Mrs. Rahmann– 4 th / 5 th G rade

1. Welcome, Families! Mrs. Rahmann– 4th/5th Grade

2. Welcome to Our Class! • Please browse through your child’s desk and the classroom before you leave tonight. • Take a moment to write an encouraging note to your child on the half-sheet provided on his/her desk. • Please use the 3x5 index card on your child’s desk to leave me any question you have regarding your particular student. Please include your e-mail. • Please sign the consent forms on the desk.

3. Tonight’s Agenda • Introductions • Goals/Objectives for the Year • What is a GATE combo class? • Curriculum 4th and 5th • Classroom Community-Rules, Homework Policy • Communication • Special Events- Field Trips • Volunteers • Questions

4. About Mrs. Rahmann • I was raised in San Diego, California. • I have a Bachelor’s Degree from UC Irvine, and a J.D. from UC Berkeley. • I have a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential from UC Irvine • I am currently working on a Masters in Educational Administration. • Husband, two daughters My experience • Eleventh year as an educator. • I have taught both 4thand 5th grades. • GATE Certified

5. Goals for the year • Provide a supportive, engaging, fun, and safe classroom environment where students feel confident to take risks. • Nurture and help develop students’ innate exceptional abilities, and encourage each student’s best individual performance. • Focus on Communication, Collaboration, Critical Thinking, Creativity • “Teacher as Facilitator” Strategies • Foster excellent study skills, work habits, social skills, and responsibility. 21st Century Learning

6. What is a “Gifted Student”? • Gifted: the innate, exceptional ability of a person • Talented: exceptional performance of a person Gifted and Talented: the innate exceptional ability AND performance of a person Visit www.MENSAforkids.com for excellent resources for gifted students.

7. Students Who are College and Career Ready in Reading, Speaking, Listening and Language: • Demonstrate independence. • Build strong content knowledge. • Respond to the varying demands of audience, task, purpose, and discipline. • Comprehend as well as critique. • Value evidence. • Use technology and digital media strategically and capably. • Come to understand other perspectives and cultures.

8. Facilitator Strategies • Students Questioning • Students will ask as well as answer • Differentiate Content, Process, and Product • Offer students OPTIONS • Depth and Complexity • H.O.T.S. – Higher Order Thinking Skills • Promote the Habits of Mind • Collaborative Learning Discussions • “Flipped” Lessons • Technology Integration

9. Challenging Students to Think means Less More • Collaborative learning process/projects • Questioning to guide discussions (students asking questions, too) • Discussions and argument • JUSTIFYING ideas • Integrated content • Application of understanding • Students self-reflect • Multiple answers • OPEN ENDED! • Whole class instruction • Teaching by telling • Silent classrooms • Worksheets and seatwork • ‘Covering’ content • Memorization of facts • Single answers

10. Curriculum

11. Class Subjects • Graded subjects in both 4th and 5th grade are: • Reading • Writing • Conventions/Grammar • Spelling • Math • Science and Science Lab • Social Studies • Music • Effort Grades in the following: • Reading • Writing • Conventions • Spelling • Math • Science • Social Studies • Health • P.E. • Technology • Music • Art • Social Skills • Work Habits • Listening & Speaking Skills Report cards – December, March, & June

12. Reading • Both grade levels will read several novels and various short stories including ones from Junior Great Books. We will focus on in-depth literary analysis and critical thinking through Shared Inquiry. • Balanced Literacy Program – shared reading, guided reading, independent reading • Wordly Wise Vocabulary/Houghton-Mifflin Vocabulary • Daily Reading at home • Book Reports • Reading Strategies and Comprehension Skills through Houghton Mifflin Textbook • Reading Counts

13. Language Arts - Writing • Writing will occur across the curriculum where authentic opportunities present themselves. Fourth and fifth graders will have different writing assignments, topics and rubrics. • We will use the writing process integrating depth and complexity. • Focus on expository, persuasive, narrative, summary, and Response to Literature essays. • Students will be expected to edit and revise drafts to improve meaning, organization, focus, fluency, word choice, voice, and conventions. • Spelling program will follow Houghton-Mifflin series and will include academic vocabulary. • English-Language Conventions (Grammar) across the curriculum.

