Welcome toWelcome to44thth Grade Curriculum Night Grade Curriculum Night

Thursday, September 1, 2011Thursday, September 1, 2011

Guided ReadingGuided Reading We will read a new story each week We will read a new story each week

incorporating various activities and skills.incorporating various activities and skills. Students will be guided on their Students will be guided on their

instructional reading level.instructional reading level. ComprehensionComprehension FluencyFluency DecodingDecoding SpellingSpelling VocabularyVocabulary GenreGenre Author’s PurposeAuthor’s Purpose

MathematicsMathematics

Place value, order of operations, algebraic Place value, order of operations, algebraic reasoning, multiplication and division of reasoning, multiplication and division of whole numbers and decimals, whole numbers and decimals, measurement, graphing, geometry, measurement, graphing, geometry, fractions, addition and subtraction of fractions, addition and subtraction of fractions.fractions.

We will be working on multiplication all We will be working on multiplication all year. Please practice facts with your child year. Please practice facts with your child at home. at home.

WritingWriting

We will be using various methods to teach We will be using various methods to teach writing.writing.

We will focus on these types of writing We will focus on these types of writing throughout this year to prepare students to throughout this year to prepare students to be life long authors:be life long authors:

- NarrativeNarrative- PersuasivePersuasive- ExpositoryExpository- Response to LiteratureResponse to Literature

GrammarGrammar

Parts of speechParts of speechTypes of sentencesTypes of sentencesSubject/predicateSubject/predicateWorking with words (prefixes, suffixes, etc.)Working with words (prefixes, suffixes, etc.)Conventions/ mechanicsConventions/ mechanicsReference materialsReference materials

SpellingSpelling

Students will be placed on their Students will be placed on their individual level based on their individual level based on their performance on the spelling inventory.performance on the spelling inventory.

They will work with their word sorts They will work with their word sorts each week during guided reading each week during guided reading rotations.rotations.

Please have your child study these Please have your child study these words at home to prepare for the test words at home to prepare for the test on Friday.on Friday.

ScienceScience

This year in Science students will be This year in Science students will be learning about:learning about:

- The solar system, stars and planetsThe solar system, stars and planets- Weather, light, sound, and simple Weather, light, sound, and simple

machinesmachines- Mass/motion/gravityMass/motion/gravity- Ecosystems, food webs/chains and Ecosystems, food webs/chains and

adaptationadaptation

Social StudiesSocial StudiesThis year in social studies students will be This year in social studies students will be

learning about:learning about:- Regions of the U.S.A. and Native Regions of the U.S.A. and Native

AmericansAmericans- North American Explorers and Colonial North American Explorers and Colonial

AmericaAmerica- American Revolution, Constitution, and American Revolution, Constitution, and

New GovernmentNew Government- Westward ExpansionWestward Expansion

HOMEWORKHOMEWORK The STUDENT is responsible for completing The STUDENT is responsible for completing

and turning in all homework assignments on and turning in all homework assignments on the day it is due.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 Response journal: Choose one activity from the

menu.menu. One math journal problem per day which will be One math journal problem per day which will be

checked in class.checked in class. Please sign your child’s agenda each night to Please sign your child’s agenda each night to

show that you are aware of the completed show that you are aware of the completed homework and behavior for the day.homework and behavior for the day.

Classroom DisciplineClassroom DisciplineTAKE FIVETAKE FIVE

Daily behavior will be recorded in the agenda. Daily behavior will be recorded in the agenda.

T- TalkingT- TalkingF- Failure to follow directionsF- Failure to follow directionsD- Being disrespectfulD- Being disrespectfulH- Inappropriate hallway behaviorH- Inappropriate hallway behaviorS- Inappropriate specials behaviorS- Inappropriate specials behaviorR- Inappropriate restroom behaviorR- Inappropriate restroom behaviorL- Inappropriate lunchroom behaviorL- Inappropriate lunchroom behaviorP- Inappropriate playground behaviorP- Inappropriate playground behaviorHW- Not having homework completedHW- Not having homework completed

The goal of this plan is to promote positive behavior by The goal of this plan is to promote positive behavior by rewarding students with a Fun Fridayrewarding students with a Fun Friday

Parent/Teacher CommunicationParent/Teacher Communication

Please view 4Please view 4thth grade’s academic webpage grade’s academic webpage for information regarding newsletter, for information regarding newsletter, homework, academic websites, and more.homework, academic websites, and more.

