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Back to School Night!
Mrs. UnderwoodMrs. Tsang2015-16
ABOUT MRS. UNDERWOOD
Starting 39th year of teaching this year!
In 1980, I began teaching here in South Pasadena where I continued to teach in the sciences.
In my 35 years in this district, I have taught at pretty much every grade level teaching just about every subject!
In 2015, I was honored with the Oneata Teacher of the Year award.
In my classroom, we strive to become a community of life-long learners. I truly believe you can never have too much fun learning. I never hesitate to incorporate fun into the lessons I teach, instilling a love for learning in all of my students.
Background Philosophy
ABOUT MRS. TSANG
Masters of Arts in Teaching from USC
Starting my 6th year teaching Worked at San Mateo-Foster
City School District 4th and 5th grade gifted
classroom teacher Worked at Papillion-La Vista
School District (in Omaha, NE) High Ability Learner
Facilitator (3rd-6th grade) Started at SPUSD in 2014-15
In my classroom, I motivate and encourage students to become life-long learners. I believe in teaching scholarly attributes and teaching children to ask questions and to work collaboratively through project-based learning.
Background Philosophy
CONTACT INFORMATIONE-mail: [email protected]
[email protected] (*starting in December)
MARENGO4THGRADE.WEEBLY.COM
Room 18 Classroom Rules
Respect Yourself and Others Keep your hands, feet, and body away from others (no contact games or
tag) Be safe. Walk in hallways and play safely. Protect school buildings and keep our campus clean. Respect the property of others.
Be Ready to Learn Be where you belong. Arrive at class on time. Have your materials ready. Follow directions
Be Responsible for Your Learning Make good use of your time Work quietly so others around you can learn. Do your assignments on time and neatly. Do your best.
BEHAVIOR COMMUNICATION Team Table points
Students work as a team in their tables to be prepared for learning
Classroom Economy Mrs. Tsang Bucks (starting in
December) More on this later..
Stellar Student One person is secretly chosen daily
Captain Character Awards Awarded each month at Friday
assembly
Peaceful Playground Second Step
Bullying Prevention
Unfortunately, positive reinforcement is not always successful. In such cases, these steps may be taken:
1.Verbal Warning
2.Behavior Reflection
3.Tsang Bucks/Table Points taken away
4.Student Reflection/Note or call home to parents
5.Sent to principal
DIFFERENTIATED INSTRUCTION
Instruction to fit individual needs.Created to engage students through different learning modalities.Assignments contain varied degrees of complexity.Variety of ways for individuals to learn as deeply as possible.Honors Work OpportunitiesLearning ContractsDifferentiated Weekly Homework Menus
EFFECTIVE WORK HABITS AND GRADING
Students are expected to turn in work on time. While adequate time is given in class, incomplete class
work will be taken home to do as homework. Work is graded using rubrics. Students are handed
them out before they begin a project/writing assignment, so they know what to expect. Grading Scale:
4- 90-100 –Thorough and Consistent Understanding 3 – 80-89 – Proficient Understanding 2 – 70-79 – Approaching Understanding 1 – Below 69 – Minimal Understanding
IMPORTANT WEBSITES Marengo Elementary School http://marengo.spusd.net For Test and Event Dates, along with photos, projects
& podcasts. Online resources and homework can also be found the class website: http://marengo4thgrade.weebly.com/
Math Expressions ThinkCentral http://www-k6.thinkcentral.com
ConnectEd http://connected.mcgraw-hill.com/connected/login.do
NewsELA https://newsela.com
HOMEWORK BLOG
MARENGO4THGRADE.WEEBLY.COM
HOMEWORK Reading
Read at least 20 minutes nightly.
Math Assigned nightly.
Homework Menu Students are required
to complete at least one item per column, but are encouraged to do more.
Monday-Monday Homework Blog
READING EVERY NIGHT No longer using
Accelerated Reader. SRA & Lexile
Lexile is the measure of a text’s readability.
Students should choose an age level appropriate book at their lexile level.
The average 4th grader should have a lexile score be between 740 - 875
CurriculumCurriculum
LANGUAGE ARTS
Core Literature Shiloh, By the Great Horn
Spoon, Island of the Blue Dolphins, Number the Stars
Literature Circles Poetry, Vocabulary
Development, Grammar Major Projects
Novel Study Projects Battle of the Books Book Report/Book Blog
Multiple-paragraph compositions: Narrative Information Opinion**Rubrics posted online.
These are integrated throughout content-areas specifically Science and Social Studies.
Reading Writing
MATH
Common Core aligned
Leveled and Differentiated
Conceptually based instruction
Math Talks and focus on explaining your thinking
Think Central-online resource
**Starting in December
• Year long economy simulation, emphasis on financial responsibility,
• Students paid weekly and earn money for completed assignments, good behavior, and student jobs
• Fines issued for missing assignments and poor behavior.
• Students pay rent for their desk and have opportunity to buy “property.”
Core Curriculum:
Math ExpressionsMajor Projects: Classroom Economy
SOCIAL STUDIES Geographic Features that define California Native Tribes
Tribe Study Exploration & Colonial History
Explorer Cubes Missions, Ranchos & Mexican War for
Independence Mission Projects
Gold Rush Gold Rush Simulation
Modern California Local, State & Federal Governments
*All projects funded through Wish Night.
Life Science – Food Chain, Food Web, Ecosystem, Adaptation, Ecological Relationships, etc.
Earth Science – Properties of Rocks & Minerals, Rock Cycle, Method of Formation, etc.
Physical Science – Magnetism and Electricity, Simple Circuitry, Application in Everyday Life, etc.
Investigation & Experimentation is embedded in each unit.
SCIENCEHands on lessons and experiments:*
Life Science: Plants, Venus Fly Traps, The World Through a Microscope
Earth Science:Rocks and MineralsPlate Tectonic Models, Volcano Models and Core Sampling
Physical ScienceMagnetism, Circuits, Electric Car Unit
*All projects funded through Wish Night.
ART, DRAMA, MUSIC
Rotations 1st quarter- Art
Volunteers Needed! 2nd quarter-Drama 3rd quarter- Music
Classroom Art Projects-Year Round* Art Inspired by different cultures Tied to different content-areas
*All projects funded through Wish Night
FIELD TRIPS AND EVENTS
Pi-Day Celebration Valentines Party Holiday Party Dominguez Rancho Autry Museum Field Trip End of the Year BBQ
*Field trips and Events are dependent on event availability & Wish Night Funding.
Art Volunteers (1st quarter) Making copies Media Center Volunteers Literature Circle Groups Writing Editors Class projects and parties Special projects/guest speaker Field Trip chaperones
PARENT VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
Thank you for coming!
Looking forward to working together to make this a fantastic year!
[email protected]@spusd.net (Starting in December)
