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5th Grade Team

Welcome to 5th Grade!

Hello, and welcome back to school! I hope your family had a wonderful summer filled with fun, relaxation, and memorable adventures. My name is Mrs. Schiff, and I am delighted to be your child’s Math, Science, and Social Studies teacher this year. I am looking forward to a wonderful year of learning, exploring, growing, and creating lasting memories together in our classroom.

A Little About Me

I have been married for 24 years and have called Libertyville home for the past 26 years. My husband and I have four children: Amanda, who has been married for almost four years and blessed us with our first granddaughter this past June 2026; Olivia, a senior at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business; Ty, a sophomore at Arizona State University Carey School of Business; and Audrina, who is in 7th grade here at SJCS.

During my 15 years at St. Joseph Catholic School, I have been blessed to grow both personally and professionally within this wonderful school community. I earned my degree in Education from Indiana Wesleyan University in 2019 and continue to further my education.

I also had the opportunity to serve as the 5th–8th Grade Middle School Resource Teacher years ago, working closely with students who have ISPs and 504 Plans. This experience strengthened my understanding of differentiated instruction and the importance of meeting students where they are while helping them build confidence and reach their individual potential. I am currently continuing my education as I work toward earning my Special Education credential.

Looking Ahead to a Wonderful Year

As we begin this new school year, one of my greatest priorities is to ensure that every student feels seen, supported, challenged, and capable of success. I believe children learn best when they feel comfortable asking questions, taking academic risks, and recognizing that mistakes are an important part of learning and growth.

My experience as the 5th–8th Grade Resource Teacher also provided me with a strong understanding of our Middle School Math, Science, and Social Studies curriculum. I will continue collaborating closely with our Middle School teachers throughout the year to help ensure that our 5th graders develop the academic skills, study habits, independence, and confidence they need for a successful transition into 6th grade.

I am truly grateful for the trust you place in me as your child’s teacher. I value the partnership between home and school and believe that open communication plays an important role in each child's success. Please never hesitate to reach out with questions, concerns, or anything you feel would help me better support your child.

I am excited for all that this year has in store for us!

Many Blessings,
Mrs. Schiff

Help Support Our Classroom

I have created an Amazon Classroom Wish List with items that will help enhance our students’ learning experiences throughout the year. The list includes resources to expand our classroom library of knowledge, support new and engaging approaches to Math instruction, provide opportunities for hands-on and differentiated learning, and help students develop important study skills, organization, and independent learning habits.

Every item, big or small, will be put to good use and directly benefit our students. Any donation is sincerely appreciated, but certainly never expected. I am incredibly grateful for the continued generosity and support of our SJCS families.

You can find the wish list using the Amazon tab on this webpage or by visiting the link below.

Thank you for helping me create a classroom where our students can continue to learn, grow, and thrive!

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3RS691H76HBK0?ref_=wl_share

Posts

September 14, 2026 Homework

Math - prime factorization packet, if not finished in class (Today we learned about prime factorization. We took composite numbers and broke them down into prime number factors. Example: 36 = 18 x 2 = 9 x 2 x 2 = 3 x 3 x 2 x 2...so the prime factorization for the number 36 is 2 x 2 x 3 x 3)

Science - only for Bubis homeroom - read pgs. 127- 130 in the book; if not finished in class (Today, students learned about chemical changes and how they create new substances with different properties. We will explore evidence of chemical reactions, including color changes, temperature changes, gas formation, and new substances forming. We also discussed how matter is conserved during a chemical change. My homeroom will be reading this tomorrow.)

Social Studies - Iroquois, Cheyenne, and Pocahontas packet: answer all the questions if you didn't finish in class, and the weekly D.O.G. was passed out today and is due by Friday. (Today we continued our journey with Native Americans and learned about a few different tribes. Questions to ask: What river is in the area where the Iroquoian languages were spoken?... It was the Hudson River. The Cheyenne tribe calls themselves the Tsitsistas. What does this translate to?... It stands for "the people". Who was Pocahontas the daughter of?... Pocahontas was the daughter of the powerful Algonquian chief Powhatan.)

