Welcome
Last updated July 30th, 2011 at 2:50 a.m..Dear Parents,
Your child is beginning a very important year in his/her academic career. This year marks the transition from elementary to junior high school. I understand that you and your child may have met this day with excitement or apprehension (maybe a little of both). I am very excited to be your child's Math teacher this year.
You probably would like to know a little more about a person your child will be spending much time with over the next ten months. I live in Columbia and have two sons. Any spare time is consumed with being a mom. I graduated from Freed-Hardeman University with a degree in Elementary Education and Early Childhood Development. I attended East Tennessee State University to continue my education in their graduate program. This is my sixteenth year teaching in Maury County Public Schools. Fourteen of those years have been spent teaching fifth grade. I was honored to be named Coca Cola Teacher of the Year in 2006. In 2007, I was elected by my colleagues and administrators as Teacher of the Year for Maury County grades 5-8. The State of Tennessee has assessed me as a Level 5 teacher. This means my students make substantially greater gains than the state growth standard. In the spring of 2011, Battelle for Kids in partnership with the federal program Race to the Top recognized me as a Highly Effective Teacher. My students’ growth scores are consistently in the top 3-5% in the state and top 5-7% in the country.
Topics that will be covered in Math include: mathematical processes, numbers, number operations, geometry, measurement, algebra, data, probability, and statistics. Students will also be focusing on the Tennessee Academic Vocabulary for Math. If you are interested in a much more detailed list you may visit the following website:
http://tn.gov/education/ci/math/doc/MA_Grade_5.pdf
Communication is a key element in a successful school year. I will keep this website updated for your use. You may always email me (bells2@k12tn.net) or call the school 540-1032 extension 5555. I will respond within 48 hrs.
While at school my students are my top priority. Please remember I do have two sons of my own complete with activities, homework, and need my attention. Therefore, I do ask of you to be respectful of my family and refrain from calling my home or cell phone. Together we will have a great year.
Sincerely,
Ms. Bell
