WELCOME TO 4TH GRADE

1. Curriculum Night WELCOME TO4TH GRADE

2. Communication between School and Home Communication between parents and teacher(s) will be via the Student Agenda, teacher websites, 4th Grade Newsletter, email, and the VIP. Please sign the Student Agenda Daily and sign and return the VIP on Fridays.

3. Infinite Campus • Infinite Campus is replacing Parent Portal this year. • If you already have a Parent Assistant account your user name and password are the same. • Visit www.dekalb.k12.ga.us to sign up. The district code is flzlhv.

4. TIME MANAGEMENT • At home, please make sure that your child has a quiet place to work with all of the necessary supplies. This will help them learn good study habits and be successful as life long learners.

5. Safety First • Please do not bring your child’s forgotten items down to the modular. Leave them in the office for pick-up at lunch. • You must have a Visitor’s Pass in order to be allowed into the modular at any time. Please schedule an appointment with the team if necessary.

6. Dismissal Changes • If you make a change to your child’s dismissal, please send in a handwritten note in the morning. • No email changes can be accepted for safety reasons. • In the case of an emergency or last minute change of dismissal, please call the front office (678-874-9002). They will relay the information to us. • If it is a permanent change in dismissal, please stop by the office and fill out a new Change of Dismissal agreement.

7. ARRIVALS AND DISMISSALS • Please understand that instruction time is very precious. • Late arrivals and early dismissals are very disruptive. Please take every measure possible to ensure that your children receive a full day of instruction.

8. Student Absences • We will collect missed work for students who are absent. Students will receive the missed assignments upon their return to school. • Please plan vacations around the school calendar. It is extremely important that your child is at school every day. • Please be sure to let us know why your child is absent so we can input your child’s absence correctly.

9. Schedule •         7:30    –     Homeroom •         7:45    –     Math •         9:05    –     Science •         9:35    –     Extended Learning Time •         10:20   –     ELA (with Ms. Harris) •         11:15   –     Activity •         12:19   –     Lunch •         12:50   –     Recess •         1:10    –     ELA- (with Ms. Harris) •         1:30    –     Social Studies (with Ms. Harris) •         2:15    –     Dismissal Begins

10. Activity Schedule • Day A – Art with Ms. Norman • Day B – Music / Band • Day C – Dance • Day D – Physical Education • Day E – S.T.E.M. • Day F – Art with Ms. Norman

11. Activities 4th grade goes to Activity from 11:15-11:55am. The PE teacher is Coach Dwyer. The Dance teacher is Ms. Taylor. The Music teacher is Mr. Green and the band teacher is Mr. McConnell. The Art teachers are Ms. Norman and Ms. Wortham (McDowell). The S.T.E.M. Teacher is Mrs. Aho. The students need a composition book to S.T.E.M.

12. Discovery The Discovery teachers are Mr. Sewell, Mrs. Weatherly and Ms. Weiss. Feel free to visit our Specialist and Discovery teachers during Curriculum Night or following this presentation. Discovery: Ms. Weiss’ Room Special Area: S.T.E.M. Lab

13. Lunch times for the classes: • Ms. Harris’ homeroom, 12:16pm-12:46pm • Ms. Kurtz’s homeroom, 12:19pm-12:49pm • Mrs. Turnbull Homeroom 12:22pm-12:52pm • Mr. Williams Homeroom 12:25pm-12:55pm

14. Lunch and Snack • Prepaid lunch money will be collected each day. Parents can also pay online at mylunchmoney.com • Students may bring a light “healthy” snack. A small bag of crackers or fruit would be a good choice.

15. Visiting for Lunch • We do not allow fast food in the lunchroom – please do not bring it when visiting. • We ask that you only bring lunch for your child when you visit. We have multiple and varying allergies. • If you plan to purchase a school lunch, please contact your child’s homeroom teacher so that we can place an order for you. We are the last grade to go to lunch. We don’t want to run out of food.

16. Allergies • We do have food allergies in our classrooms this year. Please be aware of this whenever we begin to plan for class parties.

