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Hello!

Hello!  I am Kristina Virgilio!  I am a fifth-grade ELA teacher.  This is my tenth year here at Richland; my 21st overall year in education!  As I child, I walked these very halls and was inspired by so many wonderful teachers. I am honored to follow in their footsteps!

After graduating from Richland High School, I went on to earn my bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Pittsburgh in 2001. I then spent the next year as an AmeriCorps volunteer, helping nonprofits and in-need communities across the Midwest. In 2003, I followed my heart, moved to New York City, and entered the classroom as a third-grade teacher. For the next four years, I taught at PS 199 in the South Bronx and then moved on to Harlem Village Academies, where I taught 5th-grade math. I went on to work at Readworks as a literacy coach and teacher trainer in schools all over New York City, helping schools and teachers write curricula and improve teaching practices.
 
I began teaching fourth grade at Richland in 2015.  I love teaching and working with students every day.  The classroom should be a place where every student feels safe and inspired to learn. In my classroom, students are challenged to work hard and maximize their potential. I encourage accountability and respect for oneself and others. Above all, I try my best to foster a positive and long-lasting love of learning.

I look forward to working with you and your students. Please feel free to communicate any questions or concerns you may have regarding our curriculum and/or your student's progress at any time. Here's to a great year!
 

Posts

Week of November 18th - 22nd

Upcoming Due Dates and Assessments - 
11/18 - Biztown Field Trip
11/22 - Reading Log Due
11/22 - Unit 3.1 Spelling Packet Due
11/22 - Unit 3.1 Spelling Test
11/22 - Nonfiction Text Features Quiz
 
In reading this week, we will continue to identify and use nonfiction text features.  We will discuss how these text features impact readers' experience with nonfiction topics.
 
In writing, we will continue to work on our second five-paragraph essay.  For this essay, students will identify three special people to receive three exceptional gifts this holiday season.
 
In grammar, we will review simple and compound sentences.  We will identify subjects and predicates as well.   
 
Our spelling words this week include open syllables.  An open syllable ends with a vowel sound that is spelled with a single vowel letter (a, e, i, o, or u). Examples include me, e/qual, pro/gram, mu/sic.
 
Band, chorus, and orchestra will continue this week.  Please see the schedule below -
11/19  - Day 4 - Percussion/Violin/Viola/Bass/Chorus
11/20  - Day 1 - Saxophone/Clarinet/Flute/Oboe/Violin/Viola/Cello/Chorus
11/21  - Day 2 - Trombone/Violin/Viola/Cello/Chrous AND Day 3 - Trumpet/French horn/Violin/Viola/Cello/Chorus

Week of October 21st - 25th

Upcoming Due Dates and Assessments - 
10/24 - Reading Log Due
10/24 - Unit 2.3 Spelling Packet Due
10/24 - Unit 2.3 Spelling Test
10/24 - AR Requirements Due
 
In reading this week, we will continue reading our novels and will discuss plot/plot mountain.  We will examine the plots of familiar stories while be begin mapping the plot of our own novels.  
 
In writing, students will begin planning and drafting their first five-paragraph essays.  In addition, students will apply their understanding of plot to plan and draft creative fall and Halloween-themed stories.  There is a lot of writing happening this week!
 
Our spelling words this week practice inflectional endings such as -ed and -ing.  
 
Band, chorus, and orchestra will continue this week.  Please see the schedule below -
 
10/21 - Day 4 - Percussion/Violin/Viola/Bass/Chorus
10/22 - Day 1 - Saxophone/Clarinet/Flute/Oboe/Violin/Viola/Cello/Chorus
10/23 - Day 2 - Trombone/Violin/Viola/Cello/Chrous
10/24 - Day 3 - Trumpet/French horn/Violin/Viola/Cello/Chorus

Week of October 14th - 18th

Upcoming Due Dates and Assessments - 
10/18 - Reading Log Due
10/18 - Unit 2.2 Spelling Homework Due
10/18 - Unit 2.2 Spelling Test
10/18 - Essay Outline Quiz
10/24 - AR Points Due
 
In reading this week, we will continue to read our novels and answer open-ended questions.  Students will practice restating questions, answering, and citing text evidence.  
 
