1. York Center Curriculum Night
September 10, 2014
Mrs. Harty
The whole art of teaching is only the art of awakening the natural curiosity of young minds for the purpose of satisfying it afterwards.

2. Goals For Room 4
Goal #1: - Students will work to become more independent.
Goal #2: Students will strive to work to their potential.
Goal #3: Everyone feels
safe to participate and
take risks.

3. Parent – Teacher Communication
Communication with home:
Calls may be made home or s sent
Remind 101 for school announcements from our classroom
Class Dojo
Planners will have school messages and class work in them
Classroom Newsletters are sent home each Friday

4. We will meet students’ needs…
Assessments and observations inform the instruction delivered to your child
Differentiated Instruction
Support Staff: All children belong to all of us!
RtI- Response to Intervention
Small and Large Group Instruction
Student Interests
Activities and Assignments vary according to learning styles

5. English Language Arts Program
Cursive Instruction
Spelling, Phonics, and Grammar Instruction
ELA Test April
Mini-Lessons: Teacher instruction focusing on skills and strategies based on students’ needs.
Writing Pieces:
Informative/Explanatory
Narratives
Opinion Pieces
Research Projects

6. Reading
We use a balanced literacy program. This incorporates practices of reading and integrates the elements of phonemic awareness, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension in instruction. These practices include:
Read aloud – models reading for enjoyment, fluency and strategy lessons
Shared reading – strategy lesson taught to the whole group and then practiced
in guided reading groups
Guided reading – specific small group instruction based on children’s needs
Independent reading – students practice their reading silently or with a
partner
Reader’s Theater – students practice their fluency
50% of reading will be fiction based, and 50% will be nonfiction based. Students will be working on answering reader response questions using text based answers.

7. Mathematics
Our Mathematics program takes a balanced approach that places an emphasis on problem solving, conceptual understanding, and fact/computational fluency. Our units include:
Place Value and Telling Time
Addition and Subtraction – within 1,000
Multiplication and Division
Fractions
Data Analysis
Measurement
Perimeter and Area
Daily practice in fact fluency and calculation will be
emphasized throughout the year.

8. Monthly Country Study
September – Choose country and research the country’s flag..Patriot Day
October – Geography of country
November – Physical Features
December – Holiday of Choice
January – Food
February –Community
March - Structures
April– Economy
May – Leisure

9. Reasons for Country Reports (Supports goals for Independence and Risk-Taking)
1. Graduation Standards:
* Develops and expresses original ideas
* Participates appropriately in activities
* Expresses ideas clearly and effectively
* Makes appropriate/responsible choices
* Demonstrates consistent effort
* Uses time effectively
* Follows directions
2. Writing Standards
* Conduct research project
* Produce clear and coherent writing
* Gather relevant information from multiple sources
* Writes for a variety of purposes and audiences
* Revises and Edits written work
* Uses proper writing mechanics and spelling
3. Reading Standards
* Demonstrates literal comprehension strategies
* Demonstrates inferential comprehension strategies
* Demonstrates understanding of reading
4. Social Studies Standards
* Applies geography concepts and skills
* Describes the characteristics of different cultures and communities

10. Science
Science will be a hands-on exploration of selected physical and life science topics. These topics include:
Buoyancy
Magnets
Structures
Pollination
A problem solving model will be used throughout each unit of study.
Health
The health curriculum will focus on safety, healthy habits, nutrition, and drug/alcohol awareness (presented by the school counselor.

11. Grading R Please redo this assignment. All/most answers are correct.
I did my best.
All/most answers are correct.
I started right away and stayed focused.
I completed my work carefully.
√ I did a good job, but I could improve.
Some of my answers could be revised.
I needed some reminders to stay focused.
R Please redo this assignment.
Assessments will usually come home with percentages marked on them.

12. Report Cards 5 – Extends learning beyond grade level expectations
4 - Consistently & independently attains grade level expectations
3 - Achieves grade level expectations
2 - Frequently needs instructional support to meet grade level expectations
1 - Not meeting grade level expectations

13. Homework Procedure
The expectations for our students will complete approximately 30 minutes of homework a night. Homework reinforces concepts that are taught during the week or are being reviewed. Homework may consist of spelling, reading, math, cursive, or social studies, science, or ongoing projects.
Students should be writing their homework assignment for the day in their plan books. Please use these plan books for one form of communication because we check each planner every morning. Each child is responsible for getting their parent’s signatures on homework and planners.
If your student is struggling with some of their homework, please stop the homework and write us a note so that we may give your student extra reinforcement with that particular concept.

14. Don’t hesitate to call us or email us with concerns or questions.
How you can help your child’s education at home
Read the plan book every night with your child and ask
him/her to explain what the notes mean.
Look for opportunities to reinforce the skills and content that
we are working on in class through family discussions, trips,
home reading materials, and educational TV programs.
Monitor your child’s homework. Make sure that they have
followed directions and completed the tasks with quality.
Share with your child the things that YOU enjoy learning
about…Let them see your excitement about learning!
Don’t hesitate to call us or us with concerns or questions.

15. Birthdays Celebration in classroom Favorite Book Board Game
Donate a game/book
Choice Activity for 10 minutes

16. The Strongest Partnership…
Home
School
Working together for all children
Community

17. Announcements: Please sign in with your email
Please review the file folder and sign up for class dojo and remind 101
Please write your child a special note
Look for upcoming information on field trips as well as specific conference times

18. ????Questions???? Contact Me at: sharty@d45.org
(630) ext