Goals

Social Studies
By the end of preschool the children:

• will be able to understand that they live in a home that is part of a larger community (C)
• will be able to recite the Pledge of Allegiance (S)
• will be able to find where he/she lives on a map of the United States (S)
• will develop an understanding of and appreciation for our individual differences and
• multi-cultural heritages (S)

Language Arts
By the end of preschool the children:

• will be able to verbally express personal experiences and ideas(C)
• will be able to listen to a storybook (C)
• will be able to print their first name (C)
• will be able to recognize their first name visually (C)
• will be able to recognize basic colors (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, pink, black, brown, gray) (C)

Reading
By the end of preschool the children:

• will be able to recognize many letters of the alphabet (C)
• will be able to recognize beginning phonetic sounds (S)

Mathematics
By the end of preschool the children:

• will be able to count to ten (C)
• will be able to recognize numerals zero to ten (C)
• will be able to identify the four basic shapes (circle, square, triangle, rectangle) (C)
• will be able to recognize and complete simple sequencing tasks (C)

Science
By the end of preschool the children:

• will have developed basic logical reasoning (C)
• will have developed the ability to hypothesize (S)
• will have actively participated in a variety of science experiments (S)

Religion
By the end of preschool the children:

• will be able to make the sign of the cross properly and recite a simple prayer (C)
• will have developed an awareness of basic Christian beliefs (C)
• will have developed an awareness of God’s love for them (C)

Fine Arts
By the end of preschool the children:
Music

• will be able to sing simple songs (C)
• will be able to repeat simple rhythm patterns (C)
• will be able to repeat simple tonal patterns (S)
• will be able to play an instrument (rhythm sticks, egg shakers, sand blocks, bells) (S)

Art

• will have used a variety of mediums (markers, crayons, watercolor paints, tempra
• paints, playdough, clay, silly putty) (S)
• will have actively participated in basic tracing, cutting and gluing techniques) (C)

Technology
By the end of preschool the children:

• will have had the opportunity to work with a computer keyboard (C)
• will know the vocabulary terms monitor, keyboard, mouse and smartboard (C)

This is what students will need to be successful in Kindergarten
Social Studies
By the end of preschool the children:

• -will be able to understand that they live in a home that is part of a larger community (C)
• -will be able to recite the Pledge of Allegiance (S)
• -will be able to find where he/she lives on a map of the United States (S)
• -will develop an understanding of and appreciation for our individual differences and
• multicultural heritages (S)

Language Arts
By the end of preschool the children:

• -will be able to verbally express personal experiences and ideas(C)
• -will be able to listen to a storybook (C)
• -will be able to print their first name (C)
• -will be able to recognize their first name visually (C)
• -will be able to recognize basic colors (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, pink, black, brown, gray) (C)

Reading
By the end of preschool the children:

• -will be able to recognize many letters of the alphabet (C)
• -will be able to recognize beginning phonetic sounds (S)

Mathematics
By the end of preschool the children:

• -will be able to count to ten (C)
• -will be able to recognize numerals zero to ten (C)
• -will be able to identify the four basic shapes (circle, square, triangle, rectangle) (C)
• -will be able to recognize and complete simple sequencing tasks (C)

Science
By the end of preschool the children:

• -will have developed basic logical reasoning (C)
• -will have developed the ability to hypothesize (S)
• -will have actively participated in a variety of science experiments (S)

Religion
By the end of preschool the children:

• -will be able to make the sign of the cross properly and recite a simple prayer (C)
• -will have developed an awareness of basic Christian beliefs (C)
• -will have developed an awareness of God’s love for them (C)

Fine Arts
By the end of preschool the children:
Music

• -will be able to sing simple songs (C)
• -will be able to repeat simple rhythm patterns (C)
• -will be able to repeat simple tonal patterns (S)
• -will be able to play an instrument (rhythm sticks, egg shakers, sand blocks, bells) (S)

Art

• -will have used a variety of mediums (markers, crayons, watercolor paints, tempera paints,
• play-dough, clay, silly putty) (S)
• -will have actively participated in basic tracing, cutting and gluing techniques) (C)

Technology
By the end of preschool the children:

• -will have had the opportunity to work with a computer keyboard (C)
• -will know the vocabulary terms monitor, keyboard, mouse and smartboard (C) 

 SOCIAL STUDIES

• know the responsibilities of students within the family and school environment ©
• be aware of maps and globes ©
• learn the Pledge©

LANGUAGE ARTS

• identify consonant sounds and letters ©
• identify initial word sound ©
• identify basic color, number and common sight words ©

MATHEMATICS

• be able to count to 100
• be able to make and complete simple bar graphs
• be able to work with simple addition and subtraction facts

SCIENCE

• had exposure to plant and plant seeds
• discussed conservation, endangered species, recycling, and reusing
• studied the life cycle of the butterfly

RELIGION

• know that God’s love created the universe
• know that God’s love makes me who I am with special talents and abilities

1) What skills does a student need to succeed in your class from the previous year?

