Welcome to Curriculum Night

1. Welcome to Curriculum Night Fourth Grade Mrs. Dawn Leslie “This classroom welcomes all, embraces each, supports everyone, and hopes that you find yourself better for having been here.” ~ Sally Huss

3. A Little About Me… • 11th year teaching at Harlan • Enjoy traveling, golfing, skiing, reading, and visiting with family and friends • Married to John, 2 children – Amber 7, Shane 14 • Grew up in Milford • OU – Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education • MarygroveCollege– Master Degree in the Art of Teaching

4. Communication • Parent email addresses –– group e-mails • My email address: dl06bps@birmingham.k12.mi.us (best way to reach me) • BPSeNews • Leave phone messages in office 248-203-3265 • Assignment Notebooks • Learning logs First Weeks of School\learninglog.doc • Friday Folders • Parent meetings – I am available and flexible to arrange a time that works for both of us. • Harlan Webpage • Blog – stay tuned…

5. My Goals • To help each child develop the academic and social skills needed to be successful in fourth grade and beyond. • To provide a supportive and fun classroom environment. • To nurture each child’s desire to learn. • To help each child make new friends and discover new interests. • To ensure a safe environment, physically and emotionally. • To encourage thought provoking discussions • To provide multiple ways of learning content • To provide specific feedback to my students that will help them grow and improve skills.

6. Class Vision • We will respect each other and ourselves by being encouraging and having personal integrity. We will work together to create a fun, positive place to learn. Our room will be a safe place, both physically and emotionally. • Ways that we promote our vision: bucket fillers, class meeting, aim high tickets

7. Behavior • Students are expected to be on their best behavior at all times and to follow the Harlan Habits (respect, responsibility, and kindness). First Weeks of School\2011-12classroom expectation contract1.doc • Individual and group rewards will be given randomly as students are caught being kind, respectful, and responsible. • Further, in room 200 we realize each of us makes mistakes and sometimes our mistakes, or bad choices, result in consequences. Our discipline process begins with a reminder and may proceed to a warning (refocus form), and then a reflection form. • Depending on the mistake, students may miss part or all of recess, a phone call home, a conference with you and your child, or a visit to Ms. Thompson’s office for extremely inappropriate behavior.

8. Tidbits... • If you need to drop off lunch or an item for your child please leave it in the office. If you are picking up your child early, please check in the office and they will call up to our room and have your child come to the office to meet you. If your normal dismissal plans change please send in a note. • Classroom Wiki: Homework, web links, classroom projects, pictures and video clips will be available here. • Snacks/Birthday Treats: Please send a nutritious and healthy snack for your child. You may send in birthday treats in the morning or drop it off in the office. Please send food that is easy to serve and any utensils, napkins, etc. that if needed for the treat. Please consider this year choosing to forgo the treat for other options such as a Birthday recess, class game, or nonfood items (pencils, etc.). • Summer birthdays- June or half-year date

9. Unified Arts Schedule 9:55-10:40 • A - Art • B – Spanish • C – Phys. Ed. • D – Music, Spanish 3:00-3:45 • Lunch 12:20-1:00 • Library – C – 9:00

10. Grading Grading Scale • A 94-100% • A- 90-93% • B+ 87-89% • B 84-86% • B- 80-83% • C+ 77-79% • C 74-76% • C- 70-73% • D+ 67-69% • D 64-66% • D- 60-63% • E 59-0% End of Marking Periods • Thursday, November 3 Friday, January 27 • Friday, April 13 Friday, June 15

11. Homework • Unfinished classroom assignments • Study links • District required reading minutes • Spelling • Practice for reinforcement or proficiency (spelling words, math facts) • Work on school related projects (Trading Day, Harland Map, Moodle) • Tests • Make up work due to absence • Late/missing assignments-Students will not be able to play Homeworkopoly and will have to go to Study Hall during Fun Friday

12. Language Arts Reading and writing: • Anthology short stories allow for skill development via 6 themes (1st theme - Journeys) • Readers workshop offers choice, variety and self-directed reading and reflection with teacher conferencing to discuss reading choices and progress towards goals. We will be using the Literacy CAFÉ model – (Comprehension, Accuracy, Fluency, and Expand Vocabulary) Students should be reading their just right leveled books independently. • Fountas and Pinnell reading assessment • Home reading log expectations (15-20 minutes per day)- calendars turned in at the end of the month • AR program -50 points • We use a writer’s workshop to develop writing skills such as idea development, voice, organization, word choice, sentence fluency, conventions and presentation style. • Grammar specific lessons offer targeted practice

