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Welcome to Mr. McFall’s Room September 11, 2014

Welcome to Mr. McFall’s Room September 11, 2014. A place where… “Together, We Make a Difference”. Welcome to…. 4th. Grade. This is not the 4 th grade you remember!. Basic Information. e-mail – jmcfall@hamburgschools.org Phone - 646-3370 ext 3112

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Welcome to Mr. McFall’s Room September 11, 2014

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  1. Welcome toMr. McFall’s RoomSeptember 11, 2014

  2. A place where… “Together, We Make a Difference”

  3. Welcome to… 4th Grade

  4. This is not the 4th grade you remember!

  5. Basic Information • e-mail – jmcfall@hamburgschools.org • Phone - • 646-3370 ext 3112 • Please feel free to contact me at any time if you have any concerns or questions.

  6. Parent/Teacher Conference Two (2) conferences will be held this year December 11 & 12 and March 19 & 20. Coincide with our Trimester Report Cards Other stuff: 1.) Contact info 2.) Health info 3.) Banking 4.) First writing piece – please leave

  7. Expectations • Behavior – We have high expectations for behavior (What’s our Temperature?) • Plan Books – signed nightly even if there is no homework. This is your child’s responsibility to ask you to sign it! • Work Ethic – expect their best work at all times. • Enthusiasm Ignites Greatness • Positive Energetic Kids

  8. Typical Day in Room 105 • E.L.A. – 90 minutes • Reading (Group and Individual) • Writing • Skills (Spelling, Grammar) • MATH – 60 minutes • Instruction • Practice • Skills (Fluency) • SOCIAL STUDIES or SCIENCE – 45 minutes • Reading – Cross Curricular (may be within Reading time) • Projects, Observations, and Experiments • SPECIALS – 30 to 45 minutes • Art, Phys. Ed. (3 day/wk), Music (1 day/week), Chorus (1 day/week), Library • Recess/Breaks/Lunch – Whatever is left over

  9. Homework • Goldilocks Theory– not too much, not too little, just right! Usually NOT on Fridays. • Assignment Books – should indicate accurate information of assignment. Please initial their planners. • READ – Read at least 30 minutes daily

  10. Homework • My Homework Promise • I promise to always give homework that the kids understand. They should already know how to complete the assignment and how to solve the problems. I will never send home a sheet just because we didn’t have time to get to it (which often happens). In this case we will get to it tomorrow.

  11. Homework • My Homework Promise • I believe that homework should be an opportunity for 4th graders to practice what they already know. I ask that you promise that if you see frustration with an assignment, or if it is taking an extraordinary amount of time, to please CUT IT SHORT. Just mark where you ended and drop me a quick note. A frustrated child is not in any position to learn.

  12. Curriculum • CHANGE is the key word! • Common Core of State Standards • Shifts is Education • DATA • Scores, etc. • ASSESSMENTS • Student and Teacher Assessments • INSTRUCTION • Driven by the DATA

  13. Common Core of State Standards • Key Shifts in Education • English Language Arts 1.) A 50/50 balance between fiction and non- fiction 2.) Build knowledge through TEXT, rather than from the teacher or activities 3.) Provide time for CLOSEreading of the text 4.) Engage in evidence based conversations about the text 5.) Write using evidence from the source 6.) Build academic vocabulary

  14. Common Core of State Standards • Key Shifts in Education • Math 1.)Prioritize concepts and focus deeply on them 2.) Build upon the foundations established in previous years 3.) FLUENCY – the students will have speed and accuracy with simple computations and concepts 4.) Students have a DEEP UNDERSTANDING of concepts before moving on 5.) Students APPLY math concepts 6.) DUAL INTENSITY of practice and understanding

  15. What does this mean to us? • Focus on Important Concepts in Math • Math FLUENCY – Know your facts! • Read more Non-Fiction books • Research projects • Social Studies and Science Curriculum • Read more Novels as a class as well as the short weekly selections • Lots and lots of writing • Keep a portfolio of different Units of Study

  16. Math Program • Increases expectations • We are implementing a new program this year • Expressions utilizes a daily practice book and a homework assignment. I have also added a back sheet to the homework which includes a Remembering section for review of previously learned material • We may slow down or speed up as their learning progresses

  17. Math Program Is it new math? NO! But it is a new way of looking at math. We are looking for better understanding of the WHAT you are doing, not just the HOW you are doing it!