VIP folders will be coming home on VIP folders will be coming home on Tuesdays. Please have your student Tuesdays. Please have your student complete the self assessment and sign and complete the self assessment and sign and return all graded papers. return all graded papers.

Silver City Math NightsSilver City Math Nights

Please mark your calendarsPlease mark your calendars

  September 27September 27thth, 6:00-7:30 pm, 6:00-7:30 pmDecember 1December 1stst- 6:00-7:30 pm- 6:00-7:30 pmMarch 22March 22ndnd- 6:00-7:30 pm- 6:00-7:30 pm

  

We look forward to seeing you there!We look forward to seeing you there!

Grade Grade PLUSPLUS

44thth and 5 and 5thth Grade Grade2011-122011-12

11-12 Grade PLUS11-12 Grade PLUS

Beginning with the 2011-12 school Beginning with the 2011-12 school year, all 4year, all 4thth and 5 and 5thth grade grade

classrooms across Forsyth County classrooms across Forsyth County will be using the Grade PLUS will be using the Grade PLUS

system of reporting. This reporting system of reporting. This reporting system uses both standards-based system uses both standards-based

scores of 1-4 and traditional scores of 1-4 and traditional percentage grades.percentage grades.

Assessment and GradingAssessment and Grading

The learning expectations and The learning expectations and standards for performance have been standards for performance have been

outlined for each quarter based on outlined for each quarter based on the Georgia Performance Standards.the Georgia Performance Standards.

Teachers will use two types of Teachers will use two types of classroom assessments, formative classroom assessments, formative

and summative.and summative.

Formative AssessmentsFormative Assessments Daily, ongoing assessments/observations that are Daily, ongoing assessments/observations that are

used to monitor student progress toward mastery of used to monitor student progress toward mastery of standards.standards.

Formative assessments will receive a standards-Formative assessments will receive a standards-based score as outlined in the rubric.based score as outlined in the rubric.

Formative scores will not be posted in Parent Portal. Formative scores will not be posted in Parent Portal. These scores will be communicated to parents in the These scores will be communicated to parents in the weekly work folder sent home by the teacher.weekly work folder sent home by the teacher.

KEY TO FORMATIVE BASED ACHIEVEMENT

1Limited or minimal

progress toward standard

2Ongoing progresstoward standard

3Consistent

achievementof standard

4Mastery of Standard

Summative AssessmentsSummative Assessments

Cumulative assessments will receive a Cumulative assessments will receive a traditional numeric grade and will be used to traditional numeric grade and will be used to measure student mastery of standards.measure student mastery of standards.

Summative grades will be posted in Parent Summative grades will be posted in Parent Portal at the end of the quarter and will serve as Portal at the end of the quarter and will serve as the report card grade.the report card grade.

KEY TO SUMMATIVE BASED ACHIEVEMENT

F<70%

C70-79%

B80-89%

A90-100%

Summative Assessment Re-testsSummative 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.

Work HabitsWork Habits Student work habits will be reported using the Student work habits will be reported using the

following categories:following categories:

Responsibility, Participation, Assignment Responsibility, Participation, Assignment Completion, and Interpersonal SkillCompletion, and Interpersonal Skillss

In each of the above categories, students will In each of the above categories, students will receive one of the following scores:receive one of the following scores:

Does Not Meet (D), Successful (S), or Does Not Meet (D), Successful (S), or Exemplary (E).Exemplary (E).

{Successful (S) is the expectation of students}{Successful (S) is the expectation of students}

Report CardReport Card

The Grade Plus report cards will have both The Grade Plus report cards will have both a traditional numeric grade for subjects a traditional numeric grade for subjects and standards based scores for each of and standards based scores for each of

the domains from the rubrics. This system the domains from the rubrics. This system of grading will only be used in English, of grading will only be used in English,

Reading and Math.Reading and Math.

Science and Social Studies will receive Science and Social Studies will receive traditional numeric grades.traditional numeric grades.

Parent CommunicationParent Communication

Parent letter, provided during the first week of Parent letter, provided during the first week of school, outlining grading and reporting school, outlining grading and reporting proceduresprocedures

Quarterly Rubrics, provided each nine weeks Quarterly Rubrics, provided each nine weeks outlining standards by quarter to assist with outlining standards by quarter to assist with monitoring student progressmonitoring student progress

Weekly student work sent home in the VIP folder Weekly student work sent home in the VIP folder

THANK YOU FOR COMING THANK YOU FOR COMING TO CURRICULUM NIGHT!TO CURRICULUM NIGHT!