Welcome to Mrs. Martin’s Class!

1. Welcome to Mrs. Martin’s Class!

2. At 211 degrees, water is hot. • At 212 degrees, it boils. • And with boiling water, comes steam. • And with steam, you can power a train. • Just one extra degree can make all the difference. • How do you get to your 212a? • Taken from givemore.com 212a

3. Smile & Move = SMOVE  • To Smile is to... • Wake up – Show others you care by giving attention to their needs. • Be thankful – The opportunity to serve is a gift... not an entitlement. • Be approachable – We're at each other's service and contact iswhere it starts. • Complain less – Being positive is more fun. • Smile. Really. – It's where pleasantness begins. Taken from givemore.com

4. Smile & Move = SMOVE  • To Move is to... • Start early & go long – Get lost in your service to others. • Exceed expectations – Dismiss mediocrity. Expect and enjoy more from yourself. • Have a sense of urgency – Everyone's time is valuable. • Be resourceful & resilient – Results are what we're all really after. Taken from givemore.com

5. Management/Positive Reinforcement Management Systems • Classroom Government • Thunderbird Three • Bucket Filler/Dipper • DeBug System • I Messages • Behavior Violation Form Positive Reinforcement: These are just a few items I use as motivation for good behavior: • Classroom Government dollars • Thunderbird Tickets (Ticket Store) • Movie Friday/Pajama Day • Fun Friday • Lunch with teacher • Recess • Outside Snack/work time • Drops for Bucket

6. Assessment • As part of Sequoyah’s School Improvement Process, all students are assessed throughout the school year to address our goals for Reading, Writing and Math. • Fall ~ Reading, Writing, Math • Winter ~ Reading and Writing • Spring ~ Reading, Writing, Math • Report Cards/Progress Reports share progress approximately every 6-7 weeks. • Parent / Teacher Conferences • November 30th and December 1st • March 14th & 15th

7. School Improvement • In order to continue to provide your child with the best education possible, the Sequoyah community continuously works at making our school better. These school improvement goals help guide us in the process: • Reading ~ All students will improve their ability to read and comprehend text across the curriculum. • Writing ~ All students will improve their writing skills across the curriculum. • Math ~ All students will improve their math skills across the curriculum.

8. School Improvement • Did You Know? • All Sequoyah students utilize a school-provided writing binder? • All Sequoyah students participate in the new research-based, district-wide writing program entitled Being a Writer? • All Sequoyah students are assessed at least 3x each year in reading and writing? • All Sequoyah students utilize a 4-Step Problem Solving Method? • All Sequoyah students incorporate the 7 most-effective Reading Comprehension Strategies to improve their reading skills?

9. Students always have an opportunity in class to work on assignments.  • If they do not finish the assignments in class the assignment(s) become homework.   • Late assignments are marked down 10% off of final grade.  • Neatness counts!  Remember assignments will be marked down 3% if it is not neat. • I do understand that “LIFE” happens  Homework

10. If a student seems to be having great difficulty, or is taking an inordinate amount of time to complete the assignment at home, please write me a note and send it in stapled to the assignment. You can also write me a note in the agenda. I check them each morning. I will help your student with the concept during class or outside of class time (Homework Club is always an option) if needed. As always, please feel free to contact me directly as well. cmartin@cvs.k12.kmi.us 586-723-7112 (You can skip the Homework Hotline information by hitting the # key.) Homework

11. Homework help, practice math facts, finish homework, projects, etc. When: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday (will start Tuesday, 9/21) Time: Before school 8:15 – 8:50 Where: Mrs. Martin’s/Ms. Scharf’s classrooms Who: Everyone in Mrs. Martin’s and Ms. Scharf’s class is welcome! NOTE: Students and parents will complete a contract/permission slip to attend Homework Club. Homework Club

12. Places to get information: • Mrs. Martin’s Website (Homework page- updated daily ) http://www.cvs.k12.mi.us/cmartin/ (Copies of some assignments will be posted on the website.) • Homework Hotline: 586-723-7112 Listen to the recorded message (updated daily). • Student Agenda: copied in the morning, then as a whole class reviewed prior to cleaning up to go home. • Friday Folders • Homework Folders • Weekly Newsletter (In Friday Folders)

13. Field Trips • Lansing: November • Macomb Center for the Creative Arts: TBD • Recycling program (in house): Spring • Mackinac Trip: June (4th grade meeting to be scheduled at the end of October) • High Touch/HighTech Science: TBD (in house) • Additional in school field trips may be scheduled