Looking Ahead

Rosary Launch and Spirit Run is September 18th at 7:45 am

If anyone would like to donate wish list items to our classroom, please use this Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3RS691H76HBK0?ref_=wl_share

Thank you all so much in advance for your continued support. It truly makes a difference in our school community!

9/14/26 to 9/18/26 Week at a Glance

Math: Chapter 2 - Multiply Whole Numbers (one lesson per day)

Lesson 1 - Prime Factorization (Learning objective: We will find the prime factorization of numbers)
Lesson 2 - Prime Factorization Numbers (Learning objective: We will explore patterns in the prime factorization of numbers)
Lesson 3- Powers and Exponents (Learning objective: We will use powers and exponents in expressions)
Lesson 4 - Multiplication Patterns (Learning objective: We will use basic math facts and patterns to multiply multiples of 10, 100, and 1,000 mentally)
We will also do an in-class Check My Progress worksheet to see how everyone is doing thus far on the lessons taught

Science: Topic 2 (Chemical Changes) of Matter (one lesson per week)

We ask ourselves: How can we tell when a chemical change has occurred?

What happens to matter during a chemical change?
What evidence can we observe that shows a new substance has formed?

Learning Objective:

Students will investigate chemical changes and use observations as evidence to explain when a chemical change has occurred and a new substance with different properties has formed.

Important vocabulary words for the week: chemical change, chemical reaction, reactant, product, and evidence

We will also be completing our Chemical Changes packet this week to reinforce what we are learning through reading, discussion, examples, and review.
Thursday, we have our weekly open note Quiz…they are allowed to use their books/packets every week on these quizzes
Friday is the Rosary Launch/Spirit Run, so we are just going to a fun Riddles packet to end the week with some fun

Social Studies: Lesson 1 - Native Americans and their land

On Monday, we will do a packet on the Iroquois, Cheyenne, and Pocahontas tribes
On Tuesday, we will do a packet on Native American Myths, Customs, and Traditions
On Wednesday, we will do a Native American Movement packet

Learning Objective on Native Americans:

Students will be able to identify the diverse cultures and geographic locations of various Native American tribes, comparing and contrasting their unique traditions, social structures, and relationships with the land while understanding the historical impact of colonization on their communities

On Thursday, we will look at our new Time magazine article and discuss it as a whole group, and then in table groups
On Friday, we will work on a packet explaining what Social Studies is, if time allows us to do so due to the Rosary Launch/ Spirit Run

Weekly D.O.G. (Daily Oral Geography) will be passed out on Monday as well - due on Friday

*Please note that The Week at a Glance is very broad. Please check my nightly Edlio posts to read about what we specifically did in class that day.*

Friday, September 11, 2026 Homework

Math - None (Today, we had some fun. I would never start a new chapter on a Friday, so we played math games as we worked so hard on iReady Math testing this week.)

Science - None (Today, we had our open-note quiz on Physical Changes in Matter.)

Social Studies - None (Today, we read about the Patriot Act. The Patriot Act was a law passed by Congress shortly after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. President George W. Bush signed it into law on October 26, 2001. Its main purpose was to give law enforcement, including the FBI, more tools to find terrorists, investigate possible threats, and help prevent another attack, which was established after the attacks on 9/11/01. Ask your child to tell you some fun facts about this packet.)

Looking Ahead

Rosary Launch and Spirit Run is September 18th at 7:45 am

If anyone would like to donate wish list items to our classroom, please use this Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3RS691H76HBK0?ref_=wl_share

Thank you all so much in advance for your continued support. It truly makes a difference in our school community!

Thursday, September 10, 2026 Homework

Math - September 11 math packet, if not finished in class (Today, we reviewed math by solving problems that filled in dates, counts, and times in a September 11 timeline. It was a great online find, and the students joined in doing it together as a class. Most, if not all, finished in class today as we worked on it together as a whole.)

