Welcome Parents!

1. Welcome Parents! On your desk, your son/daughter wrote you a letter about what we have learned so far. After you read their letter to you, please write back to your son/daughter. You should be so proud! They are doing a fantastic job so far in fourth grade!

2. 4D Mrs. Carpenter 2014 - 2015

3. Who’s Mrs. Carpenter? a graduate of Pennsylvania State University, where I completed my undergraduate degree in Elementary Education a graduate of California University of Pennsylvania’s Master of Education/Reading Specialist program, My Teaching Experience: Third Grade, student teacher First Grade, long-term substitute Fourth Grade for six years Kindergarten Reading Teacher for two years, NASD I am delighted to be teaching at Marshall Elementary in the grade level that is near and dear to my heart, fourth grade!

4. My Teaching Style: group work Interactive/hands-on activities Use of visuals Challenge stations Centers for Communication Arts – * independent work, group work, work with Mrs. Carpenter! Use of music/songs to learn Use of technology

5. General Information • Communication • Binder / Planners • Email: ncarpenter@northallegheny.org (always best!) • Edmodo(weekly review of current skills) • MES website • My website - online games for reinforcement - pictures - homework calendar (monthly) - updates - Parent Handbook

6. Assignment Book • Written Daily (morning seatwork, after lunch) • Check Homework Completion • Student Accountability

7. Homework Policy Homework is due the day stated. If a child forgets his/her homework, they will fill out an “Oops slip” and return it to me the next day with their homework completed. In the case of class projects, points will be taken off. 3 or more late assignments = call home

8. Go to www.northallegheny.org

9. Select Marshall Elementary School from drop-down menu

10. Lunch Menu, School Calendar, and Student-Parent Handbook District Announcements Important MES Headlines

11. Building Staff

12. Select “Carpenter”

13. Test Dates ITBS - January 12-16 (The Iowa Tests offer educators a diagnostic look at how their students are progressing in key academic areas, and offers diagnostic data that can be used to create intervention groups and to drive curricular decisions.) CogATs – February 2-6 (CogATcan also provide predicted achievement scores when administered with The Iowa Tests.) PSSAs – April 13-17 (Language Arts) PSSAs – April 20-24 (Math) PSSAs – April 27 – May 1 (Science) Please note: These dates can also be found on my website.

14. Brain Break!

16. Pull-Outs • If your son/daughter is pulled out for band, orchestra (individual lessons), GOAL, CAP, Speech, or Learning Support. It is the responsibility of the student who leaves the room to see the teacher for the assignment missed. • Chorusis not a pull out. It is a scheduled class. If your son/daughter is not in chorus it is not a free period. We will be using the period as instructional time which may include one on one instruction, make up work, or extension activities. These activities will not be graded.

17. Curriculum • CA • Reading • English • Spelling • Writing – no letter grade • Science with Mrs. Carpenter • Math • Social Studies with Mrs. Harrison • 5 Regions Students must learn states

18. Gradebook & Texts Online Gradebook: Tyler https://portal.northallegheny.org/tsi_live/ Online Texts:

19. CA: Reading, Grammar, Spelling 6 Themes (5 lessons per theme) 5th lesson = writing week Reading and Spelling packets should be going home with each lesson!

20. CA: Reading, Grammar, Spelling Typical Week(may vary from week to week due to text sets, assemblies, weather, etc.):

21. Writing Every fifth-sixth week in each theme • Narrative Essays • Informative Essays • Opinion Essays

22. Science • This year in Science, the students will be employing the scientific method as they investigate the following topics: Ecosystems, Water Cycle, Weather, Electricity, Magnetism, Energy, Objects in Motion, Earth’s Cycles, Planets, and Technology. • Also new this year, we will be conducting a Science Fair at the end of the year. This will be a time for students to use the 5 steps of the scientific method to conduct their own experiment. This will be a guided project and the students will have ample time to complete it at home. There are many examples of experiments they can conduct or they may choose to conduct one of their own. This project will be graded using a rubric. More details to follow in April.

23. Math PlacementGrade 4  Grade 5 Math Grouping Criteria • IOWA Test “Math Concepts” • IOWA Test “Math Problem Solving” • IOWA Test “Math Computation” • Grade 4 End of the Year Test • Basic Facts --- subtraction, multiplication, & division • Student Attributes

24. Rocket Math • Mastering Basic Facts • Addition • Subtraction • Multiplication** • Division** • Differentiated • 1. Individualize • 2. Own Pace • Daily • 1. Repetition

25. Special Events • Birthdays • Healthy snack • 48 hour notice • Classroom Events • Two Field Trips during the year, the Art Museum and PNC Park • If you haven’t done so, please sign up for the PFA! Otherwise, you’ll have to pay a fee for field trips.

26. This & That • Box Tops for School • Book Orders: • Checks made out to “Scholastic” • Or Online, class code = NCFPR

27. Donations Needed for our Classroom!

28. Parent Questionnaire Please fill out the parent questionnaire. Thank you!