Welcome to Fourth Grade!

1. Welcome to Fourth Grade! Parent Orientation Night 2011

2. Who is Mrs. Rodriguez? • B.A. from Northern Illinois University • M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction from National Louis University • 60+ hours past my Master’s in reading and writing • 11th year of teaching at Ben Franklin—2 in first grade and the past 8 in Kindergarten • Live in Villa Park with my husband Jason and two children Brandon (6) and Eva (3). I enjoy running and my husband and I are doing the Chicago and Disney Marathons this year. I love exploring technology!

3. Typical Day in Room 208 • 9:00-10:00 Reader’s Workshop • 10:00-11:00 Writer’s Workshop • 11:00-11:50 Recess/Lunch • 11:50-12:25 Targeted Learning Time • 12:25-12:50 Language Arts • 12:50-1:50 Math • 1:50-2:35 Specials • 2:35-3:20 Science/S.S. • 3:20-3:25 Wrap up activities & organize for the end of the day

4. Elements of Fourth Grade Literacy • Literacy Café—Small Group Reading Instruction Comprehension Accuracy Fluency Expand Vocabulary • Making Meaning/Read Alouds—Whole Group Comprehension and Vocabulary Instruction • Shared Reading—Whole Group Instruction on language conventions, grammar, word usage, vocabulary… • Independent Reading—individualized instruction • Writers Workshop—Small Group Writing Instruction

5. What is Reader’s Workshop? • Reader’s Workshop is a small group approach to teaching reading in which a teacher supports each reader as he/she develops effective strategies for processing unfamiliar text beginning at the reader’s instructional level. • Reader’s Workshop fosters.. • Independence • Strategic reading • Fluency • Problem solving • Comprehension • Vocabulary development • Language structure development • Teacher’s role in Reader’s Workshop… • Observe/analyze individual reading behaviors • Introduce “Book Language” • Model and demonstrate strategies • Prompt and confirm strategies • Promote fluency

6. Reader’s Workshop Format • Reader's Workshop uses a similar format to Writer’s Workshop. There are several consistent components but there is much variation on how it is implemented in different classrooms. • Mini-lessons on some aspect of literature or reading strategy. • Read to self time (D.E.A.R.) where students respond to the literature in terms of what they think or how they feel about what they are reading. • Time to share thoughts and ideas with another person. • While students are completing Daily Five activities, I conference with individual students (Literacy C.A.F.E.). At times, small group instruction will occur with individuals who need additional support and/or enrichment.

7. Reading • At home you can help your child by… • Rereading familiar books. Children need practice in reading comfortably and with expression using books they know. • Building reading accuracy. As your child is reading aloud, point out words he/she missed and help him/her read words correctly. If you stop to focus on a word, have your child reread the whole sentence to be sure he/she understands the meaning. • Building reading comprehension. Talk with your child about what he/she is reading. Ask about new words. Talk about what happened in a story. Ask about the characters, places, and events that took place. Ask what new information he/she has learned from the book. Encourage him/her to read on his/her own. • Be a reader and a writer. Children learn habits from the people around them!

8. Bluestem Books • The Bluestem Award is designed for students in grades 3-5 who are ready for longer titles than found on the Monarch list, but not quite ready for the sophistication of some of the Rebecca Caudill titles. Named in honor of Big Bluestem which is the state prairie grass, the award may include both timeless classics and current titles, as well as books that have appeared on Monarch and Rebecca Caudill lists. * Students read at least 4 titles on the list and vote for their favorites February, 2011.* Votes are sent to the award committee, which compiles the final tally.* The winning title is announced in March, 2011.

9. Literacy: Writing • Fourth Grade Writer’s Workshop focusing on… • Narrative • Persuasive • Expository • Creative • 6 + 1 Traits of Writing • Voice • Ideas • Presentation • Conventions • Organization • Word Choice • Sentence Fluency • Grammar • LLC • Computer lab and open checkout on lessons with Mrs. Wagner

10. Everyday Math EDM was developed by the University of Chicago School Math Project • Based on research about how students learn and develop mathematical power • Considers how students learn, what they are interested in and the future for which they must be prepared • Emphasis on conceptual understanding and mastery of basic skills • Features of the Program • Real-life problem solving • Balanced instruction • Balanced delivery of instruction - whole group, partner, and individual work • Balanced activities - teacher-directed, open ended, hands-on exploration, projects, on-going practice. • Ongoing Continuous Basic Skills Practice • Games • Math Boxes • Revisits concepts throughout year- building on what was taught in previous lessons • Home and School Partnership • Optimal learning involves the student, the teacher and the home. • Family letter for each unit- informs parents about the topics and terms being used. • Home links/Study links (homework) provide students with opportunities to review and practice math skills/concepts. • Website -Parent homeroom at www.everydaymath.uchicago.edu

