Mr. Kahlfeldt (MS Social Studies)
ABOUT ME…
I knew I wanted to become a teacher when I was in grade school (St. Michael's Wheaton). I remember dressing up for Career Day in 5th grade and then visiting the education booth at the Career Fair when attending St. Francis High School (Wheaton). I worked towards it when I completed my undergraduate history and education courses at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign ('98), and it became a reality that September when I joined the staff at St. John the Baptist in Winfield for three years. After two years at St. James in Glen Ellyn, I was hired here at Winfield in August 2003. After two years of PE, I finally got my dream job of teaching Social Studies. I've had fun ever since and was able to get my Masters in Literacy from Northern Illinois University ('09). I am married with two daughters and a lab mix.
LEARNING EXPERIENCES
Integrated Routines
All 6th-8th: Daily Herald Mon (Alternating website and digital newspaper/e-edition), Presentation Tues, CNN10 student news video Wed, Historical Journals Thurs/Fri (6th), Geography Questions Thurs/Fri (7th & 8th).
Units of Study
6th Grade: Components of a Civilization and US History from Colonial times to the Civil War
7th Grade: Geography and Economics. There are weekly geography reports (countries, states, landforms, water features, US and world cities) and takehome map quizzes.
8th grade: US Government and Constitution (& IL), US History (1788 to the Present)
ANNUAL EVENTS
September - 6th Grade Personal Timeline project
September - 7th Grade Community Geography Activity
September - 8th Grade Summer Events Headline display project
October - 6th Grade Historical Interview
November - Mock election & other election themed projects every other year
November - 6th Grade Cantigny field trip
December - 6th-8th Grade Lincoln Art contest
December - 4th-8th Grade Classroom level competition of Geography Bee
January - 4th-8th Grade School level competition of Geography Bee
February - 7th Grade Energy skits
February - 7th-8th grade Cantigny American Legion US Constitution speech contest
February - National Geographic Slingshot Challenge contest
March - 6th-8th Grade Stossel Essay & Video contests
March - 8th Grade March Madness
April - 7th Grade Energy skits
April - 6th-8th Grade Third Trimester Issue Awareness & Solution project
May - 8th Grade Springfield trip
ASSIGNMENTS
Google Classroom -Homework Doc
Daily homework and announcements are written on the front classroom whiteboard as well as on the Homework Doc posted on Google Classroom. The Homework Doc, Google Classroom and Teacherease are updated regularly.
DAILY MATERIALS
Materials needed each day for all 6th-8th grade students include their district IPAD, district binder with SS insert/folder (with looseleaf), 5 subject notebook, and pencil case. Textbooks are kept in the classroom.
GRADING SCALE
| a | 90 - 100% |
|---|---|
| b | 80 - 89% |
| c | 70 - 79% |
| d | 60 - 69% |
| f | 0 - 59% |
