Welcome!  Please sign the pink form.  You may respond to your child’s letter on the separate sheet of paper.

2 nd year at Lakeridge 5 th year teaching: Beaverton and Lake Oswego School Districts (Portland Area) Went to Ohio University Communications, Modern Dance Performance Served 2 years in AmeriCorps CalSERVES education program University of Portland Masters of Arts in Teaching About Me…

Got married this summer. Yoga, dancing, hiking, cooking, nature, music, sports, traveling.

My Teaching Philosophy based off of TRIBES and PYP IB [Primary Years Programme International Baccalaureate] Safe learning community focusing on: risk takers, communicators, inquirers, caring, open-minded, thinkers, knowledgeable, principled, reflective, flexible, leader and balanced [based off of PYP IB, Primary Years Programme International Baccalaureate.] I am big on incorporating becoming a strong “self-manager.” This independence is achieved through risk taking, communicating, and reflecting. I believe that my role is to scaffold students to uncover and construct knowledge through engaging, hands-on curriculum that addresses their specific needs as learners. Develop social skills, self-directedness, and a positive self-concept. I encourage students to be reflective of their own behavior and learning and set high standards of conduct within the learning community. I believe that building personal relationships with my students based on trust and mutual respect is essential to their success as learners. Create procedures and expectations that teach children how to treat each other. Confidence

Behavior Expectations  risk takers  reflective  communicators  Inquirers, thinkers  caring  open-minded  participants  principled  balanced  independent/self manager

Goals for Fourth Graders Growth in all curricular areas Organization and responsibility Communicating Curious about the world around them; inquirer Self managing and growing independence Mastery of fourth grade state and district targets along with demonstration of mastery on Smarter Balance

Reading  Building independent stamina and engagement!  Building a balanced and engaged Reading Life!  At home book projects  Wordly Wise  Spelling and Vocabulary  2 week cycle  Primarily homework, some in class work

Bookshop Common Core 3-5 Literacy Adoption

Why Bookshop? Research-Based Common Core Aligned Foundational Literacy Skills –Phonics/Word Study –Fluency Comprehensive –Whole Group –Small Group –Individual

Comprehensive Literacy Promotes Differentiation Word Study and Phonics –Foundational and language skills for proficient reading Modeled Reading/Read Aloud –Teachers model their thinking while reading Shared Reading –Teachers and students read digital text together to construct meaning and develop reading, speaking, listening, and language skills Guided Reading –Small groups meet with teachers to work on-level skills Independent Reading –Students apply what they are learning

Resources Leveled Reading Books for ALL classrooms Interactive Digital Books (fiction and nonfiction) Whole group and guided reading lesson plans Intervention tools for phonics and oral language Assessment kits

Professional Development Initial training for all 3-5 staff Ongoing embedded support from Mondo Bookshop Common Core Online support MISD Literacy Resource Teacher

Thank You Parents! Washington State does not fund curriculum as a budget line item 100% of this adoption was paid for by you through the Mercer Island Schools Foundation! Without our partnership with MISF initiatives and support in the classroom would not be possible Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Writing Writer’s Workshop (narrative, opinion and informational writing) Writing process “Stamina” Students are assessed on Common Core aligned rubrics: Structure, Development and Language Conventions. Instruction begins with daily targeted mini- lessons. Practice and individualized conferencing follow. Students will also be given time to meet with peers to process ideas and collaborate. Workshop philosophy facilitates individualized instruction while providing lessons consistent with CCSS.

Handwriting  4 th grade = cursive reinforcement  Automaticity allows for easier generation of ideas when writing, just as knowing your facts in math is important to problem solving.

Math Mixed practice with challenges (daily morning math) Computation (fast facts timed tests) Small and large group instruction Problem solving, computation, measurement, geometry, probability, algebra, and graphs

Social Studies Washington State Geography/Landform State Government History prior to and after statehood: Mrs. Melin Textbook and Hands-on Projects Field trip to MOHAI

Science and Technology Food Chemistry: Mr. Gugliotto Electricity: Mrs. Morrow Plants: Mrs. Carwithen Sound: Homeroom Super Scientist Keyboarding Practice Technology integration across curriculums

Homework Homework assigned nightly Monday-Thursday minutes of reading should be done each night No Reading Log Late work is completed at study hall (morning recess) Student communicating if no homework Math fact and spelling practice should be ongoing Math Facts: 50 multiplication and division in 3 minutes

Homework Schedule Monday: Read 20 min., Spelling and/or Vocabulary, Writing (due Tuesday) Tuesday:Read 20 min., Math (due Wednesday) Wednesday: Read 20 min., Reading (due Thursday) Thursday: Read 20 min., Math (due Friday) Friday: Spelling or Vocabulary Test (2 week cycle) The goal of nightly homework is to practice what we have been working on in class, time management and organization. Self managing: recording in planner, initiating homework, getting back to school, turning it in. May change based on in class work, etc. No reading log. Subject to change based on in class assessment.

Field Trips/Special Events MOHAI museum – (history and industry) Pure Foods – Food Chemistry UW Arboretum - Plants Toymaker – Sound

Parent Communication Friday Folders

Daily:  Binder and Planner  Water bottle  Healthy Snack  No nuts (tree or peanut) Need To Bring:  Headphones

Volunteering Room Parent: Party coordinator and helpers On Call: class projects, production Covering Writer’s Notebooks Field trip chaperones Sign-ups on back table

Thank you for coming! I look forward to a great year with you and your children! Many thanks to the PTA and Schools Foundation!