Ms. Austin’s and Mrs. Kiser’s Fourth Grade Class with Mrs. Teague

1. Ms. Austin’s and Mrs. Kiser’s Fourth Grade Class with Mrs. Teague Welcome, parents!

2. About Ms. Austin • My degree in Education was earned from The University of Michigan in 1991. • I have a major in Elementary Education, Natural Science, and Veterinary Technology Sciences. I also have a minor in language arts with a focus in children’s literature. • This will be my ninth year teaching fourth grade! My first two years were at Mary E. Bryant where I knew many of your older children. I am a member of the charter facility of Deer Park Elementary. • My Email melissa.austin@sdhc.k12.fl.us • Website:: http://deerpark.mysdhc.org/teacher/0100austin/ • Website can also be reached through school site. Click Meet the Faculty, select Melissa Austin.

3. All About Mrs. Kiser • My background • I grew up in Arvada, Colorado. • I moved to Florida to earn my Elementary Education Degree. • My experience • I taught third grade and second grade at Just Elementary. • The last two years I have taught at Deer Park teaching Language Arts and Social Studies. • The Fun Stuff • I have a 17th month old girl…Karlie, and another little one on the way! • I love relaxing and shopping. • Email: shawna.kiser@sdhc.k12.fl.us • Website: http://deerpark.mysdhc.org/teacher/0100kiser/

4. All About Mrs. Teague • I am originally from Buffalo, New York, but lived most of my life in Houston, Texas. I moved to Tampa over 4 years ago. • I have a son in middle school and a daughter in high school. • I began as a volunteer at Deer Park when my son had Ms. Austin in 2009. I worked in the classroom and found my passion for teaching.’ • I have a degree in business and a teaching certification in Elementary Education. I taught third grade for part of the year last year.

5. Welcome to Fourth Grade!

6. Grades for elementary school Grades for reports cards in elementary school are determined holistically in accordance with the Hillsborough County Handbook. They ARE NOT averaged. The grade book and progress report are simply spreadsheets to store data. The data helps determine student learning and guide education in the classroom. This data may or may not be used to determine students’ level of performance at report card distribution. Student performance in the classroom is highly valuable in establishing a letter grade. To help families understand potential grades earned in the classroom a progress report will come home at approximately 3, 6, and 9 week intervals within each grading period. Individual graded papers will be sent home with children for parent reflection once the teachers have reviewed the work with the class. We store most of the student’s papers in a portfolio maintained with the kids as major stakeholders. Parents can request to see the portfolios at any time, but many of the assessments are not released by the county for students to keep and must be kept at school.

7. Reading Renaissance Place (RP) previously Accelerated Reader (AR) AR is a wonderful evaluation tool, it keeps students accountable, and motivated through the year • Each quarter students set point goals, and challenge goals • Students read books and track thinking • Students then take AR test for points • Must be at or above student’s level or Battle Book • Score 80% or higher • First attempt to test on book • **If book does not have an AR test, they sign up for a conference (points will be given to add to their total) • 3 week, 6 week, and 9 week checks - if on track with goals, earn Book Nooks • Reach Goal –AR Celebrations **AR Home Connect

8. ReadingSEM-R • SEM-R is encouraging and challenging students as readers • SEM-R books are those choices that are 6 months to 2 years beyond your child’s reading level. A challenge book. • SEM-R books will start at 6 months above your child’s reading level and progress as the year passes. • This programs encourages students to get out of their comfort zone. • Students also make a Ranger Reading Challenge Goal that goes along with SEM-R. • Encouraged to read high interest books • Second quarter – Phase 3 activities to challenge students to take their books further

9. ReadingSpelling, Vocabulary, and various Word Work • Students will weekly be working through various activities throughout the year. • Weekly spelling or vocabulary tests are not given – they are impeded in the core reading/writing curriculum and in word work activities. • Assessment will be weekly on the various activities • Small groups will be formed based on extra need in these areas

10. ReadingOther • Library • Students have an assigned library day to go to the Media Center • May go before school any day before 7:45 • May choose from classroom library any day • Homework • Students are to read 30-45 minutes daily • Create a habit to become life-long readers • Page checks will be administered daily • 30-45 minutes total for weekend

11. ReadingBattle of the Books • Students are encouraged to participate • Highly encouraged that they read them all • Team is composed of four students that are selected via test scores in April • Suggested to read all titles and keep a journal of characters and main ideas.

