Welcome to Parent Orientation Westwood Elementary School

1
Welcome to Parent OrientationWestwood Elementary
School

• Fourth Grade
• Traci Hren
• Mandi Matchinga
• Frank Vosicky

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Mandi Matchinga

• Mom to David (age 10) and Riley (age 7)
• Bachelors Degree from Capital University
• Elementary Education grades 1-8
• Special Education K-12
• Masters Degree from Ashland University in
  Curriculum and Instruction
• Greater Cleveland Council of Teachers of
  Mathematics Elementary Teacher of the Year
• Jennings Scholar
• Taught 3rd Grade for 4 years in Texas.
• 9th year teaching 4th grade at Westwood.

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Traci Hren

• Mother to Andrew (10 years) and Alex (5 years)
• Westwood teacher of 15 years
• Bachelors Degree from the University of Toledo
  in Elementary Education grades 1-8
• Masters Degree from Ashland University in
  Curriculum and Instruction
• Grades taught Title 1 (1 year), First Grade (6
  years), Second Grade (2 years), Third Grade, (7
  weeks), Fourth Grade (5 years)

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Frank Vosicky

• This is my 16th year of teaching. I have taught
  4th 6th grade at Newbury and West Geauga. I
  have been at Westwood for 13 years.
• My wife Laurie is a kindergarten teacher in the
  Willoughby-Eastlake system. We have a 6 year old
  daughter named Meridan and son named Cooper that
  will be 4 in November.
• I graduated from the Ohio State University and am
  a huge fan of all sports.
• I have a Masters Degree in Educational
  Administration from Ursuline.

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RESPONSIBILITY

• We have a successful, proven system in place to
  teach your child personal responsibility.
• You are a facilitator at home for your childs
  education.
• It is not possible, nor do we expect for you to
  know everything that is going on here at school.

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Class Schedule

• 815-830 Bell Work
• 830-840 Switch One (Homeroom)
• 840-925 Specials (See Classroom Website)
• 925-930 Restroom Break
• 930-1045 Switch One (Homeroom)
• 1045-1130 Switch Two
• 1130-1230 Lunch/Recess
• 1230-110 Switch Two
• 110-235 Switch Three
• 235-300 Activity Period
• 300-315 Pack Up/Dismissal

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Classroom Rules

• Follow directions the first time given.
• Ask questions and do your best work.
• Allow others to learn.
• Treat people and materials with respect.
• Come to class with all of your needed materials.

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Communication

• Our classroom website can be viewed at
  http//schoolbuildings.westg.org/westwood/matching
  a/Messenger.htm
• Updated throughout the week.
• Announcements
• Important Dates and Upcoming Events
• Study Guides
• Project Criterion
• Educational Game Links

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Communication

• Email
• mandi.matchinga_at_westg.org (Voice mail 729-5901
  ext. 4308)
• traci.chase_at_westg.org (Voice mail 729-5901 ext.
  4303)
• frank.vosicky_at_westg.org (Voice mail 729-5901 ext.
  4309)
• Julia.mell_at_westg.org (Voice mail 729-5901 ext.
  4302)
• We make it a point to return calls and emails
  within 24 hours. If it has been longer than 24
  hours, it is due to absence or malfunctioning
  equipment.

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Communication

• Assignment notebooks are to be signed each night
  by a parent, and are checked each day by the
  homeroom teacher.
• If you have an academic concern, please contact
  the teacher of that academic area (Matchinga
  math, Chase reading, Vosicky
  writing/spelling, Mell science/social studies).
  
• If you have friendship/emotional/behavioral
  concerns, please contact the homeroom teacher.
• Please contact us via email or voicemail to
  schedule an appointment for a meeting.

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Homework

• Given Monday-Thursday
• Per Board Policy, it should take about 45
  minutes.
• This does not include time to locate pencils,
  take calls from friends, or fight with a sibling
  ?!
• Students should be able to complete it
  independently.
• Homework ? Tears/Frustration
• Do not work to the point of frustration! Please
  send a note if your student does not understand
  the homework, and we will remediate during
  activity period or study hall.

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Homework

• Math Study Link pages given Monday-Thursday.
• Compositions are started in class and
  occasionally will need to be finished at home.
• Reading assignments should take place for 15
  minutes nightly.
• Minimal science and social studies as needed.
• Studying for Tests (short reviews each night to
  help avoid developing the habit of cramming)
• Unfinished classwork may also be sent home to
  be completed.

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Projects

• If a project is going to be graded by a rubric,
  the rubric will be posted on the website when the
  assignment is given.
• Ample time to complete the project will always be
  given.
• This is a project meant to be completed by your
  student. We expect the project to look like a
  fourth grader completed it.
• Other projects are to be completed at school.
  Please trust that we are monitoring the
  completion of the project. Fourth Graders often
  tell parents that they dont have enough time to
  complete projects at school so that they can
  bring it home and get help. The at-school
  projects help foster independence and
  responsibility.

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Friday Folders

• Sent home on the last day of the school week.
• Graded papers
• A box will be checked if there is a student
  conduct slip or a progress report in the folder.
  Please sign and return these items in the folder.
• The other papers in the folder are yours to keep.
  
• Return the folder on Monday with parent
  signature.
• We will begin this Friday.

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Everyday Math

• The Books
• Student Reference Books
• New (Crowned Crane) stays at school
• Old (Blue Butterfly) stays at home
• Study Links (Stays at home)

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Math Assessments

• Math Checks
• Given on the last day of the school week, worth
  20 points (THIS IS NOT A QUIZ)
• Assessment FOR Learning
• Questions resemble homework/classwork questions
  covered during the week
• Class review sessions before tests
• No tricks, no surprises, worth 100 points
• Students are expected to explain their thinking
  on all assessments.

