Welcome to Ms. Jester’s 4 th Grade Class

1. Welcome to Ms. Jester’s 4th Grade Class

2. Ms. Jester • Originally from Barrington, New Jersey • I have lived in all 3 Delaware Counties, but I now reside in Newark, De. Go UD Blue Hens! • Graduated from the University of Delaware with a Bachelor of Science in Education/English Discipline • Graduated from the University of Delaware with a Master of Instruction Degree with a specialization in technology. • Certified grades K-8

3. Goals • Provide a caring, welcoming, and comfortable learning environment where students feel confident to become risk-takers. • Improve students’ academic content knowledge and skills to prepare them for the “Real World.”

4. PBS (Positive Behavior Support) • Positive behavior support (PBS) is a school wide behavioral management system that recognizes and encourages positive behaviors. PBS establishes clear and consistent expectations and language throughout Brick Mill Elementary School. • Respectful, Responsible, and Ready

5. RTI (Response To Intervention) This is a statewide initiative. During this time, every 4th grade student will go to their assigned group. Students are assigned to groups based on their greatest need, as determined by assessments and benchmarking (reading inventories, DIBELS, MAP, etc.) If a student has a need for a group, they will attend the group for a 6 week period and will then be re-assessed to check for progress. It is likely that students will be moved through several different groups throughout the year

6. RTI groups consist of: • Reader’s Theater • Math Enrichment • Real-Life Comprehension • Fiction Comprehension Strategies • RARE • Literacy Circles

7. Delaware Comprehensive Assessment System (DCAS) • Beginning September 20, 2010 DCAS testing will begin, which will include tests in reading and mathematics for grades 3 through 10. These online tests will help to identify your child’s strengths and weaknesses so that teachers can focus the instruction in your child’s classes to meet the needs of their students. • Online testing will provide immediate feedback • If you would like more information about the DCAS Test - http://de.portal.airast.org

8. Fourth Grade Writing Curriculum • The Writing Academy – the curriculum focuses on meeting the needs of diverse learners through lessons that focus on visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learning. The curriculum continues to support our use of 6 traits with added emphasis on voice and personality in writing.

9. Fourth Grade Reading Curriculum Scott Foresman Reading Street • We typically will read a story from our Anthology • Throughout the week or so, we will focus on specific reading skills (comprehension, problem/solution, making inferences, summarizing, etc.) • Students will have opportunities to work individually, with partners, in small student groups, and in a small teacher directed group. • Students will demonstrate their skills through class work, centers, and teacher observations throughout the week.

10. Fourth Grade Reading Curriculum Comprehension Strategies for Reading Street by Scott Foresman • Preview the text • Set & monitor reading purpose • Activate & use prior knowledge • Make, confirm, & modify predictions • Monitor comprehension & use fix-up strategies • Use graphic organizers to focus on text questions • Answer questions • Generate questions • Recognize text structure: story & informational • Summarize text by retelling stories or identifying main ideas • Visualize; use mental imagery • Make connections Comprehension Skills • Author’s purpose • Cause & effect • Compare & contrast • Draw conclusions • Fact & opinion • Follow directions • Generalize • Graphic sources (charts, diagrams, maps, graphs, and tables) • Main idea & supporting details • Realism/fantasy • Sequence of events

11. Reading Centers

12. Working With Words/Spelling • Each new story, students will be given a Spelling Contract • Word lists will consist of 20 spelling words and 5 challenge words • Students are required to complete 4 spelling activities by the due date listed on the contract. • Contracts are to be turned in on the due date with all boxes initialed. • Tests will be given on the due date.

13. Fourth Grade Math Curriculum • Terc (Investigations in Number, Data, and Space) • Unit 1 – Factors, Multiples, and Arrays • Unit 2 – Describing the Shape of Data • Unit 3 – Multiple Towers and Division Stories • Unit 4 – Size, Shape, and Symmetry • Unit 5 – Landmarks and Large Numbers • Unit 6 – Fraction Cards and Decimal Squares • Unit 7 – Moving Between Solids and Silhouettes • Unit 8 – How many Packages? How many Groups? • Unit 9 – Penny Jars and Plant Growth

14. IXL/Fastt Math • IXL • At first glance, IXL Math is a simple Web tool that makes math study fun. But at its heart, IXL Math provides a one-of-a-kind, individualized learning experience that satisfies the needs of everyone involved in a child's education. • For students, IXL Math provides: • An engaging environment to strengthen their math skills. • Opportunity to learn at their own pace. • Math problems that are targeted to match their personal skill level. • Question-specific explanations that enhance understanding. • For teachers and parents, IXL Math provides tools for: • Identifying a student's trouble spots. • Measuring a student's level of improvement for each skill over time. • Recording the amount of time a student spends practicing. • Fastt Math • This program helps students develop fluency with basic math facts in addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.

