I can't wait for school to start!!!  I am SO very excited to be teaching 5th Grade at Porter.  I have enjoyed the past 8 years teaching  here and am thrilled that I get to teach my young friends.  I can't believe I am typing this, but I have been TEACHING for 35 years and still am passionate about working with students each day.  Before coming to Porter, I taught 4th grade for 6 years and 5th grade for 6 years at a private school, along with teaching and admin positions around the country and in Japan. My goal is to partner with parents to help challenge, enrich and motivate each student to success and confidence.  Here is to a GREAT YEAR AHEAD.  

Feb. 22- March 5

Pennies for Patients -A Worthy Cause- Would you consider making a donation please?
Click Here to check it out. Thank you 

Please note our NEW SCHEDULE STARTS tomorrow!!!!

Please log on to Canvas and check out the schedule AND Core Extension changes for Ms. Greer and Ms. Esmacher.

Benchmark CSA Reading Assessment on Wednesday, Feb. 24. Students will access via Clever.  (Important assessment.  Please refer to email I sent last week regarding upcoming assessments.)

Science Matter Test- March 10. Study Guide embedded on Science Canvas page.
Social Studies Project Due- March 5th. Checklist included on SS Canvas Page.
Math Test - March 5th.

Feb. 15-
Please note that our daily schedule will be changing  next week a bit in conjunction with changes made at the direction of PWCS.   I will send home an email this week, review it with students and change schedule on our Canvas main page.

Weeks of Feb. 8- 27

Math Unit- We are working on fractions, adding subtracting, finding common denominators and simplifying. Test will be March 5th.

Reading- PLEASE be sure your child is doing their LEXIA CORE 5 or Power Up at least 30 minutes per day.  Very important for comprehension and skill growth.

This year there will be NO Science SOL.

Week of Jan. 18-Jan. 22
So sorry for delayed updates here!  I locked myself out and it took me a bit to figure it all out, but I AM BACK!!!
Please check back here often, as I will add content about the second half of the year and adjustments to our schedule.  
A REMINDER, HALF DAY on Friday, Jan 22 and No School for Students on Monday as it is a Teacher Work Day.

Week of 12/7-12/11
We are in the last two weeks before holiday break! I want to keep you up to date on happenings with in the virtual class.  
Math Test- Friday, Dec. 18th- Data Analysis (Stem and Leaf Plots and Line Plots) Please see the study guide attached to the Math Canvas page and linked here. Study Guide
9:00 am MATH TUTORIALS- Remember, I offer Math Tutorials every morning (Tuesday thru Friday, at 9:00am.  All are welcome!!!
Mrs. Guerra still continues to come on Thursdays for team teaching in math and provides extra support on her Canvas Page.
Mrs. Banks comes in once a week to provide extra reading content support as needed for small group.  
Ms. Kargbo comes in twice a month to provide guidance lessons to the students.
Library continues to offer drop off and pick up of library books.  Please see her page for details.


Week of 11/30-12/4
Welcome Back!  I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving Break!
We will begin new units of study in Math, Science and Social Studies.
We will also take a small break from Seesaw and focus more on Study Island assignments, with continued work in Core 5 Reading.

Please be sure to check with your student to make sure they are logging in to Canvas, Study Island and Core 5 daily.

Please remember that I login to Zoom 30 minutes early at 9:00 am.  I often provide tutorials and answer questions during this time.

Update Week of 11/9
Upcoming Tests:
Friday Nov. 20- Science Rocks and Minerals Test
Tuesday, Nov. 24- Math Unit 3 Test

Update Week of 11/2

Good afternoon,

I hope everyone is enjoying the weekend and chillier weather.

The week ahead is different than previous weeks, so I wanted to send a reminder.

1. Monday, Nov. 2- Virtual Parent-Teacher Conferences-Please sign up via the calendar on Canvas.  (Directions were sent in previous emails.  If you need further technical assistance please reach out to Mr. Fahy at Porter.)

2. If you are unable to make it tomorrow, please feel free to contact me via EMAIL and we can find a time on another day that will work.

3. There will be NO SCHOOL for students on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday this week.  Students will have ASYNCHRONOUS activities on Thursday and Friday of this week. (Independent and found on our CANVAS page.)

4. I will be working on finishing up grading, entering grades and writing comments for report cards this week.

5. There will be NO ZOOM Sessions this WEEK . (I will miss seeing the students, but look forward to the new marking period and introducing a few new routines for class work and small groups. More to come.)

Have a great week.

Update Week of 10/26
Parent Teacher Conference Day-Nov. 2
Please see the email sent last week for details on how to sign up thru Canvas including a follow up tip from a parent.   UPDATE: See this NEW video for instructions on how to sign up for conference. WATCH VIDEO HERE

READING TEST- Wednesday, Oct. 28
MATH TEST- Friday, Oct. 30

End of MARKING PERIOD is end of week.  PLEASE HAVE YOUR CHILD finish any work in SEESAW that remains incomplete. 

Update Week of 10/19
Upcoming Tests:
Reading: Wednesday, 10/28 (No study guide for this)
Math: Friday, 10/31 (Study Guide in Canvas Math Grid and was emailed as                            attachment to parents and students.)
End of Marking Period 1 is Friday, Oct. 30.
Virtual Parent/Teacher Conferences Nov. 2- Please keep an eye out for parent                  conference sign up link coming soon.
NO LIVE ZOOM Sessions this FRIDAY. (Mrs. Garay will be out, HOWEVER there will be lessons and activities and even a quiz waiting for them in our Canvas pages.

