Welcome to Grade 4!

Creating a Community of Life-long Learners...

•Develop Habits of Mind such as checking for accuracy, persistence, thinking flexibly, listening with understanding, and thinking interdependently.•Active student involvement: hands-on activities, classroom discussions, classroom projects, concrete experiences related to real life examples, discovery learning, student-initiated learning, goal setting and reflection •Teacher as classroom facilitator- modeling, monitoring, observing, and guiding instruction

Evaluation Codes

• P+ Proficient in meeting grade level expectations with excellent quality and consistency – The student independently applies & extends key concepts, processes & skills.

• P Proficient in meeting grade level expectations – The student applies key concepts, processes & skills.

(Expected grade level performance.)

• D Developing toward grade level expectations – The student requires support/assistance to develop & apply key concepts, processes & skills.

• B Beginning – GLCE/Benchmark not assessed at this time

• N Not demonstrating expected progress

A Typical Day in Grade 4

A.M.Reading WorkshopWriting WorkshopWord StudySpecials (Art, Gym,

Music, Computer, Media Center)

P.M.Math WorkshopScience or Social StudiesAssignment Books

Literacy• Writing • Word Study• Reading• Grammar• Cursive Handwriting

WRITING WORKSHOP Goals and Expectations: Improve writing stamina & volume

(10min.= 1/2page, 15min.= 3/4page, 20min.= 1 page)

Self-selected topics within focus genre (Narrative, Informational, Comparison, Poetry)

Use the 6+1 Traits of Writing and the Writing Process to publish quality pieces of writing using Power Writing or WritingWorkshop

60-Minute Block Structure

1. Whole group focus lesson

2. Independent Writing3. Guided Practice (one-on-one and small group conferring)

4. Revisit Independent Writing5. Share (celebrate individual student

successes)

WRITING PROCESS

• Prewriting (Collecting seed ideas in Writers Notebook)

• Drafting (Expanding a seed idea)• Revising (“Re-seeing” your writing and

make changes)• Editing (Check for accuracy-spelling,

capitalization, punctuation)• Publishing (Final copy focuses on

personal best presentation)

WORDS THEIR WAY

What is Words Their Way?

Words Their Way is a developmental spelling, phonics, and vocabulary program.  It was developed by Invernizzi, Johnston, Bear, and Templeton.  Words Their Way is intended to be a part of a balanced literacy plan that includes fluency, comprehension and writing.  Word study is implemented as a small component of the literacy plan but it is also interwoven in actual reading and writing texts.

Words Their Way is an open-ended individual process. An assessment is given to determine where to begin instruction. Based on assessment results students are given words to study in order to discover the common attributes.  In this manner students are actively constructing their own knowledge of spelling patterns.  Students learn features by completing activities such as word sorting, word hunts, games and writing in sentences.  Students work individually, with partners, and in small groups to encourage cooperative learning and individual responsibility. This is a comprehensive study of words and their patterns.

WORDS THEIR WAY (cont.)Dear 4th Grade Parents,

Your child will be bringing home an envelope of spelling/word study words weekly that have been introduced in class. Each night of the week (Thursday - Wednesday), your child is expected to do a different activity to assure that these words and the word study rules they represent are mastered. These activities have been modeled and practiced in school, so your child can teach you how to do them.

Thursday: Remind your child to sort the words into categories like the ones we did in school. Your child should read each word aloud during this activity. Ask your child to explain to you why the words are sorted in a particular way…what does the sort reveal about spelling in general? Is there a pattern? Ask your child to sort the words a second time as fast as possible.

Friday: Do a “buddy sort” with your child. Lay down a word from each category as a header and then read the rest of the words aloud. Your child must indicate where the word goes without seeing it. Lay it down and let your child move it if he or she is wrong. Repeat if your child makes more than one error.

Monday: Have your child do a word hunt, where they look for their word study rule, within the book they are reading. They should find words, and share with you why they fit the word study pattern they are studying.

Tuesday: Do a writing sort to prepare for the Wednesday test. As you call out the words in a random order, your child should write them in categories. Call out any words your child misspells a second or even third time.

Wednesday: Word Study Assessment Remember…your child will get their new word study words every Thursday, and will take their test on the following Wednesday.

Thank you,The Fourth Grade Team

READING WORKSHOP Goals & Expectations:1. Improve reading stamina –

Recommended MINIMUM amounts: (1st 20min., 2nd 25min., 30min.)

2. Self-select and independently read “Just- Right” books.

3. Independently apply reading comprehension strategies

(Infer, Important Ideas, Comprehension, Visualize, Make Connections, Ask Questions)

60-Minute Block Structure1. Whole group read-aloud with focus

lesson

2. Independent Reading in “Just-Right” texts (one-on-one conferring, book shopping)

3. Partner Reading in “Just-Right” texts

(small groups, direct teacher instruction)

4. Share (celebrate individual student successes)

NUMBER CORNER

Fourth grade students encounter

increasingly complex challenges in the

form of engaging patterns, problems,

and activities. A student workbook

provides opportunities for independent

practice, and quarterly assessment

opportunities help teachers evaluate

students' progress throughout the year.

