Miss 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 19th 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
• All 8th grade LA teachers planning
together
• 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
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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
Explore Testing and High School
• Test administered September 18
• 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!
• PTA information
• Read the letter
from your child