Mr. Steve 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 Mondays (Rotating website, digital newspaper, News In Education skill features),CNN student news video Wednesdays, Geography Questions Thursdays and Fridays.

Units of Study

6th Grade: Components of a Civilization, Our current and global varying civilizations, Ancient Civilizations

7th Grade: Geography, Economics, US Government and Constitution. There are weekly geography reports (countries, states, landforms, water features, US and world cities) and takehome map quizzes.

8th grade: IL Government and Constitution, 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 classroom culture sharing & archaeology dig project

October - 7th Grade Starved Rock Field Trip - Utica, IL

November - Mock election & other election themed projects every other year

November - 8th Grade Springfield Field Trip - Springfield, IL

December - Classroom level competition of Geography Bee

January -  4th-8th grades School level competition of Geography Bee

February - 7th Grade Energy skits

February - 7th-8th grades Cantigny American Legion US Constitution speech contest

March - 6th Grade Field Museum Field Trip - Chicago, IL

March - Action figure mummification with 6th graders

April - Third Trimester Issue Awareness & Solution project

May - Weeklong US Society Group Presentations by 8th graders

May - 7th Grade US Constitution & Government Unit

CONTACT INFORMATION

Mr. Steve Kahlfeldt
skahlfeldt@winfield34.org
630-909-4971

ASSIGNMENTS

Google Classroom - Daily Assignments Doc

Daily learning targets, homework and announcements are written on the front classroom whiteboard. Students should fill in their assignment notebooks at the beginning of the class period each day. The middle school daily assignments link and Teacherease are updated regularly.

DAILY MATERIALS

Materials needed each day for all 6th-8th grade students include their assignment notebook, folder (with looseleaf), notebook, district IPAD and pencil case. Textbooks are kept in the classroom.

GRADING SCALE