4 th Grade Back to School Night

1. 4th Grade Back to School Night Tonya Tuley, Jessica Encinias, Laura Donovan, Melissa Papulias and Linda Olson

2. Contact Information: Laura Donovan: ldonovan@aak8.org Melissa Papulias: mpapulias@aak8.org Tonya Tuley: ttuley@aak8.org Jessica Encinias: jencinias@aak8.org Linda Olson: lolson@aak8.org

3. I WILL Be Successful in 4th Grade 1. I will show respect to students, teachers, and materials at all times. • I will show responsibility by: • NEVER giving excuses • ASKING for my work if I am absent • EMAILING my teachers myself • ACCEPTING consequences 3. I will grow as a leader by setting a good example and being an outstanding role model. • I WILL start right now!

4. Planners: Assignment planners are an important tool to help students plan and complete work, and as a form of communication between the teacher and parent. Throughout the day, students will be recording assignments and due dates.  Planners should be taken home each day and brought back the next day.  Parent signatures are required in planners until further notice in 4th grade. Kickboard points will be awarded Trimester 1 and taken away Trimester 2

5. Discipline Policy Overview In our school we strive to be people of character. We use the American Academy Manners and Character to accomplish this goal. Parents are strongly encouraged to reinforce these character-based rules at home. Our goal with discipline is to promote a classroom atmosphere that is conducive to learning and encourages mutual respect. The following plan is designed to further that goal:

6. School-Wide Behavior Positive Management System

7. Positive Incentives: • Every two weeks students can purchase from a menu for our Rebel Bucks Store. Some possibilities are: • Pen for a day, VIP chair, crazy socks, drawing with a friend • Incentive recess on Fridays if students have $30 is in their Kickboard bank • Shout Outs: Fridays

8. Flexible Ability Grouping Literacy/Math • Multiple points of data used to place students • Grouping is flexible • We meet with administration 3 times a year to discuss possible movements needed *You received a letter from administration where your student has been placed.

9. 4th Grade Curriculum Overview: Math We use the Go Math curriculum at American Academy.  This program is both online and print.  This curriculum is concept driven and brings in real world problems for students to solve. Every teacher has their own preference of print and online however everything is available to you online.  Please take a ThinkCentral flier to help you login and explore the GoMath curriculum at home. Grading: Homework- 10% Assessments- 20% Quizzes- 30% Tests- 40%

10. 4th Grade Curriculum Overview: Spalding The Spalding Method is a phonics-based program that integrates reading, writing, and spelling. Spelling: Students will be tested on phonograms and spelling this year. Your child has already been assessed to determine an individual spelling level. Your child’s reading teacher will teach spelling rules and sounds before any spelling words are given. Instruction on spelling words begins at least a week before the words are tested. Reading: This method teaches students to better self-monitor their reading and comprehension while learning about the different text structures. Writing: Students will be introduced to all types (Informative, Narrative, Persuasive) of writing within the first month of school. With this method, students get the chance to constantly practice and understand the different types before moving on to extended writing.

11. 4th Grade Curriculum Overview: Reading Core Knowledge Novels:Students will be reading a variety of novels including: Robinson Crusoe, Robin Hood, King Arthur, Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, Gulliver’s Travels, and Treasure Island. As students read these novels, they will learn new vocabulary and extend their use of comprehension strategies. These novels will be read aloud and independently with literacy teachers.

12. 4th Grade Curriculum Overview: Grammar DLI:Daily Language Instruction Every day students will practice their language and grammar skills through their DLI. This practice will help them apply their skills to their writing and editing. Every 3-4 weeks, students will be assessed with a DLI test. Hake Grammar: Hake Grammar is an additional grammar program that we will be using to supplement DLI. We will draw on it especially for practice with the eight parts of speech and for sentence diagramming.

13. 4th Grade Curriculum Overview: Writing With Step Up to Writing and6 Traits curriculum, students will learn and practice the following writing skills and many more: • Note-taking (all classes) • Summaries (reading, writing, science, and history class) • Responding to text (reading, writing, science, and history class) • 4-5 paragraph narratives with the use of dialogue • 3 point expository paragraphs • Topic sentences • Persuasive essays • Descriptive essays • 5 paragraph research reports

14. 4th Grade Curriculum Overview: Literacy Grading • Writing: 35% • Grammar: 15% • Reading: 35% • Spelling & Vocabulary : 15% • Assignments will have a weight of “1” • Quizzes will have a weight of “2” • Assessments will have a weight of “3” or “4” • There will be 3 book reports throughout the year. • Trimester 1: Fiction • Trimester 2: Historical Fiction • Trimester 3: Non-Fiction • *These are at home projects

