Welcome to Your Child’s 2014 - 2015 Classroom!

1. Welcome to Your Child’s 2014 - 2015 Classroom! • While we are waiting for the video presentation to begin please: • Walk around and familiarize yourself with your child’s room • Sign attendance sheet on back table and sign-up for a conference • Volunteer for classroom jobs • Check out your child’s desk/books • Read the Welcome Letter • Please fill out additional forms under the letter

2. A Little bit about Mr. Patterson • Originally from Brooklyn, New York • Mother and Father were teachers • Acting • Yoga • Lived in the Cascades since 2007 • Married to Sarah Patterson since 2006 • Love movies and reading • Interested in fitness • Training for first half marathon • Go to Gold’s and UFC Gym • Big sports fan • Yankees and Michigan Football • Boxing and MMA

3. Ms. HolLand and Mrs. Elfers • Resource Teachers • Language Arts • Math • Reading • Work with all students

4. Most Importantly

5. Education and Experience • Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education with a minor in English from State University of New York (SUNY)at New Paltz • Masters of Science in Physical Education Teacher Education from West Virginia University • Entering 13thyear of teaching: • Third Grade Teacher, Pine Plains, New York • Second Grade Teacher, Clinton, Maryland • Third Grade Teacher, McLean, VA • Physical Education Teacher, Reston, VA • Fifth Grade Teacher, Sterling VA

6. Classroom Management Style • High Standards and Expectations • Focus on School Rules • Be courteous • Be caring • Be Cooperative • Accountability: • One on One Conference • Think Sheet • ..\Clerical Items\Think Sheet.docx • Parental Contact • Positive Reinforcement • Compliment Board • Blue Tickets • Movement Breaks • Friday Fun-Day

7. SOL tests in 5th Grade • Reading • Science • Math

8. Curriculum Map • ..\Curriculum Guides\Curriculum_Map_1415.docx

9. Reading • 60 minute daily block • Guided Reading groups • Appropriate Leveled Texts • Small Group Discussion and instruction • Reader’s Theater • Read Aloud • Independent Reading • Scholastic News • BookE-Readers are OK • The Reader’s Notebook • Book Letters • Reading Logs • Goal is to create life-long Readers! Reading Should be FUN!!!

10. Language Arts and Writing • Writer’s Workshop • 45 - 50 minutes 4-5 days per week • Writing both creatively and informatively • Utilizes 5 Stages of the Writing Process • Prewrite • Draft • Revise • Edit • Publish • Teaches grammar skills in context • Peer Editing and conferencing • Word Study

11. Math • Students are Pretested prior to chapters/units • Differentiation occurs based on student understanding of the concept • Enrichment will be provided for students that demonstrate mastery of particular skills • All students will receive instruction addressing the 5th grade SOL objectives • Problem Solving • Whole number operations and Applications • Number Patterns and Properties • Comparing and Applying Rational Number Concepts • Rational number operations and Measurement Applications • Classifying and Subdividing Plane Geometric Figures • Data and statistics

12. Science • Focus on the Scientific Method • Concepts covered: • Geology • Oceanography • Living Systems • Matter • Light • Sound • SOL covers 4th and 5th grade concepts

13. Social Studies • Geometry Terms • Geometry Tools • Study the US regions discuss key tourist sites, economy and geography of each region: • Northeast • Southeast • Midwest • Southwest • Rocky Mountain • Pacific • Learn all the states and capitals

14. Middle School Preparation • Focus on organizational skills • Agendas • Natural consequences when materials are forgotten • Time Management • Advanced Test Preparation • Word study assignments • Weekly reading responsibilities • Projects • Reading Journals • Writer’s Notebooks • Self Advocacy • Course Selections take place in the spring

15. Types of Assessments • Diagnostic • Before instruction • Not reflected on the report card • Formative • During instruction • Reflected in progress indicators on the report card (numbers only) • Summative • After instruction • Reflected in progress indicators and grades on the report card (number and letter grades)

16. Grading • Graded assignments and report card grades will be on the following scale: Assignments can also graded on a (.5 – scale) • 1 – Below the standard • 2 – Progressing toward the standard • 3 – Meets the standard • 4 – Exceeding the standard • Course Grades – average of graded assignments for the quarter • Missing assignments affect the grades

17. CLARITY Parent Portal • A secure login for parents to view their child’s grades and upcoming assignments • For more information go to the CLARITY tab on the Horizon website:

18. Homework • Reading – 20 minutes per night • Recorded in the reading log • Word Study • New words on Mondays • Assignments Daily • Assessments Fridays • Math • Most nights, but will depend on the progress • Long term projects • Science • SOL Preparation • TBD • Other small assignments as needed

19. Important Papers • Maroon Folder will be sent home on a daily basis with: • All school handouts • Homework • Graded work • Folder should return to school on a daily basis with: • Homework • Important School Papers: Going home notes, Office Related • I highly suggest maintaining a filing system at home for all academic items

20. Specials • Monday – P.E. (please wear sneakers) and FUTURA • Tuesday - Art • Wednesday – P.E. (please wear sneakers) and DARE (starting in October) • Thursday – P.E. (please wear sneakers) and Music (1 hour) • Friday - Computer and Library

21. Lunch and Recess • Lunch is Daily at 11;15 • Snack Daily at 9:30 • Healthy • No Nuts • Recess will normally be right after lunch for a minimum of 15 minutes

22. Classroom Food and Birthdays • Students are encouraged to bring in a Healthy and Nut Free Snack • In honor of student birthdays it is Horizon Elementary Policy for students NOT to bring in treats for their classmates • This includes lunch time • Student birthdays will certainly be acknowledged in class and announced on the morning news show

23. Communication • Email • Best way to communicate with me • william.patterson@lcps.org or wpatters@lcps.org • Please allow 24 hours for me to respond to an email • Will also be used for weekly classroom communications • Phone • Will be used to discuss specific behavior or academic concerns in greater detail • Please allow 24 hours to respond to a missed call or message

24. Volunteers • Classroom Volunteer Positions • Word Study • Computer Lab (Friday – 2:00) • Class Party Coordinator • Fall • Winter • Fifth Grade Picnic • There is a possibility of needing more academic volunteers for specific classroom activities.

25. On a Final Note!! • Coming to Horizon was the best move I made in my teaching career • I am grateful to be part of this school community • Excited to start another school year

26. Questions?