What attributes can a gifted child have?

1. What attributes can a gifted child have? • Advanced comprehension • Highly curious • Intense and persistent • Questions others including teacher • Generates original ideas and solutions • Keen sense of humor • Precocious behavior • Prefers the company of adults • Self-critical / worries about fitting in Check our wiki sites for Parent Resources! Literary

2. C O M M C O R E N Welcome to the 4th grade Parent Information and curriculum overview Presented by Mr. Jamison and Ms. Fodness LI/TD Teachers

3. Objectives • Present overview of routines and expectations of fourth grade • Present curriculum overview for each content area • Answer questions

4. 7:15 a.m. - School opens for students (car riders and bus riders). 7:45 a.m. - Instruction begins and the tardy bell rings.  Students arriving at or after 7:45 a.m. must be accompanied into the main office to be signed in by a parent/guardian. 2:15 p.m. - End of early dismissals - no students checked out after this point until school dismissal. 2:40 p.m. - End of the school day and dismissal begins. Arrival & Dismissal

5. Dismissal Changes • Dismissal changes MUST be in writing and submitted to the teacher first thing in the morning. • All other dismissal changes should be directed in writing via fax or emailed to the office to Mary McNeely or Sharon Bryson NOT the teacher. • No parent walk ups for car riders

6. New breakfast program • ALL students are provided a FREE breakfast. • Students should arrive by 7:35 to eat breakfast and get to class by 7:45. • Breakfast usually takes 10-15 minutes.

7. Birthday Celebrations • Birthday treats should be pre-packaged and brought to the classroom. • Birthday treats should not be brought to the cafeteria. • Treats will be given out in the classroom during time chosen by teacher.

8. Common Core Standards • Adopted as the new North Carolina Standard Course of Study (2012-2013) • Requires teaching of higher-level thinking skills • Addresses the instructional needs of all students • Supports integrating the curriculum • More in depth overview later

9. Conferences & Dress Codes • Conferences: Held towards the end of first quarter. We will be doing student-led conferences. We can also hold conferences by request during the school year. • Dress Code:Set by the district and can be found in the student handbook. Applicable for parents and students.

10. Grades • Grading Scale: The following is the 7 point grading scale used by CMS. • 93-100 A • 85-92 B • 77-84 C • 70-76 D • 0 – 69 F

11. Grading Weights • Classroom Assignments 1 • Homework-1 • Quizzes-1 • Projects 2 • Assessments 2 Some assignments and/or projects may count across the subject areas because we integrate in our classrooms. Specific to grade levels.

12. H.O.P.E Character Education • New trait each month • September’s trait is responsibility. • October’s trait is respect. • Weekly story with trait • Teacher and students model • Classroom recognition when traits demonstrated • Monthly pictures taken for display • We need your support at home.

13. H.O.P.E for Problem Solving • H-What happened? • O-What other choices could have been made? • P-Pick the best choice. • E-Encouragement

14. Medication • Form must be completed and submitted to health office. • Must be prescribed by physician. • All medications including cough drops and lozenges must be written on a prescription form.

15. PBIS and Behavior • Provide school wide expectations so students know what to do in the hall, restrooms, classroom, playground, and cafeteria. (posted in each room) • Behavior plans and recognition may vary slightly in each classroom, but all include: 1. Redirecting students 2. Written reflections 3. Communication with parents when needed 4. Student behavior referral to Dean of Students

16. PTA • PTA Dues & Fundraisers: Join the PTA for $5.00. We need your support. • PTA meetings are generally held on second Thursday of each month. Fall festival October 25. We need you!

17. School Events • Fieldtrips require parent security clearance. • Two fieldtrips planned; subject to approval and availability • Awards programs take place at the end of 2nd and 4th quarter. • Other events will be announced on wiki pages.

18. Tuesday’s Folders • Contains graded work • Parent notices • Please review and sign appropriate forms. • Return the folder on Wednesday. • Graded work with scores of less than 80% should be reviewed, signed, and returned on Wednesday.

19. Visitors and Volunteers • Visitor Policy: By appointment. Parents must sign in at the office and wear a visitor’s badge. Please adhere to school dress code policy. • Volunteers: Must be registered on CMS website for clearance to attend field trips and work with students.

20. Literacy • Balanced Literacy • interactive read aloud • word work • shared/independent reading • conferring • expectations of students • choosing “just right” books, (lexile, grade leveled books • parental support at home.

