Back to School NightRoom 205 - Mrs. Finley

4th Grade 2019-2020

Meet Mrs. Finley★ BA in Elementary Education and Social Studies from

Spring Arbor University, Spring Arbor, Michigan, May, 2004

★ Masters in Information and Library Science from Clarion University, May 2013

★ Fifteenth year of teaching-first through fourth grades★ Thirteenth year teaching here at EP-almost all in fourth

grade★ Husband, Scott works for Justice Department★ Two kids-Brett, 23, IUP Grad, and Emma, 21, PCT Grad★ Love sports of all sorts, READING, travel, movies, music,

and most of all spending time with my family and 4! pets-1 dog named Kaia, and 3 cats named Tigger, Niko, and Jadie

Meet Miss Sibiga★ PDS Intern with Penn State★ Currently pursuing BA in Elementary Education.

Graduating in May, 2020 :) ★ Associates Degree from Raritan Valley Community

College in Elementary Education, 2015★ New Jersey runs through my blood, but my heart is in

Happy Valley ★ Directed a daycare center in Bellefonte for 4 years★ Proud sister of two brothers in the US Navy, proud auntie

to my niece and nephew, AND proud dog mama to my yorkie, Savi-Lynn

★ Lover of makeup & fashion, coffee, health & fitness, the beach, reading, home decor, party planning, and family time!

Daily Schedule in Room 205Time of Day Subject

8:15-9:05 Specials

9:05-10:00 Meeting/Circles & Writer’s Workshop

10:00-11:00 Math

11:00-12:30 Word Study/Mentor Sentences/Reader’s Workshop

12:30-1:00 Lunch

1:00-1:30 Recess

1:35-1:55 Number Corner

1:55-2:55 Social Studies/Science

2:55-3:00 Clean up/Assignments/Dismissal

Specials Schedule

Day of Cycle Schedule

Day 1 Library 8:15-9:05

Day 2 Art 8:15-9:05

Day 3 Music 8:15-9:05

Day 4 STEM 8:15-9:05

Day 5 PE 8:15-9:05

Writer’s Workshop

★ Lucy Calkins Fourth Grade Writing Units of Study is the main writing resource★ The Writing Strategies Book by Jennifer Serravallo is also used★ First unit is realistic fiction/narrative★ Each workshop begins with a whole group mini-lesson followed by

independent writing time★ Small focus groups and one-on-one conferring occurs during independent

writing time

Reader’s Workshop★ Reader’s workshop model based on theories and practice from The Reading

Zone by Nancie Atwell, and The Book Whisperer and Reading in the Wild by Donalyn Miller

★ Resources used are Lucy Calkins Reading Units of Study, Notice & Note by Beers & Probst, and The Reading Strategies Book by Serravallo

★ Each workshop begins with Read Aloud and whole group mini-lesson ★ Remaining workshop time is spent independent reading books of choice;

meeting with teachers for small group lessons; conferring with teachers; and responding to reading with book reviews and read aloud reflections.

★ Letter Essays on books read independently will be due once a month, starting in October, usually as homework-more information will be sent via email.

★ Each student has a 30 book reading goal-with genre requirements

Word Study/Spelling

★ Will occur prior to Reader’s Workshop time★ Grammar will be addressed through mini-lessons and Mentor Sentence work★ SNAP words will be assigned each week to work on at home and study for

weekly spelling tests★ Students will also work on words at their spelling skill level using Words Their

Way resources in the classroom

Social Studies & Science

★ Topics we will study this year are:○ Native Americans and Healthy Habits & Astronomy○ Encounters & Exchanges and Simple Machines○ Pennsylvania and Geology

❖ If you have any expertise in any of these areas and would like to come in and share information with the students, and have your clearances, please contact me at kif11@scasd.org.

Math

★ We continue to use our math program called Bridges that includes a calendar math component called Number Corner.

★ Math workshop includes a variety of whole-group lessons, partner work, individual work time, games, and math discussions that the students will engage in throughout each unit.

★ A math letter will be sent home at the start of each unit so you know what skills we are beginning to work on.

Homework★ Reading is required each night-at least 20 minutes-this counts as one star★ If math homework is sent home it is also a “must do” and should be returned as

soon as completed-this also counts as one star per page★ Weekly All-Star bookmarks for other homework choices

○ Flexible choices for nightly homework○ One star per activity-earn stars for whole class reward○ Letter Essays and other projects will be assigned throughout the year ○ All-Star homework will begin next week. Will be given out each Monday and

due Friday morning, with parent signature confirming work before handing in.○ Any and all homework and notes will be brought home daily in the yellow

home folder-the yellow assignment book should be inside with any notes or updates. Students should return the yellow folder & assignment book to school every morning.

Technology★ The students have one-to-one Chromebooks again this year. Each student is

assigned a Chromebook for the year that we will utilize often throughout the day.

★ Some of the websites we will use include Google Classroom, Google Drive (documents, presentations, etc.), Email, Seesaw, Padlet, Khan Academy, Kahoot, Newsela, Book Creator, and Go Noodle.

★ The students are working through the 4th grade digital challenges to build technology skills and practice important digital citizenship behaviors.

Communication★ Most classroom updates will be sent via email and some quick reminders with the

Remind App-please sign up for Remind with the instructions at your table before you leave!

★ Conference sign ups will be sent with SignUp Genius approximately 2 weeks prior to conference time.

★ Paper notes regarding other school activities will come home daily in the yellow folder★ The classroom website has information and updates on everything about Room 205★ The students will be using Seesaw to share classroom learning-once we get that up and

running you will receive email instructions on how to access your student’s posts.★ School number: 814-231-1170★ Email: kif11@scasd.org

Thank you!

★ We are a Mindful Classroom! We will be practicing Mindfulness in our classroom every day

★ In particular-if your child will be taking an alternate way home you must send in a note with instructions otherwise they must go the normal way home that we have listed

★ Students are allowed to bring in a birthday treat for the class-there is a severe peanut allergy in the room.