Welcome to Fourth Grade!

Ms. Pettigrew’s Class

Portable 1

Curriculum Night

2014-2015

Sign up for Conferences

Will be done online, later in the year.

• Please find your child’s desk• Read your child’s letter--please write

back• Check the back table to sign up for

volunteer opportunities• Please write down any questions you

have during the presentation on the note card on the desk

Good Evening!I’m glad you’re here!

On your desk….

• From me:– Letter from your child—write

back!– Green folder—I will touch on

during my presentation• From the office (On the back

table)– Brochure

• Volunteer Expectations• Background check

4th Grade Extra Curricular Costs

Thank you to those who have paid Costs are:

$23.75 if you purchased a recorder$17.75 if you did NOT purchase a

recorder (Please let me know if you will not be purchasing a recorder!)

About Me

• Graduate of University of Washington (Bachelor of Science in Psychology)

• Masters in Education• This is my fourth year at Creekside

Elementary. I just this school and I especially LOVE Fourth Grade!

About Me

• I am a mother, friend, colleague and teacher. I love my life!

• Mother of two, ages 8 and 11

• Interests include singing, cooking, playing guitar and reading

• Lover of the arts – especially music and theater

Class Management System

• “Do Unto Otters”

• Classroom Bucket Points

• Table Group Points

• Stars of Recognition

• Logical Consequences

• Class Expectations– Show respect– Make good decisions– Solve the problem

4th Grade Curriculum Plan for the Year

• In your folder you will find a list of what we teach in fourth grade, please look it over

• There are a few areas I would like to discuss further:– Math– Reading– Word Study– Science

In Everyday Math expect to see….• …a problem-solving approach based on

everyday situations;• …an instructional approach that revisits

concepts regularly;• …frequent practice of basic skills, often

through games;• …lessons based on activities and

discussion• …mathematical content that goes

beyond basic arithmetic

Everyday Math On-line

• Each student receives a user name and password– You will find your child’s in the packet

in the green folder• When they log-on they will have access

to the Student Reference Book and different Everyday Math games

• Students also have access to IXL to practice math facts and concepts (password also in packet)

Reading

• Balanced Reading Approach—students will read books at their own level

• Currently assessing student reading levels to determine reading groups

• More information can be found in the green folder

Reading

• Making Meaning is our reading comprehension program

• The bookroom will be used for Guided Reading groups to work on specific skills

• Fountas and Pinnell will be used to identify your child’s reading level

Reading

Fountas and Pinnell chart

Aug./Sept. Nov./Dec Feb./March May/June

4 S+ T+ U+ V+

3 P-R Q-S R-T S-U

2 O P Q R

1 Below O Below P Below Q Below R

Writing• New Curriculum for ISD

• Lucy Calkins Units of Study

• Full Implementation for the 2014-15 school year:

• Narrative Writing• Opinion Writing- Students builds an argument about a topic

and arranges ideas and evidence.

• Informational Writing

• Essay Writing

– Refer to Letter in folder for more information from the district

Word Study

Vocabulary

Students are taught how to learn words and how to remember words.

•Strategies for learning vocabulary include : context clues, root words, prefixes and suffixes.

Word Study

Spelling

Spelling will be integrated with writing instruction, with an emphasis on application in students’ daily writing.

Intermittent checks and observations of daily work conducted throughout the year to assess.

SciencePhysical Science Earth and Space

ScienceLife Science

PS 2 States of Matter

What happens to the characteristics of

matter when it changes states?

ES 2 Formation of Earth Materials

What natural processes change the

look of the Earth?  

ES Earth in SpaceWhat is the

relationship between the Earth and Sun? 

 

LS 2 Food WebsWhy are relationships

in an ecosystem important?

 

If you are an expert in any of these areas or are interested in helping out, please let me know!

Daily Schedule- Can vary

• Math

• Snack/Read aloud

• Reading

• Word Study

• Lunch

• Specialist

• Writing

• Recess

• Science/Social Studies/Art

Daily Schedule

• Specialist Schedule– Music is on

Wednesday and Friday

– PE is on Tuesday and Wednesday

– Library is every other Thursday

• Other– SAGE is

Wednesday (9:15-11:15am)

– Computer Lab –To be scheduled

(still waiting for

all permission

slips)

Snack• Every morning we will have snack

time

• Students need to bring their own snack- they cannot share

• Snacks need to be healthy- top three ingredients should not be sugar

• Examples: fruit/veggies, crackers, granola bars, trail mix

Homework/Planners

• More information can be found in the packet in the green folder

• Homework will be assigned nearly every night- Approximately 40 minutes (except on weekends)Reading 20 minutes, weekly reading responseEveryday Math Study Links/IXL online practiceUnfinished workOccasional Blog question

PlannersWe will fill out each day – PLEASE CHECK THESE!I will star plannerWould be helpful if you take a look at the planner and

sign after they complete their homework

Reading at Home• Students are expected to read at least 20

minutes every night– They can read independently– They can read to someone else– Someone can read to them

• They need to record what they read and for how many minutes on weekly log

• They will also sometimes record new vocabulary

• Total the minutes and sign it- it is due on Friday, with the completed reading response.

