Welcome to 4 th Grade!

Welcome to 4th Grade! Mrs. Clatterbuck Mrs. Hein Ms. Connell

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Mrs. Hein’s Daily Schedule! • Our daily schedule changes a bit from day to day… • Monday: No specials • Tuesday: Spanish/Library • Wednesday: Art • Thursday: Music/PE/Spanish • Friday: Music/PE/Strings • Lunch is 12:20-12:50 (Monday 10:55-11:25)

Mrs. Clatterbuck’s Daily Schedule • Our specials schedule changes a bit from day to day • Monday no specials • Tuesday Art • Wednesday FLES/Library • Thursday PE/Music • Friday PE/Music, FLES, Strings • Lunch is 12:15-12:45 (Monday 10:50-11:20)

Morning Meeting • A way to start each day as a classroom community. • A way to practice social skills • May also include content review • Students are expected to share on a biweekly basis. This is a part of oral language assessment. • Morning Meeting Format (approximately 15 minutes each morning) • Greeting • Sharing • Group Activity • News and Announcements

Social Studies • Virginia Studies • Students are given a textbook, textbook is also available online on our Blackboard – includes read aloud capabilities. • Units of Study include • People (Woodland Indians, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Nat Turner) • Places (Virginia Regions, Boarder States, Williamsburg, Jamestown) • Documents (Bill of Rights and First Amendment, Charters of the Virginia Company) • Time Periods (1607-Present) • Big Ideas (Settlement and expansion, economic growth, Civil War) • Skills (analyzing and interpret maps, primary sources, documents)

Language Arts • Oral Language • Asking and responding to questions • Supporting opinions • Organize and Sequence information • Speak clearly, using appropriate voice level and speaking rate • Listening Actively • Think about the speaker’s main points • Word Study • Flexible spelling groups based on student needs • Research • Choose a topic • Construct questions about the topic • Identify audience • Organize writing to convey a central idea • Writing • Write in a variety of forms • Explanations, Friendly letters, narratives, • Identifying parts of speech • Identify parts of a sentence • Plan, draft, revise, and edit • Use elements of author’s craft • Organization of ideas, rhythms, dialogue, leads and endings, sentence variety • Reading • Selecting and using appropriate resources. • Reading for meaning • Using graphic organizers to display thoughts • Preparing for the May Reading SOL • Using reading strategies

Science • There will be units with Kits, as well as Mini-units • Lots of Hands on Experiences! • Topics Include • Living Systems • Plants, photosynthesis, pollination, habitats • Earth and Space • Weather, solar system • Physical Science • Electricity, objects in motion, simple and compound machines • Using Observation and Measurement • Experimentation (including experimental design), data collection, inference and conclusion

Mathematics • Flexibly grouped based on ability • Can change as students needs are reassessed. • Pre Assesments are given prior to each new unit. • Numerical Relationships • Identify, read, write and compare numbers through the millions. • Comparing decimals through the hundredths, and fractions up to a denominator of 12 • Operations • Add and subtract whole numbers, decimals, and fractions • Multiply and divide larger numbers. • Measurement • Customary and Metric length, volume, capacity and weight • Geometry • Identify, classify and transform shapes • Data Analysis and Probability • Collect, organize, and analyze data • Perform probability experiments • Patterns, Functions and Algebra • Recognize numeric and geometric patters

Guided Math • Small, flexible math groups. • Includes extensions as needed, as well repeated instruction. • Stations may include • Direct instruction with a teacher • Math games to reinforce previously taught concepts • Workshop station to practice current concept • Math Vocabulary • Computer games/activities

Multiplication Facts Without knowledge of math facts, students will have a difficult time with higher skill math. In order to be fluent in multiplication facts students should recall a fact in 3 seconds or less. Flashcards, multiplication.com, superkids.com

Health • Disease Prevention • Injury Prevention • Personal Injury • Community and Consumer Health • Emotional and Social Health • Alcohol and Drug Prevention • 4th grade Human Growth and Development – 1 day lesson. • Mrs. Brown and Mr. Chianetta will assist

Field Trips • We will go to the Kennedy Center (10/18) to see the National Symphony Orchestra. Students are expected to dress appropriately. • We are planning a trip to Jamestown and Williamsburg. More information will be sent home in the next few weeks. • Trip to Woodson Planetarium to support “Weather and Beyond” unit

SOL Testing Dates • Reading, Math, Virginia Studies • Mid May – Early June • Actual dates will be available later this year. Please contact the school before making plans or appointments for around this time • All SOLs will be online. • Math SOL will be given over two days.

Homework/Class work Policies • Planners will be initialed or stamped each day. • Students are to write in planners at the start of each day. • Students are expected to turn in assignments on time. Late assignments will be scored, but the student’s effort score will reflect the late work. • Projects will be announced well before the due date. Large projects will have information available on Blackboard.

Online textbooks—available after school starts • Math • www.pearsonsuccessnet.com • User: student id, password: TBD • Virginia studies • http://www.fivepondspressbooks.com/studentbooks/ • User: Fairfax, password: History

Benchmark Report Card • Students are assessed on a series of benchmarks – not all benchmarks are assessed during all quarters. • Students will receive a benchmark of 1-4 (seldom-consistently) • Do not correlate A-N

Interims • Will indicate if there is a concern for benchmarks covered so far, or if there is no concern at that time. • Please sign and return the bottom portion of the interim to confirm that you have received it. • Interims to go home October 8th.

Absences • Please send an email to littlerun@fcps.edu if you know your child will be absent, or when your child returns from an absence • The number of excused days will equal the amount of time the student has to make up the work. • Extended planned absences need to be cleared with Mrs. Baumgarten prior to the absence. • Please send an email to littlerun@fcps.edu for changes in transportation

Snack • Students may eat a snack during a designated time of the day. • Please send in small, healthy snacks for the student to eat (no candy, please!)

Communication • Notes to and from school • Tuesday Folders • Phone calls (703-503-3542– Mrs. Hein) (703-503-3540 – Mrs. Clatterbuck) • E-mail dlhein@fcps.edu mhclatterbuc@fcps.edu • Usually will have the quickest response! • Blackboard • Student ID #’s are on their planners! • Blackboard will be up by the end of September. • Long Term projects and upcoming events will be available on blackboard. • Most up to date information will be found in student planners.

Electronic Readers • Students may bring e-Readers to school (ie Nook, Kindle, iPad). • The reader must be registered with the county. • May only be used for reading

Weekly Newsletters! • The 4th Grade team sends home weekly newsletters on Friday afternoons. • Includes • Topics to be covered in the coming week • Upcoming tests, quizzes, and due dates • School and class events

Scholastic • Optional • Will be sent home in Tuesday Folders – need to be returned the following week. • Books come in approximately 2 weeks after the order is placed. • A great way to help build the classroom library!

Birthday Treats • We love to celebrate birthdays! • If you wish to send in a treat to be shared at lunch, please make sure it can be passed out by children. Cupcakes and cookies work best! • No sheet cakes or candles, please. • NO BIRTHDAY INVITATIONS MAY BE PASSED OUT AT SCHOOL!

Any Questions?

Thank you for your time!

Welcome to 4 th Grade!