Role Overview
We are seeking a versatile and passionate educator to lead a self-contained 5th-grade classroom. You will be the primary instructor for all core content areas - Literacy, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies - allowing you to build deep, year-long relationships with your students and integrate curriculum across disciplines.
Responsibilities:
• Integrated Instruction: Design cross-curricular units that connect Iowa Core Literacy standards with Social Studies and Science (e.g., using informational texts about Iowa’s ecosystem to teach evidence-based writing).
• Mathematical Foundations: Lead the critical transition from concrete arithmetic to algebraic thinking, following curriculum, focusing on the 5th-grade "power standards" of fraction operations and volume.
• Social-Emotional Learning (SEL): Implement the school-wide PBIS and MTSS frameworks to support the unique developmental needs of pre-adolescents as they prepare for Middle School.
• Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress (ISASP): Prepare students for state testing through rigorous daily instruction and the development of critical thinking skills.
• TLC Collaboration: Collaborate with other teachers and engage with Instructional Coaches and Mentors.
Subject Area Priorities
Subject 5th Grade Focus Areas (Iowa Core)
Literacy Analyzing multiple accounts of the same event; mastering the "5-paragraph" structured essay; expanding academic vocabulary.
Math Fluency with fractions (addition/subtraction/multiplication/division); understanding 3D space/volume; coordinate planes.
Science Matter and its interactions; ecosystem dynamics; Earth’s place in the universe (aligned with NGSS/Iowa Science Standards).
Social Studies Early American History (pre-colonization through the Constitution) and Iowa's geographic and civic history.
Required Certifications
• Endorsement 102: Elementary Classroom.
• Mandatory Reporter Training: Must hold current Iowa Certification for Child and Dependent Adult Abuse.
• Background Check: Successful completion of the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) background check.
Key Competencies for the Self-Contained Model
• Time Management: Ability to manage a complex daily schedule that includes "Specials" (Art,PE, etc.), RTI (Response to Intervention) blocks, and core instruction.
• Relationship Building: Since you spend the entire day with the same cohort, you must demonstrate high emotional intelligence and the ability to maintain a positive, stable environment.
• Differentiated "Tier 1" Instruction: The ability to teach a whole-group lesson and then immediately pivot to small-group stations to support diverse learning levels within the same room.
Application Requirements
• Current Resume.
• Copy of Iowa Teaching License (or proof of pending graduation/licensure).
• Transcripts from an accredited University.
• Two Professional References.