Full Year 5th Grade Math - 18 Weeks - Project Based and Inquiry Driven

5th-grade math is a pivotal year. It lays the foundation for middle and high school success. Before 6th grade, students need to strengthen their ability to manipulate complex mathematical concepts, develop problem-solving skills, and build confidence—all in an engaging, interactive environment.

This 18-week full-curriculum course aligns with 5th-grade Common Core and NGSS standards, providing a comprehensive and inquiry-based math experience. Through interactive lessons and real-world applications, students will deepen their understanding and apply math in meaningful ways. While the course is only 18 weeks, I believe it offers ample time for most learners to grasp the core standards of 5th grade. Rather than accelerating to 6th grade standards after this course, I recommend considering depth and complexity work to deepen student critical thinking and math application skills. 

📚 What Will Be Taught?
Students will explore key 5th-grade math concepts, including:
✔ Operations with fractions and decimals
✔ Mastering multi-digit multiplication and division
✔ Understanding volume, area, and measurement
✔ Graphing and interpreting data
✔ Real-world problem-solving with mathematical models

🔢 How Will We Learn?
This course is designed to be engaging and student-centered, featuring:
🔹 72 live lessons that build conceptual understanding and procedural fluency
🔹 Project-Based Learning (PBL) tasks at the end of each unit, applying math to real-life scenarios
🔹 Daily practice problem sets to reinforce skills and build mastery
🔹 Mid-unit and end-of-unit assessments to track progress on each skill

🗓️ Class Structure
🔸 18-week program, meeting 4 times per week for 60 minutes
🔸 Live, interactive instruction with guided practice and discussions
🔸 Small-group problem-solving and real-world applications
🔸 Supportive learning environment that encourages critical thinking

📖 Daily Class Format
Each class follows a structured and engaging routine to build deep mathematical understanding:

1️⃣ Application Problem – We start with a challenging real-world problem that encourages students to apply math skills in new and creative ways.
2️⃣ Mini-Lesson – The day's concept is introduced through clear, structured instruction, helping students understand what skill they are mastering and track their own progress.
3️⃣ Small Group Practice – Students work collaboratively to solve problems, reinforcing their understanding and building confidence in the new skill.
4️⃣ Exit Task & Independent Practice – Students complete a 4-point exit task, providing both them and the teacher with immediate feedback on comprehension. If additional support is needed, Ms. Crocker assigns personalized supplemental activities to ensure mastery.

📚 Homework Expectations
To reinforce learning, students will:
✔ Complete a fluency round on XtraMath each night.
✔ Work through a practice worksheet that reinforces the day’s concept.
✔ Receive targeted support if they need extra help with the lesson.
✔ Complete an end-of-unit project, applying all learned concepts to a real-world scenario (this will require some out-of-class time).

This structured approach ensures consistent practice, confidence-building, and long-term retention of key math skills! ✨