FOURTH GRADE KERBY ELEMENTARY 2013 – 2014 Bill Pfeuffer WELCOME TO BACK-TO-SCHOOL-NIGHT

TONIGHT’S AGENDA  6:45-7:15Welcome  7:20 – 8:00 Homeroom, Language Arts, and Math  8:00 – 8:15 Rotate to Science (Room 10) to meet with Ms. Walsh.  8:15 – 8:30 Rotate to Social Studies (Room 11) to meet with Ms. Zens.

4 th GRADE TEAM CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT AND HOMEWORK Philosophy of Teaching: Positive reinforcement with high expectations Classroom Rules and Consequences –Kerby rules/color flip chart/ownership of room –DEBUG system –FISH Homework: Will vary  Forty minutes: math, spelling, reading/literature, book projects, various assignments (check planners daily)  Twenty minutes: reading at home every night

ACTIVITIES FOR FOURTH GRADE Student Council Choir Enrichment activities at lunchtime Safety/Service

Field Trips Lansing trip: Spring:TBA. Henry Ford Museum: “If I Had A Hammer” taken in the late Spring. North H. S. Planetarium.

COMMUNICATION Assignment books (Planners) should be signed/reviewed daily by parents. Weekly Report: Summary of past week and a look ahead to upcoming events/tests will be posted on Mr. Pfeuffer’s web page. Conferences: December and March. is most efficient. By appointment as needed. Phone calls, carbon-copy notes, voic .

Departmentalizing Ms. Walsh: Science (plus focused writing) Ms. Zens: Social Studies (informational reading and writing) and Spelling Mr. Pfeuffer: Math MTSS: All teachers Switching begins September 11th

TEACHER CONTACT INFO Located on Kerby website: Bill Voic Kristen Zens Jennafer Walsh

DAILY SCHEDULE: Monday School begins9:05 Announcements9:10 1 st Period9:10-10:00 Rotation to 2 nd Period10:00-10:50 3 rd Period10:50-11:40 Homeroom11:40-11:56 Recess/Lunch11:56-12:44 Tardy bell12:46 Language Arts12:50-1:55 Special2:05-2:45 Language Arts/ Wrap-up 2:45-3:35 School ends3:38

DAILY SCHEDULE: T-Fri School begins8:25 Announcements8:25-8:30 1st Period8:30-9:20 Rotation to 2 nd Period9:20-10:10 3 rd Period10:10-11:00 MTSS Switch11:00-11:20 Recess/Lunch11:20-12:27 Tardy bell12:32 Writing 12:35-12:55 Language Arts12:55-1:50 Special1:50-2:35 Language Arts/ Wrap-up 2:40-3:30 School ends3:38

SPECIAL CLASSES Specials from 1:50-2:35 Tues-Fri Special from 2:05-2:45 Monday  A DayLibrary/Spanish  B DayMusic  C DayGym  D DayArt Computer LabTBD

COMPONENTS OF FOURTH GRADE LANGUAGE ARTS Spelling Practice Grammar/DOL Reading Workshop Making Meaning Read Aloud IDR ( independent reading) Wordly Wise 6 +1 Writing Traits GP Writing Writing Workshop

Zaner-Bloser Spelling Program New spelling list weekly Sentences assigned weekly Puzzles/Games Alphabetizing Regular testing with notice (Friday) Spelling emphasized and assessed in writing projects SPELLING

READING Genres  Narrative: identify and describe poetry, myths, legends, fantasy, and adventure. Inferences and context clues studied.  Informational: identify informational text patterns in autobiography/biography, personal essay, and newspaper Possible titles we will read: Paddle to the Sea, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, The Westing Game, Mystery on Mackinac Island, and Because of Winn-Dixie. Comprehension assessed through written questions, discussions, and open-book quizzes. Reading Workshop Making Meaning Program

SELF-SELECTED READING IDR (Independent Reading Time) Teacher Read Aloud Reading At Home (RAH!) every night for 20 minutes Book Bingo: Bi-monthly book reports –experience different genres –selection of report activities –allows students to read at their individual levels –class presentations

BOOK BINGO Bi-monthly book reports Experience different genres Choice of report activities Class presentations Awards!

6 +1 Writing Traits District-wide emphasis on writing instruction Student writing improves when writing traits are used in a systematic way throughout the school Provides a common language for students to use to write, revise and edit their work Traits are: Ideas, Organization, Voice, Word Choice, Sentence Fluency, Conventions, + Presentation

WRITING Narrative: myth, legend, fantasy, adventure, poetry Informational: comparative piece, research project, directions, opinion, and letter DOL (Daily Oral Language) – conventions Taught through mini-lessons and conferences Writing Packets/Journal/GP Writing focus Pen Pal and Around The World projects Writing Traits –Ideas, Organization, Voice, Word Choice, Sentence Fluency, Conventions, + Presentation

Everyday Mathematics Materials Student Math Journal Study Link Masters Student Resource Book Geometry template Workbook stays at school unless assigned as homework. Homework book. Family letter and answer key at beginning of each unit. May be taken home for homework help. May be used for homework; one issued per student.

Math: Everyday Overview Content : Very challenging with differentiation options in all units. Focus : Meeting the needs of all students (Reinforcement and building skills and confidence, to higher/above grade level challenge—5th and 6 th grade material-- with no ceilings). Pacing : Brisk with a focus on spiraling coverage over repetitive mastery. Content and skills are recycled throughout the year. Less lecturing, more “doing” of the math. One section per day. Homework : Most nights, try to avoid Fridays. Self-corrected. Grades not issued daily, but credit given for completed work and selected problems assessed. Assessments : Frequent and varying, students will have announced mini-quizzes. Examples: Chapter Test, Journals and Study Links, in-class work and extensions. Hands-on : Students will need dry erase pens, calculators, flash cards. Keys to success : –Listen and focus in class –Participate in the learning activities –Complete the homework (and extensions) –Parental involvement –Math at home –Use Links and Journal as study guides for Chapter Tests. –Helpful Apps: Math Motion; WolframAlpha

TESTING SCHEDULE NWEA: September 10 th - October 10 th for Reading and Math. NWEA: also given in Winter and Spring. MEAP: October (2-3 day window)  Language Arts  Math Grosse Pointe Writing Assessment: May

MAKING THE GRADE A+100 %C A93-99C72-77 A-90-92C B+88-89D60-69 B82-87U59 B Current Report Cards : ES: Exceeding Standards: (A) MS: Meeting Standards: (C+ to B+/A-) AS: Approaching Standards: (C-/C) CA: Concern Area: (D+ and below)

CLOSING COMMENTS Please sign up for your December conference tonight using the schedules outside the gym door Please sign up for class parties and room helpers! We will have a great year!