1. Welcome to Back To School Night 4th Grade 2015 – 2016 Mrs. Purdham Ms. Hetchkop Please feel free to sign up for a conference in the hallway outside of your child’s teacher’s door. Be sure to make yourself a reminder of the date and time

2. General Schedule 9:15Arrival/ Un-pack/ Morning Work 9:40 – 11:00Math 11:00 – 11:15Snack 11:15 – 12:15Specials (Art, Music, P.E., Media, Counseling) 12:15 – 12:50Whole Group Reading 12:50 – 1:55Recess/Lunch 1:55 – 3:00Small Group Reading and Writing 3:00 – 3:35Science/Social Studies 3:35 – 3:50Silent Reading/T.A.T./Dismissal

3. Communication Teachers can be reached through email, notes and phone calls Please check your child’s home folder, math folder, and sign the assignment book nightly Emails are checked in the a.m. and p.m.; please do not email midday about your child’s transportation or immediate matters, but instead call the office Other important information can be found on the 4 th grade website and through weekly update emails4 th grade

4. Organization Place for everything and everything in its place Assignment Book – sign each night, look for reminders and notes Desks and cubbies are checked on a regular basis Each subject has its own colored folder Please help by checking the home folder - clean out papers regularly Absent folders

5. Classroom Management We expect all Stone Mill students to follow the rules and expectations that have been set for them. Ground Rules Warnings are always given Check assignment book and/or email for comments about behavior Letters are written by students to parents and others involved Bullying Prevention Program Chance Store – Positive reinforcement program consistently used by all 4th grade teachers. Works like money – teaches saving, planning, decision making and prioritizing Students earn chances for bringing back notices the next day, work study skills and following directions. “Marble Jar” – the class works together as a community to earn “class parties”

6. Odds and Ends Birthdays Announced on PA, recognized in classroom, store bought treats may be shared in the lunchroom Summer birthdays are celebrated on a child’s half birthday Volunteers Room Parents are needed to plan class parties for Halloween and Valentine’s Day Volunteers are only needed at the beginning of the year for science prep but may be called upon sporadically for other tasks

7. Odds and Ends Instrumental Music Students are responsible for missed work because instruction continues Instrumental music occurs throughout the day on Thursdays Chorus Tuesdays 2:45 – 3:20 Due to high enrollment, no new lessons are taught during this time Memory Books Chronological record of student work and photographs from the year, creative outlet, also displays final copies of your child’s work

8. Math Classes are heterogeneously grouped To determine math levels the following criteria was used: - MAP-M scores from previous year - quarterly and final math levels and grades from previous year - pre-assessments given in June of 3 rd grade - principal and teacher input - performance on units from previous year Compacted Math Class – students were placed in this class according to criteria mandated by MCPS

9. Math Please be sure that your child is completing math homework nightly and that they bring home their yellow math folder every day Basic math facts should be practiced as often as possible - IXL.com is a great resource for practicing facts and other math concepts For further questions please contact your child’s math teacher Please email your child’s math teacher to be added to the math distribution list

10. Reading Developing skills and teaching students to apply them to all content areas Higher Order Thinking Questions Critical Thinking, Analyzing and Synthesizing Reading to Learn vs Learning to Read Emphasis on non-fiction texts Materials used to teach reading include: novels, expository text, read alouds, Junior Great Books, William and Mary

11. Reading Historical Fiction Realistic Fiction Informational Poetry and Plays Greek Myths Fantasy Biographies/Autobiographies

12. Reading Grouping is flexible within the classroom and changes throughout the year based on need 4 th grade goal is to read 24 books independently Students will complete a Reading Record to respond to the literature they have chosen - the Reading Record is due at the end of every marking period - please be sure to sign next to each book title to indicate that your child has read the text - Five Finger Rule

13. Word Study Pre-assessment given to determine current spelling stage 10 – 15 words are given each week from your child’s spelling stage Personal words can also be chosen from student work and content related vocabulary Spelling packets may be completed at student’s convenience over a two week period

14. Writing Every marking period contains one of each of the following writing assignments centered around a topic: Narratives Opinion Informative Student rough drafts will be graded for content, process and production (research), and use of language (grammar, conventions, and other skills taught during the quarter)

15. Science Students will participate in experiments and put the scientific process into action! Life Science Chemistry Earth Science Engineering

16. Social Studies Baldrige Classroom Environment Geographical Settlement Patterns in MD and USA Native Americans and their Regions Map Study Colonization

17. Field Trips Coincide with Curriculum 2.0 in the subject areas of reading, science, and social studies Parents will be chosen at random to participate from those that volunteer

18. Grading and Reporting Rubrics are used so that students know what is expected Informal Assessments are given throughout instruction Informal and formal grading will be used in the form of N, I, P, ES Grades also come from class observations and discussions Learning Skills – Work Habits and TASS (Thinking and Academic Success Skills) Check marks are given for assignments that are checked for completion

19. We look forward to an amazing year and are appreciative of all the support you give us! Please proceed to your child’s classroom to write your child a letter and sign-up for conferences.