Mrs. Cianca’s Fourth- Grade Class

1. Mrs. Cianca’s Fourth- Grade Class Welcome!

2. All About Me • My background • I grew up in St Petersburg • I attended North Shore and Bay Vista Elementary, 16th Street Middle (John Hopkins), St. Pete High School, and University of South Florida • Married for one year • My experience • Teaching for 12 years • I have also taught first and third grades

3. My Goals • To give your child the academic and social skills he or she needs to progress to fifth grade • To provide a supportive and fun classroom environment • To help your child make new friends and discover new interests

4. Expectations • Organizational skills reinforced • Data portfolio • Goal Setting/Action Plans • Agenda books signed nightly with a full signature (no initials), including Friday

5. Classroom Community • Our classroom is a community. In our community, we have rules to help us get along with each other. I will always be fair and treat everyone with respect. I expect each child to respect one another and all adults

6. Discipline Policy • Students are expected to behave and follow directions • Ground Rules have been established by the students • Green - Great Day, Blue - Warning, Yellow- Note Home, Red- Fundamental Warning You will see these colors in your child’s agenda book daily • Rewards- SPUDS

7. Class Subjects • The subjects we cover during fourth grade are: • Reading • Writing • Math • Science • Social studies

8. Reading • Reading Comprehension Strategies • Read textbooks, magazines, and print that surrounds us in our daily lives • Whole class reading and discussions, small group instruction, read aloud • Reading Counts program • Emphasis on writing written responses • FCAT reading will have written responses and multiple choice • Reading 20 days out of the month

9. Writing • Introduced with brainstorming and focus lessons • Writing should be focused, organized and contain supporting details • We will learn planning techniques for both expository and narrative writing • Sharing with whole class or small group • All work (even other subject areas) is to be answered in complete sentences incorporating the question into the answers

10. Writing Continued • Spelling is included as a writing grade • We will use Month by Month Phonics • Spelling tests will NOT be given weekly • Focus will be to transfer knowledge of words into everyday writing

11. Math • 5 strands: number sense, measurement, geometry, algebraic thinking, and data analysis and probability • Reinforced through use of manipulatives and real world activities • Problem Solving with written explanation • Memorize addition, subtraction, and multiplication facts • Project Focus Math

12. Science and Social Studies • Alternate between these subject areas • Textbooks as well as hands on activities • Reading, math, and writing skills will be integrated into these lessons • Some project based homework assignments • Two related field trips to enhance learning • On occasions homework in these areas may be taken for a grade

13. FCAT & PIAP Testing • PIAP- Pinellas Instructional Assessment Plan • Five district reading and math tests given throughout the year • Three district writing tests • PIAP testing in August, October, December, February, and April • FCAT writing test will be in February • FCAT reading and math will be in February • You will be provided with your child’s scores and progress on the district tests each time

14. Music, Art, and Gifted • Music is on Friday from 12:35-1:15 • Art is on Wed. from 9:20-10:00 • Gifted is on Tuesdays, from 9:00 – 1:20

15. Homework • Homework is used to reinforce academic skills taught, to encourage independent study, to establish good work habits and to build self-discipline • Unfinished class work may be added to nightly homework and is expected to be completed along with other assigned homework for that night • Homework will be assigned to all students Monday through Thursday, including 3 day weekends

16. Homework Continued • Homework is due when the student arrives at school. It may not be brought in by anyone later in the day • Parent signature is required on the first page of each homework assignment and the agenda book each day • Consequences for incomplete, not returned or unsigned homework include warnings and detentions

17. Homework Continued • Read at least 20 days out of the month for 15 minutes • Monday Night: Math and Reading • Tuesday Night: Math and Reading • Wednesday Night: Math and Writing • Thursday Night: Math and Science or Social Studies • How much should I help my child with homework? Allow your child to attempt it on his or her own. Then review it; checking for any problems that are incomplete. If your child is struggling, you may offer help. Homework is a review of skills already taught during the school day, so your child should be familiar with the skill.

18. Weekly Tests • Wednesday: Reading. • Friday: Math • Science or Social Studies: When unit is finished • Student will write down tests in agenda book at the beginning of the week.

19. Agenda Books • Students will write down all homework assignments, tests, and important events in agendas every day • Parents must sign the agenda with a full signature every night, including Friday • If a child does not have their agenda or it is not signed with a full parent signature, it will result in a warning • You will see a colored dot marked each day on your child’s agenda book. This corresponds to our classroom behavior plan.

20. Detention • Tuesday and Thursday are the designated detention days • The time is from 2:25-2:55 • You must pick your child up by 3:00 • Refer to the Bay Vista calendar for more detail • A detention is given after 2 warnings or for extreme misbehavior

21. Grading Policy • 90 - 100 A • 80 - 89 B • 70 - 79 C • 60 - 69 D • 59 or below F

22. Tardiness • Students are expected to arrive to school on time • Students may enter their classrooms at 8:10 a.m. to prepare for the beginning of school. The tardy bell will ring at 8:20 a.m. Students will be marked tardy after 8:20 a.m. and must first report to the office for a tardy slip • A letter from the Principal will be sent after five tardies in any given grading period • Students who receive two additional tardies in a grading period will be placed on probation • Subsequent tardies will result in detentions • After the third detention in an infraction period a referral to the Intervention and Appeals Committee will be made

23. Volunteers • I love to have volunteers • If you are volunteering at school, please sign into the office and where your badge • Please sign up on the volunteer sheet to let me know days and times you are available

24. Keep Informed • Please go to Bay Vista’s web site and click on staff links, then my name. • www.bayvista-es.pinellas.k12.fl.us • I will post spelling words there monthly • Tell you what’s new in 4th grade • Other fun 4th grade stuff

25. Last but Not Least… Before you go please: • Complete the 3-2-1 sheet and leave for me • Consider taking an item from my wish list to donate to our class • Write down days and times you are available for volunteering in our out of the classroom • Write a short encouraging letter to your child wishing them well in 4th grade this year.

26. Let’s Have a Great Year! Thank you all for coming! You are greatly appreciated!!!