Mrs. Fisher’s FPLA Class I am looking forward to a great year with your children!

Contact Information The best way to contact me is by email Address is Elizabeth.Fisher@cusd200.org Can email directly from ParentVue You can also contact me by phone (630)682-2060 Before school is the best time to reach me

My Philosophy of Education All children can learn Learning should be fun Children learn from each other Teaching must include variety, flexibility, and individualization

Background I went to Hawthorne, Franklin, Wheaton North Degrees Undergraduate B.A. in Speech Communications from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Masters in Education from DePaul University Masters in Administration and Leadership from National Louis University

Other Information This is my 20th year teaching at Franklin 8th Grade Team Leader/member of Franklin Instructional Team Direct Variety Show Coach 8th Grade Girls Track Supervise Cafeteria

Curriculum Common Core was adopted Use many of the same pieces of literature Order it is taught may be different in the past Common vocabulary with high school Areas: Writing, Reading Literature, Reading Informational Texts, Speaking and Listening, and Language

Curriculum – my role Member of committee to create curriculum Created local assessments for FPLA reading Gave input on local assessments for regular 8th grade local reading assessment English-Language Arts Department Leader

Literature Mystery – And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie Historical Fiction – Various novels set during times they will be studying in the history class, including the following: Great Depression (Steinbeck, Out of the Dust, Truth About Sparrows, and No Promises in the Wind), Civil Rights Movement (Warriors Don’t Cry), and World War II (Hiroshima, Friedrich, Torn Thread). Classic - Animal Farm by George Orwell, Call of the Wild by Jack London, Steinbeck Drama – The Merchant of Venice, The Importance of Being Earnest, and Arsenic and Old Lace Non-Fiction – Hiroshima, Warriors Don’t Cry Poetry – Various poets Various short stories and supplemental articles

Writing Informative Argument Research Use specific examples for support Narrative/Creative Poetry Journal – Reflections on reading Free Write – Brainstorming ideas Revise formal writing for extra credit

Speaking and Listening Presentations – group and individual Speeches Sharing writing pieces Discussion (small and large)

Vocabulary Wordly Wise Greek and Latin roots, prefixes, suffixes Words from novels

Social-Emotional Learning Develop self-awareness and self-management skills to achieve school and life success Use social awareness and interpersonal skills to establish and maintain positive relationships Demonstrate decision-making skills and responsible behaviors in personal, school, and community contexts

Goals Setting goals and achieving them Goal (achievable, challenging, measurable) Plan (specific steps) Action (enact plan) Reflection (evaluate effectiveness of plan and adjust accordingly)

My Goals Create a safe and supportive atmosphere that promotes creativity and risk taking Instill a love of reading and writing Prepare all students for high school English Teach students to effectively communicate Have fun

PSAT and High School Test administered September 29 Test scores, grades, and teacher input used for high school placement Counselors visit LA classes in January/February for registration Ultimate decisions are yours

Thank you for attending! Read the letter from your child