Science - 15-question packet, if not finished in class (Today, we worked on 15 questions that went along with our readings from yesterday and the day before. The students worked alone or in pairs on this. They kept their packet if finished, as I will grade it after they use it on the quiz tomorrow.)

Social Studies - September 11 packet (Today, we honored and respected September 11th by continuing our journey of learning about it with an age-appropriate packet. We also had more discussion as a class, which I love. Ask your child to tell you some fun facts they learned today.)

Looking Ahead

Rosary Launch and Spirit Run is September 18th at 7:45 am

If anyone would like to donate wish list items to our classroom, please use this Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3RS691H76HBK0?ref_=wl_share

Thank you all so much in advance for your continued support. It truly makes a difference in our school community!

Wednesday, September 9, 2026 Homework

Math - None (We continued our Math iReady diagnostic today.)

Science - None (Today, my homeroom answered the questions in the packet I provided yesterday while Ms. Bubis's class read pages 95-98 in the textbook, and then I passed out their reading packets and questions for the week. Keep these packets for the week and do not throw them out. We learned about physical changes in matter. A physical change happens when matter changes its size, shape, or state, but it remains the same kind of matter. No new substance is created during a physical change. For example, when ice melts into liquid water, it changes from a solid to a liquid, but it is still water. Other examples of physical changes include cutting, crushing, bending, tearing, melting, and freezing. Some physical changes can be reversed, such as freezing water into ice and then melting it back into water. Other changes, like cutting a piece of paper, may be difficult to reverse, but they are still physical changes because the material has not turned into a new substance. When deciding whether something is a physical change, ask yourself, “Is it still the same substance after the change?” If the answer is yes, it is most likely a physical change.)

Social Studies - None (Today, we honored and respected September 11th by starting our journey of learning about it with an age-appropriate Scholastic News article. I truly enjoyed it myself, too. Their dad was a firefighter and died on 9/11, and his bravery inspired all three of his children to then become firefighters as well. Ask your child to tell you some fun facts they learned today.)

Looking Ahead

Rosary Launch and Spirit Run is September 18th at 7:45 am

If anyone would like to donate wish list items to our classroom, please use this Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3RS691H76HBK0?ref_=wl_share

Thank you all so much in advance for your continued support. It truly makes a difference in our school community!

September 8 - 11, 2026 Week at a Glance

Math: iReady Math diagnostic

On Tuesday, we will start iReady Math, and it will most likely continue into Thursday for some kids. Please have headphones/earbuds and get some good sleep the night before. Also, a good breakfast might help.

Science: Chapter 1 on the Properties of Matter - Physical Changes in Matter (one lesson per week)

We ask ourselves, what are solids, liquids, and gases? (We started a little of this last week in preparation)

What are the properties of matter?

Learning Objectives:

Students will observe and imagine properties of states of matter and will identify phase changes.

Important vocabulary words for the week: gas, solid, and liquid
We will be doing a few different packets on Matter as well this week
Thursday, we will work on the 15 questions I put together to be found in the packet we read on Wednesday together.
Friday, we have our weekly Quiz… they are allowed to use the packets I put together every week on these quizzes

Social Studies: Lesson 1 - Native Americans and their land & September 11th history

On Tuesday, we will focus on Mesoamerica with packets as an extension of learning on Native Americans
On Wednesday, they will do a packet about September 11th
On Thursday, we will read about the Patriot Act and work on a packet on it
On Friday, they will work on a Scholastic News article and questions about September 11th

*Please note that The Week at a Glance is very broad. Please check my nightly Edlio posts to read about what we specifically did in class that day.*

Tuesday, September 8, 2026 Homework

Math - None (We started our Math iReady diagnostic today.)

