Welcome Parents and Friends!

1. Welcome Parents and Friends!

2. Level 4 Information Night • Mr. Jonathan Pawlowski Armor Elementary School5301 Abbott Rd.Hamburg, N.Y. 14075jpawlowski@hamburgschools.org

3. Class Atmosphere • Positive  • Enthusiastic • Comfortable • Friendly • Inviting

4. Your Child’s Success Depends On: • Positive Parent/Teacher Communication • Organization • Effective Study Habits • Compassion, Comfort, Confidence • Support IN and OUT of school

5. This Year’s Goal… • Student Empowerment!! • Lifelong Learning!!

6. The Curriculum • Based on the Common Core State Standards (Race to the Top) • Differentiated to meet all student needs • Driven by skill development • Actively engages students in learning • Focuses on developing understandings of key concepts to ensure transfer of knowledge

7. ELA • Shared Novel Reading • Inquiry Disucssions • Benchmarks and Fresh Reads • Whole class, small teams, in pairs, and independently

8. Math Macmillan/McGraw-Hill • Place Value • Addition Properties and Strategies • Subtraction Strategies • Data and Graphs • Multiplication Facts and Strategies • Division Facts and Strategies • Multiply Greater Numbers • Divide Greater Numbers • Quotients and Order of Operations • Measurement • Fractions and Probability • Add and Subtract Fractions • Add and Subtract Decimals

9. Science • Plant Growth and Development, • Crayfish, • Electrical Circuits, • Motion and Design, and • Land and Water

10. Social Studies New York State, • Native Americans, • Explorers, • Colonization, • Revolutionary War, • Colonial Life, and • Immigration

11. Classroom Management • The classroom modification system we use is a team themed point system. Our class collaborates at the beginning of every quarter about what things can earn points, lose points, and the value of each task. Every class I’ve taught at each level is really engaged in this system. It holds the students accountable for homework, behaviors, and rewards students for doing more than is expected at any point of the day.

12. Classroom Management • Students research topics learned in class and create a powerpoint presentation to share information. • They have practiced as many NYS math and ELA tests as possible. • Students have also created “hands on” projects to showcase the information they have learns. Create student chapter tests (Student then grades work) • Write and perform a play • Write a book review • Once a student completes his or her enrichment, they have the option of presenting it to the class for even more points. Usually they do this.

13. Student Careers Our class has conducted student job interviews at the beginning of every marking period. There are four different kinds of jobs in our classroom this year. Administrative Assistants, Organizers, Historians, and Sanitation Commissioners are all jobs students can apply to. Students are never “told” or “forced” in to applying for a classroom job. It is done at their will. Each of these jobs comes with a negotiated “point salary” which can be earned weekly if the student-employee handles all of the responsibilities. If students are interested in applying for a job they need to complete an application, get references from teachers or Mrs. Bennett, and produce a portfolio, which showcases their outstanding efforts throughout the year.

14. Chef Hat Writing • Another item that students can work to earn is chef hats. I did a mini lesson on how chefs are masters with recipes involving great tasting foods. The same can be said for students who demonstrate a master recipe for engaging writing. Students who are interested in pursuing a chef hat must demonstrate outstanding writing in their enrichment pieces. If a student earns a chef hat, he or she can wear it during any writing lesson throughout the school year.

15. The Pawlowski Cup In the fourth quarter our students can earn another new reward on the “Pawlowski Cup”. It is a two-dimensional cut out of hockey’s Stanley Cup, which is awarded to the top team in all of hockey. Students who earn their name on the Pawlowski Cup the most will take it home as their trophy on the last day of school. For a student to earn their name on The Cup they should show outstanding effort, following directions without teacher instruction, and being an outstanding citizen. Every time a student does this I write the date, their name, and the reason why in permanent marker. It is an engaging contest the students love towards the end of the school year.

16. NYS Testing • ELA: April 16th - 18th • Math: April 24th – 26th • Science Performance: May 29th-31st • Science Written: June 3rd

17. Student Assessments Presentations Performances Coop. Learning Projects Comprehension Study Skills

18. Weekly Specials • Monday Art and Band/Chorus • Tuesday P.E. • Wednesday P.E. • Thursday LMC and Orch/Chorus • Friday Music • **Our specials begin at 8:45**

19. Homework • Math: Monday – Friday • Writing: Daily Prompts in Journal • Reading: 20 minutes EVERY NIGHT • GOAL: Read 25 chapter books this year! • Occasional science or social studies assignments • Parent Involvement is encouraged! Please assist your child as needed.

20. Homework

21. Worksheets / Corrections • Look for a *at the top of each worksheet sent home. This means that Mr. P. has corrected the assignment.

22. Classroom Webpage • Resources!! (Reading tips, student websites, lists, etc.) • Online Class Info(Updated Weekly) • Blogging (Reinforcing skills at home.) • Class Pictures

23. Miscellaneous • Birthday Snacks: Please let me know if you wish to bring in a treat for your child, so I can schedule it for snack that day. • Water Bottles: Please provide a water bottle for your child and change it at least once a week.

24. Miscellaneous • Music Lessons: Every student is responsible for the work he/she has missed during the day. • Clothing: Please label all your child’s belongings. It can be cool during the winter. You maywant to keep a sweater or sweatshirt in school just in case. Please follow proper dress code for safety and comfort.

25. Contacting Mr. Pawlowski • It is best to contact me either by a note via your child or by e-mail at jpawlowski@hamburgschools.org • Also, information is provided on my web site at hamburgschools.org

26. Thank You!!  • *Please sign up for a parent conference time before leaving.