FOURTH GRADE

1
WELCOME TO BACK-TO-SCHOOL-NIGHT

• FOURTH GRADE
• KERBY ELEMENTARY
• 2013 2014
• Bill Pfeuffer

2
TONIGHTS AGENDA

• 645-715 Welcome
• 720 800 Homeroom, Language Arts, and Math
• 800 815 Rotate to Science (Room 10) to meet
  with Ms. Walsh.
• 815 830 Rotate to Social Studies (Room 11)
  to meet with Ms. Zens.

3
4th GRADE TEAM CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT AND HOMEWORK

• Philosophy of Teaching Positive reinforcement
  with high expectations
• Classroom Rules and Consequences
• Kerby rules/color flip chart/ownership of room
• DEBUG system
• FISH
• Homework Will vary
• Forty minutes math, spelling, reading/literature,
  book projects, various assignments (check
  planners daily)
• Twenty minutes reading at home every night

4
ACTIVITIES FOR FOURTH GRADE

• Student Council
• Choir
• Enrichment activities at lunchtime
• Safety/Service

5
Field Trips

• Lansing trip SpringTBA.
• Henry Ford Museum If I Had A Hammer taken in
  the late Spring.
• North H. S. Planetarium.

6
COMMUNICATION

• Assignment books (Planners) should be
  signed/reviewed daily by parents.
• Weekly Report Summary of past week and a look
  ahead to upcoming events/tests will be posted on
  Mr. Pfeuffers web page.
• Conferences December and March.
• Email is most efficient.
• By appointment as needed.
• Phone calls, carbon-copy notes, voicemail.

7
Departmentalizing

• Ms. Walsh Science (plus focused writing)
• Ms. Zens Social Studies (informational reading
  and writing) and Spelling
• Mr. Pfeuffer Math
• MTSS All teachers
• Switching begins September 11th

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TEACHER CONTACT INFO

• Located on Kerby website
• Bill Pfeuffer william.pfeuffer_at_gpschools.org
• Voicemail 432-5250
• Kristen Zens kristen.zens_at_gpschools.org
• Jennafer Walsh jennafer.walsh_at_gpschools.org

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DAILY SCHEDULE Monday

• School begins 905
• Announcements 910
• 1st Period 910-1000
• Rotation to 2nd Period 1000-1050
• 3rd Period 1050-1140
• Homeroom 1140-1156
• Recess/Lunch 1156-1244
• Tardy bell 1246
• Language Arts 1250-155
• Special 205-245
• Language Arts/Wrap-up 245-335
• School ends 338

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DAILY SCHEDULE T-Fri
School begins 825 Announcements 825-830 1st
Period 830-920 Rotation to 2nd
Period 920-1010 3rd Period 1010-1100 MTSS
Switch 1100-1120 Recess/Lunch 1120-1227 Tard
y bell 1232 Writing 1235-1255 Language
Arts 1255-150 Special 150-235 Language
Arts/Wrap-up 240-330 School ends 338
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SPECIAL CLASSES

• Specials from 150-235 Tues-Fri
• Special from 205-245 Monday
• A Day Library/Spanish
• B Day Music
• C Day Gym
• D Day Art
• Computer Lab TBD

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COMPONENTS OF FOURTH GRADE LANGUAGE ARTS

• Spelling Practice
• Grammar/DOL
• Reading Workshop
• Making Meaning

• Read Aloud
• IDR (independent reading)
• Wordly Wise
• 6 1 Writing Traits
• GP Writing
• Writing Workshop

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SPELLING

• Zaner-Bloser Spelling Program
• New spelling list weekly
• Sentences assigned weekly
• Puzzles/Games
• Alphabetizing
• Regular testing with notice (Friday)
• Spelling emphasized and assessed in writing
  projects

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READING

• Genres
• Narrative identify and describe poetry, myths,
  legends, fantasy, and adventure. Inferences and
  context clues studied.
• Informational identify informational text
  patterns in autobiography/biography, personal
  essay, and newspaper
• Possible titles we will read Paddle to the Sea,
  The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, The
  Westing Game, Mystery on Mackinac Island, and
  Because of Winn-Dixie.
• Comprehension assessed through written questions,
  discussions, and open-book quizzes.
• Reading Workshop
• Making Meaning Program

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SELF-SELECTED READING

• IDR (Independent Reading Time)
• Teacher Read Aloud
• Reading At Home (RAH!) every night for 20 minutes
  
• Book Bingo Bi-monthly book reports
• experience different genres
• selection of report activities
• allows students to read at their individual
  levels
• class presentations

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BOOK BINGO

• Bi-monthly book reports
• Experience different genres
• Choice of report activities
• Class presentations
• Awards!

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6 1 Writing Traits

• District-wide emphasis on writing instruction
• Student writing improves when writing traits are
  used in a systematic way throughout the school
• Provides a common language for students to use to
  write, revise and edit their work
• Traits are Ideas, Organization, Voice, Word
  Choice, Sentence Fluency, Conventions,
  Presentation

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WRITING

• Narrative myth, legend, fantasy, adventure,
  poetry
• Informational comparative piece, research
  project, directions, opinion, and letter
• DOL (Daily Oral Language) conventions
• Taught through mini-lessons and conferences
• Writing Packets/Journal/GP Writing focus
• Pen Pal and Around The World projects
• 6 1 Writing Traits
• Ideas, Organization, Voice, Word Choice, Sentence
  Fluency, Conventions, Presentation

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Everyday MathematicsMaterials

• Student Math Journal
• Study Link Masters
• Student Resource Book
• Geometry template

• Workbook stays at school unless assigned as
  homework.
• Homework book. Family letter and answer key at
  beginning of each unit.
• May be taken home for homework help.
• May be used for homework one issued per
  student.

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Math EverydayOverview

• Content Very challenging with differentiation
  options in all units.
• Focus Meeting the needs of all students
  (Reinforcement and building skills and
  confidence, to higher/above grade level
  challenge5th and 6th grade material-- with no
  ceilings).
• Pacing Brisk with a focus on spiraling coverage
  over repetitive mastery. Content and skills are
  recycled throughout the year. Less lecturing,
  more doing of the math. One section per day.
• Homework Most nights, try to avoid Fridays.
  Self-corrected. Grades not issued daily, but
  credit given for completed work and selected
  problems assessed.
• Assessments Frequent and varying, students will
  have announced mini-quizzes. Examples
  Chapter Test, Journals and Study Links, in-class
  work and extensions.
• Hands-on Students will need dry erase pens,
  calculators, flash cards.
• Keys to success
• Listen and focus in class
• Participate in the learning activities
• Complete the homework (and extensions)
• Parental involvement
• Math at home
• Use Links and Journal as study guides for Chapter
  Tests.
• Helpful Apps Math Motion WolframAlpha

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TESTING SCHEDULE

• NWEA September 10th - October 10th for Reading
  and Math.
• NWEA also given in Winter and Spring.
• MEAP October (2-3 day window)
• Language Arts
• Math
• Grosse Pointe Writing Assessment May

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MAKING THE GRADE

• A 100 C 78-79
• A 93-99 C 72-77
• A- 90-92 C- 70-71
• B 88-89 D 60-69
• B 82-87 U 59
• B- 80-81
• Current Report Cards
• ES Exceeding Standards (A)
• MS Meeting Standards (C to B/A-)
• AS Approaching Standards (C-/C)
• CA Concern Area (D and below)

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CLOSING COMMENTS

• Please sign up for your December conference
  tonight using the schedules outside the gym door
• Please sign up for class parties and room
  helpers!
• We will have a great year!