  18. Math Program Is it new math? Example: 24 x 36 = _____

  19. Math Program Is it new math? Example: 24 x 36 = _____ We learned….. 24 x 36

  20. Math Program Is it new math? Example: 24 x 36 = _____ They will learn 20 4 30 6

  21. Math Program Is it new math? Example: 24 x 36 = _____ They will learn 20 4 and then 30 24 6 x 36

  22. Concentrate on basic facts with FLUENCY Add, subtract, multiply, and divide of whole numbers FRACTIONS, Decimals Algebra – familiar with variables Statistics Measurement Geometry Ratio & Probability PROBLEM SOLVING Multiple step problems Describe your thinking and solution Math Program We are striving for UNDERSTANDING of the concept, not just spitting out the answer!

  23. I encourage the kids to think in mathematical ways and look for ways to challenge their minds. Look for opportunities in everyday life to think about something with your child in a mathematical way. (shopping, cooking, etc.) My Math Philosophy Brainiac Challenges Fibonacci Sequence 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, ____, ____,….

  24. Language Arts Program • Contains reading, writing, spelling, and grammar components. • Reading Selections – Award winning literature. High interest readings. • Novels • Short Selections • Poetry • Independent Choice • Connected material to Social Studies

  25. Reading Program • Novel Study - Read for a deeper understanding of the text. • Reader’s Workshop – daily independent reading with mini-lessons and student-teacher conferences - FLUENCY • Encourage Independent Choice • At student’s level • Provide more Non-Fiction choices • Read for information and understanding

  26. Reading Program • GOAL – encourage INDEPENDENT Readers! • 25 Book GOAL • Independent choice • Assigned books – classroom set • Daily Teacher read – Because of Winn-Dixie • Monthly Genre – Biography, etc. • Encourage 30 minutes per night.

  27. Writing Program • Writer’s Workshop – daily independent writing with mini-lessons and student-teacher conferences • Units of Study – • Personal Narrative • Writing Fiction • Writing Essays • Research Report • Persuasive Writing

  28. Science • Science is the forgotten step-child of education lately – and the class many kids love best! • The increased emphasis on non-fiction reading will help us incorporate science within the Language Arts Program

  29. Science • Erie I BOCESprovides basic science kits for instruction • Plants – plant growth, parts of the plant • Electrical Circuits – understand basics and safety of electricity and circuits • Crawfish – animal behavior, observation, care • Powders and Crystals – Scientific Process • Land and Water – Water Cycle and the effects of erosion • GOAL – Develop and encourage independent learners who question their surroundings.

  30. Social Studies • The Land and Early People – Native American Study - Iroquois Nation • Newcomers Arrive – Exploration and Colonization • A New Nation and State – Revolution and Government • Becoming the Empire State – Growth and change in New York – Erie Canal, Immigration • New York in the Modern World – New York today and tomorrow

  31. Social Studies • The increased emphasis on non-fiction reading will help us incorporate Social Studies within the Language Arts Program • Back to the basics • Map Skills • Geography • 50 States ??? • Important land forms

  32. State Assessments All students in levels 3 – 8 continue to have annual state assessments in E.L.A. and Math. 4th Grade students also take a 2-Part Science Assessment. • E.L.A. – • Math – • Science –

  33. State Assessments McFall

  34. Field Trip • Annual trip to Genesee Country Village & Museum in June • Culmination of our studies and readings of Colonial and Early America • Volunteers are GREATLY appreciated. You will LOVE the trip

  35. Classroom Celebrations • All parties will be 30 -45 minutes after lunch (11:45 – 12:30) • Halloween • Students may dress at school • Christmas • Book Exchange • Valentine’s Day • Caring– Service to Others • Bring donated items for an animal shelter

  36. Classroom Celebrations • Birthdays • Let me know a couple days in advance if you plan to send a treat. • Summer Birthday Kids • We will look for a gap in the birthday dates to fill.

  37. Thank you!!!Together, we can make a difference!Make a Difference Video

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