Mrs. Mitchell's Class
main Menu
email: jillian.mitchell@calhanschool.org - Dojo hours 7am-6pm Monday-Friday - Phone number: 719-347-2766 ex 118
Schedule
Breakfast: 7:45 - 7:55 in the cafeteria
Morning Work/Planners: 8:05 - 8:25
Math: 8:25 - 10:00
Specials: - 10:10 - 11:05
Read Aloud: 11:05 - 11:20
Lunch/Recess: 11:25 - 12:10
Reading/Writing: 12:10 - 2:45
Science/Social Studies: 2:45 - 3:25
Clean Up/Pack Up: 3:25 - 3:35
Recess/Snack: 3:35 - 3:45
Dismissal: 3:55 dismissal
About The Teacher
Family
My family and I make our home here in Calhan. My husband and I have two sons. Our oldest graduated from Calhan High School in May 2020. Our youngest graduated from Calhan High School in May 2023. I have a sweet kitty boy named Grimace who just loves people. We love to take our Jeep up into the mountains and spend time around our fire pit at home.
Hobbies
I enjoy spending time on Instagram sharing ideas with a large educator community I am part of. I also love to create so I am often crocheting, embroidering, or using my Cricut to make something new. I love to read as well, always with a cup of coffee in hand of course.
Education
Calhan High School Graduate Class of 2000
Associates of Arts in Elementary Education: Pikes Peak Community College 2007
Bachelors of Science in Elementary Education and Special Education: Grand Canyon University 2019
continue
Professional Experience
Professional Experience
Fourth grade general education, Calhan Elementary School 2020 - Present
Third grade general education, Calhan Elementary School 2019-2020
Special Education Paraprofessional, Calhan High School 2017-2019
Special Education Paraprofessional, Meridian Ranch Elementary school 2013-2017
Calhan Elementary Teacher Mentor
Other Involvement and recognition
Calhan School District Accountability Committee
My objective
My goal for this year and every year, is to provide students with a safe and enriching learning environment that will meet their needs as individuals. It is my sincere belief that each and every child should be viewed as a capable and unique learner. To meet those needs I will provide my students with whatever it is they need to be their most successful socially, academically, and personally.
As a teacher, my role is to teach your student(s). I LOVE that role. I want our classroom to be a place of learning, and I strive to make sure all students in my classroom have an opportunity to learn. In order to create a classroom environment conducive to learning, it is imperative that our classroom management program is in place and supported by parents at home.
Our classroom rules are as follows:
1. Listen and follow directions
2. Use hand signals and stay on task
3. Keep your hands and feet to yourself
4. Respect your classmates, school, and teacher
Every time a a classroom rule is broken, a consequence is given. Our classroom consequences are as follows:
1. Redirect (a verbal warning)
2. Side Line (break in a specific area in classroom)
3. Think Time (break outside of the classroom with a reflection sheet)
4. Letter Home (letter home to parent that must be signed and returned)
Classroom Management
continue
Classroom Management Continued
The first thing I want you to know is that a redirect is not a bad thing. In my class, a redirect acts as the first warning. For example, if your student is talking when I’m teaching, I will give them a redirect instead of giving them a reminder to stop. I find that by doing this behavior starts to change immediately, because they know I will be consistent the first time and every time. In order to build and maintain trust with all students, I will be as consistent as possible.
I also want you to know that behavior is learned and can be changed. Children’s brains are so moldable. I expect all students to adhere to our classroom rules and rise to meet our classroom expectations. It is imperative that these rules are followed so I can preserve a positive classroom environment and give all students access to learning.
If you have any questions or would like more details, I’m happy to send you my student presentation I will be using to teach students or answer any questions you may have.
***Toys of any kind are not appropriate to be brought to school. I have fidgets in my classroom and will provide them as needed. Students cannot wear costumes or costume like accessories on days that are not specifically designated such as spirit day and Halloween. Even on the playground. This is avoids loss, theft, distractions, and other issues. Please check your students’ backpacks regularly and ensure they understand.