Science - None - Schiff Only (Today, I had my homeroom only. Tomorrow, Ms. Bubis's class will do this. We read pages 95-98 in the textbook, and then I passed out reading packets and questions for the week. Keep these packets for the week and do not throw them out. We learned about physical changes in matter. A physical change happens when matter changes its size, shape, or state, but it remains the same kind of matter. No new substance is created during a physical change. For example, when ice melts into liquid water, it changes from a solid to a liquid, but it is still water. Other examples of physical changes include cutting, crushing, bending, tearing, melting, and freezing. Some physical changes can be reversed, such as freezing water into ice and then melting it back into water. Other changes, like cutting a piece of paper, may be difficult to reverse, but they are still physical changes because the material has not turned into a new substance. When deciding whether something is a physical change, ask yourself, “Is it still the same substance after the change?” If the answer is yes, it is most likely a physical change.)

Social Studies - Native Americans of Different Regions packet, if not finished in class. (Today, we worked on a packet called Native Americans in Different Regions. We started talking about this last week in our textbooks, but we will dive deeper into each region starting next week. Today's lesson was an overall region packet.)

Looking Ahead

Rosary Launch and Spirit Run is September 18th at 7:45 am

If anyone would like to donate wish list items to our classroom, please use this Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3RS691H76HBK0?ref_=wl_share

Thank you all so much in advance for your continued support. It truly makes a difference in our school community!

Friday, September 4, 2026 Homework

Math - None (Today, we took our first Math Test for Chapter 1. I'm very proud of them all. All grades are in PowerSchool.)

Science - None (Today, we did our Topic 2 quiz on Model Matter. They were allowed to use their books and the packet I made for this topic. Grades are in PowerSchool.)

Social Studies - None (Today, we focused on Native American topics in BrainPop as a little Friday fun. We will continue with learning about Mesoamerica on Tuesday.)

Looking Ahead

No school on Monday, September 7th
Rosary Launch and Spirit Run is September 18th at 7:45 am

If anyone would like to donate wish list items to our classroom, please use this Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3RS691H76HBK0?ref_=wl_share

Thank you all so much in advance for your continued support. It truly makes a difference in our school community!

Thursday, September 3, 2026 Homework

Math - Practice 1A test worksheet; if not finished in class, Math test tomorrow (Today, we went over our math practice test from last night, and now they have a corrected version. They are doing the same practice test again tonight for homework. That means they practiced twice before taking the real test tomorrow.)

Science - 15-question packet; if not finished in class - Quiz tomorrow (Today, we worked on a 15-question packet that had to do with yesterday's reading. They were allowed to use the reading packet to help answer these questions. This same reading packet can be used on the quiz tomorrow too.)

Social Studies - None; D.O.G. due tomorrow (Today, we did a packet of First Native Americans, Native American Terms, and Native American Customs in class. Ask your child to tell you a remarkable fact they learned from this packet.)

Looking Ahead

Curriculum Night is Thursday, September 3rd @ 6 p.m. - adults only
Rosary Launch and Spirit Run is September 18th

If anyone would like to donate wish list items to our classroom, please use this Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3RS691H76HBK0?ref_=wl_share

Thank you all so much in advance for your continued support. It truly makes a difference in our school community!

Wednesday, September 2, 2026 Homework

Math - Practice 1A test worksheet; if not finished in class - Math test on Friday (Today, we worked on review pages in our book, and I handed out a practice test as homework. We will go over it tomorrow to get a corrected version, and they will have it again for homework tomorrow night. That means they practiced twice before taking the real test on Friday.)

Science - None (Today, we read a more in-depth packet on Modeling Matter. We learned that all matter is made of tiny particles that are too small to see. Scientists use models to show how these particles are arranged and move differently in solids, liquids, and gases. We also learned that heating and cooling can change particle motion and cause matter to change state. Even when matter changes form or dissolves, its particles do not disappear, and the total amount of matter is conserved.)