Additional Projects

• Starting next month students will be asked to read a specific genre (students will receive the information soon)

• There will not be a book project, but students will be asked to reflect on the book they read in their reading response.

• THIS IS DIFFERENT IN MY CLASS and different than last year.

Star of the Week

• Each full week a student is scheduled to be the star of the week

• You will find the directions/schedule in the green folder

• You do have one job on your child’s week!

• Star lunch: once a month, parents are welcomed to join us + 1 FRIEND!!!

Communication

• I won’t believe half of what they tell me about you if you don’t believe half of what they tell you about me.

• Email or call me with any concerns/ questions

• Connect Website• Friday is the day things are sent home

– Newsletters– Friday Report– Corrected work

Newsletters

• Every Friday I will send home a newsletter via email or kid mail

• Newsletter will have important information and dates of upcoming events so please make sure you read it

• Week in Review

Friday Report

• Friday Report will let you know if your child is missing any work from the week

• Students have the chance to complete the missing work over the weekend and turn it in on Monday so it is not a ZERO in the gradebook. Please turn the missing work in STAPLED to the HW report

• Corrected work from the week will be attached minus work I keep to add to their file. Keep work at home.

Quicktip• New anonymous reporting tool for students

• 24/7 access from any computer with internet access: https://asp.schoolmessenger.com/issaquah/quicktip/

• Students can report concerns anonymously and directly to an administrator

• Offers students a form of support

• Only for students

Portfolios

• To help students be more involved in their learning, the 4th grade students will have portfolios

• They will set goals

• Track progress on multiplication facts

• Track progress on tests

• Tests will be sent home then are to be returned so students can keep them in their portfolios

Report Cards

1st Trimester Report Cards: November 26th

Conferences: December 3/4th

Online – later this year 2nd Trimester Report Cards:

March 13th

3rd Trimester Report Cards: Last day of school

Grading Rubric

Standards Based.

Meeting Standards:Meeting Standards:•Consistently Goes above and beyond Consistently Goes above and beyond =4=4

•Consistently Consistently Demonstrates = 3Demonstrates = 3•Usually Demonstrates = 2Usually Demonstrates = 2

•Seldom Demonstrates =1Seldom Demonstrates =1

Field Trips/Celebrations

• In-school field trips- Kate Poaster Science Labs

• Walking field trips

• Celebrations:– Pumpkin Math– Friendship Brunch– End of Year

Birthday Celebrations

• We will honor everyone’s birthday in the classroom with:– A Birthday balloon– Singing Happy Birthday

• The school will honor students’ birthdays once a month in the lunch room.

• Please DO NOT bring any treats on your child’s birthday

Important Dates

• There are important dates in the booklet

• NEW Smarter Balanced Assessment – sample in green folder

• Testing Window: April 20th – May 22nd

Volunteers• Volunteer Expectations on the back table• Volunteer Calendar will begin near the

beginning of October• ALL must fill out a Washington State

Patrol Form if you plan on volunteering—even if it’s just for ONE field trip. It lasts two years. (Back Table)

Experts Wanted

• If you are an expert in an area that we are studying and feel comfortable in front of a classroom, I would love to have you.

• Please contact me and let me know your area of expertise

Supply Request

• 3x5 Notecards

• Roll of Paper towels

• CLEAN, single sock (to erase dry erase boards

• Avery 8160 labels (30 labels per sheet)

• Avery 8163 Shipping Labels (10 per sheet)

PTA Contacts

• Michele McCoy

3m2coy@gmail.com

 

• Jackie Firth

jackie.creekside.ptsa@gmail.com

REMINDER!

Picture Day is tomorrow!

If you haven’t already sent in the order form, have your student bring it tomorrow, and wear their best clothes and smile!

Are there any questions?

Thank you for coming!•Please make sure to write back to your child.•Take the folder with you and leave the notecard•Please make sure you have signed up for any volunteer opportunities before you leave!