In writing, we will review the five-paragraph essay structure by examining essay examples.  On Friday, October 18th, students will be quizzed on the structure of an essay.  Students have been given a study guide to review.
 
Our spelling words this week practice variant /o/ sounds and dipthongs /oi/ and /ow/.
 
The band, chorus, and orchestra schedule for this week is as follows - 
 
10/15 - Day 2 - Trombone/Violin/Viola/Cello/Chrous
10/16 - Day 3 - Trumpet/French horn/Violin/Viola/Cello/Chorus
 
Please be reminded that Thursday, October 17th is our Celebration of Learning Day!

Week of September 16-20

Upcoming Due Dates and Assessments - 
9/20 - Reading Log Due
9/20 - Unit 1.3 Spelling Homework Due
9/20 - Unit 1.3 Spelling Test
9/20 - Point of View Quiz
9/20 - Paragraph Assessment
 
In reading this week, we will continue reading our novels.  We will also review the process for making inferences within a text.  
 
In language arts, we will review paragraph structure.  
 
Our spelling words for this week review "u" sounds and patterns.
 
Band, chorus, and orchestra will continue this week.  Please see the schedule below -
 
9/16 - Day 3 - Trumpet/French horn/Violin/Viola/Cello/Chorus
9/17 - Day 4 - Percussion/Violin/Viola/Bass/Chorus
9/18 - Day 1 - Saxophone/Clarinet/Flute/Oboe/Violin/Viola/Cello/Chorus
9/19 - Day 2 - Trombone/Violin/Viola/Cello/Chrous

Week of September 9-13

Upcoming Due Dates and Assessments - 
9/11 - Scholastic Book Orders Due
9/13 - Reading Logs Due
9/13 - Spelling Homework Packets Due
9/13 - Unit 1.2 Spelling Test
9/13 - Sentences/Fragments/Run-ons Grammar Quiz
 
In reading this week, we will begin our novels.  Students in Blue and Yellow Groups will be reading Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor.  Students in Red Group will be reading Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis.  All students will review identifying the narrator's point of view this week and will engage in pre-reading activities.  
 
Students will review run-on sentences and will practice fixing run-ons by adding punctuation, commas with coordinating conjunctions, and subordinating conjunctions.  Before we begin paragraph writing next week, students will quiz on sentences, fragments, and run-ons.
 
Our spelling words for this week review long vowel sounds.  Please make sure that students are practicing ALL 25 words on the word list.  A few pages of the packet only practice the new 20 words.  
 
Band, chorus, and orchestra lessons will begin this week.  Students will be assigned specific lesson days.  Please note that while their "day" will remain consistent, the weekday that their lesson falls on may change.  Please contact Mr. Easler, Mr. Tedjeske, or Mr. Cannistraci if you have any questions.  

Week of September 3-6

We are off to a great start!
 
Upcoming Due Dates and Assessments -
9/4 - Subject/Predicate Quiz
9/6 - Reading Log Due
9/6 - Spelling Homework Packet Due 
9/6 - Spelling Test
9/11 - Scholastic Book Orders Due (See Class Dojo Post)
 
This week in reading we will be using the Textual Analysis process to read and and answer questions about a few different texts.  This process will give students strategies that can be applied to any type of reading and will be used throughout the year.
 
In grammar, we will be wrapping up our review of subjects and predicates.  Students will take a quiz on identifying subjects and predicates on Wednesday.  We will focus on fixing sentence fragments for the rest of the week.  
 
Our spelling words with week focus on short vowel sounds.  Our first spelling test will be given on Friday, September 6th.
 
Please note that band, chorus, and orchestra lessons will begin next Monday, September 9th.  There is still time to sign up if your child is interested.  
 

Week One - Welcome Back!

Welcome to fifth grade!  I am so excited for this year to begin. 
 
This first week in ELA we will be getting to know each other and a bit about the classroom.  We will also discuss my expectations for learning and effort.  By the end of this first week, students will know their AR reading levels and will receive their first homework reading log.  Reading logs will be distributed on Monday, August 26th and will be due on Thursday, August 29th.  
 
Please don't hesitate to reach out if any questions should arise.
 
Thank you,
Ms. Virgilio