Walt Disney Elementary School
Meet the Teacher Night
Grade 4: Mr. Fallucca and Ms. Argiri
September 26th, 2016
Dear Parent or Guardian,
Welcome to your child's fourth grade classroom! We hope you received our letters of introduction that were sent home on the first day of school. As we mentioned in that letter, your active role in your child's education is vital. You are the key to your child's success. Time and time again, research has proven that the best schools, teachers and principals are not as important as the parent. You have more ability to motivate, stimulate, and get your child to succeed than anyone else.
Fourth Grade Weebly/ITS Learning & Class Dojo:
Sign up for Class Dojo ASAP, it will keep you updated quickly and keep you in touch with the teacher daily. Because you are so important to your child's success, We will keep you informed about what is going on in our classrooms. A weekly update on our Fourth Grade Weebly Website gives you weekly spelling words, important dates, some information about what we are studying, and sometimes hints or strategies that you can use at home to help your child. All information can be found on this link:
School Supplies, Snacks, and Water Bottles:
Fourth grade students are required to be ready and prepared for school each day. Many of the supplies that were on this year’s list are community supplies that will be shared throughout the year. Parents are encouraged to donate pencils, Kleenex, and hand sanitizer throughout the school year. Other supplies are welcomed too.
Snacks are allowed during school (we typically take a snack break in the morning. Please make sure they are HEALTHY snacks (no candy or junk food please) and you may pack them along with your child’s lunch. If you would like to donate snacks to the whole class (such as pretzels, crackers, and fruits/vegetables) you may, remember that we have about 30 kids per class.
Your child may bring a water bottle to have on their desks throughout each day. Please make sure they are filled with WATER ONLY. Flavored drinks and pop will not be allowed.
Assignments:
Also, to keep you informed, We use the Fourth Grade Weebly as a DAILY AGENGA. Students can check their assignments for the day each morning from their ipad. Sometimes we do activities in class or we collect a paper when it is finished. That's why it is important to check the weebly periodically for work in subject areas. Your child may already have them completed, but it doesn’t hurt to check. If your child is missing an assignment or has incomplete work, we will let you know that day by writing a short message/email/dojo to inform you of missing work. Feel free to leave messages there, too. We check the weebly/emails/dojo each morning to see if your child has any concerns. Please check the weebly daily for happenings in our classrooms and updated assignments. Please email us for any questions/concerns.
Organization:
In addition to the assignment book, a portfolio (the STAR BINDER) is used to help the students develop good organizational habits. Each folder/plastic cover sheet is labeled, and all the students are learning how this is used. The first folder, labeled "Take Home Folder", will contain work that needs to be finished at home. It is also a convenient spot for the child to put items such as book orders, signed permission slips, etc., that must be brought back to school. The next folder, labeled "Parent/Teacher Communication" is another important one, too. Graded papers, the newsletter, and flyers should be stored there until removal at home each night. Please encourage proper use of the STAR BINDER. If your child is in doubt as to whether a paper should stay home, don't have them remove it that night. Have them double check with us the following day so they do not receive a missing assignment.
Birthday Treats—Fourth Grade Classrooms are Peanut Free This Year:
Disney Elementary has adopted a new practice for Birthday Treats this year. Food, candy, and drinks are no longer allowed to be handed out for Birthday Treats. Your child may pass out a sticker, bookmark, pencil, or some other small trinket to their classmates only. Another great idea would be to let your child purchase and “dedicate” a book or game to the classroom. Thank you for your support and understanding. Disney is trying to keep all children safe with so many food allergies in the classrooms now and also to promote healthy living choices.
Absences:
If possible, we try to send absent work home on the day of the absence. Students are not required to turn it in on the next day. It is due on the following day that they return, unless it is an extended illness. Please let us know ahead of time of any vacations or trips.
Curriculum Notes
Spelling:
Fraser uses the Rebecca Sitton Spelling Program and Words There Way. It consists of activities using the “most frequently used core words” and not only tests the students on them weekly but places emphasis on words being spelled correctly during their daily work. Students will receive new words every week and are expected to master them at all times in their writing. There will also be a spelling pattern focus each week. There is a copy of the new priority words in the spelling helpful hints packet as well as flashcards and priority words that they should already have mastered prior to third grade. Please revisit the “Priority Words” list over the next few weeks to refresh their memories. Daily assignments will have emphasis on using these words in context, word structure, phonics, and writing good sentences. These words will continually be recycled, and students will keep a notebook of the words they miss, so they can be restudied.
******Special Note: When students have printed material in front of them (their reading book, for example), and are responding in writing, they are expected to get the correct spelling from the book or other printed sources they may be using.
Reading and Language Arts:
The goal of our Reading program is to help our students become independent readers who can comprehend what is read by using various strategies, as well as come to enjoy different genre of literature. Skills are introduced to help your child find the story elements, be able to retell the events, analyze characters motives and look for the theme of the story. We use selections taken from quality literature, novels, and various informational-type text. Third grade includes themes from the genre of fantasy, realistic fiction, folk lore, informational reading, and various featured authors. Our reading program will also have literature circles, Daily 5, CAFÉ, independent reading time and stories read aloud for the whole class to enjoy.