Communication
The Class Dojo app will be my number one avenue for sending out classroom information as well as communicating with individual parents. I utilize Class Dojo a great deal and encourage all of you to stay connected with me there. I will communicate directly with families, send pictures, ask and answer questions, make important announcements, and I frequently post to our class story when I need to send a message to everyone. I use Dojo strictly as a means of communication, and tracking data. I do not use the points system within Dojo as part of my classroom management. Specials teachers may choose to do so in their own classrooms. Aside from Dojo, if you need to get an urgent message to me please call the main office at 719-347-2766 and they will get the message to me Anything impacting your student's transportation needs to be relayed through the office to ensure plans are carried out. Please do no rely on Dojo for urgent matters.
Curiculum
Fourth grade standards introduce students to a wide variety of rich content. In our class students will work toward mastering complex reading skills with the Wonders reading curriculum. Wonders meets students where they are and propels them forward through reading, grammar, phonics, spelling, and writing instruction. The texts are highly engaging and the activities that go along with each text reinforce skills through whole group, small group, and independent work. Wonders will include both reading and writing instruction. I will also teach cursive penmanship.
Ready Classroom Mathematics, better known as iReady is a rigorous and well thought out curriculum. l am excited to continue using this program with our students. With any math instruction the goal is to help students build strong math skills and a deeper understanding of mathematical concepts. Knowing how is only half of it, knowing why makes these skills useful well beyond their school years.
Social studies in 4th grade focuses on the many facets of life in Colorado. Students will learn about their state's government, history, cultures, and more with Pearson My World.
Inspire Science is a McGraw Hill science curriculum that works well with our Wonders Reading program, also by McGraw Hill. Fourth grade science covers the areas of physical science, life science, as well as Earth and space science. We will explore all of these areas through study and hands on learning.
Writing instruction is an important piece of a 4th grader's day. Along with all the writing we do as part of Wonders, we will use the Every Child A Writer program for teaching the process of writing and different genres. Grammar and handwriting will be a part of our daily practice as well. We will utilize the Zaner-Bloser program for this component.
continue
Homework
Your student spends eight hours at school four days each week working under the high expectations of their teachers so it is never my intention to load them up with excessive homework. The expectation for a fourth grade student, per the student handbook is no more than 40 minutes of work each night. That being said, I do not give out nightly homework that needs to be turned into me.
20-30 minutes of reading is expected nightly. I do not require a reading log , but ensuring that your student is reading nightly will benefit them immensely.
In addition to reading your student needs nightly practice of math facts in any way you choose. Addition and subtraction if those are not yet mastered and of course multiplication and eventually division.
***The only additional homework your student may have is unfinished work. As assignments come due it will be your student's responsibility to take home their unfinished work and return it the next day. Work turned in the following day will be counted as on time. Work turned in one day late will receive a 10% reduction in points off the score earned. Work turned in two or more days late will receive a zero in the gradebook. The responsibility of managing their work and paying attention to due dates is a tough skill to master, but one that is well worth the effort. Work that is missing due to absence only is the exception. Per school board policy students will have one day to make up work for every one day out of school.
Your student will be responsible for keeping track of their current homework assignments in their planner which will come home each night and be shared with you. An adult's signature is required each night.
If your student will have a planned absence from school and you would like work prepared for them to do at home I need as much advance notice as possible; at lease 24 hours prior to the absence in order to prepare work for them to take home. I do not have time during the school day to prepare additional work to send home.
continue
Grading
All of your student's grades are updated regularly (at least bi-weekly) in Alma; our school management system. Your student will be graded on citizenship, reading assignments, grammar, spelling, math assignments, math facts fluency, writing assignments, social studies, science, and penmanship. You can view your student's current progress through your Alma parent account.
4th grade students will receive marks of excellent, satisfactory, needs improvement or improving for citizenship and penmanship.
Reading, grammar, spelling, math, math fact, writing, social studies, and science will receive a letter grade.
A - 89.5% and up
B - 79.5% to 89.4%
C - 69.5% to 79.4%
D - 59.5% to 69.4%
F - below 59.5%
Report cards will come out at the end of each quarter.
Please connect to your student via your parent ALMA account in order to get to most up to date information on grades and assignments.