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My Most Important Request

• Please support our curriculum and algorithms in
  front of your child.
• Your words are powerful. Your child usually
  values what you value.

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Second Most Important Request

• Fourth graders must have their multiplication
  facts, x 0- x11, memorized.
• Students who do not have these memorized by
  winter break really struggle in math for the last
  half of the school year.

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Reading

• Independent Reading
• Students read from books at their level or
  slightly below.
• Activities used to display comprehension.
• Teacher/student conferencing used to facilitate
  selecting just right books.

• Guided Reading
• Mini lessons used to model strategies to
  comprehend reading text.
• Reading level tested 2-3 times a year and
  reported to parent.
• Vocabulary completed in class.
• Literature Circles used for students to discuss
  assigned reading at their level.
• Activities used to display comprehension.

• Whole Group Reading
• Students read from the same novel.
• Literature circles used to discuss text and
  assignments.
• Partner reading to help with text.
• Activities used to display comprehension.

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Reading

• Homework Monday-Thursday
• Index cards- quick check to practice skill that
  was covered in class that day
• Measuring Up sometimes brought home to finish
  in class assignment
• Two at home projects
• Reading for 15 minutes each night

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Spelling

• DSA Leveled Spelling Lists
• Assessments modeled after the format used on
  Achievement Test
• Choose the word that is spelled correctly.
• Is the underlined word spelled correctly?
• If the word is not spelled correctly, what is the
  correct spelling?
• - Units will be 2 weeks each. Word study will be
  done in class

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Writing/Grammar

• Fourth grade writing instruction focuses on
  continuing grammar instruction, correct paragraph
  formation, various writing applications, and
  legible cursive.
• Text used Grammar book that stays in school
• Composition notebook, Writing journal

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Writing/Grammar

• The writing applications covered will be
  descriptive writing, narratives, responses to
  novels, formal and informal letters (thank you
  notes, letters of request), informational
  reports, and informal writings (messages,
  journals, notes and poems)
• There will be approximately three compositions
  per grading period. Most compositions will be
  graded with a rubric.
• Some will be done online

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Science/Social Studies

• Units will alternate between science and social
  studies and will last about 2 weeks.
• Weekly checks (quizzes) from the class notes
  and checks.
• Unit tests
• Occasional homework, most often just finishing up
  classwork.

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Project Real World

• This is designed to be a managerial program that
  offers incentives for learning work skills.
• Students will interview for three different jobs
  on September 24th. They will have a resume and
  letters of recommendation. We will work on these
  in writing class.
• They will then be paid bi-weekly for doing their
  job. They must pay bills for rent, car,
  education, electric, and water.
• Additional money will be earned for completing
  homework, having the assignment notebook signed,
  and getting mail at the end of the day,
• Behavior or judge fines also will be given for
  not adhering to class rules.
• Money left over can be spent in the 4th grade
  prize or food store throughout the year or at our
  monthly Palooza Event.

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Project Real World

• This program is funded through grant writing and
  parent donations. Any assistance with the actual
  interview day or with corporate donations would
  be much appreciated.
• Jobs available are librarian, financial
  manager, custodial engineer, health care worker,
  store manager, equipment manager, photographer,
  secretary, administrative assistant, postal
  worker, meteorologist, videographer, technology
  director, artist, party planner, disc jockey,
  reporter and graphic designer.

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Project Real World

• Reflections
• Will be written in class every two weeks.
• They will reflect on job performance, student
  performance, and behavioral choices.
• Bonuses
• Odd jobs
• Above and beyond
• Citizenship
• Were Proud of You slips

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Grading

• The first experiences can be an adjustment.
• It takes some students a quarter to get the hang
  of the amount of effort required to earn the
  grade they want.
• If school has come easily to a student up to this
  point, s/he is sometimes surprised at the effort
  required to earn As and Bs in fourth grade.

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Grading Continued

• A P earned in third grade reflects a grade
  range from C- to a B.
• We cant expect all students to earn all As in
  all subjects.
• If that were the case, our expectations are too
  low.
• Our focus is on progress.
• What have they learned, vs. what grade did they
  get?

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Parent Assist Module (PAM)

• Called PAM
• Allows parents to check students grades online
  using a username and password.
• Grades will be posted periodically throughout the
  week.
• PAM does not accurately report the reading grade.
  
• Link to PAM on the 4th Grade website

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Parent Assist Module (PAM)

• We have confidential letters for you notifying
  you of the username and password for your
  student.
• See your students homeroom teacher at the end or
  orientation to receive the username and password
  for your child.

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Organization

• We model organization multiple times throughout
  the day.
• Pack up for home together at the end of the day.
• The binder will be color coded. See the website
  for details.
• 4th graders love to tell their parents they are
  not allowed to bring home certain materials.
  Students may bring home any extra books or
  materials that you require.

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Vacation Request

• In writing to homeroom teacher at least ONE week
  ahead of time The child will get his or her
  work on the last day before vacation.
• If requested ahead of time, work IS due upon
  returning
• Tests will be made up within one week (discretion
  of teacher on days)
• Some things such as class discussion, experiments
  and activities will not be able to be made up.
• If work is given when the child returns, the
  number of days the child was out is the number of
  days s/he has to make up the missed work.

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It is our goal to make 4th grade an excellent
year for your child and for your family!

• Thank you for taking time out of your busy
  schedules to attend Parent Orientation!
• Conference sign-up sheets are in the Library.

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It is our goal to make 4th grade an excellent
year for your child and for your family!

• See your childs homeroom teacher for your PAM
  letter.
• Please see Room Parents before you leave
• Matchinga Homeroom see
• Chase Homeroom see
• Vosicky Homeroom see
• Mell Homeroom see