Welcome to our Back to School Curriculum Night!

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Welcome to our Back to School Curriculum Night!
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The Plan for Tonight
Schedule7.00 7.25 Classroom session 1 7.35
8.00 Classroom session 2 / Specialist session
18.05 8.30 Specialist session 2

• A little about our teaching team
• The GWA approach to education
• Our class Essential Agreements
• The year ahead academically
• ICT at GWA
• Communication
• Home Learning

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Stephanie Batley

• Grew up in California, United States and have
  lived overseas for many years
• An educator for over two decades in various
  international schools
• Interested in all aspects of
• education and love to explore
• learning in all situations
• Excited for a great school year!

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Marilou Nacor

• From the Philippines
• Sixth year at GWA
• Many years of experience in education

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The Fourth Grade Team
Class Teacher Teacher Assistant
4KC Kendra Cantrell Catherine Tulagan
4BA Beatriz Arbelaez Lorna Quizana
4RB Rudi Botes Exile Free Bate Miranda
4PT Patricia Thibedeaux Sheetal Hagde
4LJ Laura Johnson Francesca Busadre
4SA Sandra Aragon Isagani Leonardo
EAL Martine Bayard
Counselor Kim Leiske
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GWA Approach to Education

• Inquiry based
• Challenged according to what students are ready
  to learn next (developmental approach)
• Differentiation, activity based, small group and
  individualised learning

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Learn more about PYP

• Dave Gerber (PYP Co-ordinator) will doing a PYP
  info-morning for new parents
• 9-1030am in the Planetarium on
• 14th September

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How We Know What Students Have Learned

• Prior knowledge to drive inquiry
• Assessment (authentic, projects, not always paper
  and pencil)
• Process oriented more often than product
  (reflection of learning)
• Portfolios
• Student Led Conferences

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Home Learning

• Option 1 reading and completing a variety of
  response activities to build understanding of
  texts
• Planning\Language Arts\Reading\reading_comprehensi
  on_task_cards.pdf
• Option 2 inquiry activities linked to our
  current Unit of Inquiry. The children complete
  all activities on the wheel
• G4 home learning - sept 15 to 28.docx

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Class Essential Agreements

• Embody the Learner Profile
• Developed by the children
• Agreements we are encouraging and supporting

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The Year Ahead Academically

• Grade 4 Units of Inquiry
• Who We Are revolving around the impact of
  respect
• How We Express Ourselves centred on
  communication
• How We Organise Ourselves marketplaces linked
  to supply and demand
• How The World Works scientific investigation
  into matter
• Sharing The Planet how factors contribute to
  peoples opportunities
• Where We Are In Place And Time the changing
  nature of Earth affects human survival

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Language Arts and Maths

• Reading and writing are integrated into our Units
  of Inquiry
• Specific genres and their features are taught and
  practised in the classroom
• Reading can be group, guided or individual
• Children respond to and discuss texts
• Word study is dependent on childrens needs and
  focuses on word parts
• Writing is integrated into all areas of the
  curriculum

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Science and Social Studies

• Again these areas of study are integrated into
  our Units of Inquiry depending on the central
  idea and concepts explored
• For instance, the UOI How The World Works is
  science based and the concepts we pursue are
  causation, change and connection

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ICT in the Program

• Our ICT teacher is Laura Williamson
• ICT is an integral part of life and we
  incorporate ICT resources as much as possible in
  the curriculum
• ICT lessons are planned by both the ICT teacher
  and the classroom teacher
• The children will be taught how to use ICT tools
  to enrich their learning.
• Check out the GWA PYP ICT site
• http//gwqpypict.weebly.com/

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Communication

• There are many ways to be in touch including
  face-to-face, student diaries, phone and email
• My email address is s.batley_gwa_at_gemsedu.com
• Grade 4 Weebly http//gwagradefour.weebly.com/
• Our class Weebly http//gwagradefour.weebly.com/
  4sb.html
• Ask questions as they come up we have an open
  door policy!
• Communication Diary we check these everyday for
  notes and parent signatures
• Please look at your childs diary every day to
  check for school events, activities or notes from
  me

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Supporting Learning at Home

• Home Learning is inquiry based and planned with
  parents in mind it can a wonderful time to
  engage with your child and support their learning
• Reading should take place everyday for 20 minutes
• Home Learning timetable please check our Grade
  4 Weebly site for all homework activities
• 3 A Day GWAs guide to parent support
• Parent Engagement

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Supporting Learning at Home
TumbleBooks
BrainPop Jr
Sumdog
BrainPop
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EcoVenture

• About 1095 dirhams per child, 995 for families
  with more than one child
• First trip 7 8th Dec
• Second trip 9 10th Dec
• Two days and one night field trip in the desert
• Sleep in tents
• Prepare to spend time away from home eventually
  leading to Week Without Walls
• Focus on team building and inquiry skills
• Fun!!
• Parent information closer to date

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Anything Else?

• Time for Questions?
• Post-It Parking Lot please write your questions
  or comments on a post-it note and leave it in our
  parking lot. If you have questions about your
  child I will address them through an e-mail to
  you.

THANK YOU FOR COMING!
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Specialist Locations

• PE Team.Ground Level
• Counseling Team..Ground Level
• ICT Team..Level 1
• Learning Support Team...Level 1

English as Another Language (EAL) Team.Level
1 Music Team..Level 1 Arabic
Classrooms...Level 2 Library
Team.Level 2 Art Team..
.Level 2 Islamic Studies.Level 3
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Ground Floor
PE TEAM
PE TEAM
COUNSELORS
ENTRANCE TO ECE
RECEPTION
MAIN ENTRANCE
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First Floor
MUSIC TEAM
MUSIC TEAM
EAL TEAM
EAL TEAM
Entry from spiral staircase
LS TEAM
ITC TEAM
ITC TEAM
LS TEAM
ES OFFICE
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Second Floor
Library
Entry from spiral staircase
ART TEAM
ART TEAM
ES OFFICE