Welcome to 4B! Mrs. Caterina Gabriel

1. Welcome to 4B!Mrs. Caterina Gabriel

2. Meet Mrs. Gabriel • 17th Year teaching 4th grade in NA  • Grade Level Facilitator • Graduate of University of Pittsburgh with completion of Masters Degree • Born and raised in Pittsburgh (Morningside) • Live in Shaler with my husband Jim and two kids, Elisa (7th) & Noah (5th)

3. …And We’re Off! Expectations of our fourth graders • Put forth their BEST EFFORT! • Don’t “rob others of the opportunity to learn”. • Come everyday with a SMILE and a POSITIVE “I CAN” ATTITUDE!  • Next to their parents, I’m their biggest FAN! • More responsibility & independence this year on the student! • Be great problem solvers! Set GOALS! • “M” word is NOT permitted in 4th Grade! 

4. Gentle Reminders… • Quick Links on the Hosack Webpage • Include Student Handbook (HES procedures) • Birthday Form • Thursday e-Blast • Hosack Happenings • Lunch Menu • Much more!

5. Gentle Reminders… • Walkers: Notes must be handwritten • Conference Sign-Ups (Office Foyer) • Clearances: “The School District is working on the development of a clearance policy for volunteers.  It is unclear what the final parameters of the policy will look like or when it will be officially implemented.  However, there will be ample time for communication of a final policy before it would be implemented.”

6. A Day in the Life of a 4B Kid… • Morning Routine Sheet • AM Work Folder • Stays in the desk • Work varies: Spelling and Grammar • Organization! • Expandable File • Daily file, subjects file, homework file, keep home file • Red Pen, Highlighter, Pencils,Pencil pouch • SSR, Read Aloud • Keep chapter book in desk

7. “Sacred Part of our Day…” • Assignment Notebooks • Homework • “Practice NOT punishment”  • Mailboxes • Webpage • Go to: northallegheny.org • Select a school (top left): Hosack Elementary • Building Staff: Gabriel, Caterina • Click on “4B Homework Page”

8. Reading StorytownSeries: Harcourt • Six themes; Spiral review of key skills • Study Guide-sent home Monday • Includes: story of the week, spelling words, robust vocabulary with definitions, skills • Practice Book Pages • Comprehension Check pages • Robust Vocabulary • Practiced all week, but must study at home! • “RV” Enriching Vocabulary page/reread story is homeworkevening before reading test. • Weekly Centers, Jeopardy, Leveled Readers • “Text Sets” Learning: Extension of themes/topics in our story • An additional way to help meet standards within the new Common Core

9. Reading… Reading Log • Read 5 out of 7 nights • Mark “off” on the log • Parent to initial • Due every Tuesday

10. Diving Deep Into Reading! • PURPOSE: to increase love of reading, improve fluency & comprehension • Read 25 chapter books • 10 must be “Accelerated Reader”-take quiz at school • http://www.northallegheny.org/Page/9402 : AR Book List here • 4 can be their “free choice” with a summary (plus 2 summer books) • 5 “Teacher Picks” go toward goal • 4 from books read for “Book Responses” • Track with a chart kept in school • Parents receive AR tests to sign • Earn “Fish” with 5,10,15,20, 25 books read. • Fun incentive at the end of the year!

11. Book Responses • Oral Presentation • Quarterly (excluding December) (Due: 10/14) • Self-selected chapter books • Taps into student interests & talents • Evaluation Sheet/Idea Packet • USE project to summarize book • Project serve as the “note cards” • Project is “interactive” • April-science presentation • May-social studies presentation • “Living Museum”

12. Reading… Reading Folder • Review work, sign record sheet, return promptly • Weekly tests and practice work • Tests: Reading (story test/skill test), Grammar, Word Work, Spelling • Cover Sheet included to show overall test scores, but input separately in TYLER • Comes home roughly every other week!