14. Math • Focus on real world applications of math using computational skills and problem solving strategies. • Basic facts must be automatic for greatest success in upper grade. (Goal: Mastery by December… 95% accuracy on 100 facts in 5 minutes) • Facts Wise and Timez Attack Basic Facts Online Program • Houghton Mifflin Math Expressions text book = consumable workbook • Zaccaro Challenge Math problems and activities. • IUSD resources online at www.iusd.org • First in Math online self-paced program • Other online Math enrichment resources

15. Science 4th Grade 5th Grade Focus on living things, human body, water cycle, weather, solar system, matter and energy Science lab – 2x per week with Ms. Scott Science class – 1-2x per week with 5th grade team. Science Homework: 1-2x per week Hands-on approach using the scientific process • Focus on living things and their environment, rocks & minerals, changes to the Earth, and electricity and magnetism • Science lab – 2x per week with Ms. Hayes • Science class – 1-2x per week with Mrs. Rahmann • Science Homework: 1-2x per week • Hands-on approach using the scientific process

16. Social Studies 4th Grade 5th Grade United States: Past and Present U.S. Geography – states and capitals Focus on building our nation- Exploration, English Colonies & Revolutionary War, and Westward Expansion State Report Research Project - Spring Current events - Scholastic News Social Studies instruction 2-3x per week Homework 1-2x per week • California: Past and Present • California Geography- regions • Focus on building our state- Spanish Exploration, Missions, Ranchos, Statehood, State Government • Mission Research Report • Current events • Social Studies instruction 2-3x per week • Homework 1-2x per week

17. Music and Art • Taught by music and art specialists • Music: • 40 minutes/2x weekly • 4th Tuesday 8:20-9:00 and Friday 2:00-2:40 • 5th Tuesday 9:05-9:45 and Friday 1:15-1:55 • Art: • 60 minutes/6x year • Schedule TBD

18. P.E. • Focus on physical fitness • Cardiovascular fitness = mile run • General fitness = sit ups, push ups, & flexibility • State-wide assessment in 5th grade - March 2014 • 2x per week • Mondaymorning: 5th grade Mile Run • Thursday: TBD fitness • Tennis shoes, appropriate clothing, mat or towel, and water

19. Technology and Library • Technology – integrated in all areas of curriculum, Ipads • Word processing, Excel, Power Point, internet safety and research skills • Lab class – 50 min/1x per week on Thursday afternoons • 4th/5th grade pod lab – 2/3x per week • Edmodo student site • Library – 30 min/1x per week with Mrs. Vance • Library Media skills will be taught • Library day is Monday. • Three book limit (adjustments made by student needs) Helpful Tip : Students will benefit from having a flash drive to transport electronic files between home and school.

20. Class Schedule

21. Our Classroom Community

22. Behavior Plan • Our classroom community follows our classroom behavior matrix. It is a set of rules to establish a positive learning environment. Class rules encourage students to be responsible, be respectful, be kind, and be safe. It is imperative that every student stay motivated to follow them at all times. With that in mind, we will be using classroom money, marbles, and table points as reinforcements. Consequences such as loss of class money, benching, and Notices of Inappropriate Behavior will be used to discourage less desirable conduct. • Be respectful. • Be responsible. • Be Kind and Helpful • Be Safe Rahmann Classroom matrix

23. Homework 4th Grade 5th Grade About 60 minutes Monday - Thursday nights Reading: 20-30 minutes daily Homework due daily unless otherwise specified Long term projects may require weekend time Daily Communication - Student planner/Website/Edmodo Weekly communication – Friday Folder Monthly communication – Hall of Fame notice Missing homework: notice home, loss of privilege • About 45 minutes Monday - Thursday nights • Reading: 20 minutes daily • Homework due daily unless otherwise specified • Long term projects may require weekend time • Daily Communication - Student planner/Website/Edmodo • Weekly communication – Friday Folder • Missing homework: notice home, loss of privilege

24. Field Trips/Special Events 4th grade We have several special field trips and events scheduled this year: • Mission San Juan Capistrano Field trip (2/26/14) • Gold Rush Night (May 2014) • A Walk Through California History Event- TBD

25. Field Trips/Special Events - 5th Grade • We have several fifth grade traditions planned for this year! • Riley’s Farm: May 2014 (approx. $40) • Walk Through the American Revolution ($12) • State Festival (on campus)

26. Communication • Note to school with child • Class Website: www.teacherweb.com/CA/Stonegate/Rahmann • Email: hildarahmann@iusd.org • Direct phone/voicemail: 949.936.6486

27. Website Attachments • Please visit our class website at www.teacherweb.com/CA/Stonegate/MrsRahmann (Bookmark or put it in your Favorites!) • Homework Policy • Reading Counts • Online Textbooks • Meaningful Literature Discussions • Calendars • Scholastic Book Orders • Important Handouts

28. Volunteer Opportunities I will put together a schedule soon • P.E • Reading Counts • Recording cursive • Library (2) • Yearbook • ALEKS Math • Fluency Practice • Math facts support • Field Trips • GATE Parent Rep. (Thank you, Mrs. Gallon) • Clerical

29. Thank you very much for coming!Let’s Have a Great Year!hildarahmann@iusd.org