Fourth Grade Parent Orientation: Overview, Routines, and Curriculum Insights

1. Objectives • Present overview of routines and expectations of fourth grade • Present curriculum overview for each content area • Answer questions

2. Introduction of Teachers • Mr. Bivens • Mrs. Davis • Mrs. Dozier • Mrs. Estell • Mrs. Fodness • Mr. Jamison • Mr. Pickett

3. Attendance • Attendance-Instruction begins at 7:45. • Late after 7:45 • Parents must walk in for tardy slip. • Breakfast is free. Students should arrive by 7:35.

4. Birthday Celebrations • Birthday treats should be pre-packaged and brought to the classroom. • Birthday treats should not be brought to the cafeteria. • Treats will be given out in the classroom during time chosen by teacher.

5. Bond Issue • Please see a member of our staff at the front of the school for information.

6. Class Schedule Times vary in the classrooms • Balanced Literacy • Math Investigations • Special Areas-art, music, media, physical education, and computers 10:30-11:15 • Science • Social Studies

7. Common Core Standards • Adopted as the new North Carolina Standard Course of Study (2012-2013) • Requires teaching of higher-level thinking skills • Addresses the instructional needs of all students • Supports integrating the curriculum) • More in depth overview later

8. Conferences & Dress Codes, and • Conferences: Held towards the end of first quarter and by request. • Dress Code:Set by the district and can be found in the student handbook. Applicable for parents and students.

9. Dismissal • Dismissal Time is 2:45. • Students may not be released early after 2:15. • No dismissals directly from the learning cottages.

10. Dismissal Changes • Dismissal changes MUST be in writing and submitted to the teacher first thing in the morning. • All other dismissal changes should be directed in writing via fax or emailed to the office to Mary McNeely or Sharon Bryson NOT the teacher. • No parent walk ups for car riders

11. Grades • Grading Scale: The following is the 7 point grading scale used by CMS. • 93-100 A • 85-92 B • 77-84 C • 70-76 D • 0 – 69 F

12. Grading Weights • Classroom Assignments 1 • Homework-1 • Quizzes-1 • Projects 2 • Assessments 2 Some assignments and/or projects may count across the subject areas because we integrate in our classrooms. Specific to grade levels.

13. H.O.P.E Character Education • New trait each month • September’s trait is responsibility. • October’s trait is respect. • Weekly story with trait • Teacher and students model • Classroom recognition when traits demonstrated • Monthly pictures taken for display • We need your support at home.

14. H.O.P.E for Problem Solving • H-What happened? • O-What other choices could have been made? • P-Pick the best choice. • E-Encouragement

15. Medication • Form must be completed and submitted to health office. • Must be prescribed by physician. • All medications including cough drops and lozenges must be written on a prescription form.

16. PBIS and Behavior • Provide school wide expectations so students know what to do in the hall, restrooms, classroom, playground, and cafeteria. (posted in each room) • Behavior plans and recognition may vary slightly in each classroom, but all include: 1. Redirecting students 2. Written reflections 3. Communication with parents when needed 4. Student behavior referral to Dean of Students

17. PTA • PTA Dues & Fundraisers: Join the PTA for $5.00. We need your support. • PTA meetings are generally held on second Thursday of each month. • Fall festival October 25. We need you!

18. School Events • Fieldtrips require parent security clearance. • Two fieldtrips planned; subject to approval and availability. • First one planned for November 8thto state zoo. • Awards programs take place at the end of 2nd and 4th quarter. • Other events will be announced on wiki pages.

19. Supplies • Check with your child’s teacher. • Some students are missing items such as notebooks and folders that are used daily.

20. Tuesday’s Folders • Contains graded work • Parent notices • Please review and sign appropriate forms. • Return the folder on Wednesday. • Graded work with scores of less than 80% should be reviewed, signed, and returned on Wednesday.

21. Visitors and Volunteers • Visitor Policy: By appointment. Parents must sign in at the office and wear a visitor’s badge. Please adhere to school dress code policy. • Volunteers: Must be registered on CMS website for clearance to attend field trips and work with students.

22. Social Studies • North Carolina Geography, History, and Culture • Settlements & Colonies • Government & Citizenship • Economy • Technology • North Carolina’s Three Major Regions • Mountains • Piedmont • Coastal Plain

23. Math - Investigations The focus of instruction in fourth grade is on mathematical thinking and reasoning. Investigations students: • find more than one way of solving many of the problems they encounter. • reason mathematically and develop problem-solving strategies. • explain and examine their mathematical thinking and reasoning. • represent their thinking using models, diagrams, and graphs. • make connections between mathematical ideas. • prove their ideas to others.

24. Math cont. • The Common Core concepts for 4th grade are: • Number Sense 0-999,999 • Multiplication & Division • Area and Perimeter • Coordinate Grids • Graphing • Fractions and Decimals • Algebra • Geometry

25. 4th Grade WritingUnits • Personal Narrative Writing • Realistic Fiction • The Persuasive Essay • Informational Writing • Historical Fiction

26. Writing Units Continued • Poetry • Literary Essays • Research Writing • Memoirs

27. Writing Prompt Examples • Informative Writing: Write an essay about a game in which you are very knowledgeable. Include details that will explain the game to someone who has never played it. • Narrative Writing: Write a story about a time you learned how to do something. Include details that tell who else was with you, where you were, and how you felt. • Argumentative Writing: Write a piece that states where you think your class should go for a field trip. Include reasons to support your request. Your piece should include an introduction and concluding statement.

28. Going Forward in Writing • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.1 Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons. (argumentative) • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.2 Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly. • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.3 Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, descriptive details, and clear event sequences.

29. Common Core Literacy • Consists of 3 strands: • Literacy-(reading various genres and applying comprehension skills) • Informational Text-(text features-graphs, maps, pictures with captions, key words) • Foundation Skills (phonics and fluency) Our Goal We want to immerse students in reading. We want to make it fun and give them a lot of choices. We want students to hear, see, and feel reading everyday.

31. Example • Teacher may do a read aloud to model how to make predictions as he/she reads. • Class will discuss what they noticed so the teacher makes sure the students picked up on the strategies she just modeled. • Students may read a book of their choice that’s on their reading and interest level. While reading, students will make predictions. • In Guided Reading, the teacher will work with groups on making predictions or another skill that particular group needs help with.

32. Science • The students will have science in the classroom. There is no Science Lab this year. • The Common Core concepts of 4th grade are: • Ecosystems • Force and Motion • Matter: Properties and Change • Energy: Conservation and Transfer • Earth and the Universe • Earth History • Molecular Biology

33. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT • Thank you for coming tonight! If you have any more questions please feel free to contact your child’s teacher.