This website will be a hub of information for you and your child. 

1. Please check this site often. I will post important information in the Updates & Announcements section. I will also use this page as a way to post our monthly newsletter and any important dates that should arise.
2. If you have any questions or concerns, please let me know. I am happy to help!
3. This is going to be a great year. However, we are all going to need to work as a team. I am excited to work with you to help make your child's last year in elementary school a memorable one.

                                                  Mrs. Alexander

Google: We will continue to utilize Google Classroom this school year for assignments and activities.  Students should be familiar with this platform from the previous year, and it will also be used in junior high. Parents are welcomed and encouraged to check your child's Google Classroom. 

Homework: Students will be asked to read daily and will have one weekly independent reading assignment assigned at the beginning of each week. Additional homework may be assigned, but plenty of time will be provided for students to complete their work at school with the opportunity to ask for assistance. Please check your child's student agenda daily. 

Class Schedule: TBD Please check back soon!

Communication: In order for your child to meet their highest potential this year, we need to keep in contact. I have many ways that I will communicate classroom information, homework, and behavior with you.

• Classroom Newsletter: Our classroom newsletter will sent home and posted on this site monthly. Please take a moment to read it as it will list important dates and let you know what we will be focusing on in class.
• REMIND: I will be using a text messaging service through the website REMIND.  You may receive text messages detailing homework, personal messages, and important dates. To sign up for our classroom Remind text @d24h98 to 81010. 
• Classroom Website: I will regularly update this website with pictures, announcements, and videos. 
• Friday Reports: Friday Reports will be sent home weekly. These will include any missing assignments and an overall behavior rating. This will need to be signed by both you and your child and turned in the following Monday. 

Expectations, Rewards, & Conequences

Expectations: I hold my fifth graders to a high standard. They are the leaders of our school. I expect them to understand the importance of that responsibility and carry it with pride.  During the first few weeks of school, we will spend time building a classroom community and deciding how being responsible, respectful, and safe will look in our classroom.

Rewards: Students may earn various privileges or rewards from Irving staff for following expectations. 

• Mustang Dollars: Students can earn Mustang Dollars in all areas of the building. They can use this money at our Mustang Mall when we visit it as a class on Fridays.
• Brownie Points: As a class, we have the opportunity to turn a brownie each time we have zero marks in specials and each day that the entire class has homework turned in. When we have filled our brownie pan, students will earn a special treat.
• House System: Students will continue to be a member of their current house. We will welcome new Mustangs into houses during the first week. Students can earn points for their houses throughout the day!
• Classroom Store: Students can earn money by doing classroom jobs and working hard to follow classroom expectation. This money can be used to purchase items from our classroom store.

Daily Behavior Rating: Please check your student's agenda for a daily behavior rating. Your child will self-asses their day, and you will also see a rating from me. At the end of the week, you will see an overall rating listed on their Friday report. 

MATH

• Place value of whole numbers and decimals including ordering, comparing, and writing in various forms
• Adding and subtracting decimals and fractions
• Multiplying and dividing whole numbers, decimals, and fractions
• Graphing
• Measurement

READING: 

• Whole and small group novel studies
• Focus on both informational text and literature
• Research based projects
• Comparing and contrasting characters, setting, and other story elements
• Using evidence from text to support answers
• Focus on themes in text
• 40 Book Challenge

WRITING/LANGUAGE:

• Basic paragraph writing
• Narrative, opinion, and expository writing using the writing process
• Research writing using information from reading
• Mentor Sentence to focus on well written sentences in text and identify parts of speech
• Greek and Latin Root word study

HISTORY:

• Basic geography
• Native Americans and their environments
• Early colonies
• American history through the Revolutionary War

SCIENCE:

• Ecosystems and their Interactions
• Space Exploration
• Matter
• Famous scientist study

Our classroom newsletter will be posted and sent home monthly. Please take a moment to read it as it is filled with important information. 

There are numerous ways to contact me!

• alexanderl@district87.org
• 309-827-8091
• Sign up for the Remind app! Send the message @7682266c to the number 81010.

Class Schedule Coming Soon!

Hello 5A! I am so excited to be your teacher this year. 

Take a moment to click on the picture below and get to know me better. When you are finished, please feel free to click HERE and introduce yourself to me!

We are fortunate this year to have an Illinois State University student join our classroom. Ms. Melissa Helenthal will be with us first semester as a clinical student before taking over in January as our student teacher. 

If you have questions or need help, please e-mail me. I will respond as soon as I can!

alexanderl@district87.org