|
Classroom Information Dear
Parents, Overjoyed
is how I would describe myself at the beginning of each school year. It is so
exciting and fun to get to know each and every one of the students. This is a
very special time in your child’s life, as he/she will be learning new things
this year. Fifth grade is such an important year as we try to make it a
smooth transition into middle school. (Okay, now you can all cry!) Yes, this
means more responsibility and independence for the students. These skills
will help carry them through their future school endeavors. I
would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself. I received my
Bachelor of Arts Degree from I
am married with two wonderful children. Hunter is eight years old and he will
be in third grade. Cadence is four years old and will be starting her second
year of preschool. (Okay, now it’s my turn to cry!) My
family and I reside in Minooka, IL. After teaching in I
know you are probably asking yourself why does she live so… far, but I have a
good reason. We live on a 23 acre man-made ski lake. We love to swim,
wakeboard, and soak up the sun. This summer Hunter learned how to wakeboard
and now we can’t get him off the water. It is truly a fun, relaxing, and
enjoyable place to call home. Family
is so vital and such an important part of my life. I truly enjoy spending
quality time with all of my family members. Some of my other hobbies and
interests include reading, shopping with friends, cooking (when I can), and
traveling. In
closing, I am truly looking forward to working with you this year as we help
your child experience all the joys of learning. Your participation and encouragement will
be a major contribution to your child’s success this year! Sincerely,
Mrs.
Lisula Contact Information Please do not
hesitate to contact me with any
questions or concerns. E-mail- klisula@palos118.org Reach a
Teacher- 708-448-6888 Mrs. Lisula’s
Voice Mail #- 708- 761-3834 Website- http://teacherweb.palos118.org/klisula/ Classroom Management I believe each child should be moving in
the direction of being intrinsically motivated to construct a personal and
moral system, and to conform to adult expectations. It is a goal to help
build self-discipline and a strong personal commitment to core values. During
the school year, I will focus on 1) building the child’s sense of being part
of a caring, mutually respectful classroom community; 2) teaching children
the moral principles and rules of conduct; 3) giving children chances to help
develop rules and norms, and to participate in planning and problem-solving
in the classroom; and 4) using discipline situations as teaching
opportunities. If a child repeatedly breaks a
classroom “norm,” it is a good teaching opportunity. It is a good time to
discuss why we set that norm in place and work together to come up with a
mutual and fair solution. Taking these approaches establishes
small-group dynamics and a classroom that fosters collaboration as well as
concern for the well-being of others. It encourages students to take more
responsibility for their own learning. During the first two weeks of school,
we will collaboratively develop our class “norms.” As a fifth grade team, we
decided it was important to have rules for the entire fifth grade to follow,
seeing as we switch teachers for math. They are: 1) Listen and Follow Directions 2) Talk with Permission 3) Bring Necessary Supplies to Class 4) Respect People and their Property I talked a lot about building a
classroom community. In order to help create this environment, we will have a
daily routine called, “Morning Meeting.” Morning Meeting is a great way to build
community, set a positive tone, increase excitement about learning, and
improve academic and social skills. First thing each morning, the children
and I gather in a circle. We begin by greeting each other. Every day, your
child hears his or her name spoken by a classmate in a friendly and cheerful
manner. On Tuesdays and Thursdays (a schedule
will be sent home), a student is scheduled to share some interesting news or
an item that is special, followed by a conversation with the class. This
helps students listen carefully, think about what they hear, formulate good
questions, and learn about each other. When children share, they have a
chance to feel that their ideas are valued and that the other children care. On Fridays, there is an activity for
the whole class. We might sing or recite a poem or play a math game. The
activity time helps the class feel united as a group, reinforces academic
skills, and helps the children learn how to cooperate and solve problems. Finally, we read the news and
announcements chart, which helps students think about the day ahead.
