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Mrs. Tiffany Schiff » Home

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5th Grade Team
 

Hello and welcome back to school! I hope you had an incredible Summer filled with fun and adventures. My name is Mrs. Schiff and I am delighted to write to you as your child’s Math, Science and Social Studies teacher. We're going to learn, explore, and grow together in our wonderful classroom.

 

A little about myself: I have been married for 21 years and have lived in Libertyville for 23 years. I have four children: Amanda, who has been married for almost a year now; Olivia, who is a Freshman at Indiana University Kelley School of Business; Ty, who is a Junior at LHS and recently made the Sophomore Basketball team; and Audrina, who is in 4th grade here at SJCS.

 

Throughout my 12 years at St. Joseph Catholic School, I have been furthering my education. I earned my Education degree from Indiana Wesleyan University in 2019. Last year, I assumed the role of 5th - 8th grade Middle School Resource Teacher and worked with students who hold ISP’s and 504 plans. I am currently working towards earning my Special Education credential as well.

 

As this new school year starts, I will be working closely with each student to ensure their success. During my time as the 5-8 Resource Teacher, I gained a strong understanding of the Middle School Math, Science, and Social Studies curriculum. I will continue to work closely with these teachers to ensure the 5th graders are prepared for 6th grade.

 

I am grateful for your trust and support as their teacher, and feel free to contact me with any questions.

 

Many Blessings!

 

Also...I have created a new Amazon wish list of items that will help grow our library of knowledge and also improve my new way of teaching math and ensuring that each student continues to grow and learn in many different ways. We will also be learning study skills and I need supplies from my wish list to make this happen as well. Any donation is greatly appreciated. Link is here or under Amazon tab on the side... thank you!

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

 

 

Posts

Thursday, September 14, 2023 Homework

Math - None (Today we started our iReady diagnostic testing. Most did not finish and we will find time tomorrow or on Monday to finish it up.)
 
Science - None and our weekly D.O.S. is due by tomorrow (Today we did our weekly lesson check quiz...students are allowed to use their books and I let them know the pages to use)
 
Social Studies - "Back to School" history packet if not finished in class and our weekly D.O.G. is due by tomorrow  (Today we did a packet on the history of what "Back to School" means. This was very interesting, even for me. I learned so many cool and new facts. Please ask your child to tell you what they learned.)
 
Reminders:
~ Curriculum / Open House Night for parents/guardians only is TONIGHT - Thursday, September 14th at 6pm in Koenig Center. Please join us as we have so much information to share for this fabulous year.
 
~ Rosary Launch is tomorrow at 7:45am in the park....please join us

Wednesday, September 13, 2023 Homework

Math - None (Today we took our first Math test. The students did a great job! No homework for tonight. We will be starting iReady Math diagnostic tomorrow, so please ensure a good nights sleep and a great breakfast.)
 
Science - What's the Matter? packet if not finished in class and weekly D.O.S. is due by Friday (This Matter packet went into depth about the states of Matter with many examples. They had to choose if certain items were liquid, gas or a solid. This was a great packet to go along with the lesson of the week.)
 
Social Studies - None, but weekly D.O.G. is due by Friday  (Today we took our first test of the Unit on Native American's and Their Land. I didn't mention this because we took this test together. I wanted the students to learn the format of the test for future. Everyone earned a 100% on this because we went over each question and answer together.)
 
Reminders:
~ Curriculum / Open House Night for parents/guardians only is tomorrow - Thursday, September 14th at 6pm in Koenig Center. Please join us as we have so much information to share for this fabulous year.
 
~ Rosary Launch is this Friday at 7:45am in the park....please join us
 

Tuesday, September 12, 2023 Homework

Math - Practice Test 1A worksheet only ( Today we worked on the Practice Test together in class and then they received another practice test as their homework. The test will be on tomorrow. We will have done the practice test 3  times before the actual test. They will be overly prepared.)
 
Science - only for Schiff homeroom - read pgs 23 - 27 in book and answer all the questions if not finished in class and weekly D.O.S. is due by Friday (I only had my class for Science today and then Miss Bubis' class was yesterday  for this same lesson. Today we learned about the states of Matter again...liquid, gas, and solid... Example: Is butter a solid? What is butter after being placed in microwave?...it goes from solid to liquid)
 
Social Studies - Sioux packet & MesoAmerica packet and answer all the questions if not finished in class and weekly D.O.G. is due by Friday  (Today we continued our journey with Native Americans and learned about the Sioux tribe. Questions to ask: What is the center of the Sioux Religion?...It centers around the Great Spirit called Wakan Tanka. How did the Gold Rush affect the Sioux?...Once gold was found, the region was flooded with people and broke the treaty that the land belonged to the Sioux only.  We also did a packet on MesoAmerica. Here are some questions to ask...Where is MesoAmerica located?...It stretches from present day Mexico to Central America.  What products are indigenous to MesoAmerica?...Avocados and Cocoa Powder to make chocolate are indigenous to MesoAmerica.)
 
