Fifth Grade

Hi! My name is JoAnna Gorkaya, and I will be your student's teacher this year in fifth grade! I grew up here in Parker, and am so happy that I get to raise my family here, too. I graduated from Metropolitan State University of Denver with a degree in English and Elementary Education. I then went on to get my master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction. I have been at Prairie Crossing since 2012 and have taught third and fourth grades, along with supporting 6th grade math. My passion is with the discovery in learning. I enjoy having students work together to share thinking, discover different ways of thinking, and draw conclusions. I believe that we are a team and we can learn a lot from each other! 

Along with being a teacher, I am a wife and a mommy. My husband, Max, and I have a daughter named Mila and a son named Ryder. Being a parent has brought so much joy to my life. I love watching them grow, learn, and develop into themselves. Mila is a spitfire and is constantly making me laugh with her wise beyond her years phrases. She is an observer, and takes a lot of the world in through watching people and life happen around her. Ryder has been the perfect piece to complete our family. He is contagiously happy, and always has a smile on his face.  

Think left and think right and think low and think high. Oh, the thinks you can think up if only you try!Dr. Seuss

Contact Information: jbgorkaya@dcsdk12.org

Parents and Students, we are a PEANUT/TREE NUT FREE classroom. Please no: Peanuts, Pecans, Walnuts, Almonds, Brazil Nuts, Cashews, Chestnuts, Hazelnuts, Macadamia Nuts, Pine Nuts, Pistachios

Homework

Students will be required to do the following each week: Read 20-30 minutes a night (this can be done in the car on the way to extracurricular activities, on the bus, before bed, etc.) Write a Reading Journal Response in their notebook- DUE FRIDAY Rubric for responses is inside the cover of the notebook Math Practice Sheet- this will be differentiated based on student needs.

Spelling Practice

Students that are not completing classwork in school will be asked to complete at home to bring back to school. This includes iReady Lessons.

Snacks

Students are welcome to bring two snacks a day to eat when they feel hungry. We will not have designated snack times, as I trust that the students can judge when they are hungry and it is an opportune time to eat. We will have this open eating option as long as: Students are only bringing two snacks (and are snack sized) Snacks are healthy options- no candy, cookies, family size options Students are cleaning up after themselves- no crumbs and trash on the floor Students are not eating while using their chromebooks

Water Bottles

Students need to bring their own filled water bottles to school each day. They will be allowed to keep the water bottles on the floor under their desk for easy access. Please make sure that NO OTHER drink is being brought in water bottles. This will avoid sticky messes that can leave stains.

Bathroom Breaks

We will have two whole class bathroom breaks throughout the day. It is highly encouraged that students use the bathroom before the second bell rings, during recess/lunch, and in the given breaks. Students will only be allowed to use the bathroom outside of our breaks two other times, as it is important that they are in the room participating in the learning.

Dropping Off Materials/Items

If your student has forgotten something and you bring it to them, please drop it off in the office for them to pick up later. Do not come to the mobile door- this will limit our disruptions and follow the district’s safety guidelines.

Tardies/Leaving Early

If your child is late (after 8:40), they need to be signed in at the front office before coming to the mobile. If you need to sign your student out, please do so at the office and they will call for them at our room. Please do not come to the mobile without signing them out at the office.

Technology at Home

Students may access all of our resources at home by going to: clever.com/in/dcsdk12 Their login information will be taped inside their travel folder, but follows the following pattern: Username: lastnamefirstinitialmiddleinitial (ex: gorkayajb) Password: Dcsdlunchnumber (ex: Dcsd123456)

• Brain Pop

• PBS Kids

• Typing Pal

• Tween Tribune

• Wonderopolis

• Story Bird

• Moby Max

• Learner's Dictionary

• Fun4theBrain

• Math Playground

• Khan Academy

• Freckle

• Xtramath

My name is Mrs. Jenalise Long and I am a 5th grade teacher at PCE. I grew up in Minnesota, and at 20 years old I joined the Air Force as an Intelligence Analyst. I was lucky enough to be stationed in Colorado where I met my husband and decided to start a family. We now have two children who are also students at PCE!

