Welcome to Fourth Grade!

Welcome to Music• Mrs. Wilson, our music teacher, will present

info regarding the “RECORDER” unit• Each student has already brought home a

paper about the unit including the importance of the unit and suggestions about where to purchase a recorder.

• Recorders need to be at school by Sept. 23

“To begin with the end in mind means to start with a clear understanding of your destination. It means to know where you’re going so that you better understand where you are now and so that the steps you take are always in the right direction.” Stephen R. Covey

Class of 2022

3 Key Ideas for Parents About the Common Core – Part 1

(Parent Handout)

Thinking DeeplyThe Common Core emphasizes critical thinking. It requires students to analyze more, discuss more, evaluate more,

justify more and explain their thinking & understanding deeply, especially in writing.

Take-Away: Really thinking deeply is hard. Let it BE hard, help them talk it out.

Integrating LearningThe Common Core emphasizes learning across disciplines (reading with math & social studies standards combined

into one task). Students spend more time working together with different settings, structures & tools.

Take-Away: Problems & solutions happen every day in the real world.

Showing How They KnowThe Common Core emphasizes proof & evidence. While some memorization will always be necessary, the days of

rote memorization without understanding are gone. Assessments in the classroom will reflect this type of learning.

Take-Away: The new tests will require students to explain how they know.

3 Key Ideas for Parents About the Common Core – Part 2Supporting the Common Core at Home Ask *why* when children tell you they want something or want to do or not do something.Use the word *because* after “No” or “Not tonight…” Give reasons – you to them and them to you. Encourage questions & explore answers (especially questions whose answers are not yes or no). Explain & discuss issues or problems in your house, neighborhood, & community. Brainstorm solutions. Compare how things are alike and different – videos, movies, food,… Look for patterns.Describe & categorize stuff. Tell your children what you value & why. Encourage & celebrate opinions.

Taken from: www.helloliteracy.blogspot.com and revised.

Year at a Glance 2013-2014 Grade 4 WCPSS (Jennifer Donaldson, Briarcliff Elementary)Quarter 1 Quarter 2 Quarter 3 Quarter 4

Reading fiction- 4 weeksnonfict text structure 4 wks historical fiction 3 wks test prep 3 wks

character anaysis- 5 wks research 5 wks

themes across texts 2 wks content reading 5 wks

main idea/details text features social issues 4 wks collaborative discussiontext reference specific vocab book clubs multimeaning wordsinference main idea/details poetry/drama genre differencesdecoding accuracy reading rate expressiontheme text structure complex themes main idea/detailscharacter root/affixes interpreting text researchpoint of view interpret charts/graphs first/second account ask questionscompare/contrast integrate text genre differences interpret infomultisyllable multiple resources symbolism/fig language word analysisroot/affixes paraphrase literary devices text structurebuild theories explain concepts point of view themeask questions research projects connectionsgroup discussion formal vs informal authors reasons

Writing writers workshop 2 wks expository opinion pieces 8 wks persuasive piece 4 wks

narratives 6 wksinformation 3 wks- science text to support revisiting genres 3 wks

author study research 6 wks- social st. idioms/proverbs appropriate todetails type 1 page/sitting facts/details task, purpose,

intro/conclusionillustrations/tech enhance opinions audience

story elements intro/conclusion conclusion statement writing processcapitalization evidence/support punctuation for effectconventions linking words homonymsmultimeaning words pronouns simile/metaphordialogue/quote marks progressive verb tense modual auxilariestransition words antonyms/synonymsediting/revising paragraphscommas details/spec vocabsequence

Math Place Value Strat. For Division Area/Perimeter Decimals

Multi DigitMultiplicative Comparisons Patterns Measurement

Add/Sub Problem Solving Equivalent Fractions Line PlotsFactors Lines/Angles/Measure Compare Fractions Grade 5 prepStrag. For MultiplicationCircles/Angles Add/Sub/Mult Fractions

2D figures/symmetryUnit 3, 5, Unit 7, 1, 4, 2, 5 Unit 2, 8,9,11 Unit 11, 6, 12

Science Animal Studies Earth Materials Magnets/Electricity Landforms

Social StudiesHistory Government EconomicsCulture/Geo/Environ Literacy

Parent Handout

1. Reading• Literature• Informational • Foundational Skills

2. Writing3. Speaking and Listening4. Language

Four strands

The Daily Five

Reading is taught through small group instruction, whole group instruction, and the Daily Five model.

The Daily Five provides opportunities for independent, meaningful reading and writing practice. During this time the students will engage in independent literacy-based activities.

Assessment is ongoing and will be administered through observation, demonstrating an understanding of concepts presented during the Daily Five rotations, as well as fluency tests, quizzes, written work, and tests.

5 Components

o Read to Selfo Read to Someoneo Listen to Readingo Word Worko Work on Writing

This year we will also use “Team Time” to differentiate our reading and writing instruction.