11. Math: Problem of the Week • Problem solving has been identified as an area of need in fourth grade; the students struggle not only with finding the solutions to problems, but they also struggle with the way in which to explain the steps they utilized to reach their answers. • Every Monday the fourth grade students will be receiving a Problem of the Week (POW). It is a question that requires your child to use one or more of the problem solving strategies to determine the answer to a problem. • Most problems have more than one way to find the solution, and many problems even have more than one correct answer! •  Your child is expected to complete as much of this problem as he/she can on his/her own. If you see that your child is struggling through a problem, please offer him/her guidance without solving the problem for him/her. • The POW is due on Thursday at which time I review them and select examples to be shared with the class (students are not required to share their work unless they feel comfortable doing so). • The first part of our Math Lab Day on Friday is spent reviewing the problem solving solutions and the What/Why explanations using the ISAT rubric. This rubric is used throughout the year to grade all problem solving and/or open response questions.

12. Science • Inquiry based learning • Life Cycles • Birds of Prey research project • Electricity and Magnetism • Earth’s Processes • Rock concert • ISAT preparation

13. Social Studies Alive • Regions of Our Country • Northeast • Midwest • Southwest • West • Southeast • Illinois • History • Geography • Government • United States • Government • Immigration

14. Specials • Music (Tuesday & Friday) • Art (Monday) • Physical Education (Daily) • Computers (weekly sign-up) • Library (Wednesday & Thursday) • Orchestra (during school)

15. MAP Testing • District 41 uses the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) tests in reading and math • Tests are administered online and adapt while a child is answering the questions to be appropriate for a child’s actual level of learning • Administered during class time in the computer lab (about 1 hour long per test) • Test results provide detailed and accurate information about a child’s growth • Results are available to the teacher within 24 hours and will be shared with parents following the close of testing windows • MAP scores determine a child’s instructional level and measure academic growth throughout the school year and from year to year • Testing window for the first quarter is September 6-September-October2 • Learn more about the MAP test at www.nwea.org

16. Homework Policy • Assignments are given in proportion to the amount of time available to complete the work. In the event that work is not completed in class, it is to be completed at home in addition to any other assigned homework. Homework in Reading and Math, is usually given Monday-Friday. Work is due on the following day unless otherwise specified. Students with late homework will need to complete the assignment and turn it in on the following day. Each student has an assignment notebook and the MOOSE. Please check both each evening. Please call my voicemail at 630.5347412 if you have any questions or concerns about homework. I am also easily reached via email at srodriguez@d41.org. • Recreational reading is important and should be considered part of nightly homework. Encourage your child to become a life long reader by setting aside quiet time to read a minimum of 30 minutes each night!

17. Making the Grade • SBRC: Standards Based Report Card • Grades reported on a report card each trimester • Reflects 4th grade state and district standards • Please review the pamphlet pro vided by the district

18. Targeted Learning • The goal is to create a community of learners in 4th Grade • It provides an opportunity to differentiate learning based on… • strengths • needs • interests • Students will move to various 4th grade classrooms and receive instruction from different classroom teachers depending on the skill begin taught • Teachers will become acquainted with all the students in 4th grade

19. Classroom Management • Bear Bucks are accumulated by showing good behavior. There will be a weekly class drawing as well as a monthly school drawing. • Golden Bear Bucks are awarded in Specials for classes following Ben’s Bs. • P.B.I.S. • Ben’s Bs • Students not exhibiting appropriate behavior will be given 2 warnings, the 3rd warning will result in a write up and visit to Mr. Samples.

20. Conferences • Please sign up tonight! • Thursday, November 4th – conference hours are from 2:00PM - 8:30 PM • Friday, November 5th – conference hours are from 8:00AM– 3:30 PM

21. M.O.O.S.E. • Managing Our Organizational Skills Everyday • Tab 1: Homework • Tab 2: Reading Log • Tab 3: Take Home • Tab 4: Return to School • Tab 5: Misc. • Tab 6: Projects Your assignment notebook fits in the front pocket of the M.O.O.S.E. and should always be kept there. The M.O.O.S.E. goes back and forth between home and school everyday.

22. Communication • Website : http://srodriguez.d41teachers.org • Monthly newsletter: Rodriguez Report (on website and emailed to you) • M.O.O.S.E. • Email (srodriguez@d41.org) • Voicemail (630.534.7412) • Assignment notebooks • Schedule a conference

23. Thank you for coming…!