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Curriculum Night. 2013-2014. Welcome. This is my 6 th year at Patterson, as well as my 6 th year teaching 4 th Grade. This is my second year teaching CTA. Personal Info: Bachelors in Elem. Ed. from ASU in 2006 Masters in Elem. Ed from NAU in 2007 Kids (Owen 7 and Hayden 5 ½).
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Curriculum Night 2013-2014
Welcome • This is my 6th year at Patterson, as well as my 6th year teaching 4th Grade. • This is my second year teaching CTA. • Personal Info: • Bachelors in Elem. Ed. from ASU in 2006 • Masters in Elem. Ed from NAU in 2007 • Kids (Owen 7 and Hayden 5 ½).
CTA versus Classic Math • Uses Saxon Math and is 1 year ahead. • Math concepts are taught through spiraling. • To keep aligned with new Common Core math standards, supplemental material is used. • 4th grade students will be piloting a new district acceleration program. • Weekly timed tests will be graded. This is a separate line on the report card and does NOT affect the overall math grade. • Uses Scott Foresman for math, and is on grade level. • Math concepts are taught in overall units. • To keep aligned with new Common Core math standards, supplemental material is used. • 4th grade students will be piloting a new district acceleration program. • Timed tests are not part of the Classic report card. CTA Classic
CTA versus Classic Language arts • Uses Opencourt, as well as McCall Crabs. • Supplemental materials may be used. • Easy Grammar and Spalding is used to meet Common Core standards. • 2 Oral Recitations a quarter. • The Writing Road to Reading and Thinking Maps are used. • Projects are the same or similar. 50% Non-Fiction and 50% Fiction • Silent Reading Time • Uses Harcourt. • Supplemental materials may be used. • Easy Grammar or Harcourt is used to meet the Common Core Standards. • The Writing Road to Reading and Thinking Maps are used. • Projects are the same or similar. 50% Non-Fiction and 50% Fiction • Silent Reading Time CTA Classic
CTA Versus Classic Spelling • Uses The Spalding Method. It integrates, spelling, writing, and reading. • Spelling words are from the Ayres word list. • Phonograms • OPR & WPR • Spelling notebooks. • Dictation and marking. • Spalding Cursive is used. • Words are from the Harcourt text. • The weekly words usually have a skill or theme, such as words with the “long a” sound. • Weekly spelling tests are given. CTA Classic
Social Studies • CTA and Classic use the same Harcourt Social Studies text. • Supplemental materials, such as Splash! Publications are often used. • Lessons, assignments, and projects are aligned with state and district standards. • Quarter 1 Project: Salt Dough Map of AZ • Quarter 2: Pioneer/Western Day • Quarter 3 Field Trip: State Capitol Museum • Quarter 4: Famous Arizonan Wax Museum
Science • CTA and classic use the same Harcourt Science text. • Supplemental materials, based on the unit being taught, are used. • Lessons, assignments, and projects are aligned with state and district standards. • Quarter 1: Life Science (Cells, adaptations, resources). • Quarter 2: Electricity and Magnetism… Begin Science Fair. Field Trip: Chandler Water Festival • Quarter 3: Finish Science Fair… Earth Science (The Water Cycle, Weather, etc.) • Quarter 4: Review and apply The Scientific Method.
Homework • HW will take the average student around an hour. This does NOT include AR time. • HW is assigned Monday-Thursday. • Includes: • 30 math problems from the Saxon text. • Finish/Correct timed tests from the day. • Spelling • Either a grammar or reading assignment. • AR Reading if needed. • Long-term projects will require extra HW time. • HW is graded based on COMPLETION. There is a separate line on the report card for HW. SIGNATURES count as part of the HW grade.
Accelerated Reading • Students will take a STAR test quarterly to see what their Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) is. This is the level at which the student can successfully read independently. • I am somewhat flexible with this because of students’ interests and background knowledge. • Students will receive a Quarterly Goal. • Students will read books and test on them. • Students WILL be graded on AR, based on the completion of their goal, and their average scores. This does NOT affect the overall Reading grade. • AR Home Connect • My Expectations: Students should test on a non-fiction book at their AR Level weekly. They should continue to read chapter books of interest to them.
AR Incentives • Mr. Douwstra has made changes to the Millionaires Club. • Awards are based on word count. • 4th graders’ word count goal is 750,000 words. • Students will receive an award when they’ve reached ½ of their grade level goal. • When they’ve reached their goal. • If they read 1, 2, 3, or 4 Million words. • For the last 2 years, a 4th Grader has been the top reader in the school. Last year the top reader read over 6 million words. Can we do it again?
Read Hot Readers • 4th Grade’s Incentive Program. (Similar to “Rock Star Readers” in 3rd Grade). • Students will receive awards in 4 categories… • Word Count • # of non-fiction books read • Meeting their goal and going over it • End of quarter average score. • The difficulty for reaching these awards will change quarterly, so watch for the flyer each quarter.
Communication • I will e-mail 1-2 times per week with information that I feel is valuable. • I will try to send an update e-mail on Fridays in lieu of a newsletter. • When we need volunteers or supplies, I will either contact you via e-mail, or through signupgenius.com. • E-mail is the easiest way for us to keep in touch. • If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please come to me first. • My classroom phone number is 224-3672. It will automatically go to voice-mail and I will call you back at my earliest convenience. • Students MUST have a note, or I must have a phone call or e-mail if there is a change of plans for the way your child gets home. If I don’t have this, your child will go home their “normal” way.
Behavior and Incentives • We will be using ClassDojo, and online program. • Students will earn positive or negative “Dojo Points” depending on their behavior. • Points will be logged in students’ agendas. • A weekly e-mail should come to you from ClassDojo. • Daily Brain Break • Fun Friday • Tickets (to be drawn on Fridays for a visit to the treasure box). • Praise • Notes home • Phone calls • Special Treats • Etc. Behavior Incentives
Agendas • Agendas are filled out at the end of the day, reminding the students what their HW is for the night. You DO need to sign this. • Filling out agendas and having them initialed by a parent is part of the HW grade. • Behaviors will be logged in the agenda.
Field Trips • 4th Grade is the year that we study AZ. Therefore, there are a LOT of great field trip ideas. • The only way we can go on one or more of these field trips, is if YOU help out with Tax Credit money. • This is NOT a deduction, but is a refund. (Talk with your tax preparer for more information). • Singles can donate up to $200 and Married Couples can donate up to $400. • Make sure to mark your form for 4th Grade Field Trips.
Misc. • Online grade book: Infinite Campus • Math Book: PDF is online. • Website: Pattersonhttp://mychandlerschools.org/patterson • Select “Teacher Pages” • Select Cumbo • Website: Cumbo • http://mychandlerschools.org/page/19260 • Long-term assignments, oral recitations, or assignments that need an explanation will be posted. • I will try to put up the weekly HW.
Questions & ANswers • Thank you for attending Curriculum Night… • I’m sure you have questions… Ask away!