Number Corner also features a set of

support activities that can be used as

needed with individual students

To strengthen specific skills and

concepts.

Number Corner (Grade 4) provides a year's worth of

inquiry-based, daily math practice with the following skills

and concepts:

• Multiplication and division facts through 12 x 12 and 144 ÷ 12

• Place value to 10,000

• Rounding and estimation

• Multi-digit computation (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division)

• Understanding fractions and decimals

• Patterns and algebraic reasoning

• Fractions and decimals

• Measurement

• Area and perimeter

• Organization and analysis of data and graphs

• Probability with spinners and tile sampling

MATH WORKSHOP

– Bridges Math Curriculum:“A program where mathematical ideas are linked to, and build on one another, in order to allow students’ understanding and knowledge to deepen, and their ability to apply mathematics expands…”

~The Math Learning Center, Salem, OR

Fourth Grade Units of Study:

Unit One: Multiplication and Division ModelsUnit Two: Place Value and Multiplication With Larger NumbersUnit Three: Fractions and DivisionUnit Four: Geometry and MeasurementUnit Five: Probability and Data AnalysisUnit Six: Fractions and DecimalsUnit Seven Algebraic ThinkingUnit Eight: Wingspans: Measurement and Data Analysis

NUMBER CORNER (cont.)

SEPTEMBER 2010

CALENDAR GRID• Place value and multiplying by 10 and 11CALENDAR COLLECTOR• Centimeters, Decimeters, and Meters; FractionsPROBLEM SOLVING• Place Value and Expanded NotationNUMBER LINE• Multiples of 2 and 3 and Multiplication Facts through 6 × 6

ASSESSMENTS

Baseline Assessment

Basic addition, subtraction, and multiplication facts; adding and subtracting 2- and 3digitnumbers with regrouping; identifying place value of digits in whole numbers; multiplying and dividing 2- and 3-digitnumbers; evaluating a situation that involves probability; reading and interpreting a tally chart

SCIENCE

• 4- Sun, Moon, Stars• 4- Magnetism &

Electricity• 4- Motion & Design

Social Studies• History History of MI beyond statehood and general U.S. History

(limited)

• Geography Spatial perspective of U.S. geography Human and common physical characteristics of U.S. regions Immigration and migration Human impact on the physical environment of U.S. Civics and Government Purpose of government Constitution and Core Democratic Values Structure and function of government

• Economy U.S. economy as it relates to the international marketplace

• Public Discourse, Decision Making, and Citizen Involvement

Community-based project Public policy issues in the U.S.

MEAP TEST

When: October 11-28, 2011

Who: 4th grade classroom teachers are currently working with students to familiarize students with test taking strategies.

What: 4th Graders are tested in three areas.– Reading– Writing– Math

During testing period…– Students should get a good night’s rest.– Students should eat a healthy breakfast.– Students should dress in comfortable clothing.– Parent’s positive encouragement can be most helpful to students to do their best.– Avoid removing your child from school for appointments and other purposes during this

testing period when possible.

TechnologyHow is technology used in Grade 4?Technology is integrated in instruction in several ways in grade 4. One such way is the use of the computers on wheels (COWS). As a learning community, we will use the COWS to enhance our curriculum, develop new methods of instruction, make learning more enjoyable, and increase overall student achievement by: supporting inquiry; enhancing communication; extending access to resources; guiding students to analyze and visualize data; and encouraging the expression of ideas and higher-level thinking skills. We also have a 30-station computer lab, which the students will visit on a weekly basis.

As well, peripherals such as document cameras, projectors, overheads , and SMART Boards are incorporated into daily instruction across content areas.

What software programs will my child learn to use?Microsoft Office Suite (Word & PowerPoint)Type to Learn 4Web-based math, language arts, social studies, and science programs

What websites are recommended to promote my child’s learning?http://maxthxl.org (math)http://xtramath.org (math)www.spellingcity.com (spelling)www.fossweb.com (science)http://school.discoveryeducation.com (social studies/science)

Student Success Depends On...

• Positive Attitude• Healthy diet• Adequate sleep• Daily reading• Parent support• All of us working

together as a TEAM

Student Success ChecklistIn the spirit of providing a safe and nurturing learning community at Gill, there are some key things that you, as a parent, can do to help:

___Check my child’s planner daily

___Send a healthy snack daily

___Make sure your child gets a good night’s sleep (9-11 hours recommended)

___Check “Take Home” folder daily

___Check gallon-size book bag w/ reading log daily

Success is a journey, not a destination!

We’re looking forward to joining your

children on their journeys of life-long

learning.