MRS. GILLARD'S Lower Grade  Classroom

Mrs. Gillard’s 
Class of 2023-2024

 

My Goals

·To help your child learn how to have a long-lasting relationship with Jesus.

·To give your child the academic and social skills he/she needs to be successful in the classroom.

·To provide a supportive and fun classroom environment.

·To help your child make new friends and discover new interests.

 

Class Subjects

·The subjects covered in class:

·Bible

·Language Arts (Grammar, Reading and Writing)

·Math

·Science

·Social Studies

·Spanish

·Music/Drama

·Art

·Physical Education

·Technology/STEM

 

Bible

Our focus this year:

  • We build a relationship with God by including Him in our daily lives so we are happy and productive on Earth and prepared to spend eternity with Him in Heaven.
  • What does it mean to have a relationship with God and why is such a relationship important? 
  • This school year we will dig deep into God's Word.  Each Bible lesson will be an invitation to delve into the depths of God’s Story and make discoveries, to validate the evidence, and to know the truth; but in all of this, it is important to remember that Truth is a Person. Truth speaks and breathes and loves and sacrifices. “The truth will set you free ... ” (John 8:32) Jesus alone accomplished this. So in digging deep, our focus will be to keep focused on an encounter with the Truth — the Author of the Story: Jesus Christ.

 

Language Arts:

  • All grade levels of Grammar and Writing simultaneously develop the basic concepts of grammar: eight parts of speech, sentence structure, sentence diagramming, capitalization, punctuation, and correct word usage.
  • The curriculum includes daily vocabulary practice, spelling rules, and weekly spelling tests in the form of dictation.
  •  A separate, consumable writing workbook for each grade level provides approximately 35 lessons covering brainstorming, outlining, re-writing, evaluation, and all the parts of the complete, well-structured essay. In addition to persuasive essays, expository essays, research papers, descriptive essays, and personal narratives, students write imaginative stories, poetry, and responses to literature and informational texts.

Reading is essential for students to improve their reading fluency and comprehension.  We will have scheduled reading blocks divided into various reading strategies such as read aloud, shared reading, and guided and independent reading.   

Math

Big Ideas Math program offers an engaging and interactive approach to covering the State Standards. The program emphasizes understanding, computational fluency, and real life applications.

 

  • It is essential that your child knows his/her fact tables (multiplication, division, addition, and subtraction). Math facts are important because they form the building blocks for higher-level math concepts.  When a child masters his/her math facts, these concepts will be significantly easier and the student will be better equipped to solve them faster.  If the child spends a lot of time doing the basic facts, he/she is more likely to be confused with the processes and get lost in their calculations. 

 Science

  • Cells and Genetics
  • Geology
  • Electricity and Magnetism
  • Plant and Animal Life Cycles  

 

 

Social Studies

Students will be exposed to civics, sociology, economics, geography, and history.

 

Homework

Every child will have to read for 20 minutes, complete the reading log, and do math homework every school night. (Except for Wednesday and Friday)

 

Occasionally additional reading homework will be assigned.

 

Bible, Science, and Social Studies homework will be given based on the assignment criteria.

 

MAPS NWEA Testing

Kindergarten-8th are tested three times a year. (Summer, Winter, and Spring)

 

Below are some NWEA MAP testing resources for our students and parents 

NWEA Parent Tool Kit 

MAP Growth Test Warm-up 

MAP Growth Practice Test 

 

Classroom Community

Our classroom is a community. In our community, we have rules to help us get along with each other.

 

Our classroom rules are:

Respect others

Raise your hand before you speak

Listen politely to others

Please clean up after yourself

Do your very best!  

 

Student Planners(folders)

Please initial your child’s folder each day after you have checked that his/her homework is completed. Please write any notes that you have for me in this folder. 

 

Remember to write a note or let me know personally if your child’s transportation changes.

 

Please also sign up for REMIND.  Remind is a great way to communicate with parents and students. It will keep you up to date with the class newsletter, reminders, homework, messages, and any notification of new and important information coming home with your child.

 

You can also reach me by cell: 843-614-1311 or

E-mail: jgillard@carolinasda.org

 

 

Let’s Have a Great Year!

 

Blessings to all,

Jeanette Gillard

 

Educational Website Links

 

Academic Skill Builders (Boost maTH fact fluency)
FIFTY nIFTY sTATES