Curriculum Night 2013 Madame Walsh

1. Curriculum Night 2013Madame Walsh Grade Four French Immersion

2. Classroom Routines and Expectations • please refer to handout for classroom routines • weekly newsletters and calendars can be found on my website. • Feildian Four

4. French Language Arts • to develop students’ knowledge, skills, and processes needed to communicate effectively by reading & viewing, writing & representing, speaking & listening and appreciating of French language and cultural diversity • to have students experience, respond to and value literature in written, oral, and enacted forms for pleasure and enjoyment • - to develop students’ thinking and learning strategies

5. Appreciation for French Language and Cultural Diversity Children in grade four will be encouraged to have positive attitude toward the French language and its culture within Canada and around the world.

6. Listening and Speaking Good listening skills form the basis of success in all subject areas. Such skills are practiced and taught within the classroom. Speaking skills are reinforced through discussions, drama, oral presentations, poetry readings, etc. Children are expected and encouraged to speak French at all times.

7. Reading and Viewing Children are encouraged to read daily for specific purposes and for pure enjoyment. In 4F children will participate in individual, shared and guided reading. Throughout the year, book talks, novel studies and/or literature circles are incorporated within themes. Nightly reading/record keeping continues to play an important role..

8. Writing and Representing Children are encouraged to write for different purposes at different times. We will be doing a number of process pieces where emphasis is placed on proofreading and editing written work Spelling and grammar are an integral part of the language arts program. Activities are assigned to children based on their capabilities in these areas.

9. Language Arts Activities Independent Reading Shared & Guided Reading Book Talks Novel Studies Process Writing Media Viewing Drama Presentations Poetry Journal writing And much more

10. Math The grade four mathematics program establishes problem solving, communication, reasoning, connections and representation as the central elements of the program.

11. Math cont’d - Numeration - Addition and subtraction - Patterns and relations - Geometry - Data relationships - Problem solving in a variety of contexts - Fractions and decimals - Multiplication and division - Measurement - Multiplication of multi-digit numbers - Division of multi-digit numbers

12. Science The science program is designed to encourage children to think rationally about the world around them and to interact with their environment in a responsible way. Children are provided with experiences in observing, measuring, predicting, classifying, collecting data, forming hypotheses, testing, and reporting results.

13. Science Topics in grade four include in-depth study of: -habitats -sound -light -rocks & erosion

14. Social Studies The grade 4 program provides insight into the way people live in communities around the world. It assists students in acquiring a global concept of community and humanity. An appreciation of other cultures is encouraged. Skills in problem solving, group participation, maps and globes, graphing/charting, technology and research are emphasized.

15. Health The main goals in grade four are: - to understand the relationship between lifestyle and well being - to think independently and to make informed decisions based on careful evaluation of relevant materials - to choose, practice, and monitor behaviors that are believed to promote well being - to appreciate the relationship between healthy, responsible, productive individuals and healthier communities

16. Health • Topics include: • - Self-care • Active Living • - Nutrition • - Dental Health • - Drug Education • - Mental Health • - Injury Prevention & Safety • - Relationships • - Consumer Health • - Physical growth & development

17. Art Children will express themselves through basic elements of art using a variety media. These are: • Line • Shape/Form • Colour • Texture • Space

18. Religion In this program, children explore the tenets of three major religions: Christianity, Judaism and Islam. They learn about the customs, beliefs, symbols and celebrations of these religions, for example Rosh Hashana, Soukkot, Christmas, Easter, Hannukah and Ramadan. They learn about the important figures and leaders

19. Assessment • anecdotal records • checklists • conferences • demonstrations • interviews (structured and informal) • investigations • learning logs/journals • media products • observation (formal and informal) • performances • portfolios • projects • questioning • self-assessments • surveys • work samples • written assignments

20. Reporting Report cards are sent home in November, March and June. Parent-Teacher Conferences are held during the first and second reporting period and perhaps by parent and/or teacher request in June.

21. Report Card Rating Scale 5 – Outstanding 4 – Strong 3 – Satisfactory 2 – Limited 1 – Very Limited

22. Homework Homework will be assigned: - to reinforce school activities - to extend/broaden school activities - to provide drill/practice for specific skills - to complete unfinished tasks - to assist children with review for unit quizzes/tests - to provide parents with an opportunity to become involved in the child’s learning. Maximum of 40 minutes per night.

23. Helpful Links for Parents www.madamewalsh.weebly.com www.esdnl.ca www.bfe.k12.ca www.gov.nl.ca

24. This is going to be a great year, full of fun, learning and friendship! I am looking forward to working with you and your child in Grade Four French Immersion!