Here are some tips for students/parents on how you can have a terrific 5th grade year! *Read every evening - In 5th grade, you are expected to read 20 different books. Check the calendar or the reading wheel section of this website for the suggested due dates for the school year. *How do you do this? Here are some ideas: -Plan to read 20-25 pages a day at least 5 days a week. -Get up early and read 5 pages before school -Read on the bus or in the car (as long as it does not make you ill) -Keep your book on your desk and sneak in an extra page of reading whenever you can -Use the silent reading time wisely -Find a favorite spot to read at home (couch, pillow, tree house, laying on trampoline) and ask family not to disturb for 20 minutes. -Go to bed 10 min. early and read yourself to sleep *YOU WILL BE AMAZED AT HOW FAST THE PAGES FLY BY! *Practice your multiplication/division facts each evening- 5th graders are expected to readily know all multiplication and division problems, 0-12. A copy of the list of math facts (multiplication and division) can be found in the Useful Documents section of this website. *Set aside a time every evening at the same place to do your homework. Fill out your homework planner carefully every evening. Do not forget the due dates! Have a drawer or a shoe box filled with school supplies such as pencils, paper, crayons, a ruler, calculator, scissors, etc. so you do not have to search for supplies. *Write a creative story, real or imaginary. *Walk outside and find something interesting in nature to look at. Describe what you are looking at with enough detail that a stranger could picture it just by reading your description. Remember to describe using all the senses. Draw a picture to go along with it. Practice looking at the lines of the objects and sketching as accurately as you can. *Practicing reading aloud to an adult, practicing fluency and voice inflection. Or, practice reading aloud to the stuffed animals or the family pet (if they will stay put). :) *When you are at the grocery store, practice mental math by adding up different prices, estimating prices, and figuring tax. *When you are at a restaurant, practice figuring out the amount for the tip. Estimation Practice: have each family member make a guess as to how much the total bill is going to be. *Keep up on the news by checking out kid friendly websites such as "Time for Kids".