Back to School Night

1. Back to School Night ECCA Fourth Grade 2012-2013 Tanya Dixon and Amy Guercio

2. Tanya Dixon • 12thyear for Eagle County Charter School EDUCATION • BA University of Sydney • MA Bilingual and Multicultural Education, University of Colorado EXPERIENCE • EVCA – Second, Third, Fourth Grades • ECCA – Fourth Grade • ECCA – PE and Music

3. Amy Guercio • 21styear for Eagle County Schools EDUCATION • BA in Elementary Education (English, Health Education), Western Michigan University • Masters in Language, Literacy and Cultural Studies, Boston University EXPERIENCE • EES – First and Second Grades • AES – First and Second Grades, Media Specialist, Computer Teacher • ECCA – Computer Teacher, Second Grade, Fourth Grade

4. Parent Communication • Email • Tuesday Folders • Hawk Talk from Parent Guild • Website • Report Cards (2x year) • Parent Teacher Conferences (2x year) • Hawk Trait Updates • NO MORE Phone Tree for Late Starts or Snow Days-You must sign up for updates on the ECCA website!

5. Drop Off and Dismissal Times and Attendance • Drop off is between 7:55 and 8:05 • Class begins at 8:10 • Pick up is from 3:25-3:45 • After 3:45 students go to after school program with a charge • Please fill out a form before extended absences. • Please call the office on days your child is sick.

6. Daily Schedules • Please check the website for a detailed list. • Lunch is 11:30-12:15 • GUERCIO – PE on Thursday! Library on Thursday! • DIXON – PE on Wednesday! Library on Wednesday!

7. Curriculum • New Colorado State Standards from Colorado Department of Education on CDE website – Mathematics, Reading, Writing, and Communicating, Science, Social Studies You can find the links on the website or just do a search of the Colorado Department of Education website.

8. Spelling • Spelling Connections by ZanerBloser • Daily Lesson • Daily homework, sometimes includes writing • BOOK GOES HOME EVERY DAY AND RETURNS TO SCHOOL EVERY DAY! • One pattern per week is taught (students must be able to explain that pattern to you!) • Spelling Test every Friday (Thursdays if Friday’s Enrichment is all day) • If book gets tattered from lugging back and forth, please use duct tape! • In about two weeks, we will have some students join a group called the Super Spellers. It will be students who have done well in the first few weeks of tests AND who spell well in their everyday writing. They will receive a list of words using the SAME spelling pattern but are more challenging.

9. Spelling Test • Please describe the spelling pattern of the week. You must write complete sentences. • Please give examples of words that use the spelling pattern and draw an arrow to the pattern in each word. • Write three more words that are spelled with this pattern that were not on the list.

10. Language Arts Writing • Thinking logs EVERY DAY at 8:10 • Various genres throughout the year • Many real life purposes (ie. mouse letters, interviews, ski racer letters) • Biography research and writing • Writing to reflect, writing to process new information, goal writing, not all writing gets published—120 second writes • Usually scored with rubrics • Grammar – Daily Language sheets • Handwriting – Handwriting Without Tears – one daily page Reading - Literacy by Design • 8 comprehension strategies taught throughout the year (see poster) • Vocabulary (2 per week) - master list on website • Whole and small group in the classroom • Small group flooding for 30 minutes M,T, W, TH • Every lesson includes: read, write, listen, speak, move!

11. Math McGraw-Hill • Leveled homework based on pre-assessments • Groups based on pre-assessments (might change from unit to unit) • Whole group lesson followed by practice and small groups • Small groups review previous night’s homework and preview current night’s homework • Will email useful, interactive websites as often as possible! • IF YOU CAN ONLY DO ONE ITEM OF HOMEWORK ON A BUSY NIGHT, PLEASE DO THE MATH BECAUSE WE OFTEN CHECK THAT HOMEWORK IN MATH THE NEXT DAY.

12. Unit Study Science ~ McGraw-Hill • Electricity/Magnetism • Energy • Classification • Cells (Plant and Animal) • Fossils and Evidence of Past Life on Earth • Solar System (not in book!) Colorado Social Studies • History • Geology • Geography • Research and Field Trips!

13. Homework • Read Every Night at least 20 minutes – parents sign planner, write title • Math – assigned 2-4 nights a week, sometimes a packet, sometimes a sheet given on that day • Spelling – 1 or 2 pages each night, bring book back and forth every day, spelling test on Friday • Occasional projects with longer timeframe (ie. soon an electromagnetic project!) Please sign!

