Back to School Night Mrs. Kaplan, Fourth Grade, room 209

2014-2015

AGENDA:

1. Welcome: Homeroom Parents 2. About Me 3. Curriculum Overview 4. Questions & Answers

Please fill out the Student Information Card and any other forms on your child’s desk. Enjoy the letter from your child & feel free to write back on the blue stationery.

About Me

• Teacher

• Mother

• New pet owner

• Life-long Learner

About My Classroom

www.wssd.org/j.kaplan

Curriculum Overview: Math

MATH IN FOCUS

• Digital Resources – Think Central https://www-k6.thinkcentral.com/ePC/start.do

(login: Parent4; password: wssdmath) – Student textbook, workbook, videos, manipulatives

• Big Concepts – Place Value/Number Theory/Estimation – Multidigit Multiplication & Division – Fractions – Geometry

• Math Facts – Please review with your child until mastered – Addition/Subtraction (40 problems in under 2 minutes) – Multiplication/Division (40 problems in under 2 minutes)

• Homework – – Workbook or Extra Practice worksheets (M – Th) – Weekly Timed Quiz – Enrichment

• Packet • Problem of the Week • Special Projects

Curriculum Overview: Reading

READING WORKSHOP • Units of Study

– Building a Reading Life – Following Characters into Meaning (Fiction) – Informational and Literary Nonfiction – Historical Fiction – Test Prep – Interpretation Book Clubs

• Components – Read-alouds – Mini Lessons – Independent Reading/Conferencing

• Book Baggie - Reading logs, 2-3 just right books, stickies • Reading Journal – long writes, notes, books read

– Share

• Assessments – Differentiated Reading Level (Fountas & Pinnell) – 3x per year – 97% reading accuracy, strong fluency, & – demonstrates ability to comprehend and interpret text – Skill Mastery – pre & post test every unit

Curriculum Overview: Language Arts

Reading Street

• Spelling

– Differentiated Lists

– Homework • Monday – Menu A

• Tuesday – Menu B (1-10)

• Wednesday – Menu B (11-20)

• Thursday – pre-test

• Grammar

Curriculum Overview: Writing

WRITING WORKSHOP • Units of Study

– Personal Narrative – Opinion Essay – Nonfiction Article – Academic Writing/Test Prep

• Other Genres – Fables – Poetry – Commercials – Creative writing – Blogs

CURSIVE

Curriculum Overview: Social Studies

• Map Skills • World Geography

– 7 Continents – 5 Oceans

• Pennsylvania – Geography – Government – History

• US Geography – States & Regions – Landforms

• Time For Kids – current events

Curriculum Overview: Science

• Land and Water (Sweeney)

• Motion & Design; Astronomy (Kaplan)

• Electricity & Circuits (Berman)

• Geography (Knight)

Curriculum Overview: Technology

• Resources – Tech Center

– Laptop Carts

– iPad Carts

• Applications – Microsoft Word

– Mavis Beacon (typing)

– Microsoft Powerpoint

– MovieMaker/iMovie

– Whiteboard Apps (Explain Everything; Show Me)

Curriculum Overview: Other Opportunities

• Fieldtrips – Tyler Arboretum, Harrisburg, Art Museum, Pennsbury Manor

• Music Lessons – string & band

• Support – IST, Word Study, Reading Specialist

• Enrichment – Chess Club, Scratch/STEM, International Studies

• Special Events – Turkey Bowl, Final Fourth

Mr. Peterkin’s Reminders

• Fall Conference sign-ups will be completed online. More information mid to late-October.

• Please sign Bus Code of Conduct Agreement

• If you haven’t done so already, visit the parent portal to sign student information, media release, internet acceptable use forms.

• BTS presentations will be saved as a PDF file on teacher websites

• Dismissal/Absence pads available

Questions

Thank you for coming! Here’s to a wonderful year!