44thth Grade Curriculum Grade Curriculum

Diana SearerDiana Searer

Christie ClementeChristie Clemente

Hello from Dr. HannonHello from Dr. Hannon

Mrs. SearerMrs. Searer

• Taught grade levels K – 6th • Taught undergraduate/graduate university classes • Reading Endorsement• Originally from California and have lived in Arizona many years• 16th year at Andersen• 16 years in the Chandler School District

Mrs. ClementeMrs. Clemente

• Taught 3rd and 4th grade for 15 years• Master’s Degree in Technology and Media Instruction• First year at Andersen• Been in the Chandler School District for all 15 years• Originally from Washington State but have lived in

Arizona most of my life

Platooning/Pairing, What Is It?Platooning/Pairing, What Is It?

• Platooning or pairing is a framework that a grade level uses that allows students to share teachers who are content experts in specific subjects.

• Students are assigned a homeroom teacher that teaches 2-3 subject areas and spends half of their day with them.

• Students transition to another teacher that teaches 2-3 subject areas for the remainder of the day.

Why Platoon or Pair?Why Platoon or Pair?

• Teachers are experts in just 2-3 areas, an example would be: (reading, writing and social studies) or (math, science and writing)

• Grade level planning for students is much more focused and aligned, which leads to more individualized instruction for students

• Research shows that platooning or pairing can lead to increased student growth and achievement.

What is the Benefit?What is the Benefit?

• Teachers are experts in their areas- the Common Core Curriculum requires deep understanding of a subject area before it can be taught to students.

• Teachers are no longer generalists (teaching 6-7 subjects in a given day).

• Team planning and instruction is more specific to student needs.

• Allows for more than one teacher to build a relationship with students and provide support in their learning. That second perspective can benefit the potential in students dramatically.

Andersen’s Commitment to Andersen’s Commitment to FamiliesFamilies

• Student learning is our top priority!

• With platooning/pairing, Andersen will ensure consistent communication to ensure we are meeting the needs of our students.

• The goal of platooning/pairing is to better reach all of our students and provide them the best opportunity to become the best readers, writers, mathematicians, scientists and citizens they can be!

English/Language ArtsEnglish/Language ArtsOur curriculum will follow the Arizona Career and College Readiness Curriculum.

Common Core ELA standards

• New ELA adoption. It is Houghton Mifflin Harcourt “Journeys”. Parents will have online access to the textbook and other components to this new adoption. More information will be forthcoming on this.

• Whole Group & Small Group instruction with centers and independent work.

• Nightly reading expectation.

WritingWriting

• We will enhance our writing skills by reviewing good sentence structure, grammar and paragraph writing.

• We will incorporate a variety of writing styles and genre as our models (literary response, informative reports, stories, personal narratives, and poetry.)

• We will emphasize Six Traits of Writing: organization,

voice, conventions, fluency, ideas, and content.

MathMath

The 4th grade Arizona College and Career readiness will guide our instruction. They are written to meet state and national standards and

contain both computation and problem solving practice.

Common Core 4th Grade Math Standards

•Integrate multi-step problems, multiple ways to solve, class discussion and questioning•Use of manipulatives, “hands-on” experiences and investigations into all math concepts •Continue studying the multiplication facts at home•Students will have math journals for daily problem solving.

ScienceScience

Science Standards

•We will be studying the classification of living things (animals & plants), weather & water, electricity & magnetism, and ecosystems.

•Students will also complete a science project as part of a team within our class.

•Projects and experiments will be science inquiry-based.

Social StudiesSocial Studies

Social Studies Standards

•Our year-long theme will be the beautiful state of Arizona. Topics will include its history, geography, cultures, and peoples.

•We will also be sharpening our mapping and geography skills as we learn about our state.

GradingGradingThis is the year to foster independence in your child!

Check Your Child's Grades On-Line

** Parents may also sign up for the phone application as well as online **

•Your child’s graded work may be marked with a percentage grade or may simply have a rubric score.

•Late and missing assignments will affect grades. Unfinished work will go home to be completed that night and brought back the next school day.

HomeworkHomework

• Intermediate grades should have at least 30 – 45 minutes of homework a night.

• An additional 20-30 minutes should be devoted to independent reading.

• There will be no grade for homework.

• Except for extended assignments or catching up (absences, book reports, science projects, etc.), homework will not be assigned over the weekends.

SchoolwiresSchoolwires

• Teacher and school communication will be sent out through Schoolwires. Please make sure you register as soon as possible as this will be the main form of communication for the 2014-2015 school year. When you register, make sure to check Andersen Elementary and each teacher (Clemente and Searer).

• Take advantage of this technology by clicking here:

Register for Schoolwires

CommunicationCommunication• Current curriculum and events are listed in a newsletter which

will be available through Schoolwires week. The newsletter can also be found on each teacher’s individual website. Once you are registered for both the school website and the teacher website, you will receive email alerts when changes/updates are made.

• The Andersen Orbiter provides all school/principal updates through Schoolwires.

• IMPORTANT! Please do not reply to the email alerts directly. If you need to contact the teacher/school, you will need to create a separate email or call by phone.

Discipline PlanDiscipline Plan

• Students will be acknowledged for positive behavior. If student behavior is inappropriate, a “Think Sheet” or other communication will be made with parents.

• Our goal is to acknowledge students for demonstrating responsible and conscientious behavior both in the classroom and around our school campus.

DisciplineDiscipline

Everyone has a bad day once in awhile…Should a student display on-going inappropriate behavior:

• 1st offense – Warning. • 2nd offense (on the same day) -- the student writes name in the book;

misses 10 minutes of recess • 3rd offense student fills out PINK THINK SHEET; misses entire recess.

The THINK SHEET will be sent home for parent signature. • 4th offense student will receive a ticket which may lead to an after school

detention. Parents will be notified by phone if their student will be serving after school detention. A conference may be required if deemed necessary.

• If the infraction of the rules is a serious offense, the student will be sent immediately to the principal and may receive a detention.

• If a student doesn’t turn in their homework or doesn’t finish their assignments, they must finish it at recess.

Thank you so much for coming…

It’s going to be a great year!

Diana Searer

Christie Clemente

Welcome to Andersen! Welcome to Andersen!

Dr. Hannon, Principal