1. Welcome to fourth grade in room 3 with Ms. Richardson While you are waiting, please: 1.Write your child a note on the index card to leave on their desk for them to read in the morning 2.Complete the student info card. 3.Complete the volunteer form (on the backside) if you would like to volunteer in our classroom this year.

2. A little bit about myself… My name is Kayla Richardson and I have been working in the education field for 4 years now. I am thrilled to be embarking on my second year here at Knob Hill Elementary in 4 th grade. I received both my Bachelor's degree in Liberal Studies and my multiple subject teaching credential from Cal State San Marcos. I am originally from Palm Desert, CA. I relocated to North County San Diego several years ago for college, and fell in love with it! I have been here ever since, and have no plans of ever leaving. Some of my hobbies include traveling, and spending time with my friends and family. I am also a huge sports fan. With the start of the school year, comes the start of football season and there is no better time of the year for me!

3. Daily Schedule Our most important part of the day is our morning instruction. Please just be mindful of this when your making doctors appointments, etc. Check HW/Morning Review8:45 - 9:00 Word Work/Vocab.9:00 – 9:20 Reading Comprehension9:20 – 9:50 Reading Groups9:50 – 11:15 Recess11:15 – 11:35 Math Instruction11:35 – 1:00 Lunch1:00 – 1:45 Writing 1:45 – 2:25 Writing/Science/S. Studies2:25 – 3:05 **Library is Thursday from 1:45-2:15. Books are due first thing in the morning on Thursday. **P.E. days are Tuesday/Friday from 11:35-12:15 and every other Wednesday from 12:15-12:55—remind your kiddos to wear their tennis shoes!

4. Behavior Expectations, Incentives and Consequences 4 Basic Classroom Rules: 1.Follow directions. 2.Keep hands, feet, and objects to yourself. 3.Be respectful of rights and property of others. 4.Use appropriate language. Incentives Individual: 1.Praise 2.Class Dojo, 3.Positive notes sent home Group: College group points Whole class: Marble jar Consequences Individual: 1.Warning 2.Loss of Dojo Points 3.Phone call/ note/ email home 4.Sent to discipline buddies classroom 5.Sent to office Group/Whole Class: Loss of points/marble

5.  It is a way students are rewarded for making good choices, solving their problem, staying on task, exhibiting the character trait in our “Journey to Success” character program, etc.  It runs for a week, and then I reset the points at the end of school on Friday.  If students have 90% or above positive points, then they get to choose from the treasure box at the end of the day on Friday.  Students can also loose points for not following directions, making poor choices, etc. http://classdojo.com http://classdojo.com/parent

6. Homework o Homework is given Monday-Thursday, without exceptions. o Read 20 minutes, and write half a page about what they read. o Math practice worksheets. o Homework agenda needs to be signed every night, and I will check it in the morning. o I am not a believer of giving a lot of homework. I believe the purpose is to keep them practicing whatever skills we are currently working on in class, not to keep them “busy”. o Homework should be meaningful.

7. We want our students to be: o Critical thinkers- critique others’ thinking and question the world around them. o Communicators- share their ideas, and also express their agreeance and disagreeance on an issue or topic in a knowledgeable, educated, and respectful fashion. o Collaborators- working independently many times is easier than working with others. We want students to be able to complete tasks with their peers by working efficiently and effectively together. o Creative thinkers- solve problems, however they see fit. Solve problems in a variety of ways using multiple strategies. Approach situations from different angles, and do not give up when the ONE strategy they tried did not work.

8. Language Arts 1. Focus on Fiction Making inferences Character analysis and evolution Determining theme Making connections 2. Focus on Non-Fiction (Science/Social Studies) Determining the main idea and details Summarizing text Use reasons as evidence to support ideas and speak knowledgably about topics Writing: 1. Informational 2. Opinion 3. Narrative Common Core

9. Math Place Value to 100,000,000 Addition/Subtraction of Large Numbers Double-Digit Multiplication Long Division Fractions and Decimals Geometric shapes Measurement

10. Switch in philosophy  inch wide and a mile deep. Teaching for conceptual understanding. Steering away from naked number problems, and moving toward problems in context which can be solved through a number of approaches. The ultimate goal hasn’t changed, we still want students to recognize patterns and be fluent in using algorithms, etc. But rather than give them a formula and require them to memorize it, we want students to explore with numbers and try to come up with their own strategies by using what they already know. At Home Ask students to explain their thinking to you. Refer to the classroom website for resources and tools. Use the websites provided for more practice, and as a guide through the common core shift. What does Common Core Math look like? Knob Hill Parents Math Night October 7 th @ Mission Hill High School

11. Science Electricity Magnetism Rocks and Minerals Ecosystems Landforms Social Studies Geography/Regions Native Americans in CA The Gold Rush The Mission System CA Statehood

12. Chromebooks We have a class set of chromebooks! Throughout the course of the year, students will work daily on their chromebooks, completing any of the following tasks:  Research on a given topic. This is typically related to our social studies and science content standards. This research is gathered and compiled for an informational paper or a project of some sort.  Powerpoint presentations- these may be individual or group tasks.  Typing papers on google docs. All SMUSD students now have a Gmail account that is managed through the district. This allows them to collaborate with one another on projects, and communicate with me almost instantaneously.

13. This year’s focus is … Hit! Run! Read! Score! Student’s move through the baseball stadiums based on AR points. Dodgers Stadium: 5 points Giants AT&T Park: 10 points Diamondbacks Chase Field: 20 points Texas Rangers Globe Life Park: 30 points Cubs Wrigley Field: 40 points Red Sox Fenway Park: 50 points Yankee Stadium: 60 points Phillies Citizens Bank Park: 75 points Angels of Anaheim: 100 points Padres Petco Park: 150 points Knob Hill Hawks All Star Team: 200 points World Series Team: 350 points Baseball Hall of Fame: 500 points Students will be invited to a Reading Rewards event each trimester for earning points. Students in Fourth Grade need to earn 25 points in the 1 st and 2 nd Trimester and 30 points in the 3 rd Trimester The Great Reading Race!

14. Parent/ Teacher Communication  It is SO important to me! My personal opinion is that kids thrive most when parents and teachers are working together as a team to make sure their needs are being met and they can live up to their fullest potential.  The best way to contact me is through email. Please feel free to email any questions or concerns you may have at any point throughout the year!  All communication will be sent home in Wednesday envelopes and need to be returned the following day (Thursday). Please check these weekly.  Also, check the website, I update it as much as possible with important dates.  If possible, create a ClassDojo account, and track your child’s behavior in the classroom. kayla.richardson@smusd.org

15. Wishlist If you are interested in volunteering in the classroom, please fill out a volunteer form and return to me. In the back, there are apples with an item written on each one. If you would like to donate materials to the classroom you may pick up an apple of whatever you would like to donate. Wide ruled lined filler paper Dry erase markers Xerox multipurpose paper Cardstock Pencils (ticonderoga) Glue sticks Clorox wipes

16. Thank you all very much for coming. I am looking forward to a fantastic year in fourth grade! Please don’t forget to: 1.Write your child a short note on the index card. 2.Complete the student info sheet, and return to me. 3.Complete the volunteer sheet, if interested, and return to me.