CURRICULUM NIGHT
August 26, 2015
Mrs. Franks
Fourth Grade
Ross Elementary
BIRTHDAY TREATS
Non-food
Stickers
Pencils, Pens
Markers
Crayons
Erasers
Bookmarks
Rulers
Trinkets (magnets, Frisbees,
etc.)
Play dough
Temporary tattoos
Suggested treats include:Parents may choose to send a treat bag to school for special occasions such as Halloween, Winter holiday, Valentines or Birthday. Treat bags must be filled with non-food items and will be sent home with the children. Treat bags ideas include:
EDUCATIONAL TRIPS
Must be educational and approved in advance through the office
Work will be organized if the office is given a two week notice
for the trip.
Work will be a general outline due to pacing of lessons.
Students have the number of approved days for the absence to
complete make-up work.
Keep in mind PSSA will take place the last 3 weeks in April.
Parent Teacher Conferences: November 2nd and 3rd ; March 21
EARLY DISMISSALS, ETC.
Plan ahead for early dismissals and have a note ready in the
morning—Best time is between 1:30 and 2:15 during our TRIBE
time.
If you do forget to send a note about the early dismissal, you must
call the office. I may not have an opportunity to check my email or
my voicemail.
Please make sure your child is on time each day.
Tardiness is a hard habit to break.
Absence excuses must be in writing.
MAKE UP WORK
Please do not request make up work for one day of
absence.
Pick up time for work must be at the end of the
school day of the second day of absence.
It takes at least 20 minutes to put packets
together.
Please send an email when you need to request
work for your child.
LITERACY
Using Mc Graw Hill’s Wonders program
Goal: to enable your child to become a
proficient/advanced reader.
Concentration on focus skills and strategies, oral
reading skills, comprehension, and developing
vocabulary.
READING ASSESSMENTS
Weekly Lesson Tests◦ Assesses story comprehension, vocabulary, focus
skill, grammar, and spelling
Theme Tests
Critical Thinking Skills-Thoughtful Logs or Reading Journals
GRAMMAR
Students will focus on one grammar skill per week.
Assessed on this grammar skill on each weekly
lesson test.
Written assignments across the curriculum can be
used to asses grammar, usage and mechanics.
SPELLING TESTS AND HOMEWORK
Each week, students will receive a “Lesson
Homework Packet” consisting of spelling homework
pages.
Homework assignments will be distributed on Day
1 and due on Day 6
Spelling Tests will be on Day 6 of the cycle
WRITING
Using the Lucy Calkins approach
Students will be writing in all subject areas
Spending a significant amount of time practicing to write
Argument, Narrative, and Informational Writing pieces
End of the Year Goal: to write a 4-5 paragraph essays
MATH IN FOCUS
MATH IN FOCUS
This is a conceptually-based program that focuses on problem-
solving and reasoning skills.
It is designed with fewer lessons which will be taught over multiple
days to allow time to explore each concept more in-depth.
Students will be keeping a folder in class that contains all pages
and resources for the program. When students have homework,
they will be bringing their folders home with them.
MATH IN FOCUS
The students’ homework will vary each night depending
on the amount of practice each student needs to learn the
skill. The homework will come from either the Student
Workbook, Reteaching Workbook, Extra Practice Workbook,
or the Enrichment Workbook.
Home –School Connection and Chapter Wrap Up
•Keep throughout the chapter and use to gauge chapter
test preparation
MATH IN FOCUS
The students will have access to their textbook
and all materials and resources online. Log-in
information will be coming home shortly.
The manipulatives that are used in the lessons
are also available to use online. The students
will be using the website: www.thinkcentral.com.
SCIENCE
We will be using the science series called, “FOSS”
(Full Option Science System) again this year. This
series has guided the development of successful
active-learning science modules.
The FOSS developers designed the curriculum
based on the fact that elementary students learn
science best by doing science.
SCIENCE KITS
They will be delivered every 9 weeks and include all
materials for students to participate in hands-on
investigations.
We will be using the following modules:
1st – Structures of Life
2nd – Physics of Sound
3rd – Earth Materials
SCIENCE BINDERS
Students will be responsible for keeping an
ORGANIZED binder
Binders will contain all notes, observations, and
drawings for each science investigation
Binders will be graded throughout the unit
SCIENCE GRADING
Response Sheets – students will apply skills learned
in each investigation to a real-world situation
I-Checks – students will be given as a pretest, 1 day
of review and then students are given the I-Check
back to make any changes before it is graded
Survey Posttest/Pretest – Module test given in the
same fashion as the I-Checks
SOCIAL STUDIES
Basic Geography- Map & Globe Skills- Continents & Oceans
Our Community
Native Americans
People From Many Places- Immigration
Our Government
SIGNATURES
Please sign and return all Literacy Tests, Math Tests,
Science Tests, and Social Studies Tests
Literacy Theme tests will be discussed during conferences
and only the grade sheet will be sent home ahead of time—
sign and return it.
Spelling Tests do NOT need to be signed and returned
Most quizzes do not need to be signed and returned
PSSA
ELA—Week of April 11th
Math-Week of April 18th
Science-Week of April 25th
Benchmarks: “A work is now considered C work”
Scores and data will be made public on September 29th.
My scores from last year:
ELA: 75%Advanced, 25% Proficient, 0% Basic or Below Basic
Math: 70% Advanced; 18% Proficient, 12% Basic, 0%Below Basic
PSSA PREPARATION
For the math, reading, and science portion of the
PSSA, students will be completing skills practice
packets and using Study Island to help prepare for the
assessment.
The practice packets will look like the real tests so the
students will be acquainted with the format and types
of questions on the PSSA assessment.
HOMEWORK
Homework will be given almost every single night.
Math is the subject where homework will be given on a
daily basis in most cases. Also, please study math facts
Reading—20 min each night—projects each nine weeks
Spelling –one page per night, but students may work
ahead
Social Studies-Mrs. Jordan
Homework Club is available for students afterschool
HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT BOOK
The students are required to bring home their homework folders and assignment books each night with their assignments written in them. The assignment books should be signed by a parent or guardian each night and the student will bring their assignment book back to school on the next school day.Homework will be posted on my website each day.
REPORT CARDS
They will be distributed during the end of the first
semester (January) and at the end of the second
semester (June).
Please check Progress Book often for your child’s up-
to-date progress. A letter will be sent home with your
username/password if you do not have it already.
6 DAY SCHEDULE
Franks
Day 1 – No Special Day 4 – Art
Day 2 – Phis Ed Day 5 – Music
Day 3 – Phys Ed Day 6 – Computer Lab
Band:
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Mrs. Franks’ Email: [email protected] Mrs. Jordan’s Email: [email protected]
Mrs. Franks’ Extension: (412) 318-1000 ext5122 Best times to call:8:30-8:50, 11:45-12:15, 3:45-4:00 Teacher’s Webpage
www.rossb42.weebly.com
(All assignments will be posted here daily)
HOME –SCHOOL COMMUNICATION
http://
www.movieweb.com/tv/TEAGGCmv2AGQED/frankie-sends-an-angry-email
Email Usage:
Setting up a phone conference or a meeting at school
Change in dismissal—before noon
Quick information-: “Luke might be tired because he was not feeling
well through the night.”
Quick Question: “ Are the kids allowed to bring a camera on the field
trip.”
THANK YOU!!
Thank you for coming to Curriculum Night!
Please do not hesitate to contact with me if you have any
comments, questions, or concerns throughout the school
year!
Curriculum Night Power Point can be accessed through
my webpage under the Classroom Homepage tab.