Back to School Night

1. Back to School Night Mr. Isselmann Swooping Into 4th Grade

2. About The Head OwlMr. Ted Isselmann • Academic background • Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and French; Program of Latin American Studies – Albright College • Pennsylvania Teaching Certificate coursework – Immaculata University • Work history • 7 years, College administrator • Education experience • Adjunct faculty, Albright College • Personal • Father of 4 ½ year old son, Gavin and 3 year old daughter, Claire • Married to Stephanie, 5th grade teacher in Exeter School District

3. Nest Information • 23 owlets • 4 computer stations • Texts provided to students: • Mathematics • Science • Social Studies • Daniel Boone planner • Additional materials provided: • Crayons • Folders • Scissors • Glue • Colored pencils/markers • Notebooks

4. Special Schedule • Day 1 – Library • Day 2 – Computer • Day 3 – Gym • Day 4 – Art • Day 5 - Music

5. Class Schedule • 8:50 – 9:35 a.m. Writing • 9:40 – 10:25 a.m. Special • 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. Core Program (Literacy) • 11:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. Literacy • 12 – 12:45 p.m. Lunch & Recess • 12:45 – 1:15 p.m. Interventions • 1:15 – 2:30 p.m. Math • 2:35 – 3:05 p.m. Science/Social Studies

6. Mathematics • Leveled placements, based on third grade performance and EOY test • Teachers – Mrs. Brumbach, Mrs. Gibbon, Mr. Isselmann or Mrs. Deininger • Key concepts to include: • Place Value • Money • Addition/Subtraction Properties • Multiplication/Division Basic Facts – 1 ,2 and 3 digits • Number theory • Time and Temperature • Graphing and Data collection • Fractions

7. Literacy • Use of anthology series – Reading Street • New program incorporates – • Baseline reading instruction • Phonics (weekly focus) • Grammar (weekly focus) • Spelling (weekly list; assessed weekly) • Writing • No longer using Words Their Way • Fluid reading groups will begin at end of month • Fantastic online tools

8. Social Studies • All about Pennsylvania • Early Pennsylvania • Independence movement • Challenges and growth • Pennsylvania today • Basic social studies skills tied to PA knowledge • Map reading skills • Cause and effect • Decision making • Time lines

9. Science • Four main topics: • Life Science • Plant/animal adaptations • Plants – functions, parts of, reproduction • Physical Science • Energy/magnets • Earth Science • Patterns of change- rock formation • Solar System • Health and Human Body • Food and nutrition • Digestive system

10. Interventions • Strategic instruction focused on student needs • To be administered by: • Classroom teacher • Encore teachers (gym, library, etc.) • Support teachers (learning support, reading specialist, gifted) • Will begin most likely in October – supports will be identified at that time

11. 5 Day Cycle • School operates on a 5 day cycle for Specials and activities (band, chorus)

12. Grub Items • Snack • Will take place mid-morning • Should be disposable, able to be eaten quickly • Healthy snacks preferred • Water bottles for snack only, not to be on desks during the day • Lunch • If ordering, money may be sent to school in an envelope with student and teacher name and student pin; also can access http://www.dboone.org/administration/departments/foodservices/Pages/OnlineCafAccess.aspx • Please make school aware of any food allergies • Birthdays • Food is no longer permitted to help celebrate birthdays. Recommendations include pencils, erasers, stickers, library book donation, etc.

13. Homework & “Home” Work • Homework will be assigned most school nights, Monday – Thursday • Homework will typically reinforce concepts taught that day or the previous day • Homework is not always checked for accuracy but is always checked for completion • Homework should not take longer than 45 minutes to complete • Incomplete homework will be completed during recess • “Home” Work • Much of our curriculum can be reviewed at home; please use everyday experiences to review what your child is learning

14. Attendance • Please contact the office when your child is absent or email the school – MECout@dboone.org • Attendance blanks must be returned within two days of an absence • Missed work will be sent home with a homework buddy (if appropriate); homework buddy forms were sent home the first week of school • Daily attendance is vital to student success– give a hoot, come to school!

15. Classroom Management • Warning (2) • Loss of recess • Phone call/note to parents • Visit to the principal/Walk the Plank • House system of rewards (similar to Harry Potter) • School store/tickets

16. Conferences • Thursday, November 15 • Evening • Monday, November 19 • Afternoon & Evening • Tuesday, November 20 • Morning & Afternoon • Thursday, February 14, • Sign-ups will be available closer to the dates • Please be sure to fill out the preference sheet, particularly if you have multiple children at MEC

17. Student Progress • Progress Reports • Sent home halfway through the trimester if a student is struggling • Switch to Trimesters last year • Trimesters end: • November 30 • March 7 • June 5 • Dates will change if inclement weather is a factor

18. Student Progress • e-Gradebook • Grades viewable online; updated bi-weekly • http://www.dboone.org/parents/Pages/OnlineGrading.aspx • Grading scale • 92 – 100 = A • 83 – 91 = B • 74 – 82 = C • 65 – 73 = D • 64 and below = F

19. Student Assessments (Formal) • DRAs – early September • 4Sight • Predictor of success on PSSA test • Mid-September • Mid- January • Mid-May • PSSA • Reading, Math and Science • April 8 – 19, Math and Reading • April 22 – 26, Science

20. Student Assessments (Formal, but not as formal) • Weekly Reading Street assessments (computer based; does not impact report card directly) • Weekly spelling tests • Chapter tests in mathematics • Chapter tests in science & social studies • DRA – reading assessment used to determine reading level • Given at beginning and end of year

21. Odds & Ends • Please be sure to label all student items with student names (jackets, lunch bags, etc.) • For parent pick-up, please be sure to send in a note with the student’s full name and my name • Band and Chorus are new opportunities for 4th Grade – students have received information about these programs • Please encourage them to join & help remind them to bring in necessary paperwork/equipment. Thanks!

22. Contact • Weekly newsletters sent home • Phone calls from me regarding progress/conduct • Tuesday folders • Progress Reports/Report Cards • ConnectEd calls • Contacting me – • Phone – 610-385-6800 • Email – Isselman@dboone.org • District homepage – www.dboone.org

23. Questions? Thanks for attending. I look forward to a great year!