14. Real Life Curriculum for the Real World • How do I find the Common Core Standards for Math and English Language Arts or the GLCE’s for Science and Social Studies for my child’s grade level? • For Math and English Language Arts: http://www.corestandards.org/ • Scroll to the middle of the page. • Click on either Math or English Language Arts • For Science and Social Studies: http://www.michigan.gov/mde • Click on: Curriculum and Instruction (left side) • Click on: Grade level content Expectations • Scroll down to 4th grade • Choose either Science or Social Studies

15. Curriculum Overview • Math - problem solving, place-value, addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, graphing, probability, fractions, measurement, and geometry, group work use of manipulatives to enhance learning. • Math FOU training with Ms. Scharf’s class. • Reading - Daily 5 (organization), Making Meaning comprehension program, McGraw-Hill reading series, classroom novels, book reports, oral presentations, guided reading, ASK Program. • Writing / Language – Writing Process supplemented by structured writing program (Being a Writer program), grammar lessons, guided writing, Journal quick-writes, writing projects/research projects. Daily 5 (organization).

16. Curriculum Overview • Spelling– Word study program (Words Their Way). Twenty five words will be given each Monday. Students will work with the words in class and at home. A test on 10 of the words (randomly chosen) will be given on Friday. • Science – Measurement, properties and changes of matter, fossils, heat, electricity, magnets, Earth science (sun, moon, and, Earth),life science (relationships and requirements of living things) • Social Studies – United States Studies (geography, economics, government; including classroom government, rights and responsibilities of citizenship).

17. Classroom Government • What is it? • Hands on learning of how government works. Not simply memorized facts or definitions. They live it! • They will experience the frustrations of debating their opinions with a group, and lobbying members of other bodies to support a bill. • Students will learn the “Art of Debate”. • Pay taxes. • Buy “privileges” • Four elected offices: President, Senate Leader, House Leader, Treasurer • Freedom to make decisions • Math, reading, social studies, science connections!

18. Mini-Society: Hands on Economics • The goal of Mini Society is for all children to learn about economics by making a product or providing a service. • Success will not be measured by the amount of profit, but by the amount of learning. • Some of the best learning may occur in struggling or failing businesses. • Students need to be able make their products independently. Students will be asked to prove they can independently create one of the products in class. • All supplies for this product cannot exceed $20. • All products and services must be approved in advance by the teacher. • More information to come later in the year 

19. Daily Five: Literacy • “Based on literacy learning and motivation research, The Daily 5™ has been practiced and refined in our own (Gail Boushey and Joan Moser) classrooms for 10 years and shared with thousands of teachers throughout the United States.  The Daily 5™ is a series of literacy tasks which students complete daily while the teacher meets with small groups or confers with individuals.” (Boushey, & Moser) • “The Daily 5™ is more than a management system or a curriculum framework – it is a structure that will help students develop the daily habits of reading, writing and working with peers that will lead to a lifetime of independent literacy.” (Boushey, & Moser) Boushey, G, & Moser, J. (n.d.). The 2 sisters. Retrieved from http://www.the2sisters.com/the_daily_5.html

20. Color Coded Folders and Notebooks • Math is yellow • Social Studies is blue • Language Arts is red • Science is green • Spelling is black (I will provide these.) • Homework is white (I will provide these.) • Each child will be given a white folder that will hold any homework they have for the evening. The colored subject folders will remain in the classroom. • Classroom Government is any design that you would like.

21. Student: When you have read, record your minutes and have your parent initial the proper box. Required for full credit: 10 minutes/5 nights per week/ or a total of 50 minutes for the week, parent signature in box. (duration may change month to month) Reading Logs

22. Presidential Award • Students must achieve all A’s for fourth and fifth grade • All students must achieve 1’s and 2’s on Reading, Math and Science

23. Tests and Quizes • All subjects • Study guides • Preparation • Sticky notes • Color code • Review at home • Open book • Why?  • Quizzes • Math • Friday quizzes

24. Spelling • Vocabulary vs. Spelling • Words Their Way spelling program • “Weekly” spelling expectations • “Weekly” tests

25. Math Facts • We will be working on fluency of multiplication facts 1-12. • Being fluent with these facts is the foundation of our math.

26. Used Book Drive and Sale • Used Book Drive to coincide with March Reading Month. • Used Book Sale early May. • Student run. • Parent volunteers for the sale. Community Service

27. Mrs. Martin’s Special Suggested Supplies • 2 Expo White Board Markers (any color) • 2 boxes of Ziploc Bags (Quart and Gallon Size) • Sticky notes: one package of 1 ½ x 2 (They come in a package of 12) • One extra folder with any design you want: This will be used to keep all of our Classroom Government items. • 1 jump drive for writing

28. “How can I help my child?” • Read: let them read to you, you read to them. • Practice math facts • Sign agenda nightly • Read Newsletters • Check my website • Keep in touch with me 

29. Questions???