A Smarter Balanced (CAASPP / SBAC) 5th grade ELA practice test workbook for teachers, with a pretest, skill practice for all 24 standards, mixed review and 2 full-length practice tests. Answer key included, so test prep is ready to go.
Using this SL.5.4 Fifth Grade Common Core Lesson, students report on a topic or text, tell a story, or recount an experience in an organized manner, using relevant facts, descriptive details andspeak clearly.
This formal or informal English activity has 3rd to 5th grade students sort envelope situation cards by audience and rewrite informal sentences, with an answer key included for quick checking.
Using this SL.5.1 Fifth Grade Common Core Lesson, students engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussionswith diverse partners on grade 5 topics and texts, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly.
Using this SL.5.6 Fifth Grade Common Core Lesson, students adapt speech to a variety of contexts and tasks, using formal English when appropriate to task and situation.
Using this Discussions Preparation Activity, students prepare for a discussion by recording thoughts in the provided graphic organizer.
Students plan ideas, take a discussion role and reflect on how the talk went with this 3rd to 5th grade speaking and listening activity. Includes role cards, a rules poster and planning pages.
This let's chat discussion starter activity gives 3rd to 5th Grade students 24 sentence starter cards, bookmarks and a speaker notes sheet, with a practice page and answer key included.
This Now Presenting - Report on a Topic Activity is a fun way for students to learn about Summarizing and presentations!
Using this SL.5.2 Fifth Grade Common Core Lesson, students summarize a written text read aloud or information presented in diverse media and formats, including visually, quantitatively, and orally.
Using this SL.5.3 Fifth Grade Common Core Lesson, students summarize the points a speaker makes and explain how each claim is supported by reasons and evidence.
This SL.5.5 Fifth Grade Common Core Lessonincludes SL.5.5 Worksheets, SL.5.5 Activities, SL.5.5 Assessment, and SL.5.5 Poster.
Talk smart, listen smarter
Fifth graders learn to have real academic conversations. They come to discussions prepared, build on each other's ideas, ask questions and respectfully disagree with evidence. They summarize what a speaker said, report on a topic with facts in a logical order, and switch between formal and informal English depending on the situation. The big shift is when kids say, "I agree with Maya, and I would add..." instead of just waiting for their turn to talk.
Great discussions do not happen by accident. These moves give 5th graders the structure to talk well.
Before any discussion, have kids jot two points and one question on the preparation sheet. Then model how to use those notes in the conversation. Prepared students talk more and ramble less.
Why it works: showing first, practicing together, then letting kids try alone is the "gradual release" model teachers have relied on for decades (Pearson and Gallagher, 1983).
Try it withDiscussions Preparation ActivityActivitiesOpen it →Post starters like "I agree because..." and "Can you explain..." and give each student a few talk chips. They spend a chip each time they use a starter. It keeps the conversation balanced and respectful.
Why it works: when kids say the precise math words, their understanding gets sharper, a recommendation of the U.S. Department of Education's elementary math guide.
Try it withLet's Chat Discussion Starter ActivityActivitiesOpen it →Give kids a set of sentences and have them sort which fit a presentation and which fit a chat with friends. Then they rewrite a few to switch styles. Knowing your audience is a real-life skill.
Why it works: going from real objects to pictures to symbols is a core recommendation of the U.S. Department of Education's elementary math guide.
Try it withFormal or Informal English ActivityActivitiesOpen it →Speaking up gets easier when it feels like a performance.
ActivitiesStudents report on a topic like a TV host, with facts in order and a strong closing line.
Open Now Presenting! Report on a Topic Activity →
ActivitiesAfter a group talk, kids rate their own listening and set one goal for next time.
Open Discussion Guide for Preparation and Reflection →
Test PrepOne student shares an idea and the next must summarize it before adding their own.
Open Smarter Balanced (CAASPP / SBAC) 5th Grade ELA Practice Test Workbook →Teacher favorites right now: Smarter Balanced (CAASPP / SBAC) 5th Grade ELA Practice Test Workbook, SL.5.4 Fifth Grade Common Core Lesson and Formal or Informal English Activity.
They include preparing for and joining discussions, building on others' ideas, summarizing what a speaker says, presenting a report clearly and using formal English when needed.
Give them time to prepare notes first and use sentence starters. Starting in pairs before whole-class talk builds confidence.
Ask students to summarize what the last speaker said before adding their own idea. It shows whether they listened and teaches respect for others' thinking.
Have your child explain something they learned at dinner, or give a two-minute talk on a favorite topic. Ask a follow-up question to keep the conversation going.
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