1. Welcome to Curriculum Night
Grade 4
Room 147
Kerri-Lynn O’Neill
Please find your child’s seat and write him/her a note.
*Please remember to sign up for your child’s November conference if you have not already done so.

2. About Me
Raised in Newington, CT now live in Wethersfield, CT with my husband Tom and 14mth old daughter Paige
BS in Elementary Education
MS in Elementary Education
6th Year Degree in Educational Leadership
21’st year in teaching (14 in West Hartford)
Taught grades K, 1,2,4 and 5
District Wide Curriculum Specialist
Principal Reggio Magnet School of the Arts

3. Behavior Management
Student created rules based several picture book read alouds and class discussions
Logical consequences
Respect, Responsibility, Ready to Learn
PBIS- Positive Behavior Instructional Supports (School Wide Behavior Plan)
Tickets

4. SRBI, RTI, and Your Child
SRBI-Scientifically Research-Based Intervention is CT’s version of RTI-Response to Intervention
Use universal screenings (AIMSweb) to identify children in need of additional classroom support
Parents will receive copes of AIMSweb information this year
4-6 weeks, consistent re-evaluation
Student may require assistance from outside tutors (fluency lab, reading comprehension, Math Garden)

5. What are the Common Core State Standards (CCSS)?
K-12 national academic standards in mathematics and English language arts/literacy adopted by CT State Board of Education in 2010
Establish what Connecticut students should know, be able to do and understand as they progress through grades K-12
Will be fully implemented in grades K-5 over the next two years 5 5

6. How will the Common Core impact our work at each grade level?
Grade K, 2, 4
Focus on ENGLISH/ LANGUAGE ARTS with revised curriculum units this year
Student progress measured by unit assessments, classwork, and other classroom performance measures
Report card indicators reflect new standards
Current mathematics curriculum in place -- revisions planned for 6 6

7. Our revised curriculum provides:
How will the Common Core Standards impact what your child is learning this year?
Our revised curriculum provides:
Balance of literature and literary non-fiction
More time reading increasingly complex text
Opportunities for discussion/academic discourse
Wide range of writing tasks appropriate to purpose and audience
Writing to inform or argue using text evidence
Literacy as part of science and social studies/history with increased focus on academic vocabulary 7 7

8. Will your child take the Connecticut Mastery Test (CMT)?
Students in Grades 3-5 will take the CMT in spring 2013 and 2014
National assessments based on Common Core Standards are in design/pilot stage for implementation in 8 8

9. Read Aloud
Students can comprehend more sophisticated texts when read out loud to them
Introduced to different types of reading materials (Nutmeg Books)
Provide opportunities for student discourse

10. Reading Block
Picture books to practice reading comprehension strategies and response questions
Time for Kids and National Geographic to teach non-fiction reading skills
Whole group, guided reading, and independent activities
Story Town Reading Program used as a tool to address the Common Core
Independent Reader Response

11. Independent Reading
Independent reading is at your child’s “just right” reading level
Books used for Reader Response and other response activities in the classroom
Provides independent practice of reading comprehension skills and strategies

12. Math Whole group, small group, center activities
Pre and post test each unit to drive instruction and provide individualized attention
Math Trailblazers and West Hartford Objectives— aligned with State curriculum standards and CMT's
Basic fact practice

13. Homework 30 minutes of nightly reading
40-60 minutes of homework each day
Individualized math fact practice-15 minutes
Spelling words
Vocabulary Practice
Specifically chosen to meet individual student needs and abilities
Drives instructional decisions in the classroom

14. Homework Help
Provide a quiet, consistent place for homework to be done
Expect that homework be done independently and nightly
Check homework for completion at student’s best ability14

15. Homework Expectations
Competed nightly/weekly at home
Ready to be checked and corrected on Fridays
Neat and clean
Best effort and work

16. Writer’s Workshop Direct, guided lessons to teach new skill
Students given time to practice and apply skill in their own writing
Peer and teacher conferencing to check up on skill use
Process writing
Share with classmates
Writing prompt practice-timed writing skills, variety of genre

17. Handwriting and Grammar
Handwriting-Zaner Bloser Cursive
Grammar-Story Town Reading Program
Focused on basics of grammar instruction, sentence structure, parts of speech, mechanics, etc.

18. Science and Social Studies
Switch back and forth throughout the year
Social Studies: US geography, map skills, explorers, biographies
Religious Holiday- Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur
Science: water cycle, ecosystems, light and sound, rocks and minerals
Supported with content area literature at students independent reading levels

19. Technology Classroom computers Use of Computer Lab every other Friday
Type to Learn and SuccessMaker
SmartBoard

20. Projects Teach time management
Foster creativity and unique approaches to learning
In school and at home components
Book Cover
State Poster
Explorers PowerPoint
Biography Living Museum
Artifact Boxes

21. Wolcott Reminders Seasonally appropriate clothing Healthy snacks
Transportation changes

22. Field Trips Ecoventure Trips Westmoor Park-Freshwater ecosystems
Westmoor Park-Marine Ecology Trip
Westmoor Park- Field to Forest Trip
Hammonasset State Beach-Salt marshes

23. Questions?