Mr. Gasorek and Mrs. Farrell’s Open House

1. Mr. Gasorek and Mrs. Farrell’s Open House 2013-2014

2. COMMON CORE STANDARDS The goal of the CCSS is to provide a single set of clear and consistent educational standards in math and English language arts that states can share and voluntarily adopt. A total of 45 states, the District of Columbia, four territories, and the Department of Defense Education Activity have adopted the Common Core State Standards. Until now, every state had its own standards and different expectations of student performance. Common standards will help ensure that all students are receiving a high quality education consistently, from school to school and state to state. Common Core standards can provide parents with clear expectations for what children should know and be able to do when they graduate high school or advance to a particular grade level.

3. COMMON CORE STANDARDS A common set of standards ensures that all students, no matter where they live, will be focused on graduating from high school prepared for postsecondary education and careers. In an increasingly mobile society, families with children transferring to new schools will not have to adjust to new learning expectations. Standards will be the same for all students in states adopting the CCSS, making transitions smoother for students. In a competitive global economy, all students must compete with not only American peers in other states, but with students from around the world. The CCSS were designed to prepare students to succeed in this environment.

4. Common Core Standards • Major Changes: • Higher level of text complexity • More text based written responses • Close reading to dig deeper into the text • Integration of reading and writing into science, social studies, and math • Common Core Resources on the Wiki

5. Reading Curriculum • Vocabulary Instruction • New words each week with quiz every Friday • Instruction in using prefixes, roots, and suffixes to determine word meaning • Comprehension Instruction • Literature and authentic informational text • Focus on different Common Core Standards each week (Our focus can be found in the weekly newsletter.)

6. Response to intervention (Rti) • Tier 1: Students who are reading on grade level • Receive instruction in the regular curriculum and needs based instruction at their level for 90 minutes daily (All students receive this support.) • Tier 2: Students who need a little extra support to be reading on grade level • Receive an additional 90 minutes of instruction per week using a research based curriculum in their area of need • Tier 3: Students who need more intensive support to be reading on grade level • Receive an additional 150 minutes of instruction per week using a research based curriculum in their area of need • Progress is monitored regularly, and intervention placements are reevaluated every 6 weeks.

7. WRITING • We will use a writer’s workshop format to learn about writing. • Students will use a Writer’s Notebook. • Mini Lesson (5-10 minutes) • Students will write and apply the skill taught from the mini lesson. (20 minutes) • Students will share. (5 minutes) • Students will write to persuade, inform and entertain. • http://431and439.wikispaces.com/Writing

8. Science curriculum • Major Fourth Grade Topics: • Land and Water • Electricity and Magnetism • Structures of Life • Sky watchers (Astronomy)

9. Social Studies curriculum • All fourth graders will take the Social Studies DCAS this spring! • Major Fourth Grade Topics: • Three Branches of Government • Community Planning • Liberty and the Bill of Rights • Democracy • Historical thinking using primary and secondary sources • Economics • Weekly Geography Contest

10. MATH • Aligning instruction with Common Core Standards • Balance of Instruction • Investigate concepts and build conceptual understanding • Develop, reinforce and master computational and procedural skills • Apply mathematics to real world problem solving http://431and439.wikispaces.com/Math

11. DREAM BOX - MATH Your child can access Dream Box Learning from any computer, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week using this link: https://play.dreambox.com/login/xr9u/braderes Dream Box is an online program - there's no software to download! All you need is a high-speed Internet connection and Adobe Flash. Adobe Flash is free and is included with many Internet browsers. User ID/Password (child’s school ID -- “lunch number”)

13. Behavior Plan • Rules: • 1. Listen and follow directions the first time they are given. • 2. Keep hands, feet, and all other objects to yourself. • 3. Raise your hand and wait to be called upon before speaking or leaving your seat. • 4. Respect your classmates and your teacher. • 5. Say and do nothing when given a consequence. • Consequences: • 1st time - verbal warning • 2nd time – “take a break” time • 3rd time – letter home to be signed by parent/guardian • Severe disruption or violation of Code of Conduct- go directly to the intervention specialist/behavior referral

14. Check on your child’s classroom behavior • Link on the Parent Resources page of the wiki to Class Dojo: • Class Dojo • Your student will be sent home with your parent code on Monday.

15. PBIS Rewards • Birthdays will be celebrated on the last Friday of every month. Any student with a birthday in that month can bring in a treat. • In addition to school wide incentives, students will have the opportunity to “cash in” their PAW tickets on the last Friday of every month. • Students earn the opportunity to “cash in” if in a two week period they: • Have 1 or fewer missing homework assignments • Have 1 of fewer days that they needed to use “take a break” time • Have no behavior referrals

16. Homework policy • Reading and Math homework every night Monday – Thursday • Homework assignments are due the following day and answers are reviewed in class • Homework should take approximately 40 minutes every night • In order for students to earn end of trimester incentives and cash-in, homework must be consistently turned in on time. • Homework on the Wiki

17. FRIDAY FOLDERS AND AGENDAS • Friday folders are used to communicate your child’s academic progress. • Brought home on Friday • Academic record sheet lists low grades (BP/1 and NP/2) • Academic record sheet stays in the folder and must me signed • All other assignments that meet or exceeded the standard will be in the folder as well. Students should keep all work that does not have "sign and return" stamped on it. • Please return all work that has been stamped along with the folder by Monday of the following week. • AGENDAS • Students should write their homework in their agenda daily. • Parents should initial the agenda each night.

18. FIELD TRIPS DuPont Environmental Education Center – TBA Miracle on 34th Street Courthouse Trip - December Make a Splash – April Old New Castle – May Lums Pond – June

19. VOLUNTEERS • If you plan on working with children at Brader or going on class trips, you will need to complete the volunteer packet. • This packet can be found in the main office.

20. FAMILY PARTICIPATION • Check homework daily • Dream Box – Encourage your child to practice math. • Dojo – Check on your child’s behavior. • Wiki – Use resources that are available. • Multiplication Quizzes – Help your child study. • Reading – Read to or encourage your child to read.

21. CSD ABSENCE POLICY Students are required by law to attend school 90% of the school year to be eligible for promotion. Schools may request a doctor’s note after 5 days of student absences. Parents are informed through a district letter regarding student absences at 3, 5 and 10 day intervals. Once notified, parents have up to three (3) days to provide proper documentation for these absences. A parental note of explanation must be presented on the first or second day of the student's return to school or class. Any notes provided beyond the three (3) day period will not be accepted. Providing documentation of a valid excused absence, the student will be allowed to make up all work missed, to take tests which were missed, and to submit any assignments which became due during the absence. Tardiness to School/Early Dismissals All students are expected to be punctual to school. A student who arrives to school more than halfway through the school day or leaves early before completing half of the school day will be counted absent.