Grade PLUS: Assessment, Grading, and Curriculum for 4th and 5th Grade

1. Welcome to4th Grade Curriculum Night Thursday, August 30, 2012

2. 4th and 5th Grade2012-13 Grade PLUS

3. 12-13 Grade PLUS All 4th and 5th grade classrooms across Forsyth County will be using the Grade PLUS system of reporting. This reporting system uses both standards-based scores of 1-4 and traditional percentage grades.

4. Assessment and Grading The learning expectations and standards for performance have been outlined for each quarter based on the Common Core GPS Standards. Teachers will use two types of classroom assessments, formative and summative.

5. Formative Assessments Daily, ongoing assessments/observations that are used to monitor student progress toward mastery of standards. Formative assessments will receive a standards-based score as outlined in the rubric. Formative scores will not be posted in Parent Portal. These scores will be communicated to parents in the weekly work folder sent home by the teacher. 4 Mastery of Standard 3 Consistent achievement of standard 2 Ongoing progress toward standard 1 Limited or minimal progress toward standard KEY TO FORMATIVE BASED ACHIEVEMENT

6. Summative Assessments Cumulative assessments will receive a traditional numeric grade and will be used to measure student mastery of standards. Summative grades will be posted in Parent Portal at the end of the quarter and will serve as the report card grade. A 90-100% B 80-89% C 70-79% F <70% KEY TO SUMMATIVE BASED ACHIEVEMENT

7. Work Habits • Student work habits will be reported using the following categories: • Responsibility, Participation, Assignment Completion, and Interpersonal Skills • In each of the above categories, students will receive one of the following scores: • Does Not Meet (D), Successful (S), or Exemplary (E). • {Successful (S) is the expectation of students}

8. Report Card The Grade Plus report cards will have both a traditional numeric grade for subjects and standards based scores for each of the domains from the rubrics. This system of grading will only be used English/Language Arts and Math. Science and Social Studies will receive traditional numeric grades.

9. Change to Common Core: Why is This Important for Students, Teachers, and Parents? College and work readiness Consistent expectations across the nation.

10. Key Features of the Standards • Rigorous content with application • Evidence and research • Internationally benchmarked

11. 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.

12. Informational Text(increased importance in Common Core)

13. Guided Reading • Students will be guided on their instructional reading level through fiction and nonfiction texts. • Comprehension • Fluency • Decoding • Vocabulary • Genre • Author’s Purpose • Theme/Moral

14. Writing • We will be teaching writing across the curriculum. • We will focus on these types of writing throughout this year to prepare students to be life long authors: • Narrative • Persuasive • Expository

15. Grammar • Relative pronouns (who, whose, whom, which, that) and adverbs (where, when, why) • Verb tenses • Prepositional Phrases • Complete, simple, and compound sentences • Correct capitalization and punctuation • Correct spelling

16. Spelling • Spelling will not be taught in the traditional manner. • Students’ spelling will be assessed within their writing. • Misspelled words will be noted in student work. • Students will keep a “personal” spelling list by writing misspelled words. • Teachers will hold students accountable for grade level appropriate words.

17. Mathematics Shifts • Coherence: Think across grades and link to major topics within grades • Rigor: Require fluency, application, and deep understanding

18. Mathematics • Place value, addition and subtraction of multi-digit numbers, factors and multiples, algebraic reasoning, multiplication and division of whole numbers, measurement, graphing, geometry, compare fractions and decimals, addition and subtraction of fractions and mixed numbers, and geometry. • We will be working on multiplication all year. Please practice facts with your child at home.

19. Science • This year in science students will be learning about: • The solar system, stars, and planets • Weather, light, sound, and simple machines • Mass/motion/gravity • Ecosystems, food webs/chains, and adaptation

20. Social Studies • This year in social studies students will be learning about: • Regions of the U.S.A. and Native Americans • North American Explorers and Colonial America • American Revolution, Constitution, and New Government • Westward Expansion

21. HOMEWORK • The STUDENT is responsible for completing and turning in all homework assignments on the day it is due. • Homework will be: • Read for at least 20 min. • Practice math facts • Homework will be assigned on a weekly basis from your child’s teacher • Please sign your child’s agenda each night to show that you are aware of the completed homework and behavior for the day.

22. Classroom DisciplineClass Dojo Parents will receive a weekly report via email. Students will receive positive and negative points throughout the week. Examples of positive behaviors include respect, hard work, great thinking, etc. Examples of negative points include being off- task, misbehavior in hallway, lunchroom, specials, incomplete assignments, etc. • The goal of this plan is to promote positive behavior by rewarding students with Fun Friday. They are allowed to participate if they have 5 or fewer negative points.

23. Parent/Teacher Communication • Please view 4th grade’s webpage for information regarding grade level news, academic websites, and more. • VIP folders will be coming home on Tuesdays. Please sign and return all graded papers. • All transportation must be hand written and sent in with your child by 8:30 am. We cannot accept emails or faxes for the safety of children.

24. Parent Communication Quarterly Rubrics, provided each nine weeks outlining standards by quarter to assist with monitoring student progress Weekly student work sent home in the VIP folder Weekly email report from the Class DoJo

25. THANK YOU FOR COMING TO CURRICULUM NIGHT!