 
Update Week of 10/5
Quizzes this week: 
 Wednesday:
           Reading- Context Clues, Point of View, Ch. 1-3 of Lemonade War
Thursday:
           Social Studies: Maps and Map Skills
           Science: Vertebrates, Invertebrates, Vascular, Non Vascular plants
Friday:
           Math: Prime and Composite Numbers

Upcoming Tests: Study Guides sent in early Parent Update Email
           Science: Unit 1 Living Systems- Oct. 22 (Tentative)
           Social Studies Map Skills - Oct. 16 (Tentative)
           Math Unit 2 - Oct. 30-(Solid)

Update 9?28/20

Weekly Assignments Button Added to my Canvas Homepage
I have added a button to my Canvas Homepage that will allow both STUDENTS and PARENTS to access a grid of assignments with a WEEKLY and DAILY view.  Use this as a checklist to keep track of assignments and completion. 

MATH TEST- Unit 1 -Study Guides are found in last week's math grid.  You will need to download it.  (Most have done this already.)
This test WILL NOT be given during our MATH LIVE time!  We have been asked to have students complete quizzes and tests during their independent times. 

BAND/ORCHESTRA/STRINGS Sessions begin this week.  Please see Band Button on Canvas Homepage for schedule and daily rotation.  

Update 9/22/20

Virtual Back to School Night ZOOM @7:00 pm. Click Here
 
Pre-Recorded Message From Mrs. Garay -Click Here
 
Pre-Recorded BTSN Presentation in case you can't make it.
Click Here

Tutorial Video by Mrs. G- How to Submit and Assignment in CANVAS-Click Here

Quizzes-
Wednesday, Sept. 23- Identify and Label Parts of Plant and Animal cells.
Thursday, Sept. 24- Locate and Label 7 Continents and 5 Oceans
Friday, Sept. 25- Math Unit 1 - Quick Check Quiz.
Coming Up: Math Unit 1 Test -FRIDAY, OCT. 2- Study guide was posted in Canvas last week.

Update 9/15/20

CURBSIDE Library Pick Up & Drop OFF Begins THIS WEEK!
Thursdays 3:30pm -5pm
Fridays 7:30am -9:00am

Students go onlne to the library page and request up to 3 books to pick uo.  It is that easy!  Students had a presentation on how to do this today!  A GREAT WAY to GET BOOKS!!!!

Patience and Grace- thank you for your continued patience.  You have been wonderful and understanding and I appreciate it. This week we have begun CORE EXTENSION with students going in various directions with specialists or into ENRICHMENT ROOM.  Students have been given directions and can look at the list of names under each teacher to see where they go.  If they do not have  an assigned place, they go to ENRICHMENT. Thank you will we work out the kinks with this.

DAILY SCHEDULE- I have created a color coded schedule and have emailed it to both parents and students. PLEASE PRINT out so students can reference it. I hope this helps.  Time and practice will help too!

BACK to SCHOOL NIGHT ZOOM- Tues, Sept. 22 @ 7:00- 8:00 pm
Link to be attached here soon.

Click for Mrs. Garay's Welcome Letter

Welcome to Mrs. Garay's Super Stars!!
Click link above to watch a welcome VIDEO  from Mrs. Garay

****Parent VUE Access, Student Password Resets, Canvas Access

VIRTUAL Meet & Greet
If you missed our VIRTUAL Meet and Greet
please check out our slides here.

On the 1st Day of VIRTUAL School CLICK on ZOOM icon below

Instructional Technology Coach's PAGE
Mr. Fahey is our new ITC and an amazing resource.  Please check out his page for tutorials and guidance in the days leading up to our first day of school.

OR


PWCS Tech Help Desk

Technical support is just an email or phone call away this school year. The Help Desk is staffed Monday–Friday, 7 a.m.–4:30 p.m. when schools are in session and
8 a.m.–4 p.m. when schools are not in session. Parents, students, and staff can request help with everything from password resets, device log in and assistance with Canvas and the Hub.

Phone Number: 703-791-8826

Email: pwcshelpdesk@pwcs.edu

Watch this on September 6 or 7th:
Video Link (coming soon)

QuickLinks:
Student Canvas: Link
Parent Canvas: Link
  ParentVue: Link

Contact Info and Office Hours:
 Email: Garaykl@pwcs.edu
Thank you so much for your patience as we find out more information on how this will work.
Office Hours: Monday 2:30-3:45 pm via ZOOM Calendar Sign Up

PLEASE NOTE that I check emails 3 times a day. 
Mornings at 8:45-9:00,
Lunch Time at Noon,
End of Day between 3:30 -3:45 pm.
Communication IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME and I make every effort to respond.

Curriculum Documents:
Year At A Glance 


Canvas Resources:
 What is Canvas and Zoom?
Parent Canvas Orientation
Canvas Student Guide
Student Video Guides

                      2020-21 School Year 

We know that there are a lot of questions about the upcoming school year and what it will look like. Please refer to the following county resources and check this page throughout the summer for updates concerning your child's education. We look forward to working with you in whatever capacity possible as we stay safe this school year.

The main way that we will be communicating instruction will be through the use of Zoom and Canvas. Canvas is a Learning Management System that allows teachers to virtually deliver content to students. Please explore the resources below to help you better understand Canvas.

County Return to Learn Plan