9/2/09 Mrs. Johnson, Mrs. Wade, Mrs. Schaefer, Mrs. Nocente, Mrs. Mitchell, Ms. Floyd, Mrs. Yao College Gardens Elementary School 4 th Grade

BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT  Essential Questions  What instructional components will be present in our rigorous 4 th grade curriculum?  How can we work together to benefit all students?  We believe that all children can be successful. Our goal is to ensure that all students are taught with the proper materials and at a pace that is challenging to each pupil that helps develop their unique talents and strengths. 9/19/2015

Who’s Who  Mr. Ewald - Principal  Mrs. Rogovoy- Assistant Principal  Mr. Dushel- PYP Coordinator/Acting Assistant Principal  Mrs. Eldred & Mrs. Winstead- ESOL teachers  Dr. Hennessey- School Counselor  Mr. Cousin & Mr. Karpf - Art Teachers  Mrs. Meadows & Mrs. Dillon- Music/Chorus Teachers  Mrs. Moore, Mr. Wong & Ms. Rinker- PE Teachers  Mrs. Bryan & Mr. Hunt - Instrumental Music Teachers  Ms. Sateri- Resource Teacher  Mrs. Murphy- CI Coordinator 9/19/2015

Classroom Rules and Consequences  Ground Rules Respect yourself and others Be Responsible Follow Procedures Do our personal best  Go for the Green (green, yellow, red) — 1 st time- verbal warning — 2 nd time- move card to yellow/reflection — 3 rd time- move card to red 10 min. loss of recess and reflection — 4 th time- remain on red: 15 min. loss of recess, reflection form, conference with teacher, and note home. — Three reds in one week = office referral 9/19/2015

Mrs. Johnson’s Joyous class!

Mrs. Wade’s Wonderful Bunch!

Mrs. Mitchell’s Magnificent Students!

Ms. Schaefer’s Super Students! 9/19/2015

Mrs. Nocente’s Neat Group! 9/19/2015

Mrs. Floyd’s Fantastic Group! 9/19/2015

Mrs. Yao’s Youthful Group! 9/19/2015

Grading Policy  Homework, class work, assessments, and projects are all components of a student’s grade in each subject area. Grades on projects or extended activities are based on rubrics developed for the specific project. Both parents and students are made aware ahead of time of the requirements for the activity. 9/19/2015

Homework Policy  Homework and projects are extensions of school instruction and therefore an integral part of your child’s education.  Homework will be assigned on a daily basis (M-Th). —Math will be assigned daily —Reading for minutes (with reading contract) —Word Study-Words Their Way or vocabulary 9/19/2015

Agendas  All homework assignments will be recorded daily.  A responsible caregiver is expected to review all completed homework assignments and then initial the student’s daily agenda. Please sign every night!  Parents can use the agenda book to communicate with teachers as well.  There is a comment section provided. 9/19/2015

Communication Folders  Communication folders are our primary means of home/school communication. The intent is for you to be informed about your child’s progress on a daily basis. All homework goes home in this folder, as well as notes from school or the teacher. This folder travels home each night and is expected to return to school each day.  A list of ways to communicate with your teacher is located on the back of this folder.  Graded papers will be returned in the THURSDAY FOLDER each week. Please review the items in the folder with your child and have it returned on Friday (emptied and signed). Any specific questions can be directed to that particular teacher via or phone call.

Reading  PYP Units of Inquiry  MCPS Curriculum Guides  Novels, Junior Great Books, William & Mary Flexible Grouping We will use a variety of group sizes to meet individual needs. Whole class- for concepts all students need to learn. Small groups- for meeting special needs of all the students. Cooperative groups-for completing a common task. Literature Circles- discussing books on a deeper level Individual activities- for tasks focusing on special needs or individual choice 9/19/2015

Reading Goals  According to the state standards, students are expected to read 25 grade appropriate books over the course of the year. To track this, we require that students complete reading response paragraphs monthly. For these assignments, students will respond to writing with examples from the text.  We ask that your child reads for at least minutes each night.

Reading  Reading will focus on three different themes: —Reading to be informed —Reading for literary experience —Reading to perform a task. 9/19/2015

Writing  Students will be expected to use a variety of writing techniques utilizing graphic organizers to help facilitate. We will be introducing 6+1 Writing traits and strategies throughout the year.  We will be writing to:  Persuade  Inform  Express personal ideas

Math  Everyday Math  Flexible Grouping  4 th & 5 th grade Math Some topics covered: Place value Factors Graphing Multiples Graphing Multiples Fractions Measurement Elapsed TimeArea and Perimeter AlgebraGeometry Means of Central Tendency Function Tables Prime Factorization 9/19/2015

College Gardens Standards of Communication  Communication Folders  Daily use folder for notes to and from school  Homework will be kept on a daily and or weekly basis  Graded materials will be sent home in this folder or another folder on Thursdays  Newsletters  PYP newsletters will now include language arts, math, and grade level information  Math newsletters from MCPS will go home on day one of each unit on white paper. Math review letters will be sent home two weeks prior to assessment.  Keeping in contact  Understanding that time is limited and valued staff should respond within one to two school days.

PYP Attitudes and Student Learner Profile AttitudesLearner Profile Respect Caring Commitment Communicators Cooperation Principled Integrity Open-Minded AppreciationReflective ToleranceThinkers EmpathyRisk-Takers CreativityInquirers Enthusiasm Knowledgeable CuriosityBalanced Confidence Independence 9/19/2015

PYP Units of Inquiry  We have 6 units of inquiry that explore this school year.  These units are:  What? We Have to Share This Planet? —Inquiry into: Ecosystems —Transdisciplinary Theme:Sharing the planet  Slow and Steady Wins The Race —Inquiry into: Fables —Transdisciplinary Theme: How we express ourselves  How We Get Here, There, and Everywhere? —Inquiry into: Past impacts on the present and future —Transdisciplinary Theme: How we organize ourselves

PYP Units of Inquiry  Old Crusty —Inquiry into: Earth —Transdisciplinary Theme:How the world works  Wind Beneath My Wings —Inquiry into: Influential People —Transdisciplinary Theme: Who we are  We Are The World —Inquiry into: Impact of global influences —Transdisciplinary Theme: Where we are in place and time

Fourth Grade Team Website  9/19/2015

We look forward to a great year! 9/19/2015