1. Miss Pender 4th grade Room 209 Sept. 1, 2015
Curriculum Night
Miss Pender
4th grade
Room 209
Sept. 1, 2015

2. Welcome to Back-to-School Night!
Make sure you sign up for parent-teacher conferences. The sign up sheet is located at the bean table in the back of the room.
Leave a note for your child. There are blank sheets of paper and pens also located on the table.

3. Topics for the Evening Include:
Introduction
Class schedule
Monday Folder
Homework
What If’s
Grading Scale
Elementary Progress Reporting System
Mail
Birthdays
Assignment notebook
Reading
Math
Science
Social Studies
English/Writing
Art
Technology
Classroom behavior
Communication
Orchestra
Band

4. Class Schedule Monday: PE 9:45-10:15 Tuesday: Art 9:45-10:45
Wednesday: Music 10:15-10:45
Thursday: PE 9:45-10:15
Music 10:15-10:45
Friday: LMC 9:45-10:45
* Lunch/Recess 11:55-12:40
* The children are encouraged to bring an extra pair of gym shoes for P.E. Their shoes may be stored in their locker.

5. HOMEWORK
Homework is a chance for children to practice learning at home!
Homework is due the Next Day!
If they choose to bring homework after the due date he or she will receive a late slip and a 5 point penalty. If they choose not to complete the homework, they will automatically receive a 60%.
Students who complete all their homework for the week will receive a positive reinforcement on Fridays.

6. What to Do If…… Doesn’t “get it”? Review notes from class
Call homework buddy
Ask you for help
Write a note/ BEFORE school the next morning
Takes much longer than minutes to complete assignments?
No-distraction environment
Parent “supervision”
Set a timer & allow mini-breaks
LET’S CONFERENCE!
Seems to be starting habit of late work?
NIP IT IN THE “BUD”! Let’s ALL conference immediately

7. Please help your child by teaching them to:
Mistakes are okay!
Please help your child by teaching them to:
Recognize when they have made a mistake
Recognize that EVERYONE makes mistakes and that we remember best those lessons learned through making a mistake
Recognize that making a mistake helps us to work harder
Move on by creating a plan to not repeat the mistake
FAMOUS FAILURES

8. Elementary Progress Reporting System
Report Card will be sent home three times a year at the end of each Trimester
Report card envelopes need to be signed and returned
The report cards are yours to keep

9. Be sure to return it signed the next day
Grade Reports
At least once per month
Some assignments take longer to grade & will be included on next print-out
Be sure to return it signed the next day
All late assignments need to be completed and handed in by the specific due date or the grade automatically becomes a 60%

10. Grading Scale
Fourth grade students receive letter grades in core subjects. The grading scale is as follows:
A C
A 93 – 99 C
A – 92 D
B+ 88 – 89 D
B 83 – 87 D
B – 82 U 59 and below
C+ 78 – 79

11. Assignment Notebook
Each student purchased an assignment notebook (Thank You!)
Daily check by teacher
Student’s responsibility
Parent signature is required daily

12. Monday Folder Graded Assignments Announcements Monthly Progress Report
Classroom Newsletter every other week ( ed)

13. Reading Schoolwide Reading Fundamentals – reader’s workshop format
Literacy Centers
Guided reading (Daily 5)
Independent Reading
Novel studies

14. Language Arts Write Source
We will be studying about grammar, mechanics, spelling, composition, vocabulary, and reference and study skills.
Writing will be an integral part of Language Arts. There will be many forms of writing that will take place in fourth grade.
Essay writing (Narrative, Expository, and Persuasive) research reports, and creative writing
Vocabulary Study/Words Their Way

15. Math Stepping Stones by Origo
Hands on experiences with manipulatives and visual representation
Conceptual development of mathematics
Traditional computation
Four Units of Study:
Operations and Algebraic Thinking
Number and Operations (in base ten and fractions)
Measurement and Data
Geometry

16. Social Studies The theme of our social studies book is Regions.
Units of study in fourth grade include:
Understanding Geography
A Nation of Many Peoples
The Northeast
The Southeast
The Midwest
The Southwest
The West.
Online textbook

17. Science National Geographic Online component & hands-on experiments
Earth Science:
Rocks and Minerals
Renewable and Nonrenewable Resources
Earth Structure and Systems
Physical Science:
Magnetism
Forms of Energy
Electricity
Life Science:
Living Things
Body Systems

18. Spelling Spelling and Vocabulary Test every Friday.
Students must learn how to spell the word and the definition of the word.
Word lists are based upon Greek and Latin Roots, prefixes, suffixes, and affixes
Spelling City

19. Technology Video clip Laptops, Ipods, Ipads, document camera, etc.
Miss Pender’s Website
Fourth graders will be receiving formalized instruction on computers in the Learning Media Center. Students will also have the opportunity to use a variety of technology in the classroom. (Power Points, Research Engines, Google Docs, etc.)

20. Technology
Use of the Internet by way of Internet Explorer or Google Chrome is available to students on school laptops and IPads.
Careful screening and bookmarking will be done by the classroom teacher prior to student use of the Internet.
The district network also has aggressive filters to block inappropriate websites.

21. Behavior Plan
In going along with the district values, students are held accountable for their decisions and their behavior through consequences. There are both positive and negative consequences to their actions and we have discussed both. Open lines of communication are very important when dealing with behavior issues, so I will be in direct contact with parents if there are any cause for concern.
Above the Line/Below the Line
Devil Dollars

22. Orchestra We VALUE music education!
It is an elective & students have to make up work they miss when they are gone. (While You Were Out Sheets)
Rotating schedule
Student responsibility to ask questions, get clarification, find out what they missed

23. Birthdays Edible birthday treats are no longer allowed at Seth Paine.
Non-edible items like pencils, erasers, etc. will be permitted.
We have 27 students in our class.

24. Communication Monday Folder (sent home every week)
Newsletter ( ed every other week)
Progress Reports (sent home monthly)

25. Let’s work together to make this a great year for your child!! Ants
Teamwork!
Let’s work together to make this a great year for your child!!
Ants