4th Grade Kerby Elementary Ms. Kristin Zens 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 Social Stud.  8:00 – 8:15 Rotate to Math (Mr. Pfeuffer)  8:15 – 8:30 Rotate to Science (Ms. Walsh)

Ms. Zens Michigan State University –Bachelors in Elementary Education –Masters in Elementary Education with a Literacy Concentration –Teaching Endorsements: Elementary K-6, Social Studies (RX) 6-8 grades -Kerby Elementary School School Year, 4 th Grade -4 th year teaching within GP Public Schools! - 4 th Grade Homework Club teacher

Ms. Zens Kerby Elementary School –4 th Grade Teacher ( ) –All Day Kindergarten teacher ( ) Grosse Pointe North/South –Varsity Gymnastics (Assistant Coach) Defer Elementary School –All Day Kindergarten teacher ( )

4 th GRADE TEAM CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT Classroom Rules and Consequences –Student created rules “Agreements” –Color flip chart Consequences for poor choices “Think Time Sheets” 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 DAILY! 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 Planetarium: Aligned with Astronomy Science Unit (Winter) Lansing trip: April 14, 2014 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 Report: Summary of past week and a look ahead to upcoming events/tests will be posted on my web page and sent home 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 Located on Kerby website: Kristin Zens Voic Jennafer Walsh Voic Bill Voic

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

SPECIAL CLASSES  A Day: Gym  B Day: Art  C Day: Library / Spanish  D Day: Music 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 Approach –Taught through mini-lessons and conferences Narrative: adventure, personal narratives Informational: Comparative piece, Endangered Species research project, Persuasive, and Letters Poetry Daily Paragraph Editing– conventions, grammar

Testing Schedule NWEA: September 10-18th 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

Social Studies Switching begins tomorrow morning! Social Studies Alive! By TCI and Scholastic News Aligned to meet the State Grade Level Content Expectations.

Social Studies 4th Year using this textbook Social Studies Alive! By TCI –Standards based –Supports Multiple intelligences –Textbook, readability level, graphics ONLINE!!!! Look for your student’s code, coming home on Thursday night! –Projects designed for the students to apply what they have learned

Teaching Approaches Reading Whole Group / Small Group Role Playing Creative Simulations Group Projects Writing Activities

Topics: Many Hats! We will be wearing many hats in Social Studies this year… –Geographer –Historian –Economist –Political Scientist

Main Units We’ll Cover Geography (Map Skills) Government/Politics Regions of the United States (5 different regions) Economics

Tips for Success Discuss Social Studies and current events with your child, and listen to what your child has to say. Ask to see your student’s folder on a regular basis so you can see what they are learning and ask them about it. Provide a quiet study place.

4 th Grade Spelling What to expect each week… –Lists given Monday during Social Studies (check assignment book) Strategies, patterns, and spelling lessons will be taught during the Social Studies block on Monday morning. Tests will be given in homeroom on Friday and checked by homeroom teacher. –Test will NOT be in sentence format Weekly spelling sentences will be assigned and checked by homeroom teachers, more information to come later!

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

CLOSING COMMENTS Fall and Spring Conference sign-up will be ONLINE THIS YEAR! Look for more info to come! We are looking for bagel volunteers on Friday mornings! I’m looking for one or two parents to be my “Room Parents” this year. Please let me know if I can count on your throughout the year for special projects and parties.

Class Party Volunteers Please sign up (on the U-Shaped table) 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? It was so nice meeting you all. I am look forward to another wonderful year here at Kerby!