13. Spelling • Students will be responsible for approximately 20-25 words per week that relate directly to the week’s reading theme. • Spelling assignments will be due on Thursday. • Spelling City

14. Social Studies • The focus of 4th grade social studies is regional geography of the United States. We will be integrating technology as we take virtual tours and plan “road trips” to different locations. • Topics include: • Peopling of the United states • Northeast • Southeast • Midwest • Southwest • West • Social Sciences • Research Techniques • Core democratic values • Economics

15. ScienceBirmingham Public Schools uses the program Science for Life and Living and FOSS Kits. • Systems • Variables • Ecosystems (will need 2 liter pop bottles in January) • Land and Water • Health Our science program focuses on questioning, observing, recording data, manipulating and controlling variables, providing evidence, making inferences, forming conclusions, and extending the results of one investigation to another investigation.

16. MathEveryday Math • Each math lesson consists of a mini-lesson – a 10-15 minute instructional time where I am presenting information and asking students to make connections to prior knowledge. Students work independently and with math buddy. • At home, your child will be required to complete math study links each night that we have a math lesson (most nights). We check study links at the start of our math lesson. At the end of the unit, students can study from the study links packet. • At the beginning of each unit I send home the study links packet. The Family Letter is a letter to you explaining the content. Please take the time to read these. They will help guide you through the unit and it’s content and expectations. • One copy of the Student Reference Book (SRB) will be kept home as reference for support with homework/studying for tests. Please return in June.

17. Math Continued… • Our content consists of: • Geometry • Using numbers and organizing data • Multiplication and division • Number sentences and algebra • Decimals and their uses • Big numbers, estimation and computation • Measures of angles • Fractions and their uses • Chance and probability • Perimeter and area • Fractions, decimals and percents • Reflections and symmetry • 3-D shapes • Weight, volume and capacity • Rates

18. Math Continued… • Students in fourth grade are expected to develop automaticity around basic math facts. Please help your child practice at home by using websites, practice sheets, flash cards, etc. Practice with numbers 0-10. Knowing basic facts without using any counting strategies is key to successfully using algorithms to solve problems. • Our district guideline is that by the end of fourth grade students can do: • 50 addition problems in 3 minutes • 50 subtraction problems in 3 minutes • 100 multiplication problems in 5 minutes • 25 multiplication problems (11 and 12) in 2 minutes • 100 division problems in 5 minutes • In an effort to meet the diverse math needs of each of our students, we have restructured our daily 4th grade mathematics program. For the 2011-2012 school year, we will offer two math class opportunities. Differentiated math will be taught in 4th grade by Mrs. Danforth and Mrs. Abels. 4+ Math will be taught by Mrs. Leslie.

19. The End of Math… • Students will take a unit test at the end of each unit. I will give 3-4 days advance notice, spend a class period reviewing, and encourage students to spend time studying notes, journal pages, and study links. Study guides will be handed out a few days prior to the test day. • It is important that students write about math, talk about math, draw about math and build math problems with manipulatives in order to develop a deep understanding of content rather than just steps to solve a problem.

20. !gnite- 21st Century Learning • Digital Learners • Teacher as Facilitator • Multi-Taskers • Independent Problem Solvers • Team Work • Self Direction • Communication • Knowledge • Digital Citizenship******Internet Safety

21. Tech Tools • Laptops • Flip Cameras • Digital Cameras • Headsets w/microphones • Bamboo Tablet / Scanner • Skype / FaceTime • Inspiration • iPad 2 / iPod touch • Interactive Projectors – coming soon! • USB Drive (Flash Drive)- if possible please purchase one • Mr. Roy Bishop! – Technology Integrator

22. Special Events • River Rouge Water Festival • Detroit Symphony Orchestra • Nature Center • Morley Candy Factory • Disability Awareness Day • Trading Day • Battle of the Books • Music Concert - April

23. Thank you for coming! I am extremely excited to be sharing the year with you and your child!