Social Studies - read pgs. 58 - 68 in the textbook and answer all the questions; if not finished in class, D.O.G. due by Friday. (Today, we continued our learning of Native Americans and their lands/regions. We read about the Southwest, Plateau, Great Plains, Eastern Woodlands, and Southeast regions and why Native Americans chose them as places to live. For example, the Algonquins lived in the Eastern Woodlands. They used the trees to build their homes, called wigwams. They hunted deer and used their hides for clothing. They kept warm by wearing capes made of turkey feathers.)

Looking Ahead

Curriculum Night is Thursday, September 3rd @ 6 p.m. - adults only
Rosary Launch and Spirit Run is September 18th

If anyone would like to donate wish list items to our classroom, please use this Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3RS691H76HBK0?ref_=wl_share

Thank you all so much in advance for your continued support. It truly makes a difference in our school community!

Tuesday, September 1, 2026 Homework

Math - Comparing Decimals packet; if not finished in class - Math test on Friday (Today, we extended our practice of greater than, less than, or equal to with decimals...examples: 3.42 = 3.420 or 59.6 > 5.96.)

Science - None (Today, I only had my homeroom for Science. Ms. Bubis's homeroom read this yesterday. We learned that all matter is made up of extremely tiny particles that are too small to see with the naked eye. Scientists use models to help explain what these particles look like and how they behave. We learned that particles are arranged and move differently in solids, liquids, and gases. We also explored how matter can change when substances are mixed, heated, or cooled, while the matter itself is still made of particles. Models help scientists understand, explain, and predict how matter behaves.

Social Studies - read pgs 48 - 57 in the book and answer all the questions, if not finished in class; D.O.G. due by Friday . (Today we continued our learning of Native Americans and their lands/regions. We read about the Northwest Coast and the California-Intermountain regions and why Native Americans chose them as places to live. For example, the Pomos tribe lived in the California-Intermountain Region and made beads from seashells they found. They put beads on cords and made necklaces. They also made baskets from nearby grasses and tree bark. )

Looking Ahead

Curriculum Night is Thursday, September 3rd @ 6 p.m. - adults only
Rosary Launch and Spirit Run is September 18th

If anyone would like to donate wish list items to our classroom, please use this Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3RS691H76HBK0?ref_=wl_share

Thank you all so much in advance for your continued support. It truly makes a difference in our school community!

Monday, August 31, 2026 Homework

Math - pgs 47 & 48 and 53 & 54 from the textbook - Math test on Friday - optional IXL lessons X8U & NSG (Today, we focused on place value, meaning when given a number. We also focused on place value, which means considering the place value when given a bigger number. Example: We worked on decimals with whole numbers today...3.527. We wrote them in standard form and word form. The word "and" represents a decimal when writing. We also wrote decimals in expanded 45.324 = 40 x 1 + 5 x 1 + (3 x 1/10) + (2 x 1/100) + (4 x 1/1000). We also learned greater than, less than, or equal to with decimals...examples: 3.42 = 3.420 or 59.6 > 5.96z.)

Science - None (Today, I only had Ms. Bubis’s homeroom for Science. My homeroom will read this tomorrow. We learned that all matter is made up of extremely tiny particles that are too small to see with the naked eye. Scientists use models to help explain what these particles look like and how they behave. We learned that particles are arranged and move differently in solids, liquids, and gases. We also explored how matter can change when substances are mixed, heated, or cooled, while the matter itself is still made of particles. Models help scientists understand, explain, and predict how matter behaves.

Social Studies - Native American Sioux packet if not finished in class. Also, the weekly D.O.G. was handed out today, and the packet is due by Friday. (Today, we continued our learning of Native Americans and their lands/regions with a fabulous packet of text and questions.)

Looking Ahead

Curriculum Night is Thursday, September 3rd @ 6 p.m. - adults only
Rosary Launch and Spirit Run is September 18th

If anyone would like to donate wish list items to our classroom, please use this Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3RS691H76HBK0?ref_=wl_share

Thank you all so much in advance for your continued support. It truly makes a difference in our school community!

