Welcome to 4th Grade

Teacher/Parent Communication*Conferences: Oct 9th/10th; March 19th/20th

*Weekly Whale Watch & Talk 203 Messages*Monthly grade level newsletters sent by email and updated on 4th grade website

*Assignment notebook

ConferencesParents need to use their Portal Access Key to log onto the conference scheduling tool.Families will be notified when the conferencing system PTC Wizard is online - sometime in September.Then parents using their Portal Access Key will be able to login and schedule conferences with their childs teachers.Parents should sign up for conferences with their homeroom teacher. Information about your childs progress will be communicated.

Introducing

Introducing.Highlands Heroes!

CHERYLC Night4Highlands Heroes areRespectfulResponsibleSafeKind

These are the core values that will guide our behavior expectations throughout the building.

Curriculum NightCURR Night ----CORE VALUES----5Highlands Heroes Core ValuesCore ValuesHallwaysBathroomRecessLunch RoomArrival/DismissalRespectfulSoft Voice/SilentQuiet feetHands, feet and body to selfRespect others belongings Follow ALL adult directionsSilentRespect privacy of othersHands, feet and body to selfTake turns with equipmentFollow ALL adult directionsWork together to solve problemsSoft voice at designated times Hands, feet and body to selfFollow ALL adult directionsBe polite and use mannersSoft voiceHands, feet and body to selfResponsibleWalk with purposeStay with your classPick up after yourselfGo, flush, wash and return to classKeep bathroom cleanTell an adult if there is a problemLine up quietly at bell or whistle If unable to solve problem, seek recess supervisorTalk calmly to people near youClean up your space of all garbageRaise hand for helpZip backpacksPut everything on hook or shelfSafeSingle file lineWalk Face forwardStay on the rightOne stair at a timeKeep feet on floorUse bathroom properlyWash your hands Use equipment appropriately Stay within designated areasHands, feet and body to selfKeep feet on floor Eat own foodWalk in gym and hallwaysWalk at all timesLine up upon arrivalEnter/exit through assigned door in a single file lineKindBe courteousBe patientBe helpfulUse kind words Be politeBe patientIncludes othersEncourage othersBe a good sportUse kind wordsBe helpfulBe politeUse kind wordsBe politeBe patientUse kind wordsCurriculum Night

Curr Night6 Visual SupportsCurriculum Night

Volume Meter PostersThese posters will be hanging with the expectation posters throughout the buildingCommon Area volume meter posters

7Equipping our Students with Super PowersExplicit teaching of expectations in a structure that fits into your schedule and classroom culture (through class meetings, when introducing Bully Backpack, before entering common areas of the building, etc)

Constant review of expectations throughout the year

Teachable momentsCurriculum Night

8Holding Heroes Accountable Curriculum Night

9

Where does this fit with HOM?Anchor Lessons

Infusion of Language throughout curriculum

Self-Reflection

Mathematical PracticesCurriculum Night

11Habits of Mind 4th Grade Focus(Key words and ideas to remember)

Thinking and Communicating with Clarity and Precision: Be clear! Striving for accurate communication in both written and oral form

Taking Responsible Risks: Venturing out! Being adventurous and trying new things.

Questioning and posing problems: How do you know? Interested, quest, clarifying, pondering, inference, predicting, seeking, investigative, curious

Class MeetingsReading and Writing

Instructional Shifts in ELA

Because of the Common Core Standards, instruction will need to shift, or change, in the ways identified on the slide (6 shifts). Below, we have outlined some things students will need to do to address each shift:Read a balance of fiction and nonfiction:Read more nonfiction textsKnow the ways nonfiction texts can be put together (structured)Enjoy and discuss the details of nonfiction texts2. Learn about the world by readingLearn about science and social studies concepts through reading. Handle primary source documents3. Read more challenging material closelyRe-readRead material at comfort level AND work with more challenging reading materialUnpack textHandle frustration and keep persisting (have stamina)4. Discuss reading using evidenceFind evidence to support arguments.Form judgments.Discuss what the author is doing and saying (authors craft and authors message)5. Write nonfiction using evidenceMake arguments in writing.Compare multiple texts in writing.6. Increase academic vocabularyLearn the words that they can use in college and career.Get smarter at using the language of power (high utility words words that are found in lots of reading material, like analyze and evaluate).