21. William & Mary Curriculum • Emphasis on thinking and reasoning • Advance pace of learning • Study selections in a greater depths • Above grade level reading selections • Seminars using Literature Packets and Jr. Great Books • Shared Inquiry

22. W & M Strategies used to Analyze Novels Include: • Literature Webs • Word Maps • Vocabulary Webs • Paideia Seminars • “Change ” theme connections • Inference Charts • Character Analysis Webs • Book Clubs

23. Research shows that Junior Great Books improves reading comprehension, writing, and critical thinking skills. Exciting literature combined with interpretive activities and Shared Inquiry™ discussion engages all students Junior Great Books

24. 4th Grade Writing Units • Personal Narrative Writing • Realistic Fiction • The Persuasive Essay • Informational Writing • Historical Fiction • Poetry • Literary Essays • Research Writing • Memoirs

25. Writing Prompt Examples • Informative Writing: Write an essay about a game in which you are very knowledgeable. Include details that will explain the game to someone who has never played it. • Narrative Writing: Write a story about a time you learned how to do something. Include details that tell who else was with you, where you were, and how you felt. • Argumentative Writing: Write a piece that states where you think your class should go for a field trip. Include reasons to support your request. Your piece should include an introduction and concluding statement.

26. Math - Investigations The focus of instruction in fourth grade is on mathematical thinking and reasoning. Investigations students: • find more than one way of solving many of the problems they encounter. • reason mathematically and develop problem-solving strategies. • explain and examine their mathematical thinking and reasoning. • represent their thinking using models, diagrams, and graphs. • make connections between mathematical ideas. • prove their ideas to others.

27. Math cont. • The Common Core concepts for 4th grade are: • Number Sense 0-999,999 • Multiplication & Division • Area and Perimeter • Coordinate Grids • Graphing • Fractions and Decimals • Algebra • Geometry

28. Math Enrichment • Sunshine Math • Mozart Math • Dyna-Math • Daily Math Practice • Problem Solver 4-5 • Math Olympiads • Mental Math Practice • Real Life Math Mysteries

29. Social Studies • North Carolina Geography, History, and Culture • Settlements & Colonies • Government & Citizenship • Economy • Technology • North Carolina’s Three Major Regions • Mountains • Piedmont • Coastal Plain

30. Science • The students will have science in the classroom. • The Common Core concepts of 4th grade are: • Ecosystems • Force and Motion • Matter: Properties and Change • Energy: Conservation and Transfer • Earth and the Universe • Earth History

31. Classroom Discipline • Our classroom has a behavior chart where each student’s name is represented by a magnetic square. A child will move his or her square up and down throughout the day as dictated by behavior. Each section on the chart is labeled. • Students all start out each day on “Ready to Learn”. Making good choices throughout the day can result in a child moving up to “Excellent.” Making a poor choice can result in moving down to “Warning.” Our system is fluid, and squares can be moved up or down from any spot at any time depending on student behavior. • The section below Warning is “Teacher Choice.” Students on this level will either walk the “think-trail” for ten minutes at recess, or have a paragraph to write for extra homework. The section below Teacher Choice is “Parent Contact.” At this level the student writes a one-page letter explaining his or her behavior to a parent. A parent must sign the letter which the child brings back the next school day. • The section above “Excellent” is called “Super Star.” Earning this level gives the student a choice between choosing a prize from the prize box, or having 15 minutes of free computer time the next school day.

32. 4th Grade Schedule • 7:45-8:45 Math • Literacy: Reader’s Workshop • 8:45-10:25 • 10:30-11:15 Specials • Literacy 2: Word Study, Writing Workshop, Guided Reading • 11:45-12:45 Lunch/Recess • 12:55-1:40 Science/Social Studies • 1:40-2:25 Writing • 2:25-2:40 D.E.A.R

33. Assessments • Reading A to Z • MAP • Common Assessments • Formative and Summative Assessments • EOG

34. Parent Communication • Please allow 24 hours for teachers to respond via: • E-mail • Agenda • Note • Phone Call • Newsletter • Wiki • Tuesday Folders

35. Volunteering • Parent Volunteer Registration Requirement • www.cmsvolunteers.com

36. Classroom Visitation • Please sign-in in the office before visiting your child in the classroom. Please email us or schedule a conference with us when you need to discuss any issues or have any questions as instructional time cannot be interrupted.

37. Thank you for your kind attention! Any Questions?