Back to School Grade 4 Parent Presentation

Homeroom

Conflict Resolution

HA-HA-SO for BullyingTeaching our students to be “up-standers” and support a classmate is the best way to help in a bullying situation. When a student feels they are being bullied, they can use HA-HA-SO to help themselves:HELPASSERT YOURSELFHUMORAVOIDSELF-TALKOWN IT

Is It Bullying?

Is it truly bullying? Or is it rude behavior, a mean moment, or conflict that can be

resolved? Before you report bullying, try to understand what bullying is and is not.

RUDE: Accidentally or unintentionally saying or doing something that hurts

feelings or embarrasses someone

MEAN: Saying or doing something on purpose to hurt someone; happens once or

twice

CONFLICT: Conflict is a disagreement between friends or peers who are equal in

power. There is always a solution to work through conflict, although it can take

practice and isn’t always easy!

BULLYING: Behavior that is on purpose, repeated over time and involves an

imbalance of power (*power = older, bigger, stronger, social power). Types of

bullying include physical, verbal, relational, and cyber-bullying.

Bathroom Signs• Feel free to go look on your way out tonight!

Behavior

If your child chooses to break a rule:

-Verbal warning

-loss of Kickboard points

-Next redirection- loss of Kickboard points, reflection letter sent home to be signed by parent and walk during morning recess

-All 4th grade teachers will keep track together

-Level 2 behavior issues will result in a formal write-up with Mr. Kolb

Student Responsibilities

Students will learn to advocate for themselves and take responsibility for their learning:

• Check Infinite Campus under assignments (each student has their own login).

• Ask their teachers for assignments when they are absent.

• Ask their teachers for clarification on homework if they are confused BEFORE leaving school at the end of the day.

• Students are expected to attempt assignments even if they are unsure of the expectations (need to clarify before leaving school).

• We suggest the students have a buddy in each class that they can call in the evenings with homework questions.

Communication for Homework and Assignments

Planners, Websites, and Infinite Campus

▪ Students are given time on Mondays in each class to fill-out their planners,

recording assignments and due dates. Planners should be taken home each

day, reviewed with parents, and brought back the next day.

▪ Planners are a fantastic way to remind your child what their plan is for after

school. Carpool, homework club, walker, bus, EA, etc…

▪ Homework and assignment descriptions and spelling words are posted in

Infinite Campus.

▪ Downloads, resources, specials for the week, etc. are found on the grade

level website.

Missing Assignments

Parent Portal - Missing Assignments

▪ ALL assignments that are missing are marked in Infinite Campus as “missing,”

EVEN if a student is absent. The teachers will add a comment that the missing

assignment was due to an absence or not turned in. Points will not be

deducted if it is missing due to absence. The students are given two days for

everyday missed to make up work (up to 5 days).

▪ When an assignment has been turned in, it will be marked in IC with a “T” for

turned-in or a grade will be added. If the assignment still shows missing at the

end of the following day, it has not been turned in.

▪ If an assignment is not turned in: -10% late for one day, -50% late for 2 days,

after two days no credit is given.

▪ Parents are responsible for making sure there is a current email address in

Infinite Campus.

▪ Missing assignment email notifications are sent by Infinite Campus to the

parent on the day the assignment is due.

Absent Work

• If your family has a planned trip or event that will take your student out of a regular school day all work will be given upon return and will be due per the absence policies in the parent handbook.

• Students will not be given work ahead of time for a planned absence. Upcoming work for the week can be found on Infinite Campus. Some items may be added throughout the week and assignments are subject to change.

• We do ask students for work that was assigned before their absence when they return. If the work is not finished, it is marked as missing and incomplete. Extra time (2 days per absence) is only given for days missed.

• All extended planned absences need to go through Ms. Bostick and Mr. Kolb.

Our Support Staff

• Instructional assistants (IAs) are with the students at lunch and recess.

• Students are expected to treat the IA and additional staff with the same respect they would their teachers.

• Students are asked to be kind, polite, and attentive during recess and lunch.

• Our IAs and support staff can track discipline through Kickboard and communicate with the teachers in regard to any discipline issues.

How can I help my 4th grader?

• Please clean out your child’s orange “Keep at Home” folder each night with your child.

• Ensure that items removed are already graded items that are no longer needed in the classroom.

• Place homework in “Homework” folder in order of your child’s classes for the next day.

• Set up a homework space at home.

• Send your child to school everyday with a full water bottle. Research shows that water is a natural mood stabilizer. This will enhance your students ability to learn..

• We do ask that all water bottles have a pop up straw and are spill proof.

• If your child has already run out of mechanical pencils, please send them in with #2 pencils!

Back to School Grade 4 Parent Presentation

Math

Ms. Montag

Math

• American Academy uses the Go Math! curriculum program for mathematics.

• Go Math! is a perfect complement to our STEM emphasis because it encourages learning through exploration and investigation instead of memorization of a procedure.

• Go Math! asks students to defend answers, encouraging comprehension of a process rather than seeking a specific answer.

• By including reflective written responses, the Go Math! learning curriculum solidifies a richer understanding of mathematics.

• American Academy also implements flexible ability grouping based on student mastery of the content with the Go Math! program.

