Welcome to Miss Grimes’ Fourth Grade Class!

1. Welcome to Miss Grimes’ Fourth Grade Class! Curriculum Night 2012

2. Born in Fort Sill, OK (military family) BS.Ed from North Georgia College in State University Dual degree in early childhood and special education Obtained a reading endorsement Completed Master’s Degree in Early Ed. Completed Specialist’s Degree from Liberty Gifted endorsed! I come from a family of educators. All About Ms. Grimes

3. A day in the life of your child: 7:10-7:50- Morning Work 7:50-9:00- Math 9:00-10:00 Reader’s Workshop 10:00-10:50-Writer’s Workshop 10:50-11:30- Specials 11:30-11:44- Grammar Workshop 11:44-12:14- Lunch 12:14-12:34- Recess 12:34-2:00- Social Studies/Science 2:00-2:20- Afternoon Essentials

4. Specials Rotation • Monday- Music • Tuesday- Learning Lab • Wednesday- PE • Thursday- Art • Friday- PE • Located on my website!!

6. What drives the curriculum? • Georgia Professional Standards-GPS (social studies and science) • Common Core (Reading, ELA, and Math) • Forsyth County Rubrics Check out www.georgiastandards.org to see all of the standards we will meet this year!

7. Common Core Information • Forsyth County Schools link to Parent CCGPS information http://www.forsyth.k12.ga.us/Page/32691 • PTA Parent’s Guide to Student Success http://www.pta.org/4446.htm • Click on the “Academics” tab on Sharon’s homepage. “State Standards” has many resources for you!!

8. Reading • Guided Reading • Individual Choice Reading • Novel studies as a whole class • The basal may be used as a resource • Text complexity and comparing texts!!

9. ELA Shifts • Complex texts, quality, range • Evidence that reading is anchored in the college and career readiness (CCR) standards. • Rich reading of literature as well as extensive reading in science, history/social studies, and other disciplines.

10. Language and Writing • Writer’s Workshop with picture books and mini edits. • Writer’s Notebooks • Reader’s Notebooks • 4 types of writing • Narrative • Expository/Informative • Persuasive/Opinion • Response to Literature

11. Math My philosophy for math instruction includes: • Hands-on • Minds-on • Real world application • Group work • Student leaders • Practice Skills *Place Value *Rounding *Multiplication *Division *Algebra *Geometry *Problem Solving *Fractions

12. Math Shifts • Focus strongly where the Standards focus • Coherence: Think across grades, and link to major topics within grades • Rigor: Require fluency, application, and deep understanding

13. Science*This can change throughout the year! • Water Cycle & Weather/Climate-Qtr 1 • Space-Qtr 2 • Ecosystems & Adaptations-Qtr 3 • Light, Simple Machines and Sound-Qtr 4 • Scientific Inquiry-All Year

14. Social Studies*This can change throughout the year! • Native Americans & Exploration- Qtr 1 • Colonial America & American Revolution- Qtr 2 • The New Nation-Qtr 3 • Westward Expansion- Qtr 4 • Geography, Government, & Economics will be interwoven and assessed throughout the year.

15. Forsyth County Attendance Policy • Please make sure your child is at school by 7:40 a.m. • Vacations are not excused absences. • If your child is absent from school you must send a note stating why your child was absent-please print their name and my name on the note! • Three tardies turn into an unexcused absence. 5. Try to make appointments after school, whenever possible. Always request an excuse from the doctor or dentist to send in.

16. Summative Grading Summative A=90-100% B=80-89% C=70-79% F=69% and below • Percentage grades based on tests, projects, and other assignments • Given in ELA, math, science and social studies • They will have between 5 and 8 each quarter for each subject. • Each child will be assessed using formative (4,3,2,1) and summative (%) assignments.

17. Formative Grading Formative 4- complete achievement 3- consistent achievement (most of the time) 2- moderate achievement 1- limited or minimal achievement Conduct Scale E- Exemplary S- Successful D- Does Not Meet *S is the norm!* • You should have a copy of the rubrics that I use. • Teacher observation in class • Only in math and ELA

18. Report card

19. Retake Policy • Optional and available in ELA and math (common summatives) based on parent, student, and/or teacher discretion. • Purpose-Ensure mastery • Procedure: • Student will sign up in class • Student will complete a ticket at home with parent which requires additional work and learning out of class. (On my website!) • Student will come and take retest on assigned date no later than 7:10 that morning.

21. Homework • Homework will be assigned Monday-Thursday • 2 Writings Completed at Home (Weekly) • Math (IXL-20 minutes per week) • Reading • Social Studies/Science • Vocabulary (prefixes, suffixes, Latin roots) Homework is very important to me and is vital for students to succeed. Homework not only strengthens your child’s performance by providing opportunities to practice, but it also teaches your child responsibility.

22. Ms. Grimes’ Classroom Management Plan: • We are a community • Checkbooks • Positive reinforcement • Classroom incentives • Notes will come home or e-mailed if there is a problem in class

23. Miscellaneous Items: • Ice Cream: Students may purchase ice cream on Mondays and Thursdays to eat on Tuesdays and Fridays. ($0.75) • Field Trips: We plan two field trips each year. When we determine and schedule them, I will let you know. • Clubs Book Club, Technology Club, Writing Club…info coming soon! 

24. Parent Communication • Friday Folder • Agenda • Website • Phone call or email (Have your child call me!) • Conferences • Spirit Nights!!  • Please make sure you are signed up for Parent Portal! This is very important especially when it comes to grades! (See Mrs. Couch if you need an account.)

25. Questions??