12. Writing • Students will need to score a 4.0 to pass the FCAT writing test in fourth grade. • The test is typically in March and we will notify families closer to the time of testing. • To help students understand the value of the 0-6 grading system the state applies to compositions during FCAT testing, we will use the same scale and rubric for scoring in the classroom. • Students can retest in fifth grade if they do not pass the Fourth grade FCAT writes. • To help prepare students with the stamina to perform well on this style of test, Deer Park Elementary administers a 45 minute prompt write each month.

13. Math • Math homework is typically given on the first day of the week and is due on the last day of the week. • Homework is usually practice of lessons the kids have learned previously to keep it current in their skill set, not from the current day’s lesson. • There are three main assessments; mid-chapter quiz, chapter test, and performance during class and small group conferencing. • Mid-Chapter quizzes and tests are announced in the student agenda and posted on the website. Tests are preceded by the completion of a chapter review packet that will be corrected by the students and any red pen marks indicate areas they might need extra support with when studying and preparing for the upcoming test. • Both Math books are available online.

14. Science • Most Science lessons involve an interactive computer program or classroom investigation. • Students’ performance levels are holistically interpreted via classroom performance, with the occasional quiz or “tell what you know” assessment. Science Court activities have log sheets that will come home as a study guide once a science court test has been announced. There will be a few FCAT style Q&A assessments as next year is a Science benchmark year for FCAT. • Check the online newsletter for tips when studying. Most study materials will be written in student journals or from science court study guides. • The Science book has online access for home use. • Hillsborough County has made Science Fair a yearly event. The kids are taught lessons on each individual step, but because of the uniqueness of each project the trial investigations and craft portion of Science Fair will be created with support from home. Due dates are on the homework page of my website and in student agendas. They are all rough drafts on a sample board until the final due date is announced for competition boards. • Have fun with it. 

15. Social Studies • Fourth grade Socials Studies centers around our state, Florida. • Students will have several projects to complete at home throughout the year. The projects require some additional supplies, but are not extremely parent oriented. Let the kids have fun with it! • Aside from home projects, performance will be obtained via in class projects and presentations.

16. Classroom Community Our class norms are: (established by the students) • Active listening • Raise your hand to talk • Respect teacher/classmates/rules • No bullying • Be prepared Classroom discipline: • Students will receive a note in their agenda whenever they have logged a broken rule into the classroom behavior book three times within one day. • More than three of the same behavior recorded in the agenda during a marking period will result in a behavior indicator on the report card at the fourth occurrence. • A verbal warning is given prior to using the classroom behavior book. • Students also have a self monitoring system for line behavior. Should your child receive a check for inappropriate line behavior, they will lose a privilege. An example privilege might be five minutes of teacher PE (recess) time or center time for every five checks. • Students participate in a classroom economy where they can earn tickets • to exchange for items they would like.

17. Agendas and Report Card Indicators • Teachers will check agendas daily for signatures from parents. Due to scheduling, Mrs. Kiser checks the Austin homeroom and Ms. Austin is responsible for Mrs. Kiser’s homeroom. • A missed signature here or there is a mistake. Any missed signature will be circled as a reminder. And two within the same week will result in signing the behavior book. • Getting parent signatures is the responsibility of the student, not the parent. This is a first step of independence in preparation for the middle school grades. • Have your child alert the teachers of any special notes first thing in the morning since some issues, like dismissal changes, require organization time. Mid-day dismissal changes, please contact the office to alert us. • Students will record an entry in every slot on the agenda, except the parent and teacher communication slots. The slot will either have an assignment written in or state “none”. • If your child does not complete their homework, a behavior note indicating incomplete homework will be entered into the agenda including reading. Once he or she has missed an assignment during any three weeks of a single marking period, the fourth behavior note will result in a behavior indicator mark on their report card. • Students recording a broken rule in their agenda for any three weeks within a marking period, will receive a behavior indicator on their report card for that marking period. • School policy states that any behavior indicator marks on reports cards prevent your child from earning awards.

18. Homework • The Hillsborough County Handbook states that students may be assigned 45 minutes of homework Monday through Thursday. • Reading homework is between 30-45 minutes. • Math and Science packets are given Monday and due Friday to be completed at student’s own pace. • Please use the websites to verify homework and read newsletters.

19. Field Trips • We are in the process of planning a fun field trip this year! • The St. Augustine survey came home to assess interest! Everyone’s excited. • Planning is in the process, and more information will come.

20. Uniforms • Please review the student handbook for appropriate uniform requirements. • Uniforms are required everyday. The policy will be strictly enforced by administration this year. • Friday is jeans day, but students must still wear a uniform top. The top can be one of the sprit shirts. • Spirit shirts are for Friday uniforms only.

21. Let’s Have a Great Year!