1. Kerby Elementary 2014-2015 Mrs. Jennafer Valgoi
Welcome to
Fourth Grade!
Kerby Elementary
Mrs. Jennafer Valgoi

2. Tonight’s Agenda 6:45 – 7:15 Gym with Mrs. Delgado
7:20 – 8:00 Homeroom with Mrs. Valgoi
8:00 – 8:15 Math with Mr. Pfeuffer

3. Michigan State University
Education Background
Michigan State University
Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education
Teaching Major: Integrated Science (6-8)
Masters in Education with a Literacy Concentration

4. Teaching Experience Kerby Elementary Pierce Middle School
4th Grade Teacher! 
5th year teaching in GP Public Schools
Student Council Co-Moderator
Pierce Middle School
6th Grade Earth Science Teacher
National Junior Honor Society Co-Moderator
Michigan Green School Coordinator
Relay for Life Team Captain
Mentor as part of Positive Behavior Plan CICO

5. 4th Grade Team Classroom Management
Classroom Rules and Consequences
Flip Chart
Individual Behavior Management
Students flip color cards for each warning given resulting in different consequences
“Think it Through” Sheets
Everyday students will write the “color day” they had in their planners
Behavior Bingo!
Whole Group Positive Reinforcement
Walking in hallway, positive choices, following procedures
Compliment Parties

6. FISH Philosophy Be There Play Make Their Day Choose Your Attitude
School-wide character education program
Series of experiences and lessons to encourage the following…
Be There
Play
Make Their Day
Choose Your Attitude

7. Homework Homework will vary… Check planners every night!
Math homework just about every night
Book Bingo project (or book review) monthly
Reading at Home every night (20 minutes) documented in the Reading Log
Spelling Test and Spelling Sentences due every Friday!
Occasional Social Studies and Science projects, tests, and assignments

8. + area of strength @ meets expectations x needs improvement
Making the Grade
ES Exceeds Standards: Consistently performs above grade level standards. Demonstrating mastery of the academic content at grade level and beyond.
MS Meets Standards: Consistently and accurately demonstrates skills. Independently applies the knowledge, skills, and standards appropriate to their grade level. Shows evidence of mastery on multiple and varied assessments over time.
AS Approaching Standards: Demonstrated skills inconsistently. Show progress, but is not at grade level standard yet.
CA Concerns in the area: Needs considerable assistance and is performing significantly below standards. Struggles in this area; shows little or no progress.
+ area of strength @ meets expectations x needs improvement

9. Data Notebooks Coming soon…. What’s inside a data notebook?
Goal Setting Sheets
Graded Assessments
Graphs to interpret results and track growth
Parent communication
Why use a data notebook?
Empower students- hold students accountable for their learning
Provide Feedback
Helps students manage their learning- designed to allow students to see short-term gains, to help motivate towards long-term goals.

10. Activities for Fourth Graders
Student Council
Safety/Service
Choir
Enrichment activities at lunchtime
Knitting
Yoga
Crafts

11. Field Trips GPN Planetarium: Lansing trip: October 16th
Aligned with Science Astronomy unit (winter)
Lansing trip: October 16th
Capitol Building
Michigan Historical Museum
Henry Ford Museum:
“If I Had A Hammer” program
Late Spring

12. Communication Email is preferred
Planners: should be signed/reviewed daily by parents.
“3 Strikes, You’re In”
Weekly Reports: Summary of past week and a look ahead to upcoming events/tests will be posted on my web page and sent home every Friday through attachment unless otherwise notified.
Conferences: November 12th and 13th and again March 25th & 26th
is preferred

13. Remind101 Safe & Simple way to send reminders via text messaging
All phone numbers are kept private
Messaging is one-way only.
Great for quick reminders!

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15. Also Located on Kerby website:
Teacher Contact Info
Also Located on Kerby website:
Jennafer Valgoi
Voic
Bill Pfeuffer
Voic

16. Specials Schedule B Day: Library/ Spanish C Day: Music D Day: Art
A Day: Gym
B Day: Library/ Spanish
C Day: Music
D Day: Art
1:50p.m.- 2:35p.m.

