Welcome to BAC’s 4 th Grade Talent Development Parent Meeting

1. Welcome to BAC’s 4th Grade Talent Development Parent Meeting

2. We are creating SCHOLARS! • We are teaching our students about what it means to be a “scholar”; how to act like a scholar and become a true “scholar”!

3. Interdisciplinary Connections Inquiry-based Learning Authentic Assessment Constructing Meaning Multicultural/ Global Emphasis Higher Order Thinking Skills Metacognition Real World Problem Solving Concept Based Curriculum Socratic Seminars Accelerated Materials Technology-relevant

4. Literacy and Math Resources/Strategies Novel Studies!!! Brain Pop Project M3 William and Mary Math Olympiad Socratic Seminars Einstein Math Economics ePals Math Investigations Real world problem olving Jacob’s Ladder

5. Our Garden =Interdisciplinary Learning • Field to Fork program http://video214.com/play/2gWDJkEfuvSqYdj3B21gkQ/s/dark • Fuel Pizza Field Trip • Nutrition • Community building • Math! Science! • Teamwork!

6. Math Investigations Encourages… • Thinking & Reasoning • Deep Understanding • Making Connections • Learning to Communicate their mathematical ideas • Problem Based Instruction

7. Why is it important? • Research shows we’re not being very successful in math as a Nation. • Generally, students are good at computing, but aren’t very good at applying math to situations. • Problem solving definitely is clearly a 21st century learning skill!

8. What’s Different?

9. Why are we using Investigations aka problem centered learning? • “Greater understanding of mathematics will be essential for today’s school children. Success in tomorrow’s job market will require more than computational competence. It will require the ability to apply mathematical knowledge to solve problems.” • - National Research Council

10. Einstein Math and Math Olympiad provide opportunities for students who… • Need to learn how solve problems! • Are in need of some additional challenges in math! • Complain that math is boring! • Enjoy teamwork and competition!

12. Math Olympiads… • Takes place during your child’s regular math class once a cycle • Has 5 world-wide contests throughout the year starting in November • Team practice at home and school will make a stronger team • Awards a trophy to the top scorer in each classroom along with certificates, pins and patches to recognize success!

13. To learn ALL about Math Olympiads, go to:http://www.moems.org/

14. Imagine ItTeaches students how to read. William and Mary, Jacob’ Ladder and Novel Studies teach students to think.

15. The William and Mary Curriculum, Jacob’s Ladder and Novel Studies are designed to: • Meet the needs of high ability students • Teach strategies and tools for understanding and interpreting texts (poems, short stories, essays and novels) • Provide students opportunities for discussion and analysis of texts

16. What skills are we working on? • Vocabulary Development • Referencing the text • Making inferences • Making predictions • Drawing conclusions • Character analysis • Point of View • Author’s Purpose • Response Journals

17. Students will learn to use graphic organizers including… • Interpretive Note-taking • Outline Format • Frayer Vocabulary Model • Literature Webs • Vocabulary Webs • Character Webs • Cornell Note-taking

18. Response Journal Example My Response (Comment, questions, reaction, connection) Novel Reference Pg 3 It was the season of hurricane Pg 3 Hurricane season, possible hurricanes Danielle, Earle, Katrina

19. In our classrooms, the texts we study have: • Depth • Complexity • Rigor • Challenge …for our students!

20. AR AR is a part of your child’s grade and will count as a Test grade - Incentives! - 85% or above - Check your child’s AR record sheet Coming soon! AM and Study Island!

21. And scholars get to participate inSocratic Seminars (aka as Paideia) that help students develop skills in: • Listening • Thinking critically • Referencing the text • Disagreeing “agree-ably” • Scholarly debate and analysis

22. All without… Having to raise their hands!

23. New Writing Program • Being a Writer! • - uses mentor text to engage our writers • - includes author studies • - vocabulary enhancement • - organized by genre • - mini lessons on grammar and usage

24. Vocabulary • Give Me Five! • - five words a week • - varying disciplines • - one paragraph due each Friday with 5 words • - mini writing assessments Why? Allows students to develop strategies for understanding new words in context and incorporating those words into their thinking and writing

25. 4th Grade TD includes participation in: • Reflections Contest • Science Fair • ePals http://www.iknowmyregion.com/ • AND MORE!

26. Technology is the KEY to 20th Century Learning: • Discovery Ed • ePals • Brainpop • Glogs • Wikis • Digital Camcorders • *zip drives for each child is key!

27. With exciting Field trips* to… • Jbiz Town – Economics • Fuel Pizza – Nutrition • Raleigh – Social Studies • Children’s Theatre, Cinderella Story – • Language Arts • *still in the planning stages

28. Report Cards/Progress Reports Weights of assignments are: 1.0 Tests/Projects 0.5 Classroom Assignments 0.25 Homework A = 93 – 100 B = 85 – 92 C = 75 – 84 D = Below 75

29. Why we use Team Teaching: • To better meet our students needs, we often divide the students into skills groups that includes students from both classes • Flexible grouping allows students to work with their academic peers in different settings • Offers opportunities for ALL students to use SMARTboard technology

30. We believe in Mastery Learning so… • Students will have the opportunity to: • - redo select assignments with parent signature • - turn in re-done assignments up to one week after assignment has been returned • - students will be responsible for requesting re-tests within the week • Maximum score 92, B+

31. SMART Activities! • http://www.mrnussbaum.com/docrb.htm • http://www.mrnussbaum.com/probfair.htm

32. Through technology, students will: Research Organize Collaborate Create

33. Now just a few… • Nuts and Bolts to help you through the year…and keep you one step ahead of your child…

34. Homework • In consideration for the extended day… • - AR reading at home • - IWT: Independent Work Time will include reading response, math problem solving • - Projects and rubrics* will require parent signature and will be on wikis • - In class projects which may need to be finished at home

35. Science Fair • Begin thinking about a science fair topic and question NOW • Teacher guidance/lessons for each aspect beginning All experimenting done by Winter Break – Science Fair in mid/late January

36. Parent Volunteers – Watch HAB and Wikis for: • Salt Dough Maps • Biz Town Assistants: Sept 26th • Einstein Math Assistants • Classroom Volunteers • Character Ed breakfast • Saturday Garden Work • Accelerated Math • Study Island • Current Events

37. Talk to them about what we are doing in our classes. If they are confused, encourage them to ask for help or feel free to contact us. Discuss perfectionism with your child and reassure them that you do not expect all 100s! Keep in touch with your child’s teachers! Email us and check our wikis!

38. Scholarly thoughts to ponder… Too often we give children answers to remember rather than problems to solve.   ~Roger Lewin

39. Don't handicap your children by making their lives easy.  ~Robert A. Heinlein

40. The purpose of learning is growth, and our minds, unlike our bodies, can continue growing as we continue to live.  ~Mortimer Adler

41. While we try to teach our children all about life, our children teach us what life is all about. - Angela Schwindt

42. To learn more about any of the above: • ALWAYS read and initial HAB! • Check class wikis! • Check BAC website! • Read the Bee Mail • Look for the THURSDAY folder with the blue Principals’ Notes each week!

43. And on that note… I promise not to believe everything your child tells me about what happened at your house if you promise not to believe everything you hear about what happened in school! (Stay in touch!)

44. Thank you for coming… …and all that you are doing to support our BAC scholars!