Download - Welcome to Parent Night!
Welcome to Parent Night!
Mrs. Giffels5th Grade
North Elementary September 11, 2014
Homeroom Class 2014-2015
A bit about me…
• 2nd year teaching at North, 6th year in district
• BBA in Finance, Grand Valley State University
• Elementary Education Certification-North Park University
• Michigan born / 10 year resident of Crystal Lake
• Husband, Dave / 3 children: Danny, Haylee and Jason
• Hobbies: Scrapbooking and watching football
Learning Expectations
o Always give BEST effort
o Read EVERY day and become life-long readers
o Complete assignments on time
o Become INDEPENDENT workers and thinkers
o Refine organizational skills to prepare for Middle School
o Work cooperatively to strengthen social skills
o Classroom philosophy: We are a TEAM!
Together Everyone Achieves More
Behavior Expectations
• Respect: with ourselves, each other and
school
• Effort: Always try our best!
• Attitude: Positive, pleasant, helpful, courteous
• Cooperation: share and be flexible
• Honesty: with ourselves and each other
Class Schedule• 9:00-10:00: Math
• 10:00-11:00: Encores
* Monday - PE / Music * Tuesday – STEM
* Wednesday - PE / Music * Thursday – Library
* Friday - Art
• 11:00-11:10: Snack: Note - 5th grade is PEANUT FREE!
• 11:00-12:30: Literacy Block & Daily 5
• 12:30-1:20: Lunch
• 1:20-2:50: Literacy Block with Social Studies / Science
• 2:50-3:20: Acceleration Block
• 3:30 – 1st Dismissal Bell (car riders, daycare vans, ET)
• 3:32 – 2nd Dismissal Bell (walkers, bus riders)
Curriculum
• Literacy: Reading and Writing NEW district curriculum built through Units of Study Units designed to:
1. Increase Reading of Information Text2. Increase Text Complexity – exposing all students to grade-level
texts3. Develop and refine Academic Vocabulary4. Enhance Text-Based Answers (Close Reading)5. Increase Writing fom Sources 6. Litereacy Instruction across all Content Areas
GOAL: Increase level of rigor and better prepare students for college and career.
THE BAR HAS BEEN RAISED TO MEET HIGHER ILLINOIS STATE STANDARDS
Curriculum
• Math: Everyday Mathematics– Spiraled math instruction that capitalizes on student interest– Offers multiple problem solving methods and strategies– Encourages collaborative learning– Aligned with Common Core State Standards– Unit 1-Number Theory
• Science: Foss (Full Option Science System)– Hands-on science curriculum – Provides in-depth exposure to science topics– 5th Grade modules:
• Mixtures and solutions• Levers and pullys• Variables
• History: History Alive– Student will learn of people, places and events that have
structured our nation– Begin study of Native Americans in the 1400’s– Conclude around time of Civil War
• Testing Assessments:– MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) - fall, winter and spring– OLSAT (Otis-Lennon School Ability Test)- fall– PARCC (Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and
Careers) – March and May
Curriculum
Acceleration Block
• Objective: To give indept literacy instruction at students’ level of performance
– Similar to “SMART” time of the past
– Student will meet 5 days per week from 2:50 – 3:20pm
– Instruction given by grade level and specialist teachers
– Groups range in size from approximately 5 to 20, based on student needs
• Character Counts is a character education program adapted by District 47
• It is designed to teach basic values through the six pillars of character
• Character ambassadors: help educate other students on a specific pillar
• Weekly Classroom meetings: held to discuss and problem solve school issues
• Current pillar: RESPONSIBILITY
Character Counts“Intelligence plus character, that is the goal of true education”
- Martin Luther King, Jr.
Monthly Reading Calendar
• Please make sure to monitor your child’s daily independent
reading: GOAL = 25 minutes daily
• Children should fill out the calendar on a daily basis by
recording nightly minutes read
• Parents should initial the calendar on a daily basis
• Children should total the minutes read at the end of each
month
• Parents should sign the calendar at the end of the month
before your child hands it in
• Completed Calendars are due the first day of each month
How to help my child at home…
• Check your child’s backpack and assignment notebook nightly
• Establish regular habits for homework completion• Set aside a special reading time• Have a designated place at home for backpack and
schoolwork• Encourage your child to eat a healthy breakfast and
get enough sleep• Encourage your child to become independent and
responsible for his schoolwork
Homework Expectations
• Record assignments daily in assignment notebook
• Turn in completed homework on time
• Take responsibility for learning
• Missed assignment reminders
• Student Incident Reports
Ways to be involved…
• Visit Website: http://home.d47.org/nor/sgiffels/
• Sign up for Parent/teacher conferences
• Sign up to volunteer for holiday parties
• Sign up to volunteer for Starbuck Redemption Days
• Volunteer to chaperone field trips
THANK YOU!
I appreciate everyone coming
tonight!
I’m looking forward to a
wonderful year!
Mrs. Giffels