1. Curriculum Night Fourth Grade Miss Meder 2011-2012 Welcome! Thank you for coming! Please find your child’s desk and write them a short note if you wish.

2. About Miss Meder This is my 25 th year of teaching. I am a native of Arizona. My father taught at Washington High School in Phoenix. My oldest sister teaches fourth grade in Boise, Idaho. My niece teaches fourth grade in Casa Grande.

3. A Typical Day Morning Routine/Morning Meeting Math Special Area class 9:35-10:20 Grammar/Spelling Recess/Lunch Science/SS/Health Writing Language Arts

4. Math Scott Foresman: traditional textbook that focuses on practice and problem solving Investigations: focuses on critical thinking and reasoning Fourth Grade Big Ideas: Multiplication, Division, Fractions, Algebra, Measurement Problem Solving notebooks

5. Social Studies Harcourt textbook American History World History: exploration of Arizona Arizona statehood and history Geography: maps; landforms; regions

6. Health Life Management Skills Safety and Injury Prevention Nutrition Community Health Resources Disease Control and Prevention Personal Health and Hygiene Human Growth and Development

7. Science FOSS ◦ Process Skills/Scientific Method ◦ Magnetism and Electricity ◦ Water: water cycle ◦ Erosion ◦ Animal Adaptations ◦ Renewable and Nonrenewable Resources

8. Language Arts Spelling: goes along with the story; vocabulary included Spelling dictation will be given on Fridays. Harcourt Reading program; book sharing Writing process: Six Traits Literature Studies Handwriting: manuscript and cursive

9. Thinking Maps Eight maps: Circle; Bubble; Double Bubble; Tree; Flow; Multi-Flow; Brace; and Bridge A visual way to organize information linked to a specific thought process. Helps the brain make patterns and connections Can be used in all subject areas

10. Specials Monday- Art 9:35-10:20 Tuesday- P.E. 9:35-10:20 Wednesday- Library 9:35-10:20 Thursday- Computer Lab 9:35-10:20 Friday- Music 9:35-10:20

11. Homework Homework should take about 20-30 min. plus reading for 15 minutes (or 1 hour total for the week). Projects and Book Reports: one per quarter Incentives: Friday Fuzzy, privilege cards, sense of completion and success Natural or Logical Consequences: Study Hall, incomplete assignments which creates more work, lower grades, etc. In fourth grade, we want the students to be responsible with their work. If your child forgets his/her homework, please allow him/her to accept responsibility and deal with the related consequences.

12. Grades Grading scale: 100-90%=A 89-80%=B 79-70%=C 69-60%=D 59% and lower=F Grades on assignments and assessments Weekly Progress/Behavior Report Report card

13. Classroom Rules Came up with rules as a class Based on Character Counts Our class rules are: I will… 1. listen to Miss Meder and my classmates. 2. show respect to others with kind words and actions. 3. be responsible for my work and my materials. 4. have control of my hands, feet, and chair. Every day is a fresh start. Green is the goal!

14. Consequences Positive Friday Fuzzy/ note/email/phone call home/praise/monthly class lunch inside the room Behavior Card System: Green card: Way to go! Great day! Yellow card: Warning: watch your behavior choices Orange card:visit the Think Desk to think about behaviors and talk with Miss Meder; miss 15 minutes of recess Red card:possible school referral; call home to discuss behaviors; no Friday Fuzzy for that week

15. Planners Each day we write what we will be learning and doing We also write any project dates or reminders. Must be brought home every night so you can see what is going on in the classroom. Please sign it over the weekend. Used as a communication tool

16. Communication The best way to contact me is through email lmeder@kyrene.org Classroom phone number is 783-2644 You may also send a note with your child. Website: http://www.kyrene.org/staff/lmeder Newsletter and other information posted on website (twice a month). Friday news emails. Weekend Envelopes sent home on Fridays with work from the week inside. Weekly Progress/Behavior Report – missing work, grades, behavior sent home on Mondays to be signed and returned.

17. Thank You! Thanks for coming tonight. I appreciate all that you do to help your child get the most they can out of school. I’m looking forward to a great year of learning with your child.