Kindergarten going to first grade:

• Social Studies - to be aware of maps and globes identify responsibilities of students within the family and school environment
• Language Arts - be able to identify sight words and initial word sounds be able to identify consonant letters and their sounds
• Math - be able to count to 100 make and complete simple bar graphs work with simple additions and subtraction facts
• Science - exposure to plant and plant seeds briefly discuss the life cycle of the butterfly discuss conservation, endangered species, recycling and reusing
• Religion - know that God's love created the universe and everything in it know that God's love makes me who I am with my special talents and abilities to identify my many feelings

2) What skills will your students obtain at the end of this school year?

First grade going to second grade

• Math - telling time to the hour and half hourshow proficiency with addition and subtraction facts to 12estimate, make and use measurements of objects and quantities
• Writing- be able to write three or four sentences having one complete thought (paragraph)\
• Phonics- develop decoding skills and identify beginning blends
• Religion- know basic prayers: sign of the cross, Our Father, and Hail Mary basic understanding of the Mass study Baptism and how we become members of God's family study about the Blessed Trinity
• Reading- read age appropriate material aloud with fluency and accuracy be able to identify components of a story -setting and main character identify the main idea of a story be able to recall story facts
• Social Studies- introduction to geographical terms identify national symbols and landmarks and the people and events associated with them
• Science- observe the life cycle of a butterfly by raising them in the classroom basic introduction to the life sciences identify forces in nature that can be observed

Skills needed to succeed in my classroom (entering 2nd)

• An introduction to the Mass, knowing the following prayers (Hail Mary, Our Father, Sign of the Cross)
• Identifying the main idea of a story & story elements (setting, main character)
• Decoding and blending skills
• Ability to write 3 – 4 complete sentences written with one connected idea
• Telling time to the hour and half hour
• Automatic recall of facts (single digit addition and subtraction 0-10)

Skills 2nd graders will obtain by the end of the year

• Reciting the Act of Contrition (Reconciliation), Identifying the Parts of the Mass (First Eucharist)
• Reading at or above 2nd grade level with fluency and accuracy
• Writing 2 paragraphs consisting of 4-5 sentences each (connected ideas, one topic), Writing short stories and letters, Summarizing
• Identifying genres (fiction, non-fiction, mystery, fairy tale, folk tale, biography)
• Relating addition to multiplication and solving multiplication problems
• Number comparisons
• Locating places on various types of maps using directional terminology
• Conducting experiments following procedures and making conclusions

Skills students should know coming into 3rd grade…
Language Arts

• Students should know age appropriate high frequency words and well as be able to read age appropriate books with fluency and accuracy.
• Students should be able to write paragraphs with correct grammar and punctuation and stick to a complete thought.
• Students should have an understanding of nouns and verbs.
• Students should have a basic understanding of context clues, connecting ideas, summarizing, making predictions, etc.
• Students should know the difference between basic literary genres, for example fiction and nonfiction.

Math

• Students should be able to add and subtract up to three digit numbers.
• Students should have a basic understanding of time, money, multiplication, perimeter, and identification of three dimensional shapes.

Religion

• Students should know basic prayers and be educated on the sacraments of initiation.

Science

• Students should know basic plant anatomy, the difference between states of matter, the order of the plants, and how to form a scientific question.

Social Studies

• Students should have a basic understanding of government including the three branches, president, Whitehouse, etc.
• Students should be able to identify continents and oceans on the map. They should understand their cardinal directions.
• Students should have a basic understanding of community, jobs, and diversity.

By the end of the year, 3rd graders will…
Language Arts

• Students will have a more complex understanding of literary genres as well as skills such as sequencing, making connections and predictions, using context clues, identifying theme, etc.
• Students will read with accuracy and fluency in age appropriate materials.
• Students will read with expression. Students will understand the formats of reports and stories. Students will be able to form grammatically correct, multi-paragraph reports including topic sentences that stick to one thought and use description.
• Students will know nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, and punctuation.

Math

• Students can add, subtract, multiply, and divide.
• Students know their fact families.
• Students know place value and sequence.
• They can tell time on digital and analog clocks.
• Students can count money and have a basic understanding of fractions.

Science

• Students understand plant and animal adaptations and habitats.
• They understand life cycles and food chains.
• Students understand matter and changes in states of matter.
• Students can form hypothesis, do experiments, collect data, and draw conclusions.

August 27, 2010

• Students should know the multiplication facts up to the facts of ten.
• Students should be on target and showing progress with their reading fluency.
• Students should know how to identify word roots and add suffixes and prefixes.
• Students should be able to write complete sentences and identify the basic parts of speech.
• Students should be familiar with the writing format and able to identify the steps when writing.

What skills will your students obtain at the end of this school year? Fourth grade is a major transitional year for students. They will grow academically, but also learn the importance of responsibility.

In fourth grade, for the first time students are faced with consequences of homework club and detentions. Also, they can be members of the school athletic teams. Finally, they see how their hard work in school makes them a part of the honor roll.
English:

• Students are able to identify the different types of sentences within a paragraph.
• Students are introduced to five paragraph papers and able to follow the writing process on their own. Students are able to research on a specific topic and produce a final project from the information gathered.

