Welcome to Curriculum Night Mrs. Leslie’s Classroom 4th Grade

A little about me… 16th year teaching at Harlan! Live in Birmingham with my husband John and two children Shane & Amber. Shane attends NAU and Amber is at Derby. Enjoy skiing, golfing, mountain biking, kayaking, traveling and anything that involves the outdoors.

We are a TEAM! Math*/Science/Social Studies – Mrs. Leslie Reading/Writing/Word Study – Mrs. Abels Work closely with other subject area teachers – Mrs. Simonte & Mrs. Rowe

Classroom Expectations Follow directions the first time Stay in your own space Kind words, kind actions

Behavior Plan Encourage the Harlan Habits of Respect, Responsibility, and Kindness Oops Book Paws and Think reflection

Absences/Tardies If you are aware of upcoming absences, please let me and the office know. You MUST also contact the office/attendance line when your child is absent. I will do my best to gather work for your child for illness or vacation. First bell at 8:44 am, tardy bell at 8:49 am.

Snack/Birthday Celebrations Morning snack typically after math We are a Nut Free/Peanut Free room – please check the Safe Snack page on our Wiki Water bottle can be kept at their desk Birthday recognition/song Birthday recess May donate book/game to class in lieu of birthday treats

Study Hall At the end of every week we will have a Study Hall time. Students who have not completed class work/homework for the week are required to attend Study Hall. Students who have signed the Oops Book three times in a week will attend Study Hall. This is also an opportunity to complete class work, read quietly, or get a start on homework.

Star Super Scientist of the Week Each week a new Star of the Week starting in October May bring in 5-10 pictures to share Star student will be the Scientist of the Week – information will be sent home prior to this activity

Communication Student Planner Homework Folder – notes Classroom Wiki http://www.ablesleslie16@birmingham.k12.mi.us Email: DLeslie@birmingham.k12.mi.us Leave any urgent messages with the office

Birmingham Public School’s Fourth Grade Health Units of Study Unit 1: Social and Emotional Health Teasing and bullying Managing strong feelings Decision making and problem solving Conflict resolution How to help others avoid bullying Unit 2: Personal Health and Wellness Reduce the spread of germs

Unit 3: Safety Avoiding safety hazards Personal space and boundaries Appropriate and inappropriate touch Accessing emergency services such as “911” Seeking help from trusted adults Internet Safety Avoiding unsafe situations Seeking help if feeling threatened Unit 4: Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs Positive outcomes for not using alcohol

Unit 5: Growth and Development Puberty and development Personal Hygiene PE Unit: Nutrition and Physical Activity Benefits of healthy eating and being physically active Recommended food portions Restaurant and packaged food Reflect on physical activity and sleep routines Creation of a one-day food plan

Social Studies Geography Economics Government Public Discourse/Citizen Involvement

Science – Collaborative Groups Earth Materials Properties of rocks and minerals Slow change processes (weathering, erosion, deposition) Fast change processes (earthquakes, etc.)

Variables Independent (the cause) Dependent (the effect) Controlled (the constant) Creating tables Graphing results Relationships of variables

Environments Ecosystems Life cycles Food webs / Food chains Environmental factors Adaptations (behavioral & structural)

Sun, Moon, and Earth Movement of sun, moon, and earth and how they relate to each other Seasons Moon phases

Math I teach 4th Grade math in the morning and afternoon Main resource – Houghton Mifflin Expressions 5 Common Core Math Domains Operations and Algebraic Thinking Number and Operations in Base Ten Number and Operations – Fractions Measurement and Data Geometry

Math Concepts: Place value to millions Comparing numbers Rounding number Addition and subtraction with greater numbers Problem solving Estimation Multiplication with whole numbers Dividing with whole numbers Division and multiplication word problems Situation and solution equations Comparison word problems Multistep problems Factors and prime numbers Measurement in two systems: time, length, weight, volume

Math Concepts Converting measurements Perimeter and area Adding and subtracting fractions with like and unlike denominators Mixed number fractions Multiplying fractions Comparing fractions Equivalent fractions Decimals to hundredths Measuring and drawing angles Analyzing triangles, quadrilaterals and polygons Symmetry

Math Practices #1 Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them #2 Reason abstractly and quantitatively #3 Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others #4 Model with mathematics #5 Use appropriate tools strategically #6 Attend to precision #7 Look for and make use of structure #8 Look for and express regularity in repeated reasoning

Math Math Student Activity Books – typically kept at school Math Homework/Remembering books will travel to and from school Math Notebook may come home- notes, examples Please do not let your child go ahead in their math homework/remembering book Pages should be kept in the homework/remembering book Quick Quizzes throughout unit, unit tests Lessons will not always go in sequential order

Homework Mrs. Abels – Daily Reading / unfinished class work Mrs. Abels – Word Study Mrs. Abels – Slice of Life Blog Mrs. Leslie – Math homework, typically daily Mrs. Leslie – occasional Science / SS homework Please check Wiki to see daily homework! www.ablesleslie16.wikis.birmingham.k12.mi.us

Important Events/Dates NWEA Testing - Math – Sept. 19 –Oct. 6 River Rouge Water Festival field trip – September 15 Detroit Symphony Orchestra – November 3 Disability Awareness Day – TBD Music Concert – March 8 Morley’s Candy Factory - TBD Nature Center - TBD M-STEP testing for 4th Graders – May 1-26 Trading Day - TBD

Thank you for coming! Anytime you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me! If you are not receiving emails from me, please let me know! Room Parent – If you are interested be sure to fill out the form. Mrs. Abels’ room is up next!