Math

Assignments are posted in IC at the beginning of the week, and the students are asked to write in their planners on Mondays for the whole week. The students will not have homework on Fridays.

• Homework - 10% (Completion Grade)• Assignments - 20% (Completed in class and not sent home as

homework)• Quizzes - 30% (Mid-Chapter Checkpoint)• Tests - 40% (Chapter Tests)

Back to School Grade 4

History

Ms. Schulze

History & Geography

• We use the Core Knowledge curriculum for history and geography. The following

subjects are covered in 4th grade:

• Geography

• Colorado History

• American Revolution

• Economics

• Young AmeriTowne field trip will be on March 4th!

• Middle Ages in Europe

• Early and Medieval African Kingdoms

• Chinese Dynasties

• Grading:

• Classwork (interactive notebook/vocabulary activities)/Homework: 40%

• Tests and Quizzes: 60%

Back to School Grade 4 Parent Presentation

Science

Ms. Montag

Science – Next Generation Science Standards

• We are continuing with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) this year.

Standard behaviors that scientists and engineers use to explain the world or solve problems

Fundamental scientific knowledge

Frameworks for scientific thinking across disciplines

Science – Argument Driven Inquiry

• We are implementing a new science teaching method called Argument Driven Inquiry (ADI). ADI provides the opportunity for the students to take control of their own learning and productively struggle through learning scientific concepts.

• Student-designed experiments

• Productive struggle

• Team collaboration

• Display information

• Critique others

• Revise their own work

Grading and Expectations in Science

• As a result of implementing ADI, grading in science will look different.

• Content Practice – 30%

• Science Practices – 40%

• Assessments – 30%

• I don’t give homework very often in science, so it is important that students are present and focused during class. We talk about self-control and the importance of working well with others on a consistent basis.

•Students will learn to tackle challenges by making mistakes and fixing them.

•Students will get into the habit of having a growth mindset and taking risks.

•At American Academy, we believe that with effort and perseverance, all students are capable of academic achievement.

•Grading is indeed a valuable tool for tracking progress and helping me devise appropriate instruction, but the most important thing is that we see students grow.

•Continual progress, however incremental, is to be valued.

Growth Mindset and Growth in Science

Back to School Grade 4 Parent Presentation

Literacy

Reading

Spalding Method: The Spalding Method is a phonics based program that integrates reading, writing, and spelling. Most of our instruction this year will focus on the spelling part of the program. At the beginning of the year, we assessed where each class was on the Spalding spelling list to determine which words to use for instruction. The students will have a pretest on Mondays. If the student gets 100% on Monday, they do not have to take the test on Friday.

Core Knowledge novels: Students will be reading a variety of novels including Robin Hood, Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Gulliver’s Travels, Robinson Crusoe, King Arthur and Treasure Island. As the students read these novels, they will also learn new vocabulary and extend their use of comprehension strategies.

Additional novels: Where the Mountain Meets the Moon

Book Reports: The students will be assigned one book report per trimester. The first book report will not be due till the week before the trimester ends.

Grammar

Hake Grammar: The students will work on the practice set in class and be assigned the review set for homework. Students will write 3 journal entries per week through the One Note system or on paper. This is a systematic, research based program that has been proven effective in teaching students the skills needed in grammar. Students learn to identify all parts of speech, different patterns of sentences, direct objects and indirect objects, possessive nouns and so much more. The students also learn how to incorporate their knowledge of grammar in their reading and writing skills.

We will send test home this year. Please review each test with your child.

Students are encouraged to complete the diagrams in class.

Writing

With the Step Up to Writing curriculum and the 6 Trait writing expectations, students learn and practice the following writing skills and many more:

Note-taking (all classes)

Summaries

Responding to the text

5 paragraph narratives with the use of dialogue

Informative writing

Topic sentences

Opinion/Persuasive essays

Descriptive 5 paragraph research paper

Language Arts Grading and Weights

Grammar = 15% Assignments 1, Quizzes 2, Assessments 3

Reading = 35% Assignments 1, Quizzes 2, Assessments 3

Writing = 35% Assignments 1, Quizzes 2, Assessments 3

Spelling/Vocabulary = 15% Assignments 1, Assessments 2

Back to School Grade 4 Parent Presentation

Literacy

Ms. Gallina’s additional literacy slides

Grammar

DLI: DLI builds on concepts taught throughout the year. The students will work on the practice set in class and we will review together as a whole group. Students will work on concepts in DLI books as well be assigned in class work to review/extra practice in OneNote. This is a systematic, research based program that has been proven effective in teaching students the skills needed in grammar. Students learn to identify all parts of speech, different patterns of sentences, direct objects and indirect objects, possessive nouns and so much more. The students also learn how to incorporate their knowledge of grammar in their reading and writing skills.

Spelling:

Spelling words are given on the Friday a week before the test

Check Infinite Campus or planner for words

They will all have a specific sound focus that we are learning, reviewing, and working with all week in class

Spelling city is a great way to practice, students know their logins (written in planner)

Weekly Spelling Contract will begin soon

Fluency

• Sent home on Mondays due on Friday

• 60 second timed reading once per day- to increase reading fluency

• Comprehension questions with a rubric.

• PQA all answers.