Source: Engage New York Parent Resources15LANGUAGE SPEAKING & LISTENINGBalanced Literacy BlockREADING WRITING FOUNDATIONAL SKILLSREADING WRITING LANGUAGE FOUNDATIONAL SKILLS SPEAKING & LISTENING READING WRITING LANGUAGE FOUNDATIONAL SKILLS SPEAKING & LISTENING Literacy is the ability to construct meaning and manipulate language for a variety of purposes through reading, writing, and speaking and listening. Therefore, students will engage in a balanced literacy block so that they construct a secure foundation to emerge as readers and writers.

Resources have been chosen to support the instruction and student learning that will take place during the literacy block.16

VocabularySystematic approach to teaching vocabulary using Greek and Latin prefixes, bases, and suffixesFocus on key roots and strategies for deciphering words and their meanings across all content areas

Using the resource, Building Vocabulary, students willlearn the meaning of Greek and Latin prefixes, bases, and suffixes, which form 90% of the multisyllabic words in English,build essential strategies to use roots to unlock the meanings of unknown words, andreinforce learning with a wide variety of robust activities.

Through word study, students will learn vocabulary that will support their comprehension and learning in all content areas.17Mathematics CurriculumNaperville Community Unit School District 203 math curriculum is now in its second year of full implementation of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for Mathematics.Each grade level will focus on defined critical areas in mathematical content.All grade levels will infuse the Standards for Mathematical Practice into math instruction.

Teacher Note: This slide is provided for general overview to introduce parents to the term Common Core State Standards (if they havent heard it already!) Highlight that the standards are two-fold: Each grade level has CONTENT standards (the what) and PRACTICE standards (the how).18Math

4th Grade Areas of FocusDevelop understanding and fluency with multi-digit multiplicationDevelop understanding of dividing to find quotients involving multi-digit dividendsDevelop an understanding of fraction equivalenceAdd and subtract fractions with like denominatorsMultiplication of fractions with whole numbersUnderstand decimal notation for fractions and compare decimal fractionsDescribe, analyze, compare and classify two-dimensional shapes based on propertiesUnderstand concept of anglesSolve measurement conversions

Teacher Note: **Critical Areas of Focus for 4th Grade are found on page 27 in your Common Core Binder. A few topics were expanded using the overview on page 28 for parent clarity.20Number TalksNumber Talks is used to develop students thinking of accurate, efficient and quick strategies that can be completed mentally. Students develop flexible thinking skills that build on the foundation of mathematics. Classes spend five to ten minutes and focus on the discussion of strategies, not necessarily getting the right answer. Students are encouraged to share their thinking which develops communication skills for all students.

Number Talks is a new addition to our math block this year. Number Talks is a program that spans K-5, and will support the development of students facility and efficiency with mental computation. 21Social Science: Regions of the United StatesNortheast SoutheastMidwestWestSouthwest

22The four concepts with guiding questions which will drive instruction for each region.PlaceWhat are the human made and natural characteristics of the region? What are the advantages/disadvantages for human inhabitation in this region?What defines a region?Location Where is the region located?23Concepts with Guided Questions (cont.)MovementWhat physical/human movements helped form this region?How has geography affected interaction between this region and other regions?

Human Interaction with EnvironmentHow have people of the past and present interacted with this region? How do people adapt to the region and depend upon it?24Science Curriculum

Matter(Physical Science)

observe and define solids, liquids, and gasesconservation of matterinvestigate effects of temperature on matterexplore chemical changesdesign and carry out experimentsWatery Earth(Earth Science)consider water resources globally and locallyconservation and protection of fresh waterwater use in our own lives

NEW! STEM-Mindstorms4-6 week robotics unit focusing on bridging science, engineering, technology and mathCollaborative Workers (students work in teams)Teams work at their own paceHabits of Mind:Thinking FlexiblyPersisting

Learn to think, work and act like a scientistTake accurate notesBe scientifically specificObserveFollow directionsThink flexibly!Community

29Community Contributorswork with partners/groupsshare information and ideascome to agreementreflectsynthesize new learning

Collaborative Group Skills include:30Band / OrchestraFull Orchestra Tuesdays from 11:35-12:15Full Band - Wednesdays from 11:35-12:15

Group lesson schedule will be coming home.Schedules will also be posted in classroom.

