Welcome to Four Yellow

1. Welcome to Four Yellow

2. Who are we?

3. Welcome to 4th Grade!

4. We will be traveling on a journey of investigation and exploration. Destination - Middle School & beyond! Jo Mountford Educated in the UK and Canada Taught in: United Kingdom, Stratford Upon Avon Japan, Yokohama Egypt, Cairo United States of America, Tanzania, Arusha Japan, Tokyo

5. School Theme for 2012/13 is... Make the wise Choice

6. Fourth Grade Expectations: To become confident, independent learners To be able to make decisions To be able to organize themselves To become good communicators and listeners To be able to plan independently and cooperatively To value and respect others Be able to solve problems in many different situations To be open minded To enjoy learning as a life experience

7. Monitors Our Junior School Leaders Set up assembly Monitor halls Clear up dining room Responsible for playground equipment Lead by example Tour Leaders

8. Grade Four Math Skills Pattern- to understand the importance of the recognition of pattern in developing their mathematical ability Vocabulary - to encourage students to learn and use the ‘language’ of math Graphs - to collect and organize data into a table; to construct bar graphs and line graphs, to analyze findings, make statements and draw conclusions about them. Operations and Computation - to extend multiplication, division, fractions, decimals, addition and subtraction skills Place Value - to review their knowledge of number and to extend their understanding of large numbers Geometry - to familiarize the students with protractors and compasses; to draw and measure acute, right and obtuse angles; to explore radius, diameter and circumference Measurement - to look at the various ways of recording metric measurement and to develop their understanding of the concepts of area and perimeter

9. Problem Solving This is an important aspect of fourth grade math work. Problem solving is a major component of all aspects of math. Opportunities will be provided for the children to gain familiarity with a collection of strategies useful for tackling problems. They will frequently be asked to share their thinking in order to help them recognize that there is often more than one way to arrive at a solution.

10. Math Investigations Working with data – graphs, line plots and tables Patterns Working with bigger numbers Multiplication Division Size, Shape and Symmetry Fractions Probability

11. Math 4 Today Designed on a continuous spiral so concepts are repeated weekly. Provides risk taking challenges, higher-level thinking exercises, problem solving strategies and necessary drill.

12. To help with problem-solving we have Math Due Friday and Think Lab.

13. Language Arts To develop the children’s listening skills so that they can follow oral instructions, understand oral explanations and listen attentively and intelligently to presentations. To develop the children’s oral skills so that they can express their ideas clearly, fluently and articulately and in a form that is correct and acceptable. To develop in the children a love of literature through reading for recreation and pleasure as well as encouraging them to use materials as a source of information, ideas and vocabulary for their own research. There are many reading opportunities in fourth grade, including: class readers, literature circles, reading research, individual reading, reading our own work. We have debates, literature discussions, we act, we rewrite endings, we examine good story starters, discuss authors voice, look at cause & effect, fact and opinion, discover meaning from context, discuss author’s craft.

16. The Writing Process The Writing Process treats writing as an interrelated series of creative activities and allows children to take early control and responsibility and to monitor their own work. Prewriting Time is spent preparing to write the first draft. Children are encouraged to think, ask questions, list ideas, read and take notes, brainstorm, cluster, plan and set goals. This process eventually leads them to focus on one idea for a piece of writing. Drafting Children put their ideas on paper, concentrating on content rather than correctness at this stage. Self Edit and revise The children are encouraged to change openings and endings, add details, move parts around, use more precise and descriptive words and give final form to their work. Responding The first draft are shared with peers and teachers. Suggestions for improvement are made at this stage.

17. Writing Process (cont.) Publishing The following are some of the many ways in which children can publish their work: Class notebooks School/class newspaper Mini-books Reading aloud Displays/posters Dramatizations Tape recordings There are many reasons for writing and in fourth grade this year the children will have an opportunity to experience a wealth of different styles of writing; poetry, letters, persuasive writing, personal letters, business letters, descriptive paragraphs, creative writing, lists, menus, instructions, plays and many more..

18. The 6-Trait (6+1) Model for Writing Assessment Ideas The ideas are the heart of the message, the content of the piece, the main theme together with the details that enrich and develop that theme. Organization Organization is the internal structure of the piece of writing, the thread of central meaning, the logical, and sometimes intriguing pattern of ideas. Voice The voice is the heart and soul, the magic, the wit, along with the feeling of conviction of the writer coming out through the words. Word Choice Word choice is the use of rich, colorful, precise language that moves and enlightens the reader. Sentence Fluency Sentence fluency is the rhythm and flow of the language, the sound of word patterns, the way in which plays to the ear - not just to the eye. Conventions Conventions are the mechanical correctness of the piece.

19. Values/Virtues Program

20. Japanese Culture G4 Project • How to learn and share our cultures • Learning part links to the IPC unit: How to learn/learning styles Aims of the project • -To Explore elements of culture • -To think about how we learn and apply that knowledge • -To develop 21st century skills; creativity, collaboration, and independent learning • -To integrate technology; inparticular iMovie and filming • -To Contribute to the school community real life learning

21. The Brain • We’ll be finding out: • preferred learning styles • about different areas of the brain. • how information gets into the brain • the ways each of us learn best. • We’ll also be: • Graphing our learning styles • Making models of neurons • Conducting experiments on memory/handedness/coordination etc • Making brain hats • When they do this the children will be: • Investigating • Thinking • Mapping • Reflecting • Researching • Drawing • Making Models

22. Electricity Inside Atoms Movement of electrons Static Electricity Sources of electricity Safety Conservation Circuits Conductors Resistors Light bulbs Motors Battery power Famous People Life before Electricity

23. Inside the Earth Continental Drift Plate Tectonics Ring of Fire Measuring Earthquakes Types of Volcanoes Myths and Legends Famous Eruptions Causes and Consequences Timelines Inside the earth

24. Rocks and Minerals Classification of Rocks Rock Cycle Rocks and Minerals Excavation

25. Specials: P.E. Monday & Thursday Music Monday & Wednesday Library Tuesday Art Friday Language Tuesday & Thursday Excursions: Artscape – no date set yet Tanzawa: April 19th – 21st Health: Starts 2nd semester. Typing: Twice a week for 20 minutes

26. Homework

27. General Move desks around regularly Calculators Birthday Treats Nut Free School Label supplies Label all clothes Special Talents & Celebrations Appointments for individual conferences Websites: www.msmosfootprints.com www.ixl.com www.spellingcity.com Contact jo.mountford@issh.ac.jp Grade 4 team

28. A special thanks to Mrs Curby & Mrs Kronblad

29. If there’s time, Please feel free to write a letter to your daughter and pop it in her desk. Thank you for coming - We're looking forward to a great year! Please go to the Duchesne Room for the 9:30 presentation.