17. Daily Schedule: Tues-Fri
School begins 8:20
Morning Meeting 8:25-8:35
Writer’s Workshop 8:35-9:20
Math (with Pfeuffer) 9:25-10:15
Recess 10:20-10:40
Science 10:45-11:36
Recess/Lunch 11:36 -12:24
Reader’s Workshop 12:25-1:25
Planners/Math Boxes 1:25-1:50
Special 1:50-2:35
Social Studies 2:40-3:25
Pack up 3:25-3:30
School ends 3:38

18. Departmentalizing
Ms. Walsh: Science
Mr. Pfeuffer: Math

19. Fourth Grade Language Arts
Reader’s Workshop
Making Meaning
I.D.R
(Individualized Daily Reading)
Book Bingo
Read Alouds
Writer’s Workshop
Grammar/DOL
Spelling
GP Writing
Informational Reading and Writing

20. Reader’s Workshop
Begins each day with a mini-lesson focused on a specific reading strategy or text feature
Followed by an Individualized Daily Reading Period of 25 minutes where students practice this strategy in their own reading
During this time, I will be able to individually confer with students and evaluate their application of the skill
Guided Reading Groups
We will be reading leveled books to accompany the Making Meaning program based on each student’s reading level.

21. Advantages of Reader’s Workshop
Key word… Differentiation!
Students read at their own level
Student choose their own books
Allows teachers to understand and connect with our students as readers.
Students are spending more time reading
Increases vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension
Creates independent reading habits
Teachers have time to individually confer and meet with students and differentiate instruction based on students’ needs
Students discover the JOY of reading!

22. Students will be reading at their own reading levels
Leveled Reading
Students will be reading at their own reading levels
Studies have shown that the best way to become a better reader is by reading at your own level
Classroom libraries across the district are organized according to F&P reading levels
Students will be tested using the F&P Reading Assessment twice a year to measure progress
If interested in finding the level of books at your home check out

23. Book Bingo Monthly book reports
Project one month
Written Report the next month
Encourages students to experience different genres
Choice of report activities
Class Presentation
Folder going home today
First book bingo due on September 29th
Students may use a book they have read over the summer for this one.
Please treat this one as a practice!

24. Spelling New spelling lists weekly based on pre-test scores
Tests and spelling sentences will be assessed or turned into homeroom teacher every Friday.
Fourth Grade High Frequency Spelling Test
Fall, Spring
Spelling also emphasized and assessed in writing projects across all subject areas

25. Writer’s Workshop Taught through mini-lessons and writing conferences
Main writing units in 4th Grade
Personal Narratives
Persuasive Essays
Poetry
Informational

26. As a Science Teacher I believe… Science should be inquiry based
Lesson should be hands on whenever possible
Students should be provided with numerous experiences in order to build better understandings
Learners should be expected to form explanations and to communicate their ideas to others

27. Science Three Units Earth Materials Solar System
Electricity and Magnets
Foss is the science program we use
No textbooks!
Folders are best study tool
Research based investigations and hands-on learning

28. Social Studies Social Studies Alive! By TCI
Exploring the different regions
of our country
Studying our government and how a democracy works.
Tie in current events & informational reading with Scholastic News.
Students will have usernames and passwords to access the online textbook at home.

29. Health The Michigan Model for Comprehensive School Health Education
Drugs and Alcohol Unit
Safety Unit
Adolescent Health in the Spring
There will be a meeting to preview all videos and curriculum prior instruction, if desired.
Puberty, Hygiene, Friendships
Boys instruction- Mr. Pfeuffer & Mr. Masters
Girls’ Instruction- Mrs. Valgoi & Ms. Zens
Usually first week of June

30. Testing Schedule NWEA: September 11-18th for Reading and Math
given in Winter and Spring as well
State Assessment: Science, Reading, Math
Given in the Spring
Fountas & Pinnell Reading Assessment
Fall and Spring
Grosse Pointe Writing Assessment: May
two practice tests in Fall and Winter

31. Volunteer Opportunities
Lead a class party
Sign up to be a lunch/recess volunteer
Volunteer to pick up the bagels for our Friday bagel sales.
Chaperone for a field trip
Be a PTO Room Representative

32. Class Party Volunteers
Please sign up if you would like to
lead one of our class parties.
2 parents per party…
Responsible for:
Planning games and activities
Organizing food donations
Contacting parent volunteers

33. Questions?

34. Closing Comments
We are in need of Class Party helpers AND Bagel Pick up Volunteers.
Please sign up before you leave. 
It was so nice meeting you all. I am look forward to another wonderful year here at Kerby!

35. Signing up for Reminders
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