Emails: Band Sharon Oliver soliver@naperville203.orgOrchestra: Connie Reynolds creynolds@naperville203.org Kathy Wunsch - Orchestra Sub kwunsch@naperville203.org Tips for Parentsdiscuss your childs day - specificsreview and initial assignment notebookcheck & clean out Take-Home Folder dailyprovide a quiet reading environment for thirty minutes dailypractice basic math facts and mental math regularlyvisit IXL and Xtra Math sites

4th Grade TestingPerformance Series:Online- Reading and MathFirst testing dates: September 10th and 11th, 20142nd testing window: January 12-30th, 2015 (~two hours total)3rd testing window: April 20th-May 8th, 2015 (~two hours total)PARCCNEW! ONLINE! 1st Testing Window: March 16th-26th, 20152nd Testing Window: May 11th-22nd, 2015NAEP Science/National Reporting: February 8th, 2015334th Grade Testing CONTINUED*COGATS: Cognitive Abilities TestVerbal (Language) Quantitative (Math) APTITUDE February 23rd-26th, 2015*Iowa Tests NEW! Select students will take IOWAs, based on CoGATs (for Gifted Identification Process)Math and Reading skillsApril 6th-10th, 2015

Field TripsFine Arts Civic Opera at North Central College: Oct. 7th Naper Settlement: November (date TBD)Naperville Childrens Museum Levers and Pulleys: January 28th or 29th Water Reclamation Plant: Jan./Feb.Outdoor Education: May 14th and 15th (Training May 12th)Naperville Century Art Walk: Mid-May

35Websites:Class: Canvashttp://naperville.instructure.com (login as observer/parent, or students can log in from home)Building: Highlandshttp://schools.naperville203.org/highlands/District: 203 http://www.naperville203.orgParent Resources

Parent RoadmapsELA:http://www.cgcs.org/domain/36Math:http://www.commoncoreworks.org/cms/lib/DC00001581/Centricity/Domain/149/ParentGuide_Math_1.pdf

Engage New York Toolkit for Parents and Familieshttp://www.engageny.org/parent-and-family-resources

PTA Parent Guideshttp://pta.org/parents/content.cfm?ItemNumber=2910

PARCC Resources for Parentshttp://www.parcconline.org/for-parents

Teacher Note: If you would like to look at some more information on Common Core, and how you can support the learning of your students at home, please visit one or all of these websites. The following resources can be shared with parents if they would like additional information about the Common Core State Standards.

Teachers may also choose to download and copy select materials to share with parents, if they choose to do so.

PARCC is one of two assessment consortiums working to design the assessments for Common Core. Illinois is a PARCC state. The exams will be quite different that what any of us had in school. If you are interested in learning more about these assessments, the PARCC site has some test items for certain grade levels and some explanations of what the items entail.

37In OUR Classroom, Highlands Heroes are Respectful Follow the Golden Rule Use manners AND take turns Listen to the person speaking (and respond to them!)

Responsible Pay attention Do your best Turn your work in on time Take care of ALL materials Be open to new learning

Safe Walk Hands to yourself Chair on the ground

Kind Help others when they need it Be friendly Share

Working It Out Together

What does it look like?

Sitting or standing alone

Watching not doing

Being sent away from a team activity

Being ignored

On a team/activity but ignored

How does the affected person feel?

Sad

Left out/ Not Wanted/ Invisible

Angry

Depressed

Confused

Bored

Annoyed (Not Noticed)

What is the problem?

Excluding classmates at recess

Ways to solve this problem include...

Adjust rules to allow for changes that included all interested participants

Be aware of excluded students

Understand Highland school rules: You have the right to be included in all work and

play activities.

Invite them to join YOUR game.

Let them play! Let them play! Let them play! (Let everyone on the team know so they are not ignored)

Walk away, find someone else to play with.

Our goal as a class is to (feel good words)...

No one is excluded from activities. By involving all students, we can make new friends, learn new things, and collaborate successfully.

Date: 12/11/2007 Grade Level: 4KR