WELCOME TO BACK-TO-SCHOOL NIGHT

Mrs. Van Riper4th Grade

BEFORE WE BEGIN ON CURRICULUM:

o More independent; emphasis on responsibility, respect, and setting goals

o Dare to dream it; work to achieve it.o Honor Roll (3.2 GPA) and Principal’s Award (4.0 GPA & all advanced

marks)o Assignments need to be turned in daily; weekly envelope helps

track behavior & assignments.o Avoid appointments and absences; hard to make up the class time.

If your child is absent, arrange to pick up work to complete at home.

o Infinite Campus Parent Portal is now available; it’s a constantly flowing/ongoing process putting in scores. Sign up in west computer lab.

o Haiku page has back-to-school info, parent letters, directions for book reports, links to websites.

IPADS & 21ST CENTURY LEARNING

VCPUSD greatly values technology in the classroom/schools.

iPads are provided for each child in our class, and with the iPads come expectations:

1. iPads go home so students may work on projects as part of their homework.

2. Your child’s iPad is intended for use by your child and NOT other family members.

3. iPads must come to school EACH DAY.4. iPads must return to school fully charged EACH DAY.5. A child’s citizenship grade (Responsibility) is negatively

affected when he/she fails to bring the iPad to school or does not bring it charged.

VALLEY CENTER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IS AN OFFICIAL “NO EXCUSES UNIVERSITY” SCHOOL.

WHAT IS NO EXCUSES UNIVERSITY?

“No Excuses University is a network of elementary, middle, and junior high

schools across the United States. These schools actively promote a

comprehensive model of college readiness to all students the moment

they begin elementary school.” (from

website)

 

Every class at Valley Center Elementary School has adopted a college or

university. Our adopted classroom university is California Polytechnical

State University of San Luis Obispo.

CHARACTER EDUCATION

Emphasis on:

Being respectful Being responsible Being caring Being healthy

Our Ambassador Program and School-wide Activities (on Early Release Days) support Character Education.

CLASS RULES

1. Show respect to others and their property.2. Follow instructions the first time given.3. Talk at appropriate times and use appropriate voices (raise hand).4. Be organized and ready to learn (pencils ready, sitting in seat, etc.)  

ConsequencesFirst warning Verbal warningSecond warning Pay points on point cardsThird warning Lose 10 minutes of recess Fourth warning Lose recess and teacher/parent/student

phone conferenceFifth warning Removal from class to principal’s officeSevere clause Removal from class to principal’s office

POSITIVE REINFORCEMENTS

Class PointsMarble Jar – Marbles are placed in a jar when the class,

as a whole, works quietly, demonstrates excellent behavior in assembly, walks appropriately to the library, etc. Reward - special afternoon activity

Individual PointsPoint cards – Given when students turn in their weekly

envelopes, spelling homework, reading logs. Used as currency in class for bathroom trips. May be redeemed at class store. Group Points

Table points – Given throughout the day to table groups demonstrating cooperative behavior. Reward – 15 minutes of free choice time beginning of next week.

8:30 - 8:35 Opening – Flag salute, attendance, and announcements

8:35 – 10:00 Language Arts – Daily warm ups, Reading Comprehension, Response to Literature, Grammar, Vocabulary, Word Analysis, and

Writing10:00 – 10:15 Recess10:15 – 11:00 Mathematics11:00– 11:45 Physical Education with Coach Proclivo11:45 – 12:25 Lunch12:25 – 12:45 Mathematics (cont.)12:45 – 1:30 Writing (cont.) and Universal Access (ELD,

intervention, enrichment)1:30 – 2:15 Reading – Guided readings, small groups, literature

circles2:15 - 3:00 Science/Social Studies/Art – Varies daily or

weekly

** Library is every other Tuesday from 12:50 – 1:20; Computer lab – Wednesdays 2:15 – 3:00

 

DAILY SCHEDULE

GRADING POLICY

•It is essential that students complete all assignments since missing work lowers a student’s overall scores.

•As mandated by our school district, test scores count for 50% of students’ scores, while practice work counts for 50%. Students complete more practice work, so tests will have a greater impact on a child’s grades.

•Most daily assignments will be marked by comment, a percentage score, or by the number of correct problems (e.g. + 45/50 correct).

•Classroom assignments that are given a star or a stamp have been completed in class with teacher help.

PROGRESS REPORTS (KEEPING YOU INFORMED)

Monday’s Manila Envelopes – First step in keeping track of how your child is doing in class (records behavior and any missing assignments).