Sometimes, I use this time to review and practice reading, punctuation, or
math skills. Every day, Morning Meeting lets children
know that school is a safe place where all children’s feelings and ideas are
important. V.I.P. Folders Every Friday your child will be
bringing home a folder that says, “V.I.P. (Very Important Papers)
Folder.” In the folder will be the
newsletter, graded assignments, and any other important information. Also in
the folder, there will be a sheet for you to sign, so I know you received all
the “important” information. Please sign the folder and send it back with
your child on Monday. If there is a major, end of the unit test, I would like
you to sign this test no matter what the grade is, so I know you are aware of
your child’s grade. Grading Scale (Grading
Scale for Grades 3-5) A 93-100 A- 90-92 B+ 88-89 B 83-87 B- 80-82 C+ 78-79 C 73-77 C- 70-72 D+ 68-69 D 63-67 D- 60-63 F 0-59 Assignments Each student was given an assignment
notebook. Every homework assignment and any daily information will be written
in this book. Assignment Alert An
Assignment Alert is issued when a student does not turn in an assignment on
time. The alert will specify the assignment that is missing. The Assignment
Alert needs to be taken home and signed by a parent, then returned to school the
next day along with the missing work. All major assignments (projects,
writing pieces, Book Talk/Book Reports) will be marked down 5% for each day
that it is late. For
everyday assignments, students will receive an Assignment Alert for each late
assignment. The Assignment Redo A
student is not in any kind of trouble at school if he or she receives an Assignment Redo Stamp on his or her
paper. The intent of an Assignment Redo
is to help the child learn from mistakes and to inform parents of the skill(s)/area(s),
which may need to be reinforced with some parental assistance. Behavior Alert A
Behavior Alert will be issued to a student if his/hers behavior is truly
disruptive and a parent needs to be notified. A behavior alert is similar to
a missing assignment in that a sheet is filled out by the student and must be
signed by the teacher and parent. Attached to the Behavior Alert notice will
be a written explanation of the inappropriate behavior displayed in class. Parent/Teacher Communication Parent/teacher
communication is such a vital part of your child’s success. In order to
ensure your child’s success, I will be utilizing several modes of
communication which will include sending home a weekly newsletter, daily
updated classroom website, V.I.P. Folders, and e-mail or telephone calls
(when needed). My
classroom website is up and running! You can find out everything and anything
you would want to know about Room 43 with Mrs. Lisula. You
will find weekly newsletters for math and homeroom, daily homework
assignments, a class schedule, 5th grade supply list, links
(helpful websites), general homeroom information, etc. CHECK IT OUT! Goodness, I said a lot. I am sure I
forgot many things, but as they come up, I will put them in the next
newsletter. Again, I am so fortunate to have your child in my class. I know
we will have a positive, cooperative, and fun year together. Attached
to this packet you will find a Parent/Guardian Information Sheet. This
questionnaire will greatly assist me with getting to know your son or
daughter’s needs and necessary contact information. Please have your child
return this form by Monday, August 25th. _______________________________________________________ Please sign
and return the bottom portion of this form to indicate that you have reviewed
and agree to the above policies/procedures. Today’s
Date: _________________ Student’s
Signature: _________________ Parent(s)
Signature: ___________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Parent
Contact/Information Form Name(s):_______________________________________________________ Student’s Name:
_________________________________________________ Home Phone:
___________________________________________________ Work Phone:
___________________________________________________ Cell Phone ____________________________________________________ E-mail Address
_________________________________________________ Please
check your preferred method of communication: ______ Please email me information
regarding my child’s progress ______ Please call me regarding my
child’s progress What subject(s) does your child enjoy
the most and why? What subject(s) seems most difficult
for your child and why? What would you like me to keep in mind
as I work with your child this year? _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Thank you for taking the time to fill
out this questionnaire. It will greatly assist me in understanding your son
or daughter’s needs. Mrs. Lisula |
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Return to staff page
Return to Palos West page
Last Updated: May 8,
2008
Written for:
Palos Community
Consolidated School District 118
Administrative Offices
8800 West 119th Street
Palos Park, Illinois 60464
Voice: 708.448.4800
Fax: 708.448.4880