Fifth Grade with Ms. Cortese 

English Language Arts

Reading

St. James students read and analyze a variety of literary and informational texts, identifying themes, main ideas, and text structure. They quote accurately from texts, compare multiple accounts of the same event, and build stamina to read complex stories, dramas, poetry, history, science, and technical texts independently and proficiently.

Writing 

St. James students develop their skills across three types of writing: persuasive, informative/explanatory, and narrative. They learn to organize their ideas clearly, support claims with evidence, use precise language and transitions, and produce clear, polished writing through planning, drafting, and revising.

Spelling & Vocabulary

St. James students strengthen their spelling skills through weekly spelling tests, which encourages them to build accuracy, pattern recognition, and confidence with grade-level words. With an emphasis on morphology, students are empowered to decode unfamiliar vocabulary across all subjects, expanding their reading comprehension and written expression in meaningful and lasting ways.

Math

Students build a strong mathematical foundation in 5th grade by deepening their understanding of place value, decimals, and fractions. They fluently multiply multi-digit whole numbers and perform all four operations with decimals and fractions, including mixed numbers with unlike denominators. Students also write and interpret numerical expressions, identify patterns, and begin graphing ordered pairs on a coordinate plane. In measurement and geometry, they convert units, calculate volume, and classify two-dimensional figures by their properties, developing the reasoning and problem-solving skills needed for advanced math.

History

St. James students begin learning about the lives and cultures of pre-Columbus Native American peoples across the continent. From there, St. James students explore the Age of Exploration, the establishment of the 13 colonies, and the causes and key events of the American Revolution. They study the founding documents, including the Declaration of Independence, Bill of Rights,  and the U.S. Constitution.

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Geography

St. James students build a strong foundation in both domestic and world geography. They master the location, name, and identity of all 50 United States. Later in the year, students broaden their lens to explore the world, examining continents, countries, major landforms, and oceans. 

Justice, Equality, Diversity, & Inclusion (JEDI)

In fifth grade, students also consider whose stories were centered and whose were silenced, developing empathy, critical thinking, and a sense of civic responsibility. By connecting the past to the present, St. James students begin to understand how systems of power, culture, and community continue to influence the world around them, and how each of them has a role in shaping a more just future.

Science

In fifth grade, students are encouraged to experience science the way real scientists do;

investigating, questioning, and making sense of the world around them. Using the Amplify Science California curriculum, we explore the relationship between the Earth, Moon, and Sun, discovering how their positions and movements create the patterns we observe in our sky and solar system. They also investigate the Earth as a dynamic, interconnected system, examining how land, water, the atmosphere, and living things continuously shape and influence one another. Woven throughout their studies is a critical examination of climate change. We engage in discourse about how human activity is disrupting Earth's natural systems, what the consequences are for our planet's land, oceans, and living things, and how future generations like themselves can be part of the solution.

The Fifth Grade Experience

• Students take on leadership roles within the school community. As members of the Green Team, fourth graders help teach younger students about recycling, composting, and caring for our environment.

• Students have a culminating experience with one another during our end of the year Lock-In, building further upon the deep connections and friendships built over their past few years as a loving and supportive community. 

• Throughout the year, St. James students examine the social and emotional dimensions of technology, including cyberbullying, digital footprints, and the importance of empathy and respect in online spaces. By thinking critically about their role as digital community members, St. James students are empowered to make thoughtful, informed choices both online and off.

• By developing the vocabulary and critical lens to recognize systemic patterns in the world around them, students explore how communities are built, how norms and values are formed, and how social change happens over time through the collective actions of individuals and groups.

Prepared for Middle School

Study Skills & Note-Taking

5th grade students are taught effective note-taking strategies, organizing information from lectures, discussions, and texts in ways that support retention and critical thinking. St. James students also build strong study skills by learning how to manage their time, prepare for tests, and review material strategically. These foundational habits ensure that St. James students enter middle school not only with curricular knowledge, but with the tools and discipline to continue growing as independent, self-efficient learners.
 

Their Next Step

Through rigorous academics, critical thinking, and a deep commitment to justice and empathy, St. James students leave 5th grade fully prepared to meet the challenges of middle school. They enter 6th grade as confident readers, writers, mathematicians, scientists, and socially aware young people equipped with an array of skills, curiosity, and character!