Review the graded class work and homework that comes home in the envelope. The scored papers are a major part of report card grades.

Academic progress reports are sent home mid-quarter, as well as mini progress reports on several subjects about once a month.

BOOK REPORTS

Approximately 3 – 4 throughout the year

Assigned on a particular book genre Book reports are mostly at-home

assignments. Students are evaluated on content,

neatness, creativity, mechanics, and how well the student followed the directions.

Late book reports will lose grade points.

FIELD TRIPS

Fourth grade has two planned field trips:

College Bound Field Trip to an university planned for autumn.

Visit to Mission San Luis Rey or other historical landmark in spring 2015.

IPAD AND COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY

Students will work on interactive websites or apps such as Pages, Notability, iMovie, iXL Math, iXL Language, Khan Academy, Spelling City, Nook, and others. My fourth graders will use websites for research, word processing, and dictionary/thesaurus tools during class time as well as during computer lab.

Students will take STAR Reading/Math tests and AR tests via their iPads, as well as at the Learning Center.

iPads are used in my classroom throughout the day, primarily during Language Arts, Writing, Math, and Social Studies.

MATH TARGETED STANDARDS

Make sense of problems & persevere in solving them.

Reason abstractly. Construct viable arguments & critique the

reasoning of others. Model with mathematics. Use appropriate tools strategically. Attend to precision. Look for and make use of structure. Look for and express regularity in repeated

reasoning.

CURRICULUM: LANGUAGE ARTS

Spelling (including “challenge” words) Vocabulary Development Grammar Target Reading and annotation Reading Fluency (reading aloud with voice

inflection) Close reading for deeper knowledge Supporting argument with evidence from text Word analysis (homographs, homonyms, root words,

etc.) Figurative language (metaphor, simile, idioms, etc.)

STATE STANDARDS FOR READING:

1. Prepare for & participate effectively in a range of conversations/collaborations with diverse partners, building on others’ ideas; expressing their own clearly & persuasively.

2. Read closely to determine what the text says explicitly; make logical inferences from it; cite specific textual evidence.

3. Read/comprehend complex literary & informational texts independently & proficiently.

4. Write arguments/support claims in an analysis of substantive topics using valid reasoning/relevant/ sufficient evidence.

(50% Fiction, 50% Nonfiction)

LANGUAGE FRAMES (EXAMPLES):

Character: In the beginning, the character ____ was feeling _________ because ____________ (evidence).

The passage ________ is mostly about ______. One important detail is __________________.

The word ________ is a _________ (part of speech because it ____________ (characteristics).

From the author’s clues, I can infer __________. Based on _________ (evidence), I predict _______.

WRITING & WRITING STRATEGIES

• Annotation Techniques (District Adopted)• Cornell notetaking skills train students to

take Cornell notes and prepare them for middle school.

• 4th Grade Writing Emphasis:• Personal Narrative & Creative Narrative• Reports of Information; Expository• Argument with Evidence

CURRICULUM: SCIENCE

Units of Study:

Living things: ecosystems; food webs; etc.

Rocks and minerals; weather; volcanoes; earthquakes

Electricity and magnetism: circuits, energy, magnets, etc.

Scientific method; inquiry

CURRICULUM: SOCIAL STUDIES

Emphasis on:• Geography: Landscape of California• Native American Tribes of our state.• Spanish Explorers• Spanish Missions• Gold Rush• Statehood of California• Transportation: Transcontinental Railroad

PARENT PORTAL & HAIKU

Infinite Campus Parent Portal https://ic.vcpusd.net/campus/portal/valleycenter.jsp

Parents may view their child’s attendance, grades, and assignments.

Progress reports and report cards will be viewable. Parents may update emergency contact info: phone

numbers, etc. Parents may email teachers. Please note: The best day for up-to-date grade info

is Friday afternoon or Monday morning. Grading may be in progress during the week. Your child’s Monday Progress Envelope marks the missing work for the previous week.

HOW TO CONTACT ME:

o Email me with concerns or questions: vanriper.ka@vcpusd.org

o Or call me at 760-749-1631 ext. 276

BACK-TO-SCHOOL NIGHT INCLUDES:

Please visit the Scholastic Book Fair in the R-1 portable. Turn in the raffle ticket for $25 in books! School t-shirts are also available for $10.00.

Visit the computer lab in the west hallway (other side of the school near the front) to sign up for the iPad agreement and set up Parent Portal so you can have access to your child’s grades and progress reports.