Welcome Families!

Please be sure to sign in and take some paper for notes

Read the letter your student has written to you and respond on a separate paper or on the back

Take home the Discovery Expectations agreement to sign with your student and return to school

Who is Ms. Thordarson?

-I play piano and guitar, and I love to sing jazz-I love being active and outdoors-I am a Husky fan and a Mariners fan-I earned my Master’s in Teaching and Teaching Certification from the University of Washington and My Bachelor’s of Arts in History, with a minor in Education, Learning, and Society-I have my ELL endorsement-I believe that teaching is the best job in the world

Grade level overview

Math: Multiplication up to 3 by 2 digit numbers and Division up to 3 by 1 digit, Interpreting Data, Problem-Solving, Decimals, Geometry, Variables and Expressions, addition, subtraction, and multiplication of fractions

Reading: Shared Inquiry, monitoring comprehension Science: Land and Water, Electricity and

Magnetism, Astronomy, Variables Social Studies: Washington State history Health: Here’s Looking at You (Drug and alcohol

awareness), Second Step Writing: Personal narrative, research-based writing,

descriptive, and opinion; rule-based spelling

New Common Core Standards Fewer standards, more rigorous Meant to prepare students for the

changing world Starting at grade level, building based

on need Smarter Balanced Assessment Links:

http://www.thecurriculumcorner.com/thecurriculumcorner456/updated-4th-grade-i-can-ccss-posters-in-green-chevron/

Links for support

Student (and parent!) friendly goals: http://www.thecurriculumcorner.com/thecurriculumcorner456/updated-4th-grade-i-can-ccss-posters-in-green-chevron/

Common Core Standards home Smarter Balanced Assessment

Discovery Program Philosophy & Goals

Program Philosophy

“The Renton School District believes that students who have been identified as highly-capable should have the opportunity to develop their strengths and talents through a rigorous academic program which enriches and extends the adopted curricula; honors students’ unique gifts, interests, and learning styles; and promotes higher-order, creative, and critical thinking.”

Program Goals

Provide:– an opportunity for highly-capable learners to

interact with peers of like abilities in order to promote a healthy self-concept relative to their giftedness

– an environment which encourages divergent thinking, creative problem-solving, and higher-level thinking

– leadership and participatory opportunities which will enhance the community and society

– opportunities for self-directed learning

Discovery Program Documents & Expectations

Form and signatures– Print and return

– Intervention plan Discovery report card

– Standards based on 4-1 scale– Looking at what students can do

consistently over time (each trimester)– Assessed as a Discovery student

Teaching philosophy

I believe that children are the best teachers

I believe that students should always be held to the highest expectations, no excuses

I believe that imagination is one of the greatest tools a student can use.

I believe that diversity should be embraced and cultures should be explored

I believe that education is a tool for self-empowerment

Classroom expectations

We are Self-Managers Self-manager checklist All work completed Working the whole time and focused Following directions the first time Goal setting Respect yourself and others Kodiak Compliments

Consequence plan

Students earn privilege choice time each Friday All work on time, neat, and complete by Thursday

No name? No credit. 3 Strikes system

Strike 1: Warning Strike 2: Loss of 5 minutes privilege and reflection Strike 3: Loss of 15 minutes privilege (includes the

5 minutes from strike 1) and Action Plan Repeated disruptions/lack of work completion

will result in parent contact: Student may call home to explain behavior

Communication with students Communication journals Self-manager checklist Recess time, independent work, after

school Writing conferences Class meetings Incident reports

Curriculum

Envision and Investigations in 5th grade With fourth grade supplement when

needed Junior Great books Science Kits Washington State History and

simulations Second Step and Here’s Looking at You Writing Curriculum map is subject to change!

Assessment

Formative (on-going)– Classwork, homework, performance

assessments/projects, student conferences– Some classwork is not graded, but may have a

“check” grade– Some homework is not graded, only checked

for completion Summative

– Quizzes, tests, MAP, Benchmark Assessment System, SRI, Smarter Balanced

Homework policies

Weekly work due Thursdays January twice a week

Tuesdays and Thursdays No late work accepted—homework notices

sent home to be returned with completed work Homework is posted electronically Consists of reading every night (no set amount

because good readers read as much as possible!), Khan academy, IXL, worksheets, projects, writing pieces, reading responses

Student organization

Self-Manager Checklist Binders Work folder Monthly goal sheet Planning sheet for recording homework

and long term work that needs to be worked on at home and at school

Conference information

Mid-October we will send out a letter asking for preferred dates and times

Around November we will send home a letter of confirmation for the conference date and time.

One night will be set aside for late conferences. 

Contact information

Anna.Thordarson@rentonschools.us (425) 204-4732 Reminder- Classroom Newsletters are

posted on the website every Friday afternoon

Specialist times

Monday: Music 10:00-10:45 with Ms. Skinner

Tuesday: PE 10:00-10:45 with Mr. Brotherton

Wednesday: Music 10:50-11:35 Thursday: Library 10:50-11:35 with Mrs.

Davis Friday: PE 1:35-2:10