15. 4th Grade Curriculum Overview: Science We use the Next Gen Science Standards, Core Knowledge Science, ADI (Argument Driven-Inquiry) as well as American Academy’s STEM program in Science.  The following subjects are covered in 4th grade: • Nature of Science • Earth's Systems: Processes that shape the earth • Life Science: Structure and Function, and Senses • Energy • Waves STEM Units   • EV3 Robotics (Nov. 14th-Dec.18th) • Little Bits (March 9th-May 8th) Grading: Science Practices (Homework/Class Work): 40% Content Practice (LABS): 30% Assessments (Quizzes/Tests): 30%

16. 4th Grade Curriculum Overview: History • Map Skills • Major Mountains and Mountain Ranges • Middle Ages in Europe • Early and Medieval African Kingdoms Grading: Classwork/Homework: 40% Tests: 60% We use the Core Knowledge curriculum for history and geography. The following subjects are covered in 4th grade: • Chinese Dynasties • American Revolution • Constitution • Presidents & Early Reformers • Colorado History

17. 4th Grade Events: Classroom Parties Fall Festival Holiday Party Valentine’s Party Middle Ages Day Likely to take place in December or January. All day dress-up event! Donations and Volunteers will be requested through Sign Up Genius *Food can be brought for classroom parties. Please let your homeroom teacher know the food being brought as we need to fill out a notification form for administration

18. Field Trips: • Permission slips and payments: • Go to American Academy website • Click on “Shop” • Select “Lincoln Meadows Campus” • Click on Local Field Trips • Scroll down until you find the 4th Grade trip you are looking for • If this is your first time you will create an account • Fill in all prompted areas • Once account is created you will select the appropriate trip • An online permission slip is required to be filled out for each trip which includes: • Participant • Event Information • Acknowledgement of Risk for Activity • Medical Conditions and Emergency Consent • Emergency Contacts • Here you will also be prompted to pay for the selected trip.

19. Homework, Projects, and Grading: Vacations: • No work will be given prior to vacations. Students must meet with their teachers to request any missed work. Students will be extended the grace period of 2 days for every absent day for work to be due. • AA Attendance Policy: http://www.americanacademyk8.org/aastaffhome/bod/policies/AttendancePolicy.pdf Late work: • -10% for one day, -50% for 2 days, after two days no credit is given Grading Scale: • Per the Parent/Student Handbook, the following grading scale will be used: A+ = 100 – 99 B = 89 – 84 C- = 73 – 72 A = 98 – 94 B-= 83-82 D+ = 71 – 70 A- = 93 – 92 C+ = 81 –  80 D = 69 – 65 B+ = 91 –90 C= 79 – 74 F = Below 65

20. Student Responsibilities: • Students will learn to advocate for themselves and take responsibility for their learning. We expect students to: • Check Infinite Campus, under “assignments”- homework will not be posted on the website • Ask teachers for assignments when absent • Ask teachers for clarification on grades • Email teachers with questions We welcome communication with you, as well! However, we encourage you to allow your child to attempt contact with us first. This allows students to take responsibility for their learning and helps to build self-confidence and self-advocating skills. These skills are essential to becoming a successful student.

21. Infinite Campus App: • Do you have a smartphone, iPad, or tablet? • If so, we have an app for you! • Infinite Campus is now more accessible than ever. • Download the Infinite Campus App from the App Store or Google Play • Enter QKKYJL in the district code line • Then enter your Infinite Campus username and password • You now have instant access to your students planner, assignments,, attendance, grades, and schedule.

22. Snacks & Birthdays • Students will have time for a snack right after math each morning. • We ask that you help us foster a great learning experience by sending your student with a healthy snack to nourish their working brains! • Snacks must be peanut and tree nut free! • Birthday celebrations • Per school policy birthday celebrations must be food-free. • Please send birthday items in with your child in the morning or have it in the office by 9:00. • Summer birthdays are welcome to celebrate half birthdays in school!

23. Carpool Reminders Morning Carpool • Starts at 7:35, School starts at 8:05 • Students should be ready to hop out of the vehicle right away • Backpacks and coat should already be on before you pull up Afternoon Carpool • Starts at 3:25, students are dismissed at 3:35 • Be aware of our neighbors • Please follow the rules around carpool • Respect the carpool attendants who run carpool  • Make sure you have downloaded the SDM(School Dismissal Manager) App.  • Set a Default Pick up- Make Appropriate Changes when needed **ALL American Academy Communication EMAILS are important to read.

24. Specials: Music, Art, PE, Tech • https://youtu.be/adP1woTfq2c

25. Thank you for coming! We are looking forward to partnering with you to make this a great year! Please do not hesitate to contact us with any celebrations, concerns, or questions.