Math:

• Students are able to subtract problems with zeros and identify number patterns.
• Students are able to mentally recall multiplication and division facts quickly.
• Fourth graders are able to multiply 2 or 3 digit number by 1 or 2 digit numbers and solve long division problems.

• Reading:

• Students are able to summarize and demonstrate comprehension of the material being read.
• Students develop a motivation and desire to read independently.
• Students are able to give an oral presentation regarding material they have read.
• Students are able to identify and use their vocabulary terms in their writing and conversation in their daily lives.

Social studies:

• Students are able to identify the states and regions of the United States.
• Students are then able to identify all 50 states and capitals and are able to label them all on the United States map.
• Students have a basic understanding of the U.S. government.

Science:

• Students know the scientific method and are able to investigate life, physical and earth science labs according to the process.

August 25, 2010

• Students basic facts; addition, subtraction, multiplication, division comprehension, sentence structure and usage, and the scientific method.
• I expect the students to meet the educational standards set by the Archdiocese of Chicago and the state of Illinois, but I also want them ready in terms of maturity.
• I want them to be familiar with positive attitudes, group interactions and respect of authority.
• I would like them to be introduced to independence and to begin developing confidence in their skills.

What skills will your students obtain at the end of the school year?

I expect my students to grow and mature in a lot of different ways. My ultimate goal is for each child is to have the confidence to work independently. They should feel like they know the question being asked, understand it, and be able to give a solid answer without much help from an adult.

Rather than memorization of facts and concepts, I would like the students to take their thinking to an application level. Where they do not just answer the question in the text, but apply it to their life in a way they understand/ care about. I plan to show this through projects, presentations, and group work. Once a child can connect those skills to their life, they are much more likely to have a shared interest.

Finally, I would like the students to see the connection between the subject areas. As mentioned in the meetings, religion is so important to apply and can be easily applied to every subject. Being kind, respectful and understanding of another are just a few of the social skills needed though out life. 

Question 1. What skills does a student need to succeed in your class from the previous year?

• • A sense of sentence structure.
• • Understanding a topic sentence.
• • Being able to write a 5 paragraph essay
• • Basic grammar and mechanics
• • Story structure and comprehension
• • Having the basics of multiplication and division

Question 2. What skills will your students obtain at the end of this school year?

At the end of this year I would expect my students to have begun to develop

• • The beginnings of listening and independent thinking
• • The ability to listen and write down information from the board
• • Independence - responsibility for one's own actions
• • An understanding of concepts as opposed to mere facts
• • A beginning of drawing comparisons between disciplines and how material is used in a variety of contexts.

 Coming into 7th grade

• • Students must be able to copy notes off the board as a lecture is taking place. This requires students to be active listeners which will prepare them for seventh grade when notes are not always written on the board.
• • Students may use graphic organizers to guide note taking, but more independence is required.
• • I expect seventh graders at the beginning of the year to be reading fluently at grade level.
• • By the end of sixth grade, I expect students to be able to write an organized five paragraph essay.

Students will leave 7th grade with the following:

• • Students exiting the seventh grade will be prepared to take notes during lecture without depending on graphic organizers.
• • Students will focus on comprehension of text and begin guided analysis of text. Analysis will be modeled by myself and gradually become a group activity. This introduction to analysis will prepare them for the eighth grade where they will be able to analyze text independently.
• • In seventh grade, I want students to lengthen their writing on a specific thesis statement with detailed supporting ideas. As they exit seventh grade they will be fine-tuning their writing skills with a focus on presentation (grammar, spelling, and punctuation).

As a team, we discussed having a focus on listening and independence. We want each middle school student to develop these skills to prepare them for high school. In addition to listening we want to promote responsibility in each of our students. This will specifically pertain to turning in homework, coming prepared to class/school, and taking responsibility for misbehavior.

• Each student must be able to take responsibility for their own actions.

• Be good listeners and be an independent thinker 75% of the time.
• Take notes during a lecture ~ copying from the whiteboard and highlighting in a text.
• Read fluently and be able to dissect a passage with assistance from the teacher
• Complete a book report and graphic organizer following a specific format and teacher assistance.
• Write a 5 paragraph essay.
• The students will be able to add, subtract, multiply, and divide whole numbers, fractions, decimals, and integers, compute perimeter, area, and volume of a given shape, convert percent, decimals, and fractions, and graph a picture of a coordinate plane.

• Be good listeners and independent thinkers.
• Each student must be able to take responsibility for their own actions.
• Take notes during a lecture ~ listening, not directly copying from the whiteboard.
• Read fluently and be able to dissect a section and analyze it independently.
• Write a composition that contains a thesis statement, complete sentences, and proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
• Complete a book report and graphic organizer unassisted.
• Have a mastery of Pre-Algebra skills: add, subtract, multiply, and divide whole numbers, fractions, decimals, and integers, combine like terms, solve equations for a variable, convert percents, decimals, and fractions, identify slope and plot (x,y) on the coordinate plane, and solve and graph inequalities.