8/31/26 to 9/4/26 Week at a Glance

Math: Chapter 1 - Place Value (one lesson per day)

Chapter 1, Lesson 5 - Understand Place Value (learning objective: Understand place value in decimal numbers. We’ll use whiteboards and charts to help us.)
Chapter 1, Lesson 6 - Place Value through Thousandths (learning objective: Read and write decimals in standard, expanded, and word forms.)
Wednesday & Thursday - Practice Tests in class and for homework

Friday - Chapter 1 Math Test

Science: Chapter 1 on the Properties of Matter (one lesson per week)

We ask ourselves: How can the particles that make up matter be detected?

Learning Objective -

Students will use their basic properties to compare and contrast solids, liquids, and gases.

Important vocabulary words for the week: mass, temperature, and volume
We will be doing a few different packets on Matter as well this week
Friday, we have our weekly Quiz… they are allowed to use their books every week on these quizzes

Social Studies:

Lesson 2 - Native Americans and Their Land

Answer the essential question: How did Native Americans adapt to different environments in North America?

Learning Objective -

Trace the migration routes of Native Americans in North America
Summarize key features of the four environments
Identify ways in which the Inuit adapted to their Arctic environments

Lesson 3 - Native American Cultural Regions

Answer the essential question: How and why did Native American cultural regions differ?

Learning Objective -

Identify, compare, and contrast seven Native American cultural regions.

Analyze artifacts to identify which ones Native Americans may have used as they adapted to each region

We will work on a couple of different Native American packets this week to extend our learning

*Please note that The Week at a Glance is very broad. Please check my nightly Edlio posts to read about what we specifically did in class that day.*

Friday, August 28, 2026 Homework

Math- None (We are ahead in Math pacing, so I gave each student a Scholastic News magazine. I am incorporating it into my weekly lessons for Social Studies and occasionally Science. This week, the article was called "Monster Shark". It was a fascinating read, with questions and activities that accompanied it. We also read about whether video games are good for you. Ask your child their thoughts after reading the article today.)

Science- None (Today, we did our first open-book/open-note quiz, a Quiz on Lesson 1)

Social Studies - None (Today, we had a little fun with a Textbook Scavenger Hunt to get to know our books. This was not easy for them, but they tried and worked hard. They had to look up publishers, copyrights, specific definitions in the glossary, how many lessons each unit has, etc. Not all in my homeroom finished because we had bus evacuation practice and lost class time. They all earned full credit for working quietly and productively.)

Looking Ahead

Picture Day is August 31st
Curriculum Night is September 3rd @ 6 p.m.
Rosary Launch and Spirit Run is September 18th

If anyone would like to donate wish list items to our classroom, please use this Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3RS691H76HBK0?ref_=wl_share

Thank you all so much in advance for your continued support. It truly makes a difference in our school community!

Thursday, August 27, 2026 Homework

Math - None (Today, we reviewed lessons 1 - 4 with a Check My Progress in the textbook and an extra worksheet. They are all working so hard, and I love it!)

Science - 15-question Matter packet; if not finished in class, open-note quiz tomorrow in class (Today, students completed a 15-question practice packet to review Topic 1: Properties of Matter. This packet reviewed the important concepts and vocabulary we have been learning, including matter, mass, volume, density, solubility, conductivity, magnetism, and physical and chemical changes.)

Social Studies - read pages 32 - 41 (skip page 36) in the textbook and answer all the questions if not finished in class, and weekly D.O.G. is due by Friday. (Today, we started to read about Native Americans and their lands. I asked them to pay attention to the different tribes and how their traditions differ from one another. They also focused on Native Americans and the Environment around them... grasslands, mountains, deserts, and Arctic ice fields.)

Looking Ahead

Picture Day is August 31st
Curriculum Night is September 3rd @ 6 p.m.
Rosary Launch and Spirit Run is September 18th

If anyone would like to donate wish list items to our classroom, please use this Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3RS691H76HBK0?ref_=wl_share

Thank you all so much in advance for your continued support. It truly makes a difference in our school community!