Reminders:
~ Open House Night for parents only is on Thursday, September 14 at 6pm. Please join us as we have so much information to share for this fabulous year.
 
~ Rosary Launch is this Friday at 7:45am in the park....please join us
 

Monday, September 11, 2023 Homework

Math - Practice Test 1A worksheet only ( Today we worked on two review pages in class and then they received a practice test as their homework. The test will be on Wednesday. We will be doing the practice test at least 3 to 4 times before the actual test. They will be overly prepared.)
 
Science - only for Bubis homeroom - read pgs 23 - 27 in book and answer all the questions if not finished in class and weekly D.O.S. is due by Friday (I only had my class for Science today and then Miss Bubis' class will be tomorrow for this same lesson. Today we learned about the states of Matter again...liquid, gas, and solid... Example: Is butter a solid? What is butter after being placed in microwave?...it goes from solid to liquid)
 
Social Studies - read September 11th packet and answer all the questions if not finished in class and weekly D.O.G. is due by Friday  (Today we gave honor and respect in learning about September 11th with an age appropriate packet. We also read about the Patriot Act that was established after the attacks. Ask your child to tell you some fun fact's they have learned.)
 
Reminders:
~ Open House Night for parents only is on Thursday, September 14 at 6pm. Please join us as we have so much information to share for this fabulous year.
 

The 5th grade class is ready for their journey in the Spanish language. They were so excited to finish their first class project of el Pasaporte. 

September 11, 2023 to September 15, 2023 Week at a Glance

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

  • On Monday, we will do review pages in the classroom
  • On Tuesday, we will do a practice together in the classroom
  • On Wednesday, we will have our first Chapter 1 Math Test,  but by now they will have done the practice 3 times to be ready
  • On Thursday, we will start iReady Math..please have headphones/earbuds and get some good sleep the night before
  • On Friday, we have Rosary Launch/Spirit Run and miss Math

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

  • We ask ourselves, What are solids, liquids, and gasses? (we started a little of this last week in preparation)
    • What are the properties of matter?
  • Students will observe and measure 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 have our weekly Words to Know Quiz…they are allowed to use their books every week on these quizzes
  • Friday, we will continue learning study skills and organizational skills as an extra class and the end of Science class for about 15 minutes a week
  • Weekly D.O.S. (Daily Oral Science) will be passed out on Monday as well - due on Friday

Social Studies: 

    • On Monday, we will focus on September 11th with a age appropriate packet of learning
    • On Tuesday, we will focus on the Sioux Tribe and MesoAmerica with packets as an extension of learning on Native Americans
    • On Tuesday, I will also lecture about the test they will be taking on Wednesday about Native Americans and their Land. They get to use their notes on the test from my lecture.
    • On Thursday, we will do a packet for fun on the History of Back to School and its meaning…it’s very interesting
    • On Friday, Rosary Launch and Spirit Run do interfere with some of our class time, so I might assign a Brain Pop video and questions for fun
    • 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 8, 2023 Homework

ALL students need headphones/earbuds for school. So many are missing them and we use them almost daily. We also start iReady next week and they need their headphones/earbuds for that testing. Thank you!
 
Math - None (Today we worked on Lesson 8 in class and did the homework page in-class as well. They turned it in for a grade. Today's lesson was putting bigger decimal numbers in orders from least to greatest or from greatest to least.)
 
Science - None (Today, Mrs. Fry (district 70 Speech/Language teacher) joined me in teaching study skills and organizational skills to the class....this will be very beneficial for a lifetime)
 
Social Studies - None  (Today we did a packet First Native Americans, Native American Terms and Native American Customs in class. Ask your child to tell you a cool fact they learned from this packet.)
 
Reminders:
 
~ Monday, September 11th is a Bears/Packers dress down day
 
~ Open House Night for parents only is on Thursday, September 14 at 6pm. I cannot wait to see you all and discuss all the great things I have planned for this year.
 
~ Rosary Launch is on Friday, September 15 at 7:45am in the park by school...hope to see you there

Thursday, September 7, 2023 Homework

ALL students need headphones/earbuds for school. So many are missing them and we use them almost daily. We also start iReady next week and they need their headphones/earbuds for that testing. Thank you!
 
