Back to School Night!

September 13, 2012

Ms. Cahill

3rd, 4th, and 5th grades

Reading

• This year we will be using My Sidewalks on Scott Foresman Reading Street: Intensive Reading Intervention – This is an intensive reading

intervention program that is designed to accelerate the reading development of struggling students.

WritingThis year we will be using two writing programs:

Just Write: In this program students are guided through the writing process from initial idea

to final edited and published narrative. Throughout, they are given models to follow and are

encouraged to be creative.

Being a Writer: This program has two goals: to develop the creativity and skills of a writer, and to develop the social and ethical values of a responsible person.

Math• Math in Focus uses an approach

which focuses on problem solving, deep understanding, and model drawing – This program is designed to teach

your children both how and why math works.

– This deep understanding means that they will be better able to use math in real-life situations.

Science - Social StudiesAll 4th Grade Students will be taking

The New York State Science Assessment. There is a written exam and a skills based performance exam.

To help prepare your 4th grade student for the fast paced test they will mainstream with Mrs. Simmons 4th general education 4th grade class on

Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 1:45pm- 2:30pm.

3rd and 5th Grade students at this time may be pulled by a service provider such as Speech, Counseling or Occupational Therapy. 4th grade students

will be pulled at another time.

All students will have science and social studies instruction within the classroom weekly. During reading we will address

both Science and Social Studies.

Extra Support

• At some point, every student will receive extra support throughout the school year, within the classroom in small groups or one on one as needed.

• The extra support may be re-teaching, or using research based intervention programs (listed on the right) to address areas where your child may struggle at the time with the goal of acceletating

Intervention Programs include but

are not limited to:• Preventing Academic

Failure (PAF) • Primary Phonics• LindamoodBell LiPS• Attack Math • Touch Math

Specials • Mondays

– Library 9:00am– Computers 2:00PM

• Tuesday– Music 9:30am

• Thursday– Physical Education 9:00am

• Friday– Physical Education 9:00am– Glee Club 11:00am

****YOU MUST WEAR SNEAKERS TO PHYSICAL EDUCATION!!!!!****

IEP’s vs Report Cards• It is important to understand your child is in this

classroom because they were struggling in the larger class settings. Although I will be challenging them and am confident of their growth as learners this year I have to grade your child according to the benchmarks for a 3rd 4th or 5th grade student in a mainstream classroom.

• Please do not become frustrated if the grades are below grade level or not meeting expectations. Wait for the progress notes from the special education department and our Annual Review so we can discuss the true growth (that is very hard to see on the district benchmark report cards) I know they will be making.