17. Fieldtrips We will participate in two field trips this year. More to come… 

18. Vanderlyn Expectations • Follow directions the first time given. • Maintain a quiet voice in the hallways. • Keep hands, feet, and objects to self. • Demonstrate respect for self, others, and school property.

19. Dress Code & Umbrellas • Please follow the dress code listed in the student handbook. • Due to the safety of all children, we do not allow students to use umbrellas. Ponchos and rain boots are allowed.

20. CLASS DOJO In the 4th grade this year, we are implementing a Reward based system using an online tool called ClassDojo. We use a reward system based on earning points. If a child earns 50 points, then they may choose from one of the following activities as a reward: Homework pass Play an educational Game during dismissal on Activeboard Be a teacher helper in all 4 content classes for the day Bring a Kindle to school to read for one day Sit with a Friend at Lunch Pass Choose Your Seat for a Day Pass

21. Homework Homework is to be a support of what has been taught in class. Please expect 10- 15 minutes of homework from each subject Monday-Thursday. The DeKalb Homework Policy allows kids to have between 40-60 minutes of homework a night when they are in 4th grade. This time does not include nightly reading.

22. Why Common Core? • To ensure that all students, no matter where they live, are prepared for success in postsecondary education and the workforce. • To ensure that students are receiving a high quality education consistently, from school to school and state to state. • To provide a greater opportunity to share experiences and best practices within and across states that will improve our ability to best serve the needs of students. • To ensure mastery through performance, projects and products.

23. We teach according to the Georgia Performance Standards. • Please see individual websites for a complete listing of the standards that your child will be taught. • We teach for mastery of the standard(s) through performance, projects and products. • Please see teacher websites for the syllabus of each subject.

24. Testing Dates • Milestones window dates : April 21-23 and 28-29 These are the only standardized test dates that will affect 4th grade.

25. Georgia Milestones • Guiding principles stipulate that Georgia Milestones: • be sufficiently rigorous to ensure Georgia students are well positioned to compete with other students across the United States and internationally; • be intentionally designed across grade levels to send a clear signal of student progress/growth and preparedness for the next level, be it the next grade level, course, or college or career; • be accessible to all students, including those with disabilities or limited English proficiency, at all achievement levels; • support and inform educator effectiveness initiatives, ensuring items and forms are appropriately sensitive to quality instructional practices; and • accelerate the transition to online administration, allowing – over time – for the inclusion of innovative technology-enhanced items. • Find more information at: http://www.gadoe.org/Curriculum-Instruction-and-Assessment/Assessment/Documents/Introducing%20Georgia%20Milestones%20June%202014.pdf

26. Differentiation in the Classroom Each classroom will utilize different delivery methods to make sure that all students learn the concepts for mastery. I try to include to multiple learning styles in my lessons and the children’s projects ~Assessments: Pre-Assessments STAR Math & STAR Reading

27. Technology in the Classroom • Students use: • Computers • Ipads • Create presentations using PowerPoint, Prezi, and/or videos Homework: IXL Learnzillion Study Jams

28. 4th Grade Social Studies • The Discovery of America • The Colonization of America • Forming a new nation • Challenge of a new nation • Expansion of a new nation • Our American government • Being a responsible spender • Geography • Critical Thinking across the curriculum

29. 4th Grade Language Arts • Grammar—Warm-Up and Centers • Writing—Integrated with Content • Reading—Integrated with writing • Reading comprehension skills—Guided Reading • Using graphic organizers • Media Center • Spelling/Vocabulary— Words Their Way

30. 4th Grade Math • Real Life Applicable Math Skills • Place Value • Fractions • Multiplication with multiple digits • Long Division • Geometry • Measurement • Problem Solving • Critical Thinking

31. 4th Grade Science • Getting Ready For Science (terms, rules, safety) • Learning about Matter • Water Cycle/Clouds/Weather • Ecosystems • Stars and the Solar System • Light and Sound • Forces and Motion

32. Conferences • We schedule conferences on an as needed basis. • If you would like a conference, please email your homeroom teacher to set up a date and time. We will be more than happy to work with you. • Conferences will include both team teachers. • September 18 and November 20

33. Thank you for being here tonight! We look forward to working with you throughout the year to help make your child a success! This Powerpoint will be posted to our websites.