Welcome to Curriculum Night 4 th Grade

1. Welcome to Curriculum Night4th Grade • Welcome! • Housekeeping • Classroom Management • Curriculum Overview • Common Core Shifts • Homework • Schedule • Question & Answer • Special Classes Video

2. Housekeeping • Tax Credit donations are the source of our Grand Canyon field trip funding (please donate online) • Room moms needed for all classrooms • Reminders: Traffic, cell-phones, visitors, & treats • Email communication is best! • Monkey fund-raiser began Friday, 8/2

3. For GOOD CHOICES . . . Earn respect & compliments Earn P.A.C.K. awards Earn “Basha Bucks” to spend in class auctions Earn classroom privileges Earn “Excellent” indicators on report cards . . .for POOR CHOICES …class meeting resolutions …loss of “Basha Bucks” to spend in quarterly auctions …loss of recess/privileges …parent contact …earn less-than-excellent indicators on report cards Behavior Plan

4. Curriculum Overview • Standards-based curriculum & instruction: Common Core Visit CUSD or the AZ Dept. of Education website to view standards • Assessment: AIMS (PARCC in 2015)

5. Essential Language Arts (ELA)Shifts with Common Core 4th Grade now a 50/50 balance of more complex informational and literary text “College & Career” use mainly informational reading comprehension and writing skills Answers now text-based rather than based on students’ prior knowledge or experience Building a staircase of text complexity using academic vocabulary and content

6. Mathematics Shiftswith Common Core Strong conceptual knowledge and ability to apply to problem solving inside and outside of classroom Deeper conceptual understanding- extension of previous learning Procedural skill and fluency Strategic reasoning and collaboration Standards for Mathematical Practice

8. Mathematics • 4th Grade Scott Foresman text • TERC investigations & projects • Hands-on concept development • Balance of problem solving & computation skills • Class participation (“Explain your thinking”) • Mental math & logic • Homework practice & projects • Math quizzes & unit tests

9. Reading • 4th Grade Trophies Basal Reader • Complex informational text (50%) • Integration of Science & Social Studies • Literature study: Genres, authors, themes, etc. • Literature response logs & book projects (IRP) • Participation in literature discussion circle • Reading skill exercises • Vocabulary study & tests • Oral reading to develop fluency • Sustained silent reading • Literature read-along • Book quizzes, unit tests, and essay exams

10. Language • English grammar instruction & quizzes • Writing across the curriculum • 6 Traits of Good Writing • Spelling tests & self-editing • Expository writing-opinion & argument • Creative writing • Poetry recitations & writing • Oral reports & presentations • Computer word processing---FLASH DRIVE • Research reports • Homework projects • Handwriting • Cursive • Keyboarding • LEGIBILITY

11. Flexible Grouping Targeting students’ individual needs in Mathematics and Reading/Language Arts Changing rooms for a designated period of time each day Teaching skills that will help students become independent, fluent readers who can comprehend strategically Developing concepts & mathematical practices that will help students compute and problem solve strategically

12. Science • 4th Grade Harcourt texts • Focus on inquiry skills and process • Science Fair projects • Integration with math • Related vocabulary & spelling • Research emphasis • Presenting & note taking • Homework projects • Quizzes and unit tests • Expository Writing

13. Social Studies • 4th grade Harcourt texts • Arizona Social Studies Weekly • Geography & map skills • Related vocabulary & spelling • Research emphasis • Homework projects • Presenting & note taking • Quizzes and unit tests • Expository writing

14. Social Studies AZ government/ Civics Arizona History & historical heroes Geography of the Southwest First Peoples of SW Economics (Jr. Ach.) Science Inquiry Process Life Science: Plants/Animals Physical Science: Electricity Earth Science: Weather 4th Grade Topics

15. Technology • Keyboarding • Netiquette (etiquette on the net) • Publishing (brochures, letters, reports, stories, articles, essays, etc.) • Multi-media (Power Point) • B.Y.O.T.- Flash Drive

16. Grades • Parent Portal on Infinite Campus (See handout) • Portfolio system • Use of scoring guides and rubrics • Participation and effort points • Assignments below 70% may be re-done at parent request (excluding tests) • Report card grades according to district standards: • Consistently outstanding work (90-100%) = “A” • Consistently above average (80-89%)= “B” • Consistently satisfactory work (70-79%) = “C” • Consistently below standard (60-69%)= “D”

17. Homework • Read a minimum of 20 minutes per night & record on monthly Reading Log in folder & signed by parent---checked each week. • Assigned on a weekly basis: Comes home each Friday, due back the next Friday • Problems or questions? Students should ask their teacher for help on Monday or Tuesday. • Students will bring Agendas home Friday for parents to sign, and return them Monday.

18. STUDY SKILLS are the key to success in 4th Grade .

19. Daily Schedule • 8:05 Campus open • 8:25 Bell rings • 8:45-9:45 Specials (30 min.) • 10:00-12:00 Reading/Language Arts • 12:00 Lunch Recess • 12:20 Lunch • 12:50 Mathematics • 2:00-2:15 Recess • 2:15-2:55 Science/Social Studies • 2:55 Clean up • 3:00 Dismissal

20. Let’s Roll ! “You know that the beginning is the most important part of any work, especially in the case of a young and tender thing; for that is the time when the character is being formed.” -Plato