To be part of a POSITIVE classroom community.

1. Welcome to Open House! We will focus on an overview of your child’s life in the 4th grade. A little about Mrs. Good and Mrs. Murray…Please write any questions on an index card and turn it in to one of the teachers if we did not have an opportunity to answer it during our time together.

2. ClassroomGoals • To be part of a POSITIVE classroom community. • To reach academic and social levels to be prepared for 5thGrade.

3. Community • The 4th grade is a community. • Morning Meetings • RRC (Respect, Responsibility, Choose Well)

4. Daily Schedule • 7:15 – 7:50 Unpack, Morning Routines, A.M. Work • 7:50-8:10 Announcements & Morning Meeting • 8:10-10:00 Block One • 10:00-10:20 Recess • 10:30-11:00 Lunch • 11:00-12:05 Block Two • 12:10-1:00Specials • 1:00-1:55 Continue with Block Two • 1:55-2:10 Stack-up/ Pack-up Read Aloud

5. Morning Duties • Sign In/Lunch Choice • Read the board • Media Center • Morning Work • Time to ask for help from a teacher

6. Common Core GPS • Resources • http://www.GeorgiaStandards.org • Why Common Core? • Preparation: The standards are college and career ready. • Competition: The standards are internationally benchmarked, ensuring our students are globally competitive. • Equity: Expectations are consistent for all – • Clarity: The standards are focused, coherent, and clear. • Collaboration: The standards create a foundation to work collaboratively across states and districts.

7. Reading • Variety of text • Fiction and Non-fiction texts • Integration of Science and SS topics • Comprehension • Strategies: Making Connections, Visualize, Ask Questions, Infer (draw conclusions), Summarize (Main Idea and details), Synthesize (Bringing it all together) • Novel Studies/Guided Reading • Nightly Reading • Variety of genres • Reading requirement

8. To find a book… • JUST RIGHT*you can read most of the words*you can understand what you are reading*you enjoy the book (you stay “in the zone”)*you may have some background knowledge for the subject*you can read the book with smooth fluency but there are some choppy places*your reading rate is just right- not too slow and not too fast*you can figure out the tricky words and still get the meaning of the story

9. English Language Arts & Literacy • Language Arts • Grammar • Spelling • Writing • Narrative, Informational, Opinion pieces • Response to Literature • Authentic writing as assessments • Presentations (Speaking and Listening standards as part of the Common Core) • .

10. Language Arts • Guided Reading-Small group reading that is differentiated based upon readiness and interests. • Integrated Reading and Writing Workshop, Language Arts Journals • Integrated Content • Homework: Reading minutes in agenda • Sign weekly • Pages at home and school are counted • 25 books (75 pgs. = 1 book)

11. Spelling and Grammar • Words their Way-spelling program that teaches necessary phonics patterns that assists in reading, writing, and spelling. • Shurley English-grammar program emphasizing sentence structure, punctuation, and parts of speech. • GUMS (Grammar, Usage, Mechanics, Spelling)

12. What creates QUALITY writing? 1. Narrow your topic.2. Plan ahead.3. Provide and interesting, catchy beginning (lead). 4. Use descriptive words and figurative language.5. Have a clear beginning, middle, and end.6. Use a variety of sentence sizes.7. Don’t use DEAD words.8. Provide a satisfying conclusion and a sense of closure.9. Stay on topic.10. Proofread and REVISE. 11. Edit!12. “Show” don’t “tell”.13. Exclude extraneous details. 14. When you are done, you have just begun!

13. Math • Standards: • Number sense • Problem solving • Fractions • Multiplication and division • Multiplication facts • Guided Math and Centers • Integrated writing and reading • Homework nightly • Math journal

14. Science, Social Studies and Health Focus is on history and our country’s origins Integrated with Language Arts Fire Safety Program (health unit) Youth Museum field trip Watershed Program (water cycle and ecosystems) HTHT

15. Science *Shared by the Instructional Pairs • Water and Weather • Force and Motion • Light • Sound • Stars and Star Patterns • Earth, Moon, and Solar System • Ecosystems • Protective Adaptations

16. Social Studies *Shared by the Instructional Pairs • Map and Globe skills-throughout the year • Economics Basics • Maps and Globes Skills • Native Cultures • Early Explorers • Colonization • American Revolution • The New Nation • Western Expansion • Reform Movements