15. Fourth Grade Curriculum: Science • STC (Science and Technology for Children, NSF) Science Kits • FOSS Science Kits • Units of Study: Structures of Life, Magnetism & Electricity, Land and Water

16. Fourth Grade Curriculum: Social Studies • The Delaware Adventure / McGraw Hill Social Studies Series • Units of Study: Civics, Economics, Geography, History

17. Fourth Grade Curriculum: Related Arts • Art : Ms. Gue • Physical Education: Mrs. Sumner • Music: Mr. Jalbert • Technology: Mrs. Camponelli • Health and Fitness: Mrs. Guth • Guidance: Mrs. Sakers • Foreign Language (Mrs. Chang, Mrs. Cintora) • French, Spanish, Chinese, and Japanese)

18. Talent Development • All forms of self-expression that tap into curiosities, talents or deeply held interests, when pursued to excellence, are deeply nourishing. The goal of the talent development program is to identify and develop the creative potential of every child. • Major Features of Enrichment Clusters:--All activity is directed toward the production of a product or service.--Students and teachers select the clusters in which they will participate. --When possible, students are grouped across grade levels by interest areas.--There are no predetermined lesson or unit plans.--The authentic methods of professional investigators are used to pursue product and service development.--Divisions of labor are used to guarantee that all students are not doing the same thing.--Specially designated time blocks are set aside for clusters.

19. Band • 4th/5th Grade • Flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone/baritone, and percussion (xylophone and drums) • Pull out program • Students will be pulled out of class to attend two 25 minute lessons per week. Students are responsible for all material that they miss.

20. Library • We will have Library check-out during SSR (Self-Selected Reading) • Please make sure your child has his/her library books here on the day they are due

21. A.R./S.S.R. Each student is encouraged to take one personal A.R. quiz a week Students MUST bring their A.R. book to school each day Each book has an A.R. level indicated either on the spine, on the outside back cover, or inside the back cover. That A.R. level must match your child’s A.R. levels (each child has three levels at a time) An A.R. level of 4.0 indicates 4th grade, 0 months. If your child is not at that level yet, please encourage them to read their A.R. books often for their reading log at night. Ask them questions, also, as they finish their book to help ensure their comprehension. Students are to keep their AR log in their Assessment Binder and record their score after taking a test. I will then initial the log. The assessment binder will come home every Friday for your review. Once a student takes and passes 3 A.R. quizzes with 80% or higher, they will move up another level.

22. Homework • Reading and Spelling • Each new story, students will be given a Spelling Contract which also • includes their reading log. • Students are required to complete 4 spelling activities and 4 nights of • reading 15 minutes by the due date listed on the contract. • Contracts are to be turned in on the due date with all boxes initialed. • Other Subjects • Occasionally there will be homework in other subjects and this will be • listed in their agenda book.

23. Friday Folders/Assessment Binder Friday Folder is located in Assessment Binder Completed every Friday to keep you updated on your child’s behavior Indicates how responsible, respectful, and ready your child has been all week with home/class work and behavior (no reflection on academic grades). Please sign each week Assessment Binder contains all graded work. There will not be grades for every subject, every week. Please keep all graded work in binder. You will receive all graded work at conference time.

24. Report Cards Your child will earn letter grades on their report card based on all graded work. Grades are determined as follows: 50% - class work and participation (Formative) 50% - quizzes, assessments, and projects (Summative) First Marking Period will vary slightly in Reading as 10% of the summative grade is for the Summer Reading Project Please encourage your child to always do their best at home and in the classroom. 

25. Conferences • Parent conferencing will be arranged for the first two marking periods, the final marking period report card will be sent home with your child on the last day of school. • End of 1st marking period – November 12, 2010 • End of 2nd marking period – February 8, 2011 • Final report card sent home last student day.

26. Recess • Recess is provided daily. • Please make sure your child is prepared for outdoor recess. If it is going to be below 60 degrees, they must have a jacket to go outside.

27. Agenda Books • Assignments books are checked at the end of each day to make sure that class assignments are recorded • Agenda books also include the Flying High, Caution and Grounded System. Green, Yellow, Red • Please check your child’s agenda book to monitor homework assignments, behavior stars, and occasional teacher notes

28. Contact Info • The best way to get a hold of me is through email. Ms. Jester’s email address is: stacy.jester@appo.k12.de.us • Agenda books are a great way to keep in contact with me…remember they are checked at the end of the each day. • If all else fails…contact the school at 378-5288

29. Thank you in advance for your continued help and support. • I look forward to a fun, exciting, and successful school year!