carroll
Background Information About Mrs. Genera
I grew up and attended elementary through high school in Elk Grove Unified. I have a Bachelor’s
Degree (UCSC) and Credential and Master’s Degree (UCD). I’ve taught in both San Jose and Elk
Grove. I have been teaching since Fall 2004 and have teaching experiences in 3rd through 6th grade.
I am married. My husband’s name is Ricardo. I have a stepdaughter, named Trinity, who is 10
years old, and a daughter, Alexis, who is 5 years old, and in Kindergarten at Carroll.
My role models are my parents and my fifth grade teacher, Ms. Fonseca, with whom I am still in
touch.
I love teaching! My favorite subjects are Math and Science!!! And I love mochas! 
Expectations (inside and outside of the classroom)
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Be Safe.
Be Responsible.
Be Respectful.
Be Hardworking.
In fifth grade, students are learning to be more independent and responsible individuals. They only
have 2 more years of elementary school so it is essential for them to gain control of themselves
within these two years before entering middle school, where expectations are even higher.
I will be helping and providing opportunities for them to gain these skills- through homework and
class assignments. Please help me by keeping your students accountable.
Here are some of my expectations of students:
 Complete all assigned work in a timely manner
 Ask questions when necessary or if concepts are unclear
 Treat each other with respect and care
Expectations of families:
 Help your child learn these skills that are essential to his/her future
 Communicate with me regarding issues or concerns
 Give me feedback on what works well and what does not work well
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We will be using Money System for both Positive and Negative Behavior.
CLASS MONEY SYSTEM
Ways to Earn Money
5-50
Outstanding behavior
30/week
Weekly Jobs
10-50
Compliments from another staff member, Principal, VP, District Personnel
Ways to Use Money
10
Violation of Expectations (safe, responsible, respectful, hardworking)
10
Use restroom (you get one free one each week)
10
Incomplete homework
10
Missing Communication Folder
10
Replace a pencil
10
Replace a worksheet (per page)
30
Sit with a friend for a day (each person has to pays)
200
Drawing Day (30 mins)
200
PE Game (30 mins extra, student choice)
200
Dessert Day (30 mins- once per trimester)
300
Video at Lunch Recess
300
Pajama Day, Flip Flops and/or Slippers Day (in class)
300
Bring your stuffed animal to school Day
500
No Homework Day (once per trimester)
5/day
Take over someone’s job for the day (person with job pays other person)
Each student starts with 100 dollars at the beginning of the year.
If a student runs out of CLASS MONEY, he/she will need to take a
note home to get a parent signature. When returned, I will give the
student 50 dollars to replenish the money bank.
Excessive behavior violations or missing work will be addressed on
an individual basis (phone call or note sent home, conference)
Consequences for Violating Expectations
1st and 2nd Strike
1) $10/ name on Behavior list –Up to 2 times of losing $10
3rd Strike
1) No Recess or Lose Privilege (such as PE Game or Class Game)
4th Strike
1) Note home/ signature required the following day
2) If it is not back the next day with parent signature- student loses recess
3) If not back the following day after that, teacher/student will contact family to notify
5th Strike
1) Lose Backer Park (Mag Month) or another Fieldtrip
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Any further problems will result in a Citation or Conference to figure out an alternative
behavior plan.
State Standards Implementation and Curriculum
The State Standards was adopted by our district a few years ago to align with most other states in
the U.S. It is highly rigorous and requires lots of practice in looking for concrete examples in
multiple sources. In our class, are shifting to a much more rigorous approach and will be learning
to take lots of notes to practice extracting important and key concepts/ideas and supporting details.
For more information, please look over the links below for further details.
 For details, the direct website to the State Standards: http://corestandards.org/thestandards
 EGUSD CCSS Blog- our school district’s interpretation and implantation of the new
standards: http://blogs.egusd.net/ccss/
I will be using the reading textbook (OPEN COURT), social studies textbook (HARCOURT
REFLECTIONS), and various other sources (novels, magazine articles, essays, poetry, music, videos,
movies) to teach thematic units. In these thematic units, students will learn how to read and extract
information that are essential to the key ideas, they will be taking notes (Cornell method), analyze
similarities and differences, and make conclusions based on the information and evidence that is
found. They will practice testing the validity of information in history. Themes: Heritage, Early
American History (Native Americans), European Exploration, Colonization, and Building the United
States
We will be using GO Math! Your child will be learning multiple ways to do math problems to give
your child a deeper understanding of how math works and to come up with their own testable
methods in solving problems. PLEASE DO NOT TEACH THEM A SHORTCUT ALGORITHM (as the
last generation of schooling- it ruins the experience for the student.) Decomposition and the
Distributive Property are big concepts to learn and know.
In science, we are using the science textbook (CALIFORNIA SCIENCE) and SPLASH Vernal Pool
Lessons. We will focus three major areas of science: physical science (atoms, molecules, chemical
reactions), earth science (weather, air pressure), and life science (food web, human body systems,
family life in May). We will be taking notes and pulling important facts. Students will be conducting
lab experiments using the scientific process.
