4th GradeKerby Elementary

2013-2014Ms. Jennafer Walsh

WELCOME WELCOME

TO TO BACK-TO-SCHOOLBACK-TO-SCHOOL

NIGHTNIGHT

Tonight’s AgendaTonight’s Agenda

Welcome!

6:45 – 7:15 Gym with Ms. O’Neil

7:20 – 8:00 Homeroom, Language Arts, and Science

8:00 – 8:15 Rotate to Social Studies (Ms. Zens)

8:15 – 8:30 Rotate to Math (Mr. Pfeuffer)

Education BackgroundEducation Background

•Michigan State University– Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education

– Teaching Major: Integrated Science (6-8)- Currently pursuing my Masters in

Education with a Literacy Concentration

- Graduating this December

Teaching ExperienceTeaching Experience

• Kerby Elementary– 4th Grade Teacher! – 4th year teaching in GP Public Schools– Student Council Co-Moderator– Michigan Green School Coordinator

• 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

44thth Grade Team Grade Team Classroom ManagementClassroom Management

• Classroom Rules and Consequences

– Flip Chart• Individual Behavior Management• Students flip color cards for each warning given

resulting in different consequences• 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

FISH Philosophy

• New this year! • School-wide character education

program• Series of experiences to encourage the

following…– Be There– Play– Make Their Day– Choose Your Attitude

HomeworkHomework

• 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

MAKING THE GRADEES 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

Activities for Activities for Fourth GradeFourth Grade

• Student Council• Choir• Enrichment activities

at lunchtime– Knitting– Yoga

• Safety/Service• Homework Club

Field TripsField Trips• GPN Planetarium:

– Aligned with ScienceAstronomy unit (winter)

• Lansing trip: April 14, 2014– Capitol Building– Michigan Historical Museum

• Henry Ford Museum:• “If I Had A Hammer” in late spring.

CommunicationCommunication• Assignment books (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 Ms. Walsh’s web page and sent home every Friday through email attachment unless otherwise notified.

• Conferences: December 11th & 12th and again March 26th & 27th

Email is preferred!

Departmentalizing

• Ms. Walsh: Science

• Ms. Zens: Social Studies/Spelling

• Mr. Pfeuffer: Math

• Switching begins tomorrow!

Teacher Contact InfoTeacher Contact Info

Also Located on Kerby website:

• Jennafer Walsh Jennafer.Walsh@gpschools.org• Voicemail: 432-5479

• Bill Pfeuffer William.Pfeuffer@gpschools.org• Voicemail: 432-5250

• Kristin Zens Kristin.Zens@gpschools.org• Voicemail: 432-5681

Daily Schedule: Tues-FriDaily Schedule: Tues-Fri

School begins 8:20Announcements 8:25-8:30Writer’s Workshop 8:35-9:15S.S. (with Zens) 9:20-10:05Math (with Pfeuffer) 10:10-10:55Reading Groups 11:00-11:20Recess/Lunch 11:36 -12:24Reader’s Workshop 12:25-1:15Wordly Wise 1:00-1:50Special 1:50-2:35Math Boxes 2:40-2:55Social Studies 2:55-3:30School ends 3:38

Specials ScheduleSpecials Schedule

A Day: Art

B Day: Library/ Spanish

C Day: Music

D Day: Gym

1:50p.m.- 2:35p.m.

Components ofComponents ofFourth Grade Language ArtsFourth Grade Language Arts

• Reader’s Workshop

• Making Meaning

• I.D.R (Individualized Daily Reading)

• Book Bingo• Read Alouds

• Writer’s Workshop

• Grammar/DOL• Spelling

Practice• GP Writing • Informational

Reading and Writing

Reader’s WorkshopReader’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

• Students will be simultaneously jotting down notes with post its throughout their text and responding in their reading journals

We will be reading leveled books to accompany the Making Meaning program based on each student’s reading level.

Advantages of Advantages of Reader’s WorkshopReader’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!

Leveled ReadingLeveled Reading

•Students will be reading at their own reading level

-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 Level twice a year to measure progress

-If interested in finding the level of books at your home check out www.Booksource.com

Book BingoBook 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 Tuesday,

October 1st…

– Students may use a book they have read over the summer for this one.

– Please treat this one as a practice!

• New spelling list weekly based on pre-tests

• 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

Spelling ProgramSpelling Program

WritingWriting• Writer’s Workshop

• Narrative: myth & legend, adventure, poetry, personal narratives

• Informational: Comparative piece, Endangered Species research project, Persuasive, and Letters

• Daily Paragraph Editing– conventions, grammar

• Taught through mini-lessons and conferences

Testing ScheduleTesting Schedule

• NWEA: September 11-18th for Reading and Math

• given in Winter and Spring as well

• MEAP: October 8-25 Language Arts Math Writing

• Fountas & Pinnell Reading Assessment– Fall and Spring

• Grosse Pointe Writing Assessment: May – two practice tests in Fall and Winter

As a Science TeacherAs a Science TeacherI 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

ScienceScienceThree Units

1. Earth Materials2. Solar System3. Electricity and Magnets

• Foss is the science program we use– No textbooks!

• Research based investigations and hands-on learning develops thinking skills

HealthHealth• The Michigan Model for

Comprehensive School Health Education– Drugs and Alcohol Unit– Safety

• Adolescent Health in the Spring. – You will be notified prior to

that instruction.– There will be a meeting to

preview all videos and curriculum if desired

– Mr. Pfeuffer & Mr. Masters– Ms Walsh & Ms. Zens– Usually first week of June

Class Party VolunteersClass 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

Questions?Questions?

Closing Closing CommentsComments

•Please sign up for your conferences tonight using the schedules outside the gym door

•We are in need of Class Party helpers. Please sign up before you leave.

•It was so nice meeting you all. I am look forward to another wonderful year here at

Kerby!