17. HEALTH: • Nutrition/Personal Health • Emotional/Mental Health • Medicine Safety • Disease Prevention • Growth and Development • Personal Safety Please go to the Cobb County website to get a more detailed description of the curriculum. Go to: www.cobbk12.org

18. Pyramid of Interventions Tier 4: Specially Designed Instruction – Special Education 5% • Tier 3: Intensive • Interventions - SST • Individualized – refine and intensify • More indepth assessment & • data analysis • Strategies & interventions • tailored to specific needs • Consideration for referral to special education and/other programs only when data indicates a need 15% of students respond • Tier 2: Targeted Interventions • Tier 1 + more “TLC” • Standard intervention protocols • Problem solving process & data analysis • Tailored to student needs • Enhanced opportunities for extended learning • Targeted small groups and selected individuals • Includes more frequent progress monitoring • Planned to address developmental domains (academic, communication/language, social/emotional, etc.) 80% of students respond to Tier 1 & 2 • Tier 1: Performance Based Instruction for ALL students: • Standards based curriculum • Research-based practices and strategies • Differentiated instruction • Effective classroom management • Guided by progress monitoring and balanced assessment • Planned to address developmental domains (academic, communication/language, social/emotional, etc.)

19. Adjusting to Fourth Grade • Binders • Note taking • GRADING SCALE:A: 90-100%B: 80-89%C: 74-79%D: 70-73%F: 0-69% • Synergy: Sign up in the office after our presentation • Many different types of activities and grades given. • Look for a study guide or review sheet for social science. • Correct, sign and return papers below an 80% “One of most common mistakes parents make, is to want to make everything easy for their children. It’s painful for parents to see their children struggle. If children never do anything difficult, however, they never learn that they can successfully meet a challenge” (Hamilton)

20. Homework • 40 minutes of homework may be assigned nightly, not including • Reading nightly • Studying for a test • Completing a project • Quality not quantity • Homework is not completed for a subject grade, but it is part of the work/study grade on the report card. Students will go to study hall to complete what was not completed for homework.

21. Classwork • Classwork should be completed when assigned (including morning work). • Additional time may be given throughout the day. • Cursive/print • Unfinished classwork will be marked as “finish” in the agenda. • All classwork can be collected for a grade. • Late work may be accepted, but only for partial credit.

22. 2 Way Communication • Agenda • Academic Updates • Sent home at the 4 1/2 week mark, if necessary • No news is good news! • Synergy • Weekly Newsletters • The best way to contact us is through E-mail:Carianne.good@cobbk12.org Kathryn.Murray@cobbk12.org • Class Blog: • http://vaughanrockets.typepad.com/carianne_good/ • PTSA Mail Chimp • Friday Folders Name: _________________________________________________

23. Agenda/RRC • Signature required nightly-responsibility of the student • Students are responsible for completely writing what is assigned on the agenda. • Consequences and Rewards for Behavior/Work Study Habits • Classroom money and/or other positive incentives throughout the week

24. Activities • Social Studies Weekly • Field Trips- • Cobb Youth Museum in January • Fire Safety • In House: Watershed Program and HTHT • Conferences: The week of October 20th-24th

25. Mini-Economy Purpose: • Provide meaningful instruction on economics • Provide a student-centered form of classroom management • Real-life math skills In the Classroom: • Every student has a job • Students are paid a salary of $1.00 a day • Students pay fines • Students receive bonuses Parent Involvement: • Reinforce use of money at home

26. Rewards • Hot chocolate • PJ Day • Wear hard bottom slippers • Bringing in a stuffed animal • Homework pass • Lunch in the room • Skip morning work and play games • Wear a hat in our classroom (other than Friday RFL days) • Monthly grade level activities • Etc.

29. Our instructional time begins at 7:50. Please make every effort to have your child to school on time. • Send in a note after an absence. • You can prepay for lunch by the week or month • You may send in birthday snacks. • Make sure attire is appropriate • Check the newsletter weekly for information • Sign Agenda nightly • Make sure your child is reading almost everyday • Don’t e-mail a change of transportation…not reliable • Communicate with us…PLEASE!

30. HELP NEEDED~ • hot chocolate • Styrofoam cups • Plastic utensils • Light bulbs • Snacks • Monthly rewards

31. Introducing…

32. Thank you for being here tonight. We look forward to working towards your child’s success with you! Go to the office to sign up for synergy “It’s a funny thing about life; if you refuse to accept anything but the bests, you very often get it.” (Maugham)