I completed my masters at Western Governors University in 2023, and started teaching at PCE the same year, and have loved every minute of it. I enjoy pushing students to reach their potential through a collaborative learning environment.

Welcome to 5th grade at Prairie Crossing! My name is Tonya Payne.  I am excited to be your child's teacher this year.  The fifth grade team has been busy planning an eventful year.   

I have a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education and a previous degree in Vascular Sonography.   I am thrilled to be returning to PCE as a fifth grade teacher!

I have two sons who attend Douglas County Schools.  Both my boys are in high school.  I also have two adorable dogs, Annie and Finn.  

I love spending time with my family and working on our house.  

This is such an exciting time in your child's life and I am honored and privileged to be a part of it. Our year will be filled with lots of learning and fun .  I am looking forward to a wonderful year with your family.

Contact Me

The best way to get a hold of me is through email. I will check my email daily and will do my best to respond with 24 to 48 hours. Please remember I will be with students Monday - Thursday.  If you have anything that requires immediate attention, such as changes to after-school pick-up plans, please contact the office directly. They will make sure that I get the message before the end of the day. Thanks for helping to make this school year successful. 

Email: tpayne@dcsdk12.org
Front Office Phone: (303) 387-8200
Address: Prairie Crossing Elementary
11605 S. Bradbury Ranch Drive | Parker, CO 80134

8:30 - 8:45 Morning Work
8:45 -9:50 Math
9:50-10:10 Math DLT
10:15-10:55 Specials
11:00 - 11:20 Circle Time
11:20 - 12:30 Literacy
12:35-1:15  Lunch/Recess
1:20 -1:50 Literacy DLT
1:55 - 2:45 Writing
2:45-3:00 Recess
3:00-3:30 Content

Work as a TEAM
Be RESPONSIBLE
LISTEN to others
Be RESPECTFUL to everyone
Be KIND and HELPFUL
Do your BEST

Students will be required to do the following each week, and should not take more than 40 minutes a night to complete.
Read 20 minutes a night (this can be done in the car on the way to extracurricular activities, on the bus, before bed, etc.)

Write a Reading Journal Response in their notebook- once a week

Rubric for responses is inside the cover of the notebook
A minimum of of 20 pages should be read before writing
Math Practice: Students will be asked to practice math in the forms of I Ready, Reflex, Frax, or worksheets (about 10 min)

Students that are not completing classwork in school will be asked to complete at home to bring back to school, this includes iReady Lessons.

Digital Math Practice Link

Printable Multiplication Flash Cards

Printable Division Flash Cards

Unit 1

Lesson 1 Understand and measure volume 

Lesson 2 Find volume using unit cubes

Lesson 3 Finding volume using the formula 

Lesson 4 Multiply multi-digit numbers

Lesson 5 Divide multi-digit numbers

Unit 2

Lesson 6 Understand decimal place value

Lesson 7 Understanding the powers of 10

Lesson 8  Read and write decimals

Lesson 9 Compare and round decimals

Lesson 10 Add decimals 

Lesson 11 Subtract decimals

Lesson 12 Adding fractions 

Lesson 13 Subtracting fractions

Lesson 14 Add and subtract word problems

Unit 3

Lesson 15 Multiply decimal and a whole number 

Lesson 16  Multiply decimals

Lesson 17 Divide decimals

Lesson 18 Fractions as division 

Lesson 19 Understand multiplication by a fraction

Lesson 20 Multiply fractions to find area

Lesson 21 Understand multiplication as scaling 

Douglas County has purchased  Sora ebooks and audiobooks. Unlike Epic, you can do this at home for free.  Here are iPhone screenshot directions to get the app.  I also included the Sora Website in our Classroom’s Website Useful Links (Symbaloo). 

Visit the Calming Corner

8:30-8:45: Proactive Binder
8:45-10:10: Math
10:15-10:55: Specials
11:00-11:20: SEL
11:20-12:35: Literacy
12:35-1:15: Lunch/Recess
1:20-2:45: Literacy/Writing
2:45-3:00: Recess
3:00-3:30: Content