Welcome to 4th Grade!

Ms. Jennifer Hayes Reading and Spelling

Room 524

Homeroom 4-H• 8:25am – 8:45am *If any student arrives after 8:40 am, they

are to report to the main office to receive a late pass.• Morning routine includes unpacking belongings, handing in

notices, organizing work area, copying homework from the board, starting morning work, and listening to morning announcements.

• Students are required to present a note from a parent/guardian regarding any changes in their normal routine, such as leaving early, change in transportation, or attending after-school activities.

DAILY SCHEDULE

• Core 1: 8:45 - 9:40• Core 2: 9:40 -10:35• Core 3: 10:35 - 11:30• Lunch: 11:35 - 12:05• Special: 12:10 - 12:40• Core 4:12:45 -1:40(Snack)

• Core 5:1:40 - 2:35

Working Snack Time • There will be an optional 5-10 minute

working snack time during Core 4.• Only HEALTHY food items are permitted• No wet foods, candy, nut products or

foods that have been exposed to nuts. Provide napkins and utensils if needed.

• Snacks will not be permitted near the laptops.

• Please have your child eat breakfast daily!

Who is Ms. Hayes?• This is my 20th year teaching!• 4 years as a Kindergarten teacher • 1 year as a 3rd grade teacher • 10 years as a 5th grade teacher • 5 years as a 4th grade teacher• I have 3 children (2 girls and 1 boy)• I work close to home so that I can be involved in my

local community and school, and so that I can run my children around from activity to activity! (Just like all of you )

How Can I Be Contacted?Ms. Jennifer Hayes

• School phone: (908) 859-2022, ext. 3033

• E-mail: hayesj@gtsd.net (This is the fastest way to contact me and the fastest way you’ll get a response!)

I will do my best to get back to you within a reasonable time period

The Teaching Team

• Mrs. Austin: Special Education• Ms. Hayes: Reading• Ms. Marino: Social Studies• Mrs. Prostak: Math • Ms. Santini: Science• Ms. Simms: Special Education• Ms. Underhill: Writing• Ms. Wales: Math BSI• Ms. Wian: Language Arts BSI

Email •*The very best way to reach the team or individual teachers is by email.•*Emails are posted in the gtsd.net website and on the 4th grade wiki. When emailing teachers, please put the following important information:* Your child’s first and last name* Your child’s homeroom teacher’s name* Your question or concern

Assessments and Homework

• I run a “No Secrets” Classroom! That means no surprises on tests, quizzes or otherwise. The students will always be informed of what should be studied for assessments. No “pop” quizzes! However, assessment is ongoing, so classwork, homework and guided reading work count towards grade average.

• Check the www.gtsd.net website under “Students Resources”, then Greenwich School Wiki for all 4th Grade homework! Remember to click on the 4th Grade page link.

• Homework is posted here daily/ Your child is responsible for checking the Wiki and completing homework nightly.

Homework Policy • * Homework is expected to be completed on

time.• * A missed assignment =  a “Responsibility

Card”• * 3 missed assignments in one class =

detention• *Students will receive a “responsibility card” if

an assignment is missed. The card will be sent home to be signed by a parent. It will list the missed work.

Detention Policy • Detention is held on Tuesdays and

Thursdays immediately after school

• A form signed by the teacher assigning the detention and the principal will be sent home with the student in advance of a detention, with the detention date and cause for the detention.

• Parents are responsible for the student's transportation home from detention.

Absences and Homework

• *Students who are absent, due to illness, have one day for each day they are absent to complete missed work.

• **We encourage your child to look at the Wiki when home sick if they can.

• Work will not be given in advance for absences due to vacation. Please read the Student Handbook for this policy.

Curriculum: Aligned to the Common Core State Standards • Spelling: Spelling Connections Workbook• Online access to review games and lists are

forthcoming. We just received the license for this site!

• A complete program that allows for weekly differentiation based upon weekly pretest

results. • Incorporates spelling, reading, writing and

science and social studies!

WEEKLY SPELLING WORK!• Monday: Pretest in composition book- self correct/

word sort completed in class together on the Smart Board.

• M-Th: Workbook pages- guided instruction and practice; games on computer; Study words for homework every night!

• Thursday: Integrated writing practice with spelling words; Word Hunt integrating Science and Social Studies topics

• Friday: Test! Standardized test format- using the words in context to show understanding!

Online Homework for Reading

• There will be some online assignments for Reading.

• “RAZ Kids” is a new interactive Reading website we will be utilizing this year. It is a tool for instructing your child at their reading level. More information to follow !

SHARED READING Whole Group: Focus on Reading Strategies

Combination of short stories (utilizing the Daybook), and class novels

1.Predicting2.Questioning3.Visualizing4.Identifying main idea, author’s purpose, point of view, etc.5.Inferring 6.Making Connections7.Summarizing

Other Reading Resources• Daybook of Reading and Writing- focus on

comprehension strategies students need to succeed. Uses short “snippets” of popular children's novels. High interest selections.

• Scholastic News- weekly news magazine- incorporates Language Arts Common Core Standards- focus on non- fiction text

• Employs the use of an interactive website and videos about cover stories are shown in class when available!

Example of Reading Responses

• Four- Door Organizer: Predict, Question, Clarify and Summarize

• Open-ended questions: Use RACE format- Restate the question to begin your answer Answer the question in your own words Cite examples from the text for support Extend your answer by making a connection• Reading response organizers: Venn diagrams,

charts, cloze reading, etc.

STRIVE for FIVE!!!

THE DAILY 5!

1.Word Work2.Writing Practice3.Read to Self4.Read with a Partner5.Listen to Readers (online activities –RAZ Kids)

GUIDED READING• Grouped according to the FALL F&P reading

assessment results!• Small group instruction: combination of

independent work and teacher lead lessons• Instruction provided by classroom teacher, in-

class support teacher, or through BSI• Guided Reading envelope should hold all guided

reading materials. Sometimes assignments will need to be finished for homework. Check the Wiki!

General Announcements

• Please replenish supplies as needed- we can always use donations of tissues and Clorox wipes!

• Please check over all completed homework• Please keep me informed of any difficulty your

child has with a homework assignment• Please communicate with me before a small

problem becomes a large one• Please encourage your child to always try their

best!

THANK YOU FOR COMING! THANK YOU FOR COMING! HAVE A WONDERFUL HAVE A WONDERFUL

EVENING!EVENING!

THANK YOU FOR COMING! THANK YOU FOR COMING! HAVE A WONDERFUL HAVE A WONDERFUL

EVENING!EVENING!

Please take your handout with Please take your handout with you!you!