Curriculum Night 2013-2014
Welcome to
Island Park Elementary
Teacher:
Ms. Sally Loeser
Portable 7
Fourth Grade Class
.
Classroom Guidelines
Please treat me with the same respect I treat you.
Feel free to do anything that does not cause a problem for anyone else.
I teach when there are no distractions or other problems
I listen to students who raise their hand.
I listen to one person at a time.
If someone causes a problem, I will do something.
What I do will depend on what happened and what the person is willing to do to solve the problem.
If you feel something is unfair, please come quietly tell me, and we will talk about it.
Daily Schedule:
9:10 - 9:30 Organize, Binder checks, Cal. Math
9:30 - 10:15 Math *PE/Music
10:15- 10:30 Recess
10:30- 11:15 Reading
11:15 -12:25 Writing/Language Arts
12:30 - 1:10 Lunch
1:10 - 2:10 Science (Mon/Tues/Weds.) *PE/Music
2:10- 2:25 Recess
2:25 - 3:25 Social Studies (Mon/Tues)*Tech/Library.
3:25 -3:30 Clean-up
3:30 Dismissal
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· PE/Music:
o Mondays, 9:15-10:15
o Thursdays, 1:10-2:10
· Technology:
o Thursdays. 2:25-2:50
· Library:
o Thursday 2:55-3:25
· Early Dismissal:
o Wednesday 2:00 PM
MULTIPLE INTELLIGENCES
The Multiple Intelligence theory suggests that no one set of teaching strategies will work best for all students at all times. All children have different proclivities in the seven intelligences, so any particular strategy is likely to be successful with several students, and yet, not for others. Because of these individual differences among students, I use a broad range of teaching strategies with my students and shift my intelligence emphasis from presentation to presentation, there will always be a time during the period or day when a student has his or her own highly developed intelligence(s) actively involved in learning.
Key Points in MI Theory
• Each person possesses all seven intelligences - MI theory is not a "type theory" for determining the one intelligence that fits. It is a theory of cognitive functioning, and it proposed that each person has capacities in all seven intelligences.
• Most people can develop each intelligence to an adequate level of competency - although an individual may bewail his deficiencies in a given area and consider his problems innate and intractable, Gardner suggests that virtually everyone has the capacity to develop all seven intelligences to a reasonably high level of performance if given the appropriate encouragement, enrichment, and instruction.
• Intelligences usually work together in complex ways - Gardner points out that each intelligence as described above is actually a "fiction"; that is no intelligence exists by itself in life (except perhaps in very rare instances in savants and brain-injured individuals.) Intelligences are always interacting with each other.
• There are many ways to be intelligent within each category - there is no standard set of attributes that one must have to be considered intelligent in a specific area. Consequently, a person may not be able to read, yet be highly linguistic because he can tell a terrific story or has a large, oral vocabulary. Similarly, a person may be quite awkward on the playing field, yet possess superior bodily-kinesthetic intelligence when she weaves a carpet or creates an inlaid chess table. MI theory emphasizes the rich diversity of ways in which people show their gifts within intelligences as well as between intelligences.
“All students can learn and succeed, but not all on the same day in the same way.” - William G. Spady-“It’s not how smart you are, but how you are smart.”
- Howard Gardner-
Grading Expectations
Grading Report Cards:
4= Exceeding Standards (Exemplary)
4 In addition to score 3 performance, the student demonstrates in-depth inferences and/or applications.
3= Meeting Standards (Proficient)
3.5 In addition to score 3 performance, demonstrates partial success at inferences and applications.
3 Knows and applies the simple or complex information and/or processes that were explicitly taught. (No major errors or omissions.)
¤2= Progressing toward standards (Basic)
2.5 Knows and can apply simpler details and processes. Demonstrates partial knowledge of more complex ideas and processes.
2 Knows simpler details and processes. Major errors or omissions regarding the more complex ideas and processes.
1=Below Standards (Unsatisfactory)
1 With help, a partial understanding of some of the simpler details and processes and some of the more complex ideas and processes.
Homework Expectations:
· Complete Binder Reminder Daily in class.
· Have parent sign binder reminder each night after homework is completed.
· Turn in homework on time.
Monthly Genre Reading Projects
v Read at least 30 minutes /night
v Finish a book/month and complete a project
Daily Math Homework
v 4 times/week (Monday-Thursday)
Wizard Spelling
v Vocabulary words given on Monday
o Assignments due on Thursday/Friday
o Pre-test Monday, trial test Wednesday, Post-test Friday
Social Studies/Science
v On occasion research and project work
will be completed at home
· Any daily work that was not completed in class during the time given will become homework for that evening.
4th Grade Curriculum
Math Expressions
· Quick Practice
· Math Talk
· Building Concepts
· Helping Community
· Student Leaders
· Nightly Homework and Review
· Math Fact Fluency
· 4th grade focus on word problems
Writing
· Writing Workshop
· Write about your own life
· Use a consistent writing process
· Work in authentic ways
· Foster independence
· (Mini-lesson, then active writing time)
· Six traits of Writing
· Class Blog, Writing Notebook
· Writing done across the subjects
Technology
· Word Processing
· Type to Learn 4
· PowerPoint
· Kidspiration/Inspiration software
· Class Blog
· Online assessments
· Flip Cameras
· MUCH MORE
Science
· Electricity
· Food Chemistry and Nutrition
· Experimenting with Plants
· Sound
· •A focus on inquiry and the scientific process using the resources of the National Science Foundation.
Other Important things to note…
Field Trips/Events-planned so far…
· Rick Hartman the Toymaker-Science Creations-Oct. 4th
· Oregon Trail-Spring date
· Writing 826 Field-Trip-Spring Date
· MOHAI kits for Social Studies
Class Celebrations:
· Halloween
· Valentine’s Day
· St Patrick’s Day
· End of Year
Reward celebrations:
· Marble parties
· Wizard’s parties
o Per school policy, please do not send in birthday treats with your child.
o Keep snacks and treats nutritious and nut free.
Parent Volunteers: I welcome parent assistance in the following areas: I will send a sign-up home via email this week.
§ Book orders
§ Field trips
§ Book group leaders
§ Copying
§ Classroom library organizing
§ Celebrations
§ Big art projects/Art Docents
* I occasionally have projects or needs not listed here through the school year and will send out an email for help in advance.
Best methods to reach me:
Email:
*Phone calls will be answered before or after school
Please write a note to your child.