welcome to back to school night 4th grade 2014 – 2015 ms. cowan mrs. purdham mrs. ross mrs. strade
TRANSCRIPT
Welcome to Back To School Night
4th Grade
2014 – 2015
Ms. CowanMrs. PurdhamMrs. RossMrs. Strade
General Schedule
9:05 Arrival/ Un-pack/ Morning Work
9:25 – 10:10 Specials
10:30 – 11:40 Math
11:45 – 12:15 Social Studies/Science
12:15 – 1:10 Recess/Lunch
1:15 – 2:30 Reading
2:30 – 3:15 Writing
3:25 Dismissal
Communication• Teachers can be reached through email,
notes and phone calls• Please check your child’s home folder, math
folder, and assignment book nightly and sign
• Emails are checked in the a.m. and p.m.; please do not email midday about your child’s transportation or immediate matters, but instead call the office
• Other important information can be found on the 4th grade website
Organization• Place for everything and everything
in its place• Assignment Book – sign each night,
look for reminders and notes• Desks and cubbies are checked on a
regular basis• Please help by checking the home
folder - clean out papers regularly• Absent folders
Classroom ManagementWe expect all Stone Mill students to follow the rules and expectations that
have been set for them.
• Ground Rules• Warnings are always given• Check assignment book for comments about behavior• Bullying Prevention Program• Chance Store – Positive reinforcement program
consistently used by all 4th grade teachers.• Works like money – teaches saving, planning,
decision making and prioritizing• Students earn chances for bringing back notices the
next day, work study skills and following directions.• “Marble Jar” – the class works together as a community to
earn “class parties”
Odds and EndsBirthdays• Announced on PA, recognized in
classroom, store bought treats may be shared in the lunchroom
Volunteers• Room Parents are needed to plan class
parties for Halloween and Valentine’s Day
• Volunteers are needed for copying and other activities to prepare materials for students
Odds and EndsInstrumental Music• Students are responsible for missed work
because instruction continues • Instrumental music occurs throughout the day
on ThursdaysChorus• Tuesdays 1:50 – 2:25• Due to high enrollment, no new lessons are
taught during this timeMemory Books• Chronological record of student work and
photographs from the year, creative outlet, also displays final copies of your child’s work
Math• Classes are heterogeneously grouped • To determine math levels the following
criteria was used:- MSA & MAP-M scores from previous year- quarterly and final math levels and grades from previous year- pre-assessments given in June of 3rd grade- principal and teacher input- performance on units from previous year
• Compacted Math Class – students were placed in this class according to criteria mandated by MCPS
Math• Please be sure that your child is
completing math homework• Basic math facts should be practiced as
often as possible• Be on the lookout for your child’s math
folder to come home nightly• For further questions please contact your
child’s math teacher• Please email your child’s math teacher to
be added to the math distribution list
Reading• Developing skills and teaching students to apply them to all content areas• Higher Order Questioning• Critical Thinking, Analyzing and Synthesizing• Reading to Learn vs Learning to Read• Emphasis on non-fiction texts• Materials used to teach reading are: novels, expository text, read alouds, Junior Great Books, William and Mary
Reading• Historical Fiction• Realistic Fiction• Informational• Poetry and Plays• Greek Myths• Fantasy• Biographies/Autobiographies
Reading
• Grouping is flexible within the classroom and changes throughout the year based on need
• 4th grade goal is to read 24 books independently
• Students will complete a Reading Record to respond to the literature they have chosen
Word Study• Pre-assessment given to determine
current spelling stage• 10 – 15 words are given each week from
your child’s spelling stage• Personal words can also be chosen from
student work and content related vocabulary
• Spelling packets may be completed at student’s convenience over a two week period and will be handed in on the day of the test
Writing• Narratives• Opinion• Informative• Use of Language
Inquiry Learning Projects• Each project will integrate subject areas
with an emphasis on writing for final products
• 4 inquiry projects, one during each marking period
ScienceStudents will participate in
experiments and put the scientific process into action!
Life ScienceEarth ScienceEngineering
Social Studies• Baldrige Classroom Environment• Geographical Settlement Patterns
in MD and USA• Native Americans and their
Regions• Map Study• Colonization
Field Trips
• Coincide with Curriculum 2.0 in the subject areas of reading, science, and social studies
• Parents will be chosen at random to participate from those that volunteer
Grading and Reporting• Rubrics are used so that students know what is expected• Informal Assessments are given throughout instruction• Informal and formal grading will be used in the form of N, I, P, ES• Grades also come from class observations and discussions• Learning Skills – Work Habits and TASS (Thinking and Academic Success Skills)• Check marks are given for assignments that are checked for completion
We look forward to an amazing year and are appreciative of all the support you give us!
Please proceed to your child’s classroom to write your child a letter and sign-up for conferences.