13. Grammar • Grammar Packets by Theme • Reinforce grammar skills via reading story and writing completed in that week(s). • Assigned as AM work or homework as needed • Grammar Test on Fridays

14. Spelling • Basic List (20)/Challenge Words (5) • Words introduced Monday • Spelling pages (3 + Challenge page) due Thursday • Theme Packet • AM Work • Test Friday • Cursive required- Practice for test at home • *spellingcity.com

15. Writing Writing as a Process… • Narrative • Persuasive • Informational • Reading Responses: PSSA practice • Poetry • Journals • 4 Square Writing • Reading nonfiction articles and writing responses about the topic.

16. Math • Harcourt Series • Online access from home • Workbook Pages, PSSA Workbook • 1 Subject Notebook • Lesson Work, Sample problems • Homework aid • Lesson Quizzes, Tests • Problem Solving • Placement is data driven and learning is differentiated/challenged in each class.

17. Rocket Math! • Grades 1-5 Basic Facts Program • Purpose: To increase fluency and automaticity of basic multiplication/division facts (4th grade) • Daily practice and quiz • Parent involvement important to student success!

18. Rocket Math! • Parent Involvement important to child’s success with Rocket Math. • Study with your child using the oral practice sheet • Practice sheet focuses on 3-4 new facts plus facts your child has already mastered • Use flashcards from the Rocket Math program • *Child must practice saying problem and answer

19. Math • Homework • 20 points each quarter • Deduct 1 point for late homework

20. Social Studies • Harcourt US Regions Text • Maps & Globes • Explore 5 US Regions • 5-6 lessons per unit • Chapters grouped (Ex: Chapter 1-2 Test) • Economics • Current Events: TFK magazines • Periodic reading assigned on current events • Learn US States/Capitals

21. Social Studies • Study Packets • Week notice of test • Regions Day (May) • State Reports (May)

22. Science • Mrs. Linda Kleeb

23. Science

24. Student Achievement • Mr. Keith Gillis • Reinforce reading/writing skills • Teach test taking strategies • Areas of focus are data driven • Extensions of Science and Social Studies • Everyday edits packet (grammar) • SRA Reading Lab (comprehension)

25. T-E-A-M-W-O-R-K • Clock Buddies • Group Work • Think-Pair-Share

26. Fun in 4th Grade! • “Happy Checks” • Student of the Week • “Feel Good Friday” • Peebles Pen Pals

27. AUCTION!! • Going once… • Going twice… • Rewards • Consequences • Quarterly Auction • Prizes donated…Thank you!

28. Rules/Expectations • Rules established! • “Care for Ourselves, Care for Our School, Care for Others” • Three Checks” system • Reminder • Warning • Behavior Slip • Golden Tiger Program • Ties into our monthly themes within Olweus Anti-Bullying Program

29. Band/Orchestra • Elective classes - not required • Students who are not at a rehearsal will be participating in extension/remediation activities and/or working on special projects • Students who are not at a rehearsal will NOT be scheduled for study hall-like periods • Additional homework possible on that night-please monitor child’s schedule

30. Band/Orchestra • Band and Orchestra students need to bring their instrument music every week. Chorus students need to bring their music every week. • Band/Orchestra Groups: Tuesdays • Chorus: Thursdays • Schedules have been distributed by Mrs. Funk/Watton and Mr. Novak • Students attend their lesson every week • May leave for their lesson five minutes before scheduled lesson begins

31. Communication • Please contact me to discuss any concerns! cgabriel@northallegheny.org 412.366.9664 (Hosack Office) Home-School Communication is KEY to SUCCESS!! I look forward to a wonderful and productive year!

32. Are you smarter than a 4th grader? • Your name & child’s name at the top of your paper. • Number your paper 1-5. • Get ready to earn your child their first HOMEWORK PASS! 

33. 4TH Grade Questions… • In a compound sentence, should you insert a comma before the conjunction? YES or NO? • What is the name for the largest of the 5 Great Lakes? • In which region do Alaska and Hawaii belong? • The answer to a multiplication problem is called ____________________. • True or False: The number 13 is a prime number.