WELCOME!
Back to School Night
Mrs. Kolarsick’s Fourth Grade Class
“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.”~Benjamin Franklin
LANGUAGE ARTS L ITERACY COURSE OVERVIEW
• Common Core Standards & NJ Core Curriculum Standards
• Balanced Literacy Program
-Reader’s Workshop-Writer’s Workshop-Word Study
READER’S WORKSHOPC R E AT I N G L I F E L O N G R E A D E R S !
“You know you've read a good book when you turn the last page and feel a little as if you
have lost a friend.” ~Paul Sweeney
My goal is to help create, maintain, and develop your
child’s reading life.
Monthly reading goals
Weekly meetings
Reading Logs for inside and outside the classroom
Sharing our Reading Life• Choices and flexible projects
READER’S WORKSHOP
• 43 Minutes
• Mini-Lesson (Teaching Point) for the strategy or skill of the day
• Guided Practice• Leveled Independent Reading Books
• Literature Circles• One project after completing the book
• Treasures Textbook • Treasures Practice Book
WRITER’S WORKSHOP
“If there's a book you really want to read but it hasn't
been written yet, then you must write it.” ~Toni Morrison43 Minutes
Mini Lesson (Teaching Point)• I begin the lesson by modeling the skill in my own
writing. • Students will practice this skill in their own writing.
Time to plan, draft, revise, edit, proofread, and
conference
WRITER’S WORKSHOP
Students will work on several pieces
and pick two to publish in each unit.
Of the two published pieces one will go
home and one will stay in their portfolio
Sharing party after publishing
WRITER’S WORKSHOP
Writing Homework: Weekly writing prompts will be
given on Monday and will be due on Friday
Every other Friday- Writing Prompt Assessment
Creative Writing Journal• Will travel to and from school• Short homework assignments on occasion to build on
ideas and topics to write about• Write creatively in class during homeroom
• Weekly dates to turn in
WRITER’S WORKSHOPUnit 1: Finding Ideas and a Voice
• Introduction to Writer’s Workshop: Becoming a Writer• Small Moments• Narrative Pieces
Unit 2: Writing to Teach (Informative/Expository Writing)• Research Papers • Comparing & Contrasting Character’s in Books• How-To Essay
Unit 3: Persuasive• Persuasive Letters• Persuasive Essays
Unit 4: Point of View• Stories with a Twist
WORD STUDY
30 Minutes
Grammar LessonsTreasures Practice Book
Weekly Spelling Pattern10 Words per week (There will be a regular and a
challenge List)Center activities and lessonsPre-Test on MondaySpelling Test on Friday
High Frequency Words 5 Words per week
WORD STUDY
High Frequency Words• The first 1,000 words are used in 89% of everyday writing.• Spelling Inventory• Individualized Spelling List
Homework will be given on Monday and due on Friday. • Students will pick three assignments off of a menu of choices
Week 1 will begin on Monday
SOCIAL STUDIES COURSE OVERVIEW
• Unit 1: The Land of New Jersey• Unit 2: Native American and European Settlers• Unit 3: A New Nation• Unit 4: Building a New Nation• Unit 5: New Century, New Challenges
Novels (Leveled Novels on the same topic)
Projects
Current Events & Reflections
MATH COURSE OVERVIEW
Envision Common Core Practice Books
Direct Instruction, Centers & Guided
Small Group Instruction
Notebook (Left Side Notes)
Quizzes, Tests, & Homework
MATH COURSE OVERVIEW
Unit 1: Operations & Algebraic
Thinking
Unit 2: Number & Operations in
Base Ten
Unit 3: Number & Operations-
Fractions
Unit 4: Measurement & Data
Unit 5: Geometry
SCIENCE COURSE OVERVIEW
Unit 1: WEATHER
Unit 2: MAGNETISM & ELECTRICITY• Project Based Learning
Unit 3: MOTION AND DESIGN• Project Based Learning
Unit 4: EARTH, MOON, AND THE SOLAR
SYSTEM
HOMEWORK EXPECTATIONS
Language Arts• Reading Log• Spelling Practice• Practice skills and concepts that were taught in class.
Math• Practice skills and concepts that were taught in class. • Photo copied hand out or the Envision Practice Book
Science and Social Studies• Projects will be assigned in advance• Occasional assignments for homework.
• Unfinished classwork
GRADING“ I F W E A L L D I D T H E T H I N G S W E A R E C A P A B L E O F ,
W E W O U L D A S T O U N D O U R S E L V E S . ”T H O M A S E D I S O N
School Wide Grading Rubric for Elementary School• 4 is Exceptional (The student produced a product that is above &
beyond mastery of the skill.)• 3 is the Target (The student demonstrated mastery of the skill)• 2 is Developing • 1 is Beginning
Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) Assessments in the Fall,
Spring, and Summer
Benchmark Math Assessments
Short Writing Assessments every other week
Reading Levels are assessed in the Fall, Spring, and Summer• Progress is monitored and recorded throughout the week.