Please find your child’s seat. Feel free to respond to the letter and look through their books. If you are interested in classroom volunteering, please fill out the volunteer form and return to me at your convenience.

On Your Child’s Desk:  Enjoy the letter to YOU!  Be sure to write back in the journal  Cougar Ridge Homework Brochure (green)  Volunteer Sign-Up (purple)  Directions for building eco-column (yellow)  Question Form (blue)  Feel free to look in your child’s desk  Conference sign ups will be on Family Access- I will send out directions soon  Parent contact form for room parent will be passed around…

About Me  Third year at Cougar Ridge, tenth year teaching  Love teaching 4 th grade  Masters In Education from UW  Philosophy: Every child can learn. Learning occurs best when students feel safe and a sense of belonging. Teaching should promote curiosity and the love of learning. Learning is social emotional as well as academic. I’d rather be a guide on the side than a sage on the stage!

To reach me:  Phone:  ○ This is the best way to reach me!  Staying Informed Monthly News Letter ed (additional s for reminders and important updates) Friday Letters Home from students (every other Friday) Classroom website ○ Let’s take a quick tour!

Schedules  Daily Schedule: AM: Math, Reading, specialist PM: Science/Social Studies, Writing  Specialist Schedule Every Week Monday: PE Tuesday: Music Thursday: PE and Music Every Other Week Friday: Library Art Docent program to start soon!

Classroom Routines  Classroom Jobs Every child has a job. Economy system Students deposit paycheck and either save money in the bank or get cash. Money will be used during to buy coupons, an end of year auction, and market day where students create, buy, and sell goods. Benefits of classroom jobs: Positive reinforcement / promotes ownership and sense of belonging Instills responsibility and provides “real world” skills and mathematics application.

Writing  Incorporated across multiple subjects. Giving students an opportunity to write for “real” whenever possible  Lucy Caulkins Units of Study, as well as teaching students how to Read Like a Writer.  Writer’s Workshop: longer pieces, focus on writing process from prewriting to publishing – mini lessons with conferring  Additional writing activities: Friday Letters Home, Caught’ya, One- day prompts, word wall

Writing Focus – Units of Study  The Arc of the Story (narrative): writing realistic fiction  Boxes and Bullets (opinion): personal and persuasive essays  Writing Through the Lens of History (informational): research based essays  The Literary Essay (opinion): writing about fiction

Reading  Balanced Literacy Program Making Meaning ○ Conference and Goal Setting ○ Focused comprehension strategy mini-lessons using independent, Guided, and Shared Reading  Fountas & Pinnell reading assessment biannually Book Room for leveled reading books  Novels – Read Alouds from different genres  Genre Wheel – Independent Book Projects Let’s look at my sample binder

Genre Wheel Goals 1) To experience a wide variety of genres. 2) To practice project management. 3) To practice public speaking and communication skills. 4) To practice responding to literature in writing.

Word Study  Vocabulary: -Students are taught how to learn words and how to remember words. -Strategies for learning vocabulary include : context clues, root words, prefixes and suffixes, word wall  Spelling: - Spelling will be integrated with writing instruction, with an emphasis on application in students’ daily writing. -Intermittent checks and observations of daily work conducted throughout the year to assess.

Literacy Goals to Keep In Mind  Reading Writing Connection  Various Genres  Practice writing process, but that looks different for each writer  Rereading  Richness of vocabulary What do readers and writers need? TimeChoiceResponse Environment where kids can take risks “Our children need real readers, not just correctors” –Lucy Caulkins

Math  Everyday Math: Issaquah SD curriculum A problem-solving approach based on everyday situations Frequent practice of basic skills, often through games Lessons based on a variety of activities: mental math, activities, computation, and problems that engage higher level thinking Opportunities for writing about math Curriculum is modified to align with Common Core

Math Lesson Overview  Approximately 70 minutes  Begin with Math Message (single problem/task related to the day’s lesson)  5 minutes mental math  XtraMath and Excel  Lesson/Activity  Math boxes (computation, incorporate both current and past concepts taught)  Help at Home: practice multiplication and division facts!

Excel Math (Supplement) Benefits:  Builds proficiency through spiraling of new concepts and review.  Variety of concepts and formats develop thinking skills.  Develops computational skills and number sense.  Student self correction feature

Social Studies  Map and Globe skills  Washington State Geography History Government Economy  Economy Trade, Commerce, Entrepreneurship (JA Biztown) Pacific Rim: WA & Pac Rim Countries

Science  Fall - Ecosystems  Winter - Matter and Earth & Space  Spring – Water Water Everywhere and Earth's Changing Surfaces  Scientific Process and How Systems Work

GLAD G.L.A.D.  Guided Language Acquisition Design  Cooperation, active learning, accountability, literacy, academic language  Visible Desks in groups Charts on walls  Not easily visible 3 Expectations  Used throughout the year and across all subjects, but mostly in science and social studies

Making An Ecocolumn!  Thank you for your help with this great investigation!  Cut bottles are due on September 29 th

Homework (See Handout)  minutes/night  Planners/binders  Reading: min a night. Reading log in binder  Math: Everyday Math Study Link, XtraMath  Homework is reviewed in class the next day  Reminder: Homework is extra practice and review- if your child is struggling to complete the assignment, me or write a note and there is no consequence.

Bookkeeping Yellow Slips – Communication link for parent, student and teacher Sent home on Fridays, please initial and return on Monday. Front and Back pocket of binder– homework and community information Friday Letters Home – Letter writing practice. Please respond to your child when possible Assessment signatures – Math tests and graded writing should be signed and returned… all other assessments do not need to be returned

Grading  Daily work Quality work is always expected Communicate my expectations to my students Students must finish all in-class work by due date (if not, it’s homework/completed during recess) Check for completion on the Yellow Slips  Special projects Rubric (given to students) Students self-evaluate

Report Cards  Grading System (1, 2, 3, & 4)  4 - Exceeds Standards  3 - Meets Standards  2 – Approaches Standards  1 – Performs Below Standards

Other Important Info…  Water Bottles – help us reduce waste  Individual and Class pictures on September 25th  Smarter Balanced Assessment: Online English Language Arts, Math  Online Report Cards: Nov. 25 th, Mar. 18 th, Jun. 16 th  Field Trips: Washington State History Museum (January) Olympia (March) Biz Town (May)

Thank You For Coming Thank you for being here!!! Remember leave your child a note! Leave Blue Question Forms on child’s desk, return volunteer form when complete. Sign the Room Parent contact list.