Welcome, 4th grade parents! Mrs. Gisler Southminster School Room 373.
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Transcript of Welcome, 4th grade parents! Mrs. Gisler Southminster School Room 373.
About Me
• I’ve been married to my amazing husband, Evan, for nine years.
• Our church home is Christ United Methodist Church in Sugar Land.
• We have two children:– Anna is 7 years old and is starting 2nd grade here
at Southminster.– August is 4.5 years old and is starting Pre-K here at
Southminster.
My educational background-
• Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies from Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi
• Certifications:– Early Childhood EC-4 Generalist – Grades 4-8 Generalist– Gifted and Talented– ESL (English as a Second Language)
• I have eight years of teaching experience– 2 years in Rockport, Texas (teaching 3rd grade)– 4 years at Dulles Elementary in Sugar Land (also 3rd grade)– 2 years teaching 4th grade here at Southminster
What happens in Writers’ Workshop?
1. Minilesson focused on writing strategies, skills, and/or writer’s craft.
2. Independent Writing time• Teacher confers one-on-one with
students while the rest of the class writes.
3. Group Share/Reflection time
4th graders will write:
• Narratives– Tells a personal experience or tells a
story based on a real or imaginary event
• Expository writing– Seeks to inform, explain, persuade,
clarify, define, or instruct
What happens in Readers’ Workshop?
1. Each session will begin with a minilesson. Each mini lesson will focus on a reading strategy.
2. Independent Reading with instruction– Readers’ Response Journaling– Guided Reading/Literature Circles– Reading conferences or strategy groups
3. Reflections/Sharing/Lesson Wrap-up
Math Curriculum
• Math program: Everyday Mathematics (everydaymathonline.com)• Geometry• Multiplication (up to 2 by 2 digits)• Division (including long division)• Decimals• Fractions and Percents• Measuring angles using a protractor• Reflections and Symmetry• Rates
What makes Everyday Math unique?
• It teaches students that there are many ways to solve a problem• For example: Multiplication can be solved through
a traditional algorithm, partial products method, or through lattice multiplication
• Students practice newly acquired skills through games• Many of these games can be played at home
online (see everydaymathonline.com)
Science topics in 4th grade:
• Life science-• Living things and ecosystems
• Earth science-• Rock cycle, weathering & erosion• Weather and Space
• Physical science-• Properties of matter, mixtures & solutions, and
chemical & physical changes• Sound, light & heat
• Forces & Motion• Electricity & magnetism• Force of gravity & acceleration• Simple machines
What to expect in science:
• Lots of hands on investigations (many times in the science lab)
• Repeated exposure and practice following the scientific method
• Science Fair• Occasionally, I will teach a fun lesson that involves food or
candy. If you do not wish for your child to eat a tiny amount of candy after a science or math lesson, please let me know! • An example of a lesson involving candy: I will give the students
toothpicks and gum drops. The instructions will be to construct a 3-dimensional structure using those materials.
Social Studies• History-
• Native American groups in Texas• European exploration• Texas Revolution, the Republic of Texas,
and annexation of Texas to the U.S.• Geography-
• Regions in Texas and the Western Hemisphere
• Landforms in Texas• Patterns of settlement in Texas
• Government, Economics, & Culture in Texas
Christian Education
• Southminster follows the curriculum from Purposeful Design for Bible lessons.
• Students will have a Bible verse to memorize each week (sometimes every 2 weeks)
• Chapel is on Mondays and Fridays from 8:15-9:00 a.m.
Homework- What to Expect• Homework will be assigned Monday
through Thursday. • Every morning, students will write down
that day’s homework assignments into his/her planner.
• Students are required to read for approximately 100 minutes per week. I will check student logs at the end of each week. A reading log grade will be taken at the end of each 9 week period. Students with at least 900 minutes logged will earn a 100. 800 to 899 minutes- 90, 700-799 minutes- 80, etc.
Typical Homework Assignments
• Math (called Study Links) will be assigned almost daily
• Spelling at least 3x/week• Wordly Wise Vocab 2 to 3x/week• IXL Math Homework- 45 min./wk
(6 hrs. 45 minutes per 9 week period)
Tests• Spelling: Fridays• Wordly Wise Vocab.: Every other
Thursday• Math and Science: At the end of
each respective unit (every 2-3 weeks)
• Bible quizzes: only occasionally
Technology in the classroom
• Google Chrome Notebooks• For word processing, research, etc.
• Kindle Fire eReaders• eBooks and educational apps
**Both of these can be checked out to your child and taken home after you and your child sign and submit the technology forms.
P.E.
• 4th graders now need to “dress out” for P.E. You can purchase the gym clothes here at school.
• P.E. is on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays.
Parent/Teacher Conferencing
• October 9: Parent/Teacher Conference Day• Any day by appointment, during my
conference period or after school• School phone: 281-261-8872• My email: [email protected]
Remind101
To receive important messages and updates throughout the year, please sign up for Remind101.• To receive messages via text, text @gisle
to 81010• To receive messages via email, send an
email to [email protected]