Back to School Night 2014

4^th Grade Curriculum and Class Information

Bonnie Ha, Room 45

bha@wcsd.k12.ca.us

925-944-6822 ext. 3145

Reading

Reading instruction is taught using a Reader’s Workshop model. This includes:

·                    Whole class mini-lesson

·                    Independent reading time

·                    Small, flexible group instruction targeting specific skills

·                    Guided reading

·                    Literature groups

The core literature books that we read are:

·                    Island of the Blue Dolphins

·                    By the Great Horn Spoon

·                    Esperanza Rising

·                    Number the Stars 

In addition to teaching reading skills through the use of core novels, core literature instruction will also be taught using a Language Workshop model. Students will receive targeted language instruction, which will then be tied to the reading we do as a whole class.

Writing

The types of writing we will be doing in 4^th grade are:

·         Personal narrative

·         Creative narrative

·         Opinion writing

·         Informational reports and note-taking

·         Poetry

·         Writing about reading 

I use the Writer’s Workshop model to teach writing.  This involves a whole class mini-lesson, independent writing time, individual conferences, and publishing writing pieces.

Book Log

Every day students are expected to read for 30 minutes as part of their homework and record what they have read on the book log sheet that is included in the homework packet.  This reading is not meant to be a burden but a gift.  Children need to write the title of the book, the author, the pages they read, and a very brief sentence summing up the reading they do each night.  The book log is handed in on Fridays.

Math

We use the Walnut Creek School District adopted Scott Foresman Envision math as well as the Investigations units from this math program. Your child has one workbook that follows the Envision math, and some of the homework will come from this practice book. With each lesson from the Envision math program, there is a re-teaching page that explains the concepts. It is a good idea to look to this page for an additional explanation on how the lesson was taught for the day.

All Envision student materials (except for Re-teaching pages) can be found online at www.pearsonsuccessnet.com. Students have his or her login information on a sticker that I have placed in their homework folders. As we transition into the Common Core State Standards for math, the Envision program will be supplemented by the Investigations program. Students do not have their own workbooks for this program, and math homework may sometimes come as a worksheet.

In class, I supplement our math programs with a variety of lessons using manipulatives, challenge problems, tile activities from Marcy Cook, and math games.

Fact Practice

In fourth grade, it is critical that students know their basic multiplication facts. We begin the year practicing our multiplication facts by individual multiplication tables. After we have gone through the each fact up to 12, students will need to practice their facts online at www.xtramath.org.

Xtramath is an individualized program the students can do at home and in school. As part of the nightly homework, I require students to login and practice at least three times that week. With this program, I am able to individualize the math facts, see student’s progress, and track how often they login.

If your child does not have access to a computer with internet, there is an App you can download to an iPhone/iPad for $4.99; although the computer version is free. They are also welcome to come in before or after school to use our classroom computers, and I may also be able to work in some in-class time if needed. This should take no more than 5-7 minutes for your child to complete.

Social Studies

Our focus this year is on California history and geography.  We have a number of field trips planned that have to do with the study of California.  Most of the sites have not yet begun to take reservations for school tours, but we have an idea of what month we will try to go. I will notify you as soon as we have dates finalized for the trips.

·                    Oakland Museum- TBD, possibly October

·                    Mission San Francisco Solano (Sonoma)- TBD, end of January to February

·                    Shell Ridge (geology)- April 9

·                    Gold Rush Overnight- May 14-15, more information to come

Science

Our areas of study are:

·                    Life Science-Relationships of Living Things

·                    Physical Science-Electricity and Magnetism

·                    Earth Science-Geology

We will be in the science lab with Mrs. Walker on Thursdays.

Specials

Fourth graders will be going to specials on Fridays. This is a time for them to be pulled out for Art, Music, and PE while the teachers are provided time for collaboration. Please make sure your child dresses in the appropriate attire and shoes for PE, and that they bring water bottles and wear sunscreen if needed.

Homework

Every Monday your child will come home with a homework packet and cover sheet for the week’s homework. It is important that they bring this packet to and from school every day in their homework folders. Homework should take thirty minutes to complete in addition to the book log reading for the evening.  Homework is a practice or review of something we have done in class.  If your child is spending more than an hour to complete homework, let me know, so we can figure out some strategies to help them expedite this work.

Please remember that most fourth graders need some supervision to complete work.

Communication

The homework cover sheet has announcements and information that I want to share with you.  I ask that you sign it on Monday evenings so I know that you have seen it and are aware of what your student has to do that week.  I send out progress reports monthly on Wednesdays so you can see how your child is progressing.

Email/Remind App

Email is the easiest way for me to communicate with the parents of this class. Please leave your email address so that I can send announcements and other news. If you do not have an email address, please let me know and we can try and work something out.

“Remind” is something new that I am trying out this year. It allows me to send a text message reminder to the parents in class. I am hoping that this is an easier way to send last minute reminders and important information that is time sensitive. Please visit https://www.remind.com for more information.

Help

I appreciate parent help!  Here are some jobs for interested people.

·                    Room parent

·                    Math helpers

·                    Copy shop

·                    Field trip coordinator

·            Disaster preparedness coordinator- a one-time job

·                    Library/Tech  (Wednesdays from 1:30-2:30)

TOP TEN THINGS YOU CAN DO TO HELP YOUR CHILD BE SUCCESSFUL IN FOURTH GRADE

10.    Give them lots of encouragement and support.

  9.    Check in with them on homework and class assignments

  8.    Make them tell you one new thing they learned that day.

  7.    Ask them to read aloud with you.

  6.    Have a special time each day when you read to them.

  5.     Find real world math examples and use them in a fun way.

  4.    Quiz them on their math facts.

  3.    Eat dinner with them and talk about what everyone is reading or learning.

  2.    Encourage them to try and remind them they don’t have to be perfect.

  1.    Enjoy them and laugh with them.

Please feel free to contact me by phone or email.  I am looking forward to a wonderful year with you and your child.