Math - pgs 53 & 54 in book and extra reteach worksheet (Today we learned greater than, less than or equal to with decimals...examples: 3.42 = 3.420 or 59.6 > 5.96)
 
Science - States of Matter packet if not finished in class and weekly D.O.S. is due by Friday (Today we did our quiz of the week. They are allowed to use their books and I give them the 4 pages they need to look at to find their answers. After the quiz they started a packet on different States of Matter...liquid, solid or gas)
 
Social Studies - read pgs 58 - 68 in book and answer all the questions if not finished in class and weekly D.O.G. is due by Friday  (Today we continued our learning of Native American's and their lands/regions. We read about Southwest region, Plateau region, Great Plains region, Eastern Woodlands, and Southeast region AND why they were chosen as areas to live in by the Native American's. For example: The Algonquin's lived in the Eastern Woodlands. They used the trees to build their homes, called wigwams. They hunted for deer and used the deer hides for clothing. They kept warm by wearing capes made of turkey feathers.)
 
Reminders:
~ Food Pantry Collection is this Thursday and our class is in charge of bringing Chef Boyardee cans. Thank you for anything you can donate. 
 
~ Picture Day is this Friday, September 8th. Students can wear anything they like that is school appropriate...does not need to be school uniform. All students took home a flyer home today which allows you to pick a package and pay online prior to Friday. If you have a payment of check or cash, please have your child bring that with them and the form in an envelope on Friday, not earlier. Thank you.
 
~ Monday, September 11th is a Bears/Packers dress down day
 
~ Open House Night for parents only is on Thursday, September 14 at 6pm. I cannot wait to see you all and discuss all the great things I have planned for this year.
 
~ Rosary Launch is on Friday, September 15 at 7:45am in the park by school...hope to see you there

Wednesday, September 6, 2023 Homework

ALL students need headphones/earbuds for school. So many are missing them and we use them almost daily. Thank you!
 
Math - pgs 47 & 48 in book and extra reteach worksheet (Today we focused on place value meaning when given a bigger number. Example: we worked on decimals with whole numbers today...3.527. We wrote them 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))
 
Science - only for Bubis homeroom - read pgs 17 - 21 in book and answer all the questions if not finished in class and weekly D.O.S. is due by Friday - BOTH classrooms have Changes in Matter packet due tomorrow if not finished in class (Today Miss Bubis' class learned how Matter can be described...by color, mass, volume, etc... Example: What are two physical properties of the textbook we use?...It's rectangular, smooth cover, many different colors, etc...  BOTH classroom received a Changes in Matter packet as well that they worked on in groups as an extension lesson on Matter.)
 
Social Studies - read pgs 48 - 57 in book and answer all the questions if not finished in class and weekly D.O.G. is due by Friday  (Today we continued our learning of Native American's and their lands/regions. We read about Northwest Coast regions and the California-Intermountain region and why they were chosen as areas to live in by the Native American's. For example: The Pomos tribe lived by the California-Intermountain Region and made beads from seashells they found. They put beads on cords and made necklaces. They also made baskets from grasses and bark from trees nearby. )
 
Reminders:
~ Picture Day is this Friday, September 8th. Students can wear anything they like that is school appropriate...does not need to be school uniform. All students took home a flyer home today which allows you to pick a package and pay online prior to Friday. If you have a payment of check or cash, please have your child bring that with them and the form in an envelope on Friday, not earlier. Thank you.
 
~ Food Pantry Collection is this Thursday and our class is in charge of bringing Chef Boyardee cans. Thank you for anything you can donate. 
 
~ Open House Night for parents only is on Thursday, September 14 at 6pm. I cannot wait to see you all and discuss all the great things I have planned for this year.
 
 

Tuesday, September 5, 2023 Homework

Today was out first all school buddy Mass with our First Grade buddies. It was so sweet to watch our students guide the First Graders.
 
ALL students need headphones/earbuds for school. So many are missing them and we use them almost daily. Thank you!
 
Math - pgs 41 & 42 in book and IXL WS ( Today we focused on place value meaning when given a number. This prepares us for tomorrow's lesson on bigger place value numbers that we have to place as decimals.)
 
Science - only for Schiff homeroom - read pgs 17 - 21 in book and answer all the questions if not finished in class and weekly D.O.S. is due by Friday (I only had my class for Science today and then Miss Bubis' class will be tomorrow for this same lesson. Today we learned how Matter can be described...by color, mass, volume, etc... Example: What are two physical properties of the textbook we use?...It's rectangular, smooth cover, many different colors, etc...)
 
