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!