The goal of our writing program is to help our students become better writers who can express their thoughts creatively and clearly. We develop strategies through the use of the writing process and running Lucy Calkins Writer’s Workshop within the classroom. Emphasis is placed on organization, writing good leads for their paragraphs, using descriptive language, expanding their vocabulary, and sharing their thoughts. Students also keep journal which are shared often. Your student will be introduced to several graphic organizers such as the Watermelon, Sandwich, and Garden to help them organize their writing. There will be several examples of all of the above strategies found in their Writer’s Workshop Notebooks.
(It also helps if you read aloud to your child at home. Students of all ages benefit from the activity. One’s listening comprehension is higher than one’s reading comprehension. Hearing more difficult words will help your child become exposed to various sentence structures, great vocabulary, descriptive language and the intonation of voice and expression.)
Listening and speaking are also vital components of our program. We stress active listening, contributing to class discussions, expressing ideas, and using appropriate body language and gestures.
Math:
Our district will be using a new math program called, Engage NY. It is activity centered with hands on materials. The program emphasizes thinking and reasoning skills, multiple methods and strategies for problem solving, spiraling concepts, collaborative learning and small group activities.
The students have access to this program online. Students are encouraged to look online at their Daily lessons for videos, practice problems and assignments to help them with their homework. Nightly homework will be Dreambox on student ipads 20 mins a night. Class attendance becomes critical with this math series because so much is explained and demonstrated in class.
**Basic math facts play a crucial role in your child’s success this year in math. Please continue to review basic addition and subtraction math facts using the math fact triangles at the start of the year. Multiplication will begin in a few months and memorizing these facts for mastery level is imperative in order to help your child succeed this year.
Social Studies:
Social Studies will be a combination of map skills, current events, with a focus on the Regions of the United States. We will also focus on economics, civics, and core democratic values.
Science:
The program is a combination of investigative activities and informational text. The scientific process will be constantly taught, incorporating the skills of classifying, estimating, predicting, inferring, concluding, and analyzing data. Units to be covered are metric measurement, magnetism, light, sound and matter, views from the Earth, the Earth’s water, earth’s land resources, & ecology
Special Schedule: All times are from 8:43-9:23am so be at school on time!
Ms. Argiri
Monday: MUSIC
Tuesday: HEART
Wednesday: 21 CENTURY
Thursday: GYM
Friday: ART
Special Schedule:
Mr. Fallucca
Monday: HEART
Monday: MUSIC
Wednesday: GYM
Thursday: ART
Friday: 21 CENTURY
M-Step:
This is a state assessment test given to all third through sixth graders in April/May. We will take the Reading, Writing, Math, and Science sections. The ELA, English Language Arts section, includes reading two articles, fiction and non fiction, answering questions for each selection, as well as cross text questions. Another section deals with being able to identify and read specific genre and answer questions. The writing section asks students to write a personal narrative based on a specified writing prompt. We are focusing this year on Comparing and Contrasting. Finally, students are asked to identify organizational styles in writing, critiquing a piece of writing, and answer grammar questions.
The math section will focus on problem solving. It asks students to write a short essay on how they solve word problems. The test concepts include numeration, place value, geometry, algebra, interpreting graphs and tables, measurement, fractions, decimals, and recognizing number patterns.
Discipline:
Students will receive a warning for inappropriate behavior. If spoken to again, the student will lose a specified amount of time at second recess. Depending on the severity of the situation, such as bullying or fighting, parents will be contacted as well as the Principal and a detention may be given. If a student’s name is left by a substitute teacher for misbehaving and not following the classroom rules, that student will receive detention. It is imperative that every child is respectful and well behaved when a substitute is in our classroom.
Grades:
Students will receive grades for all core subjects based on the following system this year:
S= Secure with the Knowledge and Content
D=Developing Understanding
B=Beginning to develop and understand
There will be 3 report cards given out this year to show your child’s growth and understanding of key concepts being taught in third grade. Also students will be graded on life skills (such as responsibility, listening, and organization). For this there will be a 1-4 number system used to identify strengths and weaknesses. 1= exceeding expectations, 2=meeting expectations, 3=sometimes meeting expectations, and 4=rarely meeting expectations. Please refer to Power Teacher weekly to obtain the progress of your child’s efforts.
Incentives:
The FUN FRIDAY will be held every two weeks of the marking period throughout the year. The purpose of this activity is to give your child the opportunity to be rewarded for their positive behavior with their classmates. We are hoping this will give your child a moment to “shine” and be proud of the responsible student they are becoming..
Sparkle Tickets are earned for following the rules and having respectful behavior. Sparkle tickets may be given to a child by any adult in the building. Mrs. McGuire has a drawing once a month and one child from every classroom is picked to have lunch with her.
Dojo Points (Virtual System) are received every time students are on task and engaged in learning. They can be awarded anytime and also be taken away. The more points they earn the more sparkle tickets they will receive.
Student of the Week/Month happens weekly and is earned when your child has not ended up on the Tracker for the whole week for poor behavior, not having their notebook signed or missing work. Prizes include extra recess, candy, sparkle tickets, brain bucks or little trinkets.
Star Chart/Marble Jar is a whole class incentive and is earned when the entire class follows directions and is well behaved in specials and assemblies. An amount of “stars” or “marbles” are awarded and when the jar is full the class will have a reward such as movie, extra computer or recess times.
We are looking forward to a wonderful and successful year with your child. Please remember that your child’s success is a team effort, and that communication between us is essential. Thank you for your support.
Sincerely,
Ms. Argiri & Mr. Fallucca