1. Welcome to 4 th Grade Curriculum Night Thursday, September 1, 2011

2. Guided Reading We will read a new story each week incorporating various activities and skills. We will read a new story each week incorporating various activities and skills. Students will be guided on their instructional reading level. Students will be guided on their instructional reading level. Comprehension Comprehension Fluency Fluency Decoding Decoding Spelling Spelling Vocabulary Vocabulary Genre Genre Author’s Purpose Author’s Purpose

3. Mathematics Place value, order of operations, algebraic reasoning, multiplication and division of whole numbers and decimals, measurement, graphing, geometry, fractions, addition and subtraction of fractions. Place value, order of operations, algebraic reasoning, multiplication and division of whole numbers and decimals, measurement, graphing, geometry, fractions, addition and subtraction of fractions. We will be working on multiplication all year. Please practice facts with your child at home. We will be working on multiplication all year. Please practice facts with your child at home.

4. Writing We will be using various methods to teach writing. We will be using various methods to teach writing. We will focus on these types of writing throughout this year to prepare students to be life long authors: We will focus on these types of writing throughout this year to prepare students to be life long authors: - Narrative - Persuasive - Expository - Response to Literature

5. Grammar Parts of speech Parts of speech Types of sentences Types of sentences Subject/predicate Subject/predicate Working with words (prefixes, suffixes, etc.) Working with words (prefixes, suffixes, etc.) Conventions/ mechanics Conventions/ mechanics Reference materials Reference materials

6. Spelling Students will be placed on their individual level based on their performance on the spelling inventory. Students will be placed on their individual level based on their performance on the spelling inventory. They will work with their word sorts each week during guided reading rotations. They will work with their word sorts each week during guided reading rotations. Please have your child study these words at home to prepare for the test on Friday. Please have your child study these words at home to prepare for the test on Friday.

7. Science This year in Science students will be learning about: This year in Science students will be learning about: - The solar system, stars and planets - Weather, light, sound, and simple machines - Mass/motion/gravity - Ecosystems, food webs/chains and adaptation

8. Social Studies This year in social studies students will be learning about: This year in social studies students will be learning about: - Regions of the U.S.A. and Native Americans - North American Explorers and Colonial America - American Revolution, Constitution, and New Government - Westward Expansion

9. HOMEWORK The STUDENT is responsible for completing and turning in all homework assignments on the day it is due. The STUDENT is responsible for completing and turning in all homework assignments on the day it is due. Homework will be: Homework will be: Read for at least 20 min. Read for at least 20 min. Response journal: Choose one activity from the menu. Response journal: Choose one activity from the menu. One math journal problem per day which will be checked in class. One math journal problem per day which will be checked in class. Please sign your child’s agenda each night to show that you are aware of the completed homework and behavior for the day. Please sign your child’s agenda each night to show that you are aware of the completed homework and behavior for the day.

10. Classroom Discipline TAKE FIVE Classroom Discipline TAKE FIVE Daily behavior will be recorded in the agenda. T- Talking F- Failure to follow directions D- Being disrespectful H- Inappropriate hallway behavior S- Inappropriate specials behavior R- Inappropriate restroom behavior L- Inappropriate lunchroom behavior P- Inappropriate playground behavior HW- Not having homework completed The goal of this plan is to promote positive behavior by rewarding students with a Fun Friday The goal of this plan is to promote positive behavior by rewarding students with a Fun Friday

11. Parent/Teacher Communication Please view 4 th grade’s academic webpage for information regarding newsletter, homework, academic websites, and more. Please view 4 th grade’s academic webpage for information regarding newsletter, homework, academic websites, and more. VIP folders will be coming home on Tuesdays. Please have your student complete the self assessment and sign and return all graded papers. VIP folders will be coming home on Tuesdays. Please have your student complete the self assessment and sign and return all graded papers.

12. Silver City Math Nights Please mark your calendars September 27 th, 6:00-7:30 pm September 27 th, 6:00-7:30 pm December 1 st - 6:00-7:30 pm December 1 st - 6:00-7:30 pm March 22 nd - 6:00-7:30 pm March 22 nd - 6:00-7:30 pm We look forward to seeing you there!

13. Grade PLUS 4 th and 5 th Grade 2011-12

14. 11-12 Grade PLUS Beginning with the 2011-12 school year, all 4 th and 5 th grade classrooms across Forsyth County will be using the Grade PLUS system of reporting. This reporting system uses both standards-based scores of 1-4 and traditional percentage grades.

15. Assessment and Grading The learning expectations and standards for performance have been outlined for each quarter based on the Georgia Performance Standards. Teachers will use two types of classroom assessments, formative and summative.

16. Formative Assessments  Daily, ongoing assessments/observations that are used to monitor student progress toward mastery of standards.  Formative assessments will receive a standards- based score as outlined in the rubric.  Formative scores will not be posted in Parent Portal. These scores will be communicated to parents in the weekly work folder sent home by the teacher. KEY TO FORMATIVE BASED ACHIEVEMENT 1 Limited or minimal progress toward standard 2 Ongoing progress toward standard 3 Consistent achievement of standard 4 Mastery of Standard

17. Summative Assessments  Cumulative assessments will receive a traditional numeric grade and will be used to measure student mastery of standards.  Summative grades will be posted in Parent Portal at the end of the quarter and will serve as the report card grade. KEY TO SUMMATIVE BASED ACHIEVEMENT F <70% C 70-79% B 80-89% A 90-100%

18. Summative Assessment Re-tests   Students will be allowed ONE retest for each assessment.   Students eligible for a retest must participate in re-teaching and re-learning sessions and/or assignments as determined by the teacher.   Students will receive the higher of the two grades.   The purpose of allowing a retest is to ensure mastery of standards.

19. Work Habits Student work habits will be reported using the following categories: Student work habits will be reported using the following categories: Responsibility, Participation, Assignment Completion, and Interpersonal Skills Responsibility, Participation, Assignment Completion, and Interpersonal Skills In each of the above categories, students will receive one of the following scores: In each of the above categories, students will receive one of the following scores: Does Not Meet (D), Successful (S), or Exemplary (E). Does Not Meet (D), Successful (S), or Exemplary (E). {Successful (S) is the expectation of students} {Successful (S) is the expectation of students}

20. Report Card The Grade Plus report cards will have both a traditional numeric grade for subjects and standards based scores for each of the domains from the rubrics. This system of grading will only be used in English, Reading and Math. The Grade Plus report cards will have both a traditional numeric grade for subjects and standards based scores for each of the domains from the rubrics. This system of grading will only be used in English, Reading and Math. Science and Social Studies will receive traditional numeric grades.

21. Parent Communication  Parent letter, provided during the first week of school, outlining grading and reporting procedures  Quarterly Rubrics, provided each nine weeks outlining standards by quarter to assist with monitoring student progress  Weekly student work sent home in the VIP folder

22. THANK YOU FOR COMING TO CURRICULUM NIGHT!