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