Standards for Mathematical Practice

Standards for Mathematical Practice include:1. Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them2. Reason abstractly and quantitatively3. Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others4. Model with mathematics5. Use appropriate tools strategically6. Attend to precision7. Look for and make use of structure8. Look for and express regularity in repeated reasoning

How we teach math….

Math is taught in our classrooms through…

Small stationsSmall group practiceWhole group practiceGamesIndividualized instructionWritten practicePush ins and Pull outs

Areas of Focus:• Rocks and Minerals• Landforms• Animal Studies• Magnetism and Electricity

Science instruction continuesto be inquiry-based

New to social studies is the exploration of content through five strands as we study North Carolina.

Five strands include:• History• Geography and Environmental Literacy• Civics and Government• Culture• Economics and Personal Financial Literacy

PAWS Behavior

Practice Safety Act Responsibly Work Hard Show Respect

Report Card – part 1 (Parent Handout)Student performance descriptionsStudent performance is shown with levels of 1 to 4 to indicate whether the student has met the expectations set by the state in the Standard Course of Study and to indicate whether the student has the necessary skills and concepts to be successful in the next quarter or next grade. Teachers use a variety of assessments which include observations and evidence collected throughout the grading period to determine the student’s level of proficiency. The descriptors for each level have been aligned to the expectations of the new Standard Course of Study (Common Core State Standards and Essential Skills) for all content areas.Level 4 - Exemplary Student consistently demonstrates an in-depth understanding of the standards, concepts, and skills taught during this reporting period.Level 3 - Proficient Student consistently demonstrates an understanding of the standard, concepts, and skills taught during this reporting period.Level 2 - Approaching Proficiency Student is approaching an understanding of the standards, concepts, and skills taught during this reporting period.Level 1 - Non-ProficiencyStudent does not yet demonstrate an understanding of the standards, concepts, and skills taught during this reporting period.

Report Cards – part 2Conduct and work habitsConduct and work habits will receive performance indicators separate from the content area. In reporting on conduct, the teacher can indicate whether the student meets expectations in cooperating with others, respecting others, and observing rules and procedures. In reporting on work habits, the teacher can indicate whether the student uses time wisely, listens carefully, completes assignments, writes legibly, works independently or seeks help when needed, and completes work. The following descriptors will be used:3 - meets expectations2 - inconsistently meets expectations1 - does not meet expectationsSpecialsYour student will also receive a report of the student’s progress in the specials (Art, Music, and PE) at the end of each semester. The report is provided by the Specialist teaching that area.CommentsThe elementary report card provides one way for the teacher to communicate with the student and parent about the student's success in meeting the state standards for that grade and reporting on the student's classroom behavior and work habits. Parents may request a conference with the teacher to discuss their student’s progress and ways to support their learning in and out of school. http://www.wcpss.net/what-we-teach/curriculum/elem-report-card.html

Help Your Child Learn at Home (Parent Guide handout)

Try to create a quiet place for your child to study, and carve out time every day when your child can concentrate. You should also try to sit down with your child at least once a week for 15 to 30 minutes while he or she works on homework. This will keep you informed about what your child is working on, and it will help you be the first to know if your child needs help with specific topics. Additionally, here are some activities you can do with your child to support learning at home:

English Language Arts & Literacy ■ Urge your child to use logical arguments to defend his or her opinion. If your child wants a raise in

allowance, ask him or her to research commonsense allowance systems and, based on that research, explain reasons why, supported by facts and details.

■ Talk about the news together. Pick one story in the news, read it together, and discuss with your child what it means.Mathematics

■ Ask your child to compare numbers using phrases like “times as much.” For example, if the family cat weighs 8 lbs. and the family dog weighs 56 lbs., how many times as much does the dog weigh?

■ Ask your child to help you compare fractional amounts — for example, if one recipe calls for 2⁄3 of a cup of oil, but another recipe calls for 3⁄4 of a cup of oil, which recipe calls for more oil? (In 5th grade, your child will learn ways to determine just how much more oil.)

*HOMEWORK NOTE: If your child is taking longer than 50 minutes to complete nightly homework, please stop the homework and write the teacher a note. As a team, we expect students to read at least 20 minutes a night. (Studies have shown that students who read every night for 20 or more minutes improve their comprehension and fluency. )

We have a few possible ideas waiting for approval! Watch for more details!

• Symphony Trip is March 20th. • Possible trip to downtown Raleigh government

buildings and museums.• Possible science experience. • For safety and security, we would like quite a few

parent volunteers on our downtown Raleigh trip. No parents are allowed on the Symphony Trip due to space limitations.

Field Trips

Questions?!

Thanks for coming! We look forward to a great year with

your children! Mrs. Donaldson, Mr. Hughes,

and Mrs. Rosado