5th grade is great! By Amie

Discipline - I use a number of different reward/consequence systems. I have a jar that students fill by earning shells for good behavior (and occasionally losing them for misbehavior). I also use homework cards - business cards printed on my computer with the numbers 1-15. Each time that homework is complete and on time, the students get a number punched out. When all the numbers are gone, they get to pick from the goody bin.

Note-taking - Students in my school have limited experience with this skill in 3rd and 4th grade. However, I find that they are most successful if I still teach this as its own skill, assuming nothing. I also write out most notes on the board, for the benefit of some of my slower writers (I was one myself!).

Good luck with your new class. Have fun and enjoy them!