Welcome to 5th Grade 

My name is Lisa Okada I will be the new fifth grade teacher for the 2009-2010 school year. I have lived in El Cerrito, California my entire life. I went to St. Jerome School from kindergarten to 5th grade and 8th grade. I left for two years (6th and 7th grade) to go to an arts bases private elementary school. I graduated El Cerrito High School in 2003 and continued my education at the California College of Arts and Crafts where I received my BFA in Printmaking. During my college years, I taught art at St. Cornelius School in Richmond where I became interested in teaching. I enjoyed teaching art and substituting so much that I enrolled in the education program at Saint Mary’s College. I enjoy teaching all subjects especially social studies because I find history fascinating. I am very excited to have chosen a profession where coming to work everyday is a new adventure.

Besides teaching and being involved in the art world I like anything that has to do with water. I love to swim, coach the Salesian High School swim team and go to the beach. Needless to say my favorite vacation spot is Hawaii. During the summer I work for the City of El Cerrito Recreation Department, where I am an Assistant Coordinator of Mosaic Art Camp.  I also spend a lot of time with my family, listening to music and painting.

5th Grade Curriculum
2009-2010

MATH
Number Sense
Multiplication
Division
Time, Data, Graphs
Decimals
Measurement
Fractions
Basic Geometry

HANDWRITING
Cursive letters-Modern Script
Writing with pens

RELIGION
Sacraments of God’s Gift of Life
Baptism and Confirmation
The Eucharist
Bible Study of Jesus’ Life
The Sacraments
Reconciliation and Anointing the Sick
Holy Orders and Matrimony
Celebrations of Life

 LITERATURE/READING
Reading
Basic Reading Skills and Comprehension
Literature
Whole-Class Reading books:
James and the Giant Peach
Island of the Blue Dolphins/Zia
Hatchet
The Big Wave
Sign of the Beaver
Bridge To Terabithia
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
 And/or other selected 5th grade classic literature
Independent Book Reports

SSR sustained silent reading for 20 minutes after lunch everyday (all year.)

ENGLISH Grammar: Identifying and understanding elements of oral and written language.
Sentences              Adverbs
Nouns                         Pronouns
Verbs                         Prepositions
Adjectives             Conjunctions

LANGUAGE ARTS
WRITING:
Writing Personal Narrative
Writing Instructions
Writing Letters
Writing Descriptions
Writing Persuasive Paragraphs
Writing Stories
Writing Research Reports
Writing Poetry
Note-taking in all subjects
Outlining in all subjects
Study skills in all subjects.

SOCIAL STUDIES
Why We Study History
Clues to Our Past
U.S. Past and Present
Exploring and Settling America
Life in the English Colonies
The Struggle for Independence
Life in a Growing Nation
A Nation in Conflict
Finding America’s Future
 Study of the 50 States
-Reading in collaboration with topics studied.

SCIENCE
Crystals
Salt
The Water Cycles 
Energy
Systems and Interactions
Foss Kits:
Mixture and Solutions
            Observations
            Concentrations
            Fizz and Reactions

ART
Shading
Creative Drawing (subject related)
Sculpture (model magic)
Watercolor/Painting
Pen (techniques/ calligraphy)
Learn about different Artists
& Artistic Styles