Welcome to Parent Night!

1. Welcome to Parent Night! Mrs. Giffels5th GradeNorth Elementary September 11, 2014

2. Homeroom Class 2014-2015

3. A bit about me… • 2ndyear teaching at North, 6thyear 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

4. Learning Expectations • Always give BEST effort • Read EVERY day and become life-long readers • Complete assignments on time • Become INDEPENDENT workers and thinkers • Refine organizational skills to prepare for Middle School • Work cooperatively to strengthen social skills • Classroom philosophy: We are a TEAM! Together Everyone Achieves More

5. 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

6. 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)

7. Curriculum • Literacy: Reading and Writing • NEW district curriculum built through Units of Study • Units designed to: • Increase Reading of Information Text • Increase Text Complexity – exposing all students to grade-level texts • Develop and refine Academic Vocabulary • Enhance Text-Based Answers (Close Reading) • Increase Writing fom Sources • 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

8. 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

9. Curriculum • 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

10. 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

11. Character Counts “Intelligence plus character, that is the goal of true education” • Martin Luther King, Jr. • 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

12. 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

13. How to help my child at home… • Checkyour 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

14. Homework Expectations • Record assignments daily in assignment notebook • Turn in completed homework on time • Take responsibility for learning • Missed assignment reminders • Student Incident Reports

15. 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

16. THANK YOU!  I appreciate everyone coming tonight! I’m looking forward to a wonderful year! Mrs. Giffels