Social Studies - read Native American Packet and answer all the questions if not finished in class and weekly D.O.G. is due by Friday  (Today we continued our learning of Native American's and their lands/regions with a fabulous packet of text and questions.)
 
Reminders:
~ Picture Day is this Friday, September 8th. All students took home a flyer home today which allows you to pick a package and pay online prior to Friday. If you have a payment of check or cash, please have your child bring that with them and the form in an envelope on Friday, not earlier. Thank you.
 
~ Food Pantry Collection is this Thursday and our class is in charge of bringing Chef Boyardee cans. Thank you for anything you can donate. 
 
~ Open House Night for parents only is on Thursday, September 14 at 6pm
 
 

September 5, 2023 to September 8, 2023 Week at a Glance

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

  • Chapter 1, Lesson 5 - Understand Place Value (objective: Understand place value in decimal numbers. We’ll use white boards and charts to help us.)
  • Chapter 1, Lesson 6 - PLace Value through Thousandths  (objective: Read and write decimals in standard form, expanded form, and word form.)
  • Chapter 1, Lesson 7 - Compare Decimals (objective: comparing decimals)
  • Chapter 1, Lesson 8 - Order Whole Numbers and Decimals (objective: we’ll be putting whole numbers and decimals in order)

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

  • We ask ourselves, What are the properties of matter?
    • What are the properties of matter?
  • Students will compare and contrast solids, liquids, and gasses by using their basic properties.
  • Important vocabulary words for the week: mass, temperature, and volume
  • We will be doing a few different packets on Matter as well this week
  • Thursday, we have our weekly Words to Know Quiz…they are allowed to use their books every week on these quizzes
  • Friday, I will start teaching study skills and organizational skills to all students as well as an extra class and the end of Science class for about 15 minutes a week
  • Weekly D.O.S. (Daily Oral Science) will be passed out on Monday as well - due on Friday

Social Studies:

Lesson 2  - Native Americans and Their Land

  • Answer the essential question: How did Native Americans adapt to different environments in North America?
  • Trace the migration routes of Native Americans in North America
  • Summarize key features of the four environments
  • Identify ways in which the Inuits adapted to their Arctic environments

Lesson 3 - Native American Cultural Regions

  • Answer the essential question: How and why did Native American cultural regions differ?
  • 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 different Native American packets this week to extend our learning
    • 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.*

September 5, 2023 to September 8, 2023 Week at a Glance

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

  • Chapter 1, Lesson 5 - Understand Place Value (objective: Understand place value in decimal numbers. We’ll use white boards and charts to help us.)
  • Chapter 1, Lesson 6 - PLace Value through Thousandths  (objective: Read and write decimals in standard form, expanded form, and word form.)
  • Chapter 1, Lesson 7 - Compare Decimals (objective: comparing decimals)
  • Chapter 1, Lesson 8 - Order Whole Numbers and Decimals (objective: we’ll be putting whole numbers and decimals in order)

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

  • We ask ourselves, What are the properties of matter?
    • What are the properties of matter?
  • Students will compare and contrast solids, liquids, and gasses by using their basic properties.
  • Important vocabulary words for the week: mass, temperature, and volume
  • We will be doing a few different packets on Matter as well this week
  • Thursday, we have our weekly Words to Know Quiz…they are allowed to use their books every week on these quizzes
  • Friday, I will start teaching study skills and organizational skills to all students as well as an extra class and the end of Science class for about 15 minutes a week
  • Weekly D.O.S. (Daily Oral Science) will be passed out on Monday as well - due on Friday

Social Studies:

Lesson 2  - Native Americans and Their Land

  • Answer the essential question: How did Native Americans adapt to different environments in North America?
  • Trace the migration routes of Native Americans in North America
  • Summarize key features of the four environments
  • Identify ways in which the Inuits adapted to their Arctic environments

Lesson 3 - Native American Cultural Regions

  • Answer the essential question: How and why did Native American cultural regions differ?
  • 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 different Native American packets this week to extend our learning
    • 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 1, 2023 Homework

Math - None (Today we reviewed lessons 1 - 4 with a Check My Progress in the textbook and an extra worksheet as well. They are all working so hard and I love it!)
 
Science - None (Today we did our fist open book Quiz on Lesson 1 and then I gave them time to watch Brain Pop Science videos and take the quizzes that go with it. )
 
Social Studies - None  (Today we had a little fun with a Textbook Scavenger Hunt to get to know our books. This was not that easy for them, but they tried and worked hard. They had to look up publishers, copyrights, certain definitions in the glossary, how many lessons each unit has, etc...)