4th Grade Kerby Elementary Ms. Jennafer Walsh WELCOME TO BACK-TO-SCHOOL NIGHT

Tonight’s Agenda  Welcome!  6:45 – 7:15 Gym with Ms. O’Neil  7:20 – 8:00 Homeroom, Language Arts, and Science  8:00 – 8:15 Rotate to Social Studies (Ms. Zens)  8:15 – 8:30 Rotate to Math (Mr. Pfeuffer)

Education Background Michigan State University –Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education –Teaching Major : Integrated Science (6-8) -Currently pursuing my Masters in Education with a Literacy Concentration -Graduating this December

Teaching Experience Kerby Elementary –4 th Grade Teacher! –4 th year teaching in GP Public Schools –Student Council Co-Moderator –Michigan Green School Coordinator Pierce Middle School –6 th Grade Earth Science Teacher –National Junior Honor Society Co-Moderator –Michigan Green School Coordinator –Relay for Life Team Captain –Mentor as part of Positive Behavior Plan CICO

4 th Grade Team Classroom Management Classroom Rules and Consequences –Flip Chart Individual Behavior Management Students flip color cards for each warning given resulting in different consequences Everyday students will write the “color day” they had in their planners –Behavior Bingo! Whole Group Positive Reinforcement Walking in hallway, positive choices, following procedures Compliment Parties

FISH Philosophy New this year! School-wide character education program Series of experiences to encourage the following… –Be There –Play –Make Their Day –Choose Your Attitude

Homework Homework will vary… Check planners every night! Math homework just about every night Book Bingo project (or book review) monthly Reading at Home every night (20 minutes) documented in the Reading Log Spelling Test and Spelling Sentences due every Friday! Occasional Social Studies and Science projects, tests, and assignments

MAKING THE GRADE ESExceeds Standards: Consistently performs above grade level standards. Demonstrating mastery of the academic content at grade level and beyond. MSMeets Standards: Consistently and accurately demonstrates skills. Independently applies the knowledge, skills, and standards appropriate to their grade level. Shows evidence of mastery on multiple and varied assessments over time. ASApproaching Standards: Demonstrated skills inconsistently. Show progress, but is not at grade level standard yet. CAConcerns in the area: Needs considerable assistance and is performing significantly below standards. Struggles in this area; shows little or no progress. + area of meets expectations x needs improvement

Activities for Fourth Grade Student Council Choir Enrichment activities at lunchtime –Knitting –Yoga Safety/Service Homework Club

Field Trips GPN Planetarium: –Aligned with Science Astronomy unit (winter) Lansing trip: April 14, 2014 – Capitol Building – Michigan Historical Museum Henry Ford Museum: “If I Had A Hammer” in late spring.

Communication Assignment books (Planners ) : should be signed/reviewed daily by parents. “3 Strikes, You’re In” Weekly Reports: Summary of past week and a look ahead to upcoming events/tests will be posted on Ms. Walsh’s web page and sent home every Friday through attachment unless otherwise notified. Conferences: December 11th & 12th and again March 26 th & 27 th is preferred!

Departmentalizing Ms. Walsh: Science Ms. Zens: Social Studies/Spelling Mr. Pfeuffer: Math Switching begins tomorrow!

Teacher Contact Info Also Located on Kerby website: Jennafer Walsh Voic Bill Voic Kristin Zens Voic

Daily Schedule: Tues-Fri School begins8:20 Announcements8:25-8:30 Writer’s Workshop8:35-9:15 S.S. (with Zens)9:20-10:05 Math (with Pfeuffer)10:10-10:55 Reading Groups11:00-11:20 Recess/Lunch11:36 -12:24 Reader’s Workshop12:25-1:15 Wordly Wise1:00-1:50 Special1:50-2:35 Math Boxes2:40-2:55 Social Studies2:55-3:30 School ends3:38

Specials Schedule  A Day: Art  B Day: Library/ Spanish  C Day: Music  D Day: Gym 1:50p.m.- 2:35p.m.

Components of Fourth Grade Language Arts Reader’s Workshop Making Meaning I.D.R ( Individualized Daily Reading) Book Bingo Read Alouds Writer’s Workshop Grammar/DOL Spelling Practice GP Writing Informational Reading and Writing

Reader’s Workshop Begins each day with a mini-lesson focused on a specific reading strategy or text feature Followed by an Individualized Daily Reading Period of 25 minutes where students practice this strategy in their own reading During this time, I will be able to individually confer with students and evaluate their application of the skill Students will be simultaneously jotting down notes with post its throughout their text and responding in their reading journals We will be reading leveled books to accompany the Making Meaning program based on each student’s reading level.

Advantages of Reader’s Workshop Key word … Differentiation! Students read at their own level Student choose their own books Allows teachers to understand and connect with our students as readers. Students are spending more time reading Increases vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension Creates independent reading habits Teachers have time to individually confer and meet with students and differentiate instruction based on students’ needs Students discover the JOY of reading!

Leveled Reading Students will be reading at their own reading level -Studies have shown that the best way to become a better reader is by reading at your own level -Classroom libraries across the district are organized according to F&P reading levels - Students will be tested using the F&P Reading Level twice a year to measure progress -If interested in finding the level of books at your home check out www. Booksource.com

Book Bingo Monthly book reports –Project one month –Written Report the next month Encourages students to experience different genres Choice of report activities Class Presentation Folder going home today! First book bingo due on Tuesday, October 1 st… –Students may use a book they have read over the summer for this one. –Please treat this one as a practice!

New spelling list weekly based on pre-tests Tests and spelling sentences will be assessed or turned into homeroom teacher every Friday. Fourth Grade High Frequency Spelling Test –Fall, Spring Spelling also emphasized and assessed in writing projects across all subject areas Spelling Program

Writing Writer’s Workshop Narrative: myth & legend, adventure, poetry, personal narratives Informational: Comparative piece, Endangered Species research project, Persuasive, and Letters Daily Paragraph Editing– conventions, grammar Taught through mini-lessons and conferences

Testing Schedule NWEA: September 11-18th for Reading and Math given in Winter and Spring as well MEAP: October 8-25  Language Arts  Math  Writing Fountas & Pinnell Reading Assessment –Fall and Spring Grosse Pointe Writing Assessment: May –two practice tests in Fall and Winter

As a Science Teacher I believe… Science should be inquiry based Lesson should be hands on whenever possible Students should be provided with numerous experiences in order to build better understandings Learners should be expected to form explanations and to communicate their ideas to others

Science Three Units 1.Earth Materials 2.Solar System 3.Electricity and Magnets Foss is the science program we use –No textbooks! Research based investigations and hands-on learning develops thinking skills

Health The Michigan Model for Comprehensive School Health Education –Drugs and Alcohol Unit –Safety Adolescent Health in the Spring. –You will be notified prior to that instruction. –There will be a meeting to preview all videos and curriculum if desired –Mr. Pfeuffer & Mr. Masters –Ms Walsh & Ms. Zens –Usually first week of June

Class Party Volunteers Please sign up if you would like to lead one of our class parties. 2 parents per party… Responsible for: Planning games and activities Organizing food donations Contacting parent volunteers

Questions?

Closing Comments Please sign up for your conferences tonight using the schedules outside the gym door We are in need of Class Party helpers. Please sign up before you leave. It was so nice meeting you all. I am look forward to another wonderful year here at Kerby!