14. Assessments • DRA2 (beginning and end of year, sometimes mid-year) • AIMSWeb (beginning, middle, and end of year and sometimes throughout) • NWEA (September and May) • TCAP (March) • Unit tests for Math, Unit Study • Weekly tests for Spelling • Some tests for LBD

15. 21st Century Learning Skills • Collaboration • Communication • Critical Thinking • Problem Solving • Creativity • Innovation We try to make many of our activities and projects with these skills in mind. We consciously strive to improve skills in literacy, technology, communication, and personal management.

16. BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) • In fourth grade, there are often times when having a device (ie. tablet, Nook, Kindle) with internet capability is useful. • We will have a form to sign that has these points: 1) Students may bring in devices, especially during units where we need additional research (ie. space, mythology) or for reading class or reading time. 2) Devices are kept in desks or in the classroom BUT ARE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE STUDENT! 3) Devices NEVER go outside to recess! 4) Devices are NEVER used to access games or be a distraction to learning in the classroom. DO NOT GO OUT AND BUY A DEVICE!!!!

17. Typing • We have a new computer lab teacher who is AWESOME and unwilling to spend time in computer lab with typing drills. Therefore, she has set up all fourth graders with a password to the online “Typing Club” program. When your child is sitting around the house with nothing to do, suggest this! (See username and password in your child’s planner.)

18. Classroom Management • Daily Colors (green, yellow, pink, red) • If your child gets to pink or red, you will be hearing from us! • Class Marble Jar – Gotcha Slips (from teacher to student or students) – Compliment Board • Hawk Honors Assembly—4x year • Consistency, all children can get all awards, authentic and every day behavior • Hawk Traits--Integrity, Camaraderie, Leadership, Growth, Work, Respect • Will be a K-4 celebration taking place in the Hawk Room (short format) • Hawk Trait Update (positive and negative, includes parent piece) • Ticket (administrative level and consequence)

19. ECCA Discipline Philosophy • To create a safe, respectful and responsible environment where learning can take place. • To put students first and use a discipline system that helps facilitate teachable moments with positive reinforcement and learning opportunities.

20. Hawk Trait Updates Based on the Hawk Traits: • Respect, Camaraderie, Work, Growth, Respect, Integrity, Leadership Positive: • Sent home for positive behavior that supports the Hawk Traits • Stored in each student’s Character Folder which gets passed on through each grade • Not part of the student’s permanent record or Warning: • Sent home for behavior that does not support the Hawk Traits • Stored in each student’s Character Folder which gets passed on through each grade • Not part of the student’s permanent record

21. Tickets • Based on the Hawk Traits: • Respect, Camaraderie, Work, Growth, Integrity, Leadership • Next Step in the Behavior Process: • Given for repetitive behavior where the learning has been supported in the classroom and documented through negative Hawk Trait Updates but has not changed • Major Hawk Trait Violation: • A student can skip through the Behavior Process for more serious violations. • Stored in Power School • Part of the student’s permanent record

22. Enrichments September – December • Vilar Center – Sept. 28 • Walking Mountains – Oct. 5 NEED DRIVERS/CHAPERONES! • Special Visitor (TBD) – Oct. 19 • Interviewing Skills and Activity – Nov. 2 and Nov. 9 • Denver Museum of Nature and Science – Nov. 30 • Skating (tentative) – Dec. 14 January – May Alpine and Nordic skiing, Local history day, Colorado Ski and Snowboard Museum, Local solar expert, Walking Mountains, Leadville, Sweet Basil (tentative), a day in Denver at the newly remodeled Colorado History Museum and Capital Building!

23. Hawk Honor Assemblies October 19 December 21 March 22 May 24 (tentative)

24. End of Year Trip • May 28-30, 2013 • 4th grade goes to Colorado National Monument with Meet the Wilderness/SOS • We will have a meeting in January/February with additional information • Start thinking now about if you would like to chaperone (It’s really fun!)

25. Snacks and Water Bottles • No soda! • Healthy snacks ONLY! • Water bottles go home on Fridays to be washed, water bottles must be closable!

26. Classroom Parties and Birthdays • Halloween • Valentines • Birthday treats • Please do not pass out invitations at school, unless all students are invited

27. GO GREEN! • We are striving to use less paper, so please check email regularly for newsletters and updates.

28. A Few More Things! Please make sure that you have received an email recently from us! Parent Drivers (check with Jen SassiSOON!) Medicine in school (OTC forms available in the office) Substitutes are now through ECS Volunteer hours – 6 hours per family per month – need fingerprints! Dress Code – Charter garb store open tonight! Visitors must sign in and out of the office! Green Flag Band starts in Fourth Grade with Mr. G.! (mid October) Breakfast With the News – October 26

29. FAVORITE APPS! My favorites! Spelling: US States: EVERY FOURTH GRADER MUST LEARN ALL 50 STATES BY JANUARY 25!

30. Thank your for attending Back to School Night!