Additional Curriculum
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Vocabulary and Spelling Wordly Wise and Greek & Latin Roots
Step Up to Writing program for paragraph, essay writing, note-taking
Physical Education
o Taught twice a week by Mr. Sean Quidgeon for 40 minutes each session
o I will be adding one additional PE session for fitness components or class game
depending on need
o Fitness tests in the April and May
Computers
o Weekly with Resource Teacher, Mrs. Terri Washington, in the computer lab
o Chromebooks in the classroom
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Schedule
Typical Daily Schedule
8:00
8:40
9:50
10:05
10:30
11:45
12:25
12:35
1:15
2:30
Morning Routine (Wordly Wise, Daily Math)
Math
Recess
Snack and Continue Math
Reading/Social Studies-Thematic Study- ELA
Lunch
Homework Log
Continue Reading/Social Studies
Science
Dismissal
Wednesday: Late start days. School starts at 8:50. Dismissal is still at 2:30.
Weekly Routines: Days and times for these may also change depending on scheduling each month.
Computer Lab
 Library
 PE: 2 to 3 times a week
Fieldtrips
We have several field trips planned for this year for enrichment purposes. Some are:
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Magnificent Month at Backer Park (Monthly, as reward system for completed work and
good behavior) - Free
SPLASH- Science Vernal Pools (Winter/Spring) - About $10-$15
Franklin High Play Production (Spring) - About $5
End-of-Year Celebration - About $15-$20
Homework
Students will be expected to write their assignments on the Homework Log each day.
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Assigned Monday through Thursday
Takes about 1 ½ hours, usually 3 assignments daily from list below:
o Reading: 20 minutes (first trimester) to 30 minutes (second and third trimester) or
other assignments
o Math: goes with current lesson
o Spelling: from Wordly Wise list, Test on alternating Fridays
o Science: goes with current lesson or writing activity
o Social Studies: goes with current lesson or writing activity
o Writing: drafting assignments within the writing process
Occasionally, students will be given long-term projects in addition to the 90 minutes of daily
homework.
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Please let me know if your child is spending more than 90 minutes on a regular basis so that we
could adjust the amount of homework.
Absences and Late work Policy:
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All assignments are turned in the following day. However, if your child doesn’t have it at
that time, he/she will be penalized class money unless a note from a parent/guardian is
provided. The assignment is then due by Tuesday of the following week. Exceptions need
to be arranged beforehand if needed.
Anything not turned in by Tuesday without prior arrangements becomes a
permanent “zero” for the grade book and student can no longer make-up the
assignment.
Communication with Parents
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Weekly Communication Folders will be sent home of Fridays and need to be returned
by Tuesday.
They will include any flyers, handouts, progress reports or missing work reports, and
completed work. Please sign documents that need signatures (progress reports)
Phone calls, Hand-written notes, E-mails
Conferences can be made if concerns arise by teacher or parent. Please call or e-mail to set
one up.
Class Website will be used for general information updates. Please do not rely solely on the
website for timely communication. A lot of it is student-managed.
Grading
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A-90 to 100%,
B-80 to 89%,
C-70 to 79%,
D-60 to 69%,
F-59% and below
Composite Grading System- all scores/grades in each subject add up. The percentage is
then calculated as a percentage/total score for a grade.
Assessments
Routine Assessments
Monday
Greek & Latin Roots
Test (Vocabulary) or
Wordly Wise Test
(Vocabulary)
Every other week
Tuesday
Wednesday
States and
Capitals Test
Every week
Thursday
Friday
Spelling Test
From Greek & Latin
Roots of Wordly Wise
List
Every other week
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Other Assessments
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Math: Chapter Concepts, Mid-Chapter Tests, End-of-Chapter Tests
Reading and Social Studies: As needed, depending on unit.
Science: As needed depending on unit. (Quizzes and Chapter Tests)
PE: Spring Fitness Test in April/May to test Aerobic, Flexibility, Abdominal Strength
Supplies
School provides basic materials such as:
 Yellow pencils
 Paper (binder paper and white paper)
Need to Purchase:
 1 inch or 1- 1/2 inch binder
 3 spiral notebooks (College-ruled or Wide-ruled- this depends on your child’s handwriting)
 8 tab dividers
 10 or more sheet protectors
 Pencil pouch (or pencil box)
 3 JUMBO size book covers for textbooks
Donation Items Request:
 Tissue boxes *really need this*
 Disinfecting Wipes *really need this*
 Glue sticks *really need this*
 Hand sanitizer
 Sharpies
 Dry erase markers
 Scotch Tape
 Post-It notes
Donations for Computer Lab:
 Tissue boxes *really need this*
 Hand sanitizer bottles *really need this*
Ways Parents Can Help Their Child Achieve in School
1. Provide your child with a quiet time and place to do homework each day.
2. Try to be engaged in your child’s learning by asking them questions each day:
 How was your day?
 What did you do in _____ (subjects reading, math, science, etc.)?
 Did you understand what you learned today?
 Did you have fun at school today?
 And if the response is something vague or simple, ask further questions and probe
for more. I believe that if you keep asking and requiring more details, the students
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will learn to force more short-term memory information to long-term memory. It
may not work at first, but if you’re consistent, your child will feel more inclined to
try to remember something to share with you.
3. Challenge your child’s curiosity by giving them more opportunities to question the world
around them. Plant in his/her head that LEARNING IS AWESOME! Give them access to the
public library (they could get a library card for free!), internet, and take them to different
places (Sacramento area is full of places to discover).
IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO RAISE A CHILD. – African Proverb-
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