Grade Level Achievement Targets

Grade Level Achievement Targets are what students should know, understand, or be able to do at the end of the grade level. They are the basic foundation for the next grade level and contribute to the achievement of Bridgeport's Learning Goals and the Essential Academic Learning Requirements (italicized below), the standards set by the State of Washington. Students are tested on the Washington Assessment of Student Learning's (WASL) at grades 4, 7, and 10 to determine their progress on meeting these standards.

Fifth Grade Communication

1. The student uses listening and observation skills to gain understanding.

*Checks for understanding by asking questions and paraphrasing

Fifth Grade Reading

1. The student understands and uses different skills and strategies to read.

*Practices reading in phrases rather than word by word to increase fluency and comprehension
*Adjusts reading for purpose and material (example: expository text like social studies or science)
*Uses the dictionary, table of contents, index, glossary, thesaurus, etc. for information and meanings
*Continues building vocabulary through fiction and non-fiction reading

2. The student understands the meaning of what is read.

*Reads grade-level material independently by the end of 5th grade
*Makes predictions based on what was read
*Summarizes and discusses interpretations of story

3. The student reads different materials for a variety of purposes.

*Reads fiction and non-fiction to learn information
*Reads to complete a task (examples: follow written directions, use schedules, etc.)

4. The student sets goals and evaluates progress to improve reading.

*Is self-motivated to read
*Self-assesses reading strengths and weaknesses
*Reads independently for 30+ minutes

Examples:
Below is a sample of what a fifth grade student reads at the end of the fifth grade.

That spring, he did everything he could to earn five dollars. He sold rags and coal, and ran errands for the neighbors. Twice a week, he went "front o'town" to the produce markets and poked through trash barrels. "You're not going to find a horn that way," his sister Beatrice said, laughing. "Go away," Louis said. He wasn't looking for a horn - he was hunting for spoiled onions. Using a little knife, he'd cut out the rotten parts, dump the good parts in a sack, and sell them to the restaurants on Perdido Street. Five cents a bag. "Where'd you get these onions, boy?" a man asked suspiciously. "I grow'em." Louis said. "I eat ' em, too. Want to smell my breath?" The man stared at him for a moment then laughed. "Why, you're sassier'n blazes! I like that! I'll take two bags."

Fifth Grade Writing

1. The student writes clearly and effectively using traits of quality writing.

*Understands the Six-Trait Writing terminology: ideas, organization, word choice, conventions (spelling and grammar), voice (the way the story sounds), and fluency (how the story flows)
*Practices using the writing process of drafting, revising, and publishing a variety of genres
*Writes narrative (telling about something) and expository (explaining why), and descriptive (describing) papers
*Can write for a specific purpose (examples: to explain, entertain, inform, describe)
*Is able to assess own writing for strengths and weaknesses

Examples:
Below is a narrative writing sample of what a fifth grade student is writing at the end of fifth grade.

Dogs
You might not believe it, but dogs are descended from wolves. Scientists have traced a clear connection from dog back to wolf. In fact, wolves were probably the first wild animals to be tamed by humans. Goats and sheep were no doubt valued for milk and wool, but tamed wolves could guard and warn of danger. Today's dogs share many traits with their cousins in the wild, even though they could not survive for long in the wild. For example, most dogs defend their territory fiercely. They bury food to eat later. Also, like wolves, they are social animals; they prefer to live in company with others. So, if you want to learn about wolves, just look deep into the eyes of that special, wonderful mutt you call your "best friend"

Fifth Grade Mathematics

1. Content Targets

*Identifies, rounds, compares, and orders numbers to one million
*Finds equivalent and lowest fractions
*Compares and orders fractions
*Adds, subtracts, multiplies, and divides whole and mixed numbers, decimals, and fractions
*Calculates the value of currency, finds sums and differences in currency
*Calculates the perimeter, area, and volume of a variety of planes and solid figures
*Understands and writes ratios and uses proportion to determine probability
*Gathers data and displays it in bar graphs, line graphs, stem-and-leaf plots, etc.
*Identifies and uses customary units of mass, capacity, weight, length, and temperature

2. Process Targets

*Uses a variety of strategies and approaches to make predictions and solve problems
*Express mathematical thinking in writing
*Uses math tools to measure perimeter, area, and volume of a variety of planes and solid figures

Examples:
Below are sample problems that a fifth grade student is expected to do: