Curriculum Night Information Sheet
Check out what is happening in 5N each day!
Introduction
Curriculum Focus
Reading
Foundational Skills: Focus on Comprehension and Vocabulary
Novel Studies/Literature Circles
Informational Texts
Responding to Text
Monthly Genre Study Project
The reading framework includes read aloud, shared reading, guided reading, independent practice, and interactive reading.
Writing
Writer’s Workshop & Writing Process
Types of Writing: Informational Research, Narrative, Opinion Writing
Grammar Skills
Figurative Language
Word Study
Students will study the syllables, structure, and meaning of words. They will use word chunks, vowel sounds, and consonant sounds to spell the words.
Math
Common Core Standards: Focuses on the mastering of concepts and more critical thinking skills. Each standard will focus on an essential understanding and question. Standards can be seen at www. corestandards.org.
Social Studies
Focus on: Diversity, Freedom, Equality and Democracy
Units: Exploration & Colonization, Revolutionary War & U.S. Constitution, Westward Expansion, and Civil War & Reconstruction
Organizers and note taking
Individual and/or group projects
Nonfiction Reading & Writing
Speaking and Listening
Integrated in all subject areas
Students will organize and present information that is appropriate to their audience and purpose
Use multi-media appropriately to enhance meaning
Engage in discussions collaboratively within various settings
My Teaching Approach
Learn Like a Pirate
Empowering students to collaborate, lead, and succeed in the classroom.
Developing a learner centered, student rub classroom.
Responsibility for ownership in the classroom, as well as in the real world.
Allows students to become confident risk takers.
Students become more focused on improvement instead of the grade.
Teacher gives feedback to the students and confidence is instilled in them.
- Creating a community of learners.
21st Century Learning Skills
Allows students to incorporate technology they use in their everyday lives and will use in the workplace one day.
Keeps students engaged and motivated in school.
Developing the ability to learn independently, collaborate with peers to accomplish work, and communicate the conclusions of your work are the core of 21st century skills, and a highly valued set of competencies in the world outside of school(Rockman, 2003).
Develops thinking skills, problem solving, and communication skills.
Students develop the four C's: critical thinking, creativity, communication, and collaboration.
Students become active learners through discovery and the teacher is the facilitator.
Kagan Cooperative Learning
Cooperative learning produces gains across all content areas and amongst all students.
Students do better academically and their self esteem improves.
Students learn empathy. They begin to understand other people's points of view and become more understanding towards others.
Improves social skills such as active listening, leadership skills, and teamwork skills. These are the same skills that students will need when they grow up.
Caring amongst students and a stronger classroom bond. Students feel more compassion for one another and less bullying occurs.
Individual accountability. Even though students are working in groups, it is their own effort that determines that success of the group.
Increased participation during classroom discussions. In a traditional classroom it would take 30 minutes to call on each student in a class of 30 students. While one student is being called on, the others are not active participants. Using cooperative learning, every student can share in groups taking only two minutes.
Daily 5
Gives students the choice for their education. Students become more independent and work on their individual stamina.
Students see the importance of literacy in their life.
When students are at each center, they practice self-monitoring strategies as well as self assessment.
As a teacher I can work on various reading skills that students are having trouble with. I can meet with my regular reading groups to read material at their own level or use flexible grouping to focus on an individual skill.
There is substantial time to read and write during the literacy block.
- Students are highly engaged in the activities
Guided Math
Students see that math is not only just used in school, but in real life. Math is everywhere and it is important.
Students receive targeted, standards based instruction. This instruction is both in small group, as well as in a whole class.
Math instruction is differentiated so that students who master math concepts easily are provided with enrichment opportunities(real life math problems). Students that need extra assistance meet in a small group led by the teacher who reteaches concepts.
Formative Assessment is used throughout each unit to check individual progress of each student.
Students work collaboratively and share their strategies with one another.
- When solving problems, students become the teacher and teach the way they solved the problem to their neighbor.
Growth Mindset
- Learn from our mistakes.
- Set SMART goals that we can measure throughout the year.
- Focus is on growth and not just grades.
- Understand that our life is filled with many challenges and obstacles.
- Determine strategies to help us overcome obstacles.
- Failure is not the end result.
Homework
Word study lists may require additional home practice, and each child needs to be prepared for the weekly tests. Unfinished work or assignments needing correction are other tasks. If your child has no specific homework, please keep up this habit by using the homework time for reading or practicing math facts. Please see our assignment notebook below.
Calendar
Calendar: In order to help students see when assignments are due or when quizzes/tests are coming up, I have created a 5N Calendar for them to view. They can view this from Google Classroom under the About tab or from my web site. Parents this is a resource for you to use as well.
5N Shared Folder
Through Google Classroom, as well as my web site the students have access to our classroom folder that has handouts, answer keys, audio texts, and other resources such as word study lists. I would encourage them to use this folder, as it will be updated weekly. You can click on the link to access the calendar.
Why Should Students Read
Student Planners
Students are asked to record their assignments in their Student Planners and carry these in their Take Home folder. Study guides, by either student or teacher, will be sent home before a math, science, or social studies test.
In addition, it helps if your student has a good location in your home to study. Your assistance, when necessary, is greatly appreciated; however I would hope that most of the tasks can be completed independently. Finally, please remind your child to pack up their homework and Student Planner in their backpack the night before to assure a smooth transition from home to school in the morning.
Students who fail to turn an assignment in on time will be reminded that the assignment is late. I will also e-mail the parent to inform them of the missing assignment.
Absences
If you know in advance that your child will be absent from school, please let me know as soon as possible so I can prepare materials. I will try to provide work for your child so they will not become too far behind in their studies. However, there will be times when the work cannot be sent home because of the nature of the assignment. If your child is ill, I will send homework with another student. Please use your discretion when having the child complete the assignments.
If you are going on vacation, I will not be able to give you homework before you go. You will receive all of the work when you come back.
If you plan on being gone longer than ten days, I will give you a special vacation form to fill out which you can then can turn into the office.
Academic and Specials Schedule
Classroom Meetings/ Morning Check Ins
Image from: http://www.greatleighsprimaryschool.co.uk/class-meetings/
Organization/Classroom Jobs
Our classroom is organized into six groups. Students will be working with members of their group when we do experiments, as well as, any other hands-on activities. Students will also be doing academic projects together, such as defining words, working on a presentation, or sharing what they have read. Some students have volunteered to complete jobs that help our classroom run efficiently. Other students have created their own jobs that will allow them to help keep the classroom organized. Some of the classroom jobs include messenger (takes the attendance down to the office), classroom librarian (keeps the bookshelves neat), and mayor (helps lead classroom meetings). By having specific jobs, the students are responsible for doing their part to help the classroom.
When students are in their groups they will be practicing social skills. Learning social skills such as active listening, staying on task, and making sure everyone is contributing will really help students function in groups more effectively. These skills will also carry into the real world as the students get older.
Image from: http://www.teachhub.com/put-em-work-classroom-jobs
Rules/Discipline
Our classroom is set up as a family. We have discussed what rules we need to follow in order to be an effective family. These include being responsible, respectful, and having empathy. We have also discussed many more characteristics that make up a good family.
If a student does not follow the rules they will get a verbal reminder, then a warning which will result in he/she having to fill out the Oops! Book. If it continues they will fill out The Form. The Form is a way of getting the student to think about their actions and leads into a discussion between the student and myself. If the behavior continues I will call home to discuss the problem.
On the positive side, the students have individual group points they earn each day. The points are used to purchase privileges in the classroom. We will discuss as a class some of these choices from our menu of choices. As a class the students can earn aliens to take out using the claw. The class will set a goal so that we can work towards something special. Individual students are rewarded for their good behavior. They will have the opportunity to choose prizes out of the treasure chest. Together we work as team to help create a caring environment that teaches responsibility and lifelong manners.Image from: http://www.eurekaschool.com/p-1466-mickey-mouse-clubhousereg-class-rules-poster.aspx#.V962Zz4rKS4
Grading Scale
92-100 A
90-91 A-
88-89 B+
82-87 B
80-81 B-
78-79 C+
72-77 C
70-71 C-
68-69 D+
62-67 D
60-61 D-
<59 F
Information About Assessment
On any major tests that have scores lower than 70%, I will write a comment that requires a parent signature on it. Please review this test with your student, sign it, and return it the following day. With the online grading feature and Google Classroom, you will be able to see what assignments you son/daugther is missing. If there are more than one assignments he/she is missing, I will communicate that via e-mail.
Ways of Assessment
Reading: daily work, journals, skill based activities, independent reading, conferences, assessment tasks
Math: daily work, quick checks, explanation of problem solving strategies, quizzes, unit tests, assessment tasks
Writing: final drafts, shorter pieces, editing, assessment tasks
Word Study: weekly tests , daily work, application, activities, assessment tasks
Science/Social Studies: daily work,essays, quizzes, tests, assessment tasks
Speaking/Listening: daily work, assessments
Image from: http://www.instructables.com/id/How-To-Get-Good-Grades-1/
Books
Each child should always have a book available in his/her bookbox at their desk for independent reading. They can read books from the classroom library, their own books, or books checked out from the LMC. Please keep an eye out for books that are labeled “Nickel,” and please return them to our classroom library when they are done being used.
Book club order forms will be sent home. You are under no obligation to order. We add to our interest in reading and help our classroom library grow by this program. It takes about three weeks for the books to arrive after the orders are placed. All orders can be done online and the information for that will be provided.
Image from: https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51tpdBlCnoL._SY344_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg
Contact Information
If you ever have a concern or a question, please feel free to call me.
I will try to call you back after 3:35 P.M.
If you have a question about:
Grades, then please send me a message via ThinkWave or please send me an e-mail.
If you have a question about a reminder I sent, please respond via Remind.
Anything Else: Please contact me via e-mail or via phone.
I encourage students to take responsibility by asking questions themselves. They can contact me at Scott_Nickel@ipsd.org or ask questions on Google Classroom. Students will have e-mail addresses through the school in which they can use to contact me.
Image from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hllY22UQRHw
Email: Scott_Nickel@ipsd.org
Website: https://sites.google.com/a/ipsd.org/sngrade5/
Location: 1585 White Eagle Drive, Naperville, IL, United States
Phone: 630-375-3635