1. Welcome to Curriculum Night
Mrs. Harmon’s 4th Grade Class

2. Learning Goals & Expectations
Common CORE
State Standards
Essential Standards
Alignment with expectations for college and career success
Clarity of expectations
Consistency across all states
Inclusion of content and the application of knowledge through high-order skills
Improvement upon current state standards and standards of top-performing nations
Evidence and research-based
Based on 21st century skills
Based on Revised Bloom's Taxonomy Higher Order Thinking Questions
Social Studies Themes
Science Concepts and Strands
Hands-on, real-world experiences
Incorporates 21st century skills

3. Common Core Video

4. Literacy

5. Writing
Students write for fun, write stories, write opinion pieces, write persuasive arguments, write in response to reading, write for sustained periods, share their writing and publish their writing.

6. Word Work
Students investigate the meaning and structure of words, and the conventions and forms of written language.
Vocabulary
Grammar
Root Words, Prefixes & Suffixes

7. Supported Reading
Teachers choose material for students to read and a purpose for the reading.
Teachers provide guidance in a variety of whole class, small group, and partner formats.
Guided Reading, Literature Circles, Comprehension Work, Shared Reading & Interactive Read-A-Louds.

8. Independent Reading
Students read a variety of self-selected texts for extended periods of time.
Students construct meaning and make personal connections.
Students share and respond to reading.
Teachers hold individual conferences with students about their books.

9. Reading - Info Students should read daily for 30 minutes at home.
Students should take weekly AR test to work towards quarterly goals.
AR points and comprehension % counts as two formal grades each quarter.
Students can still benefit from reading with an adult for fun, enjoyment, and modeling.

10. In Math this year we build upon many concepts which we learned in third grade.
We’ll use hands-on manipulatives and games to practice math concepts.
Focus on Conceptual Understanding vs. Procedural Fluency
Students utilize Standards for Mathematical Practice

11. Math Concepts
Operations and Algebraic Thinking (support mathematical reasoning, critique the reasoning of others, multi-step word problems, patterns)
Number Operations in Base Ten (place value, rounding, addition, subtraction, multiplication, division)
Number Operations-Fractions (equivalencies, comparison, common denominators, decimals, ordering, etc.)
Measurement and Data (metric and standard measurement of distance/time/volume/mass, line plots, area and perimeter, angle measurement, decomposing angles
Geometry (points, lines, line segments, angles, 2D figures, classification of shapes, symmetry, etc.)

12. Social Studies
In Social Studies this year we will study North Carolina history. By the end of the year, we might know more about North Carolina than you do!
Students will apply the five themes of geography to NC and its people.
Focus on Ethnic groups in NC & History of colonization in NC.
We will analyze social and political institutions in NC and the impact of various cultural groups on our state.

13. Field Trip to Old Salem Save the Date: December 13th
Focus on NC History and Settlement

14. In Science this year we will complete 7 units of study.
Forces and Motion
Matter: Properties and Change
Energy: Conservation and Transfer
Earth in the Universe
Earth History
Ecosystems
Molecular Biology
We’ll use a lab journal to record our learning and reflection.

15. End of Year Testing
We will have end-of-grade state testing this year from the Smarter Balanced Consortium.
Designed based on the Common Core State Standards in mind.
Dates and results - TBA

16. What’s new this year? New School New furniture and fixtures
New technology:
iPads in each room
Interactive apps – Educreation, Micropoll
Publishing apps – Story Lines
Presentation apps - Prezi
Apple TV

17. A few reminders…
We need 4 tennis balls (slits cut) for each student’s desk.
The PTA is collecting $5 for the planners.
Please join the PTA for $5 per family.
Watch for information about this year’s fundraiser from PTA.
Send a light jacket for the room (it gets cold).

18. Calling all Visitors
We would like to invite a variety of parent/community guests to our classroom this year!
Volunteers could:
bring a craft/activity
tell about their job/career
speak about their college
conduct a science experiment
share travel experiences
read to the class
Volunteer on a regular basis to help in class
If you are interested in being a classroom guest, please contact me. We would LOVE to have you!

19. A few pictures from this year so far….

20. And a few more…

21. Questions?
Thank you for coming!!