Welcome to 4 th Grade

1. Welcome to 4th Grade Parents: Please Have a Seat at Your Child’s Desk. Students: Please Take a Worksheet and Clipboard and find a place to sit on the floor or at one of the empty tables. Please work QUIETLY during the presentation. Don’t forget to put your name on your paper! Please turn it in to Ms. Kelly before you leave tonight. The presentation will begin promptly at 6:45!

2. Important Information • http://moodle.northroyaltonsd.org/moodle • School Website: http://www.northroyaltonsd.org • InfoSnap Forms: Emergency, Internet, Food Safety, Photo Release, etc. • Constant Contact: Enroll Online • http://www.northroyaltonsd.org/news.php?loc=v&scope=v • Handbook • Snack List: Updated Version in Packet and Online • Point of Sale: Information is located in your packet • Lunches $2.75; Milk $.50 • Drop Off: No earlier than 8:45 a.m.; Pick Up: No earlier than 3:28 p.m. • www.PayForIt.net:Need Child’s Student ID (in packet)

3. All About Me • My background • I grew up in North Royalton and graduated from North Royalton High School. • I earned my Bachelor’s Degree from Baldwin-Wallace College and went on to earn my Master’s Degree from Ashland University. • My experience • I have been teaching for 15 years. • I am a Nationally Board Certified Teacher.

4. My Family • My husband • Bob • My children • Kaitlin, 17 • Alexis, 11 • Alyssa, 4 months • Our pets • Spunky the Cat

5. Ms. Margo Kelly • Background • Graduated from Indiana University. • Experience • Taught 8 Years at a Private School in Michigan. • Substitute Teacher for the North Royalton & Brecksville-Broadview Heights School Districts for the last 2 years. • Spends her summers Working at the Beekeepers Summer Camp.

6. Ms. Kelly’s Family Pets • Lab mix named Cassie • Sammy the guinea pig, a.k.a. “Piggy” Children Mason, 9 & Tate, 8

7. An Exciting Year Ahead… • This year your child will benefit from having 2 teachers in the classroom throughout the day. • Mrs. Malik will be joining us during our Math and Reading/Language Arts blocks. • Mrs. Merholz will be joining us during our Social Studies/Science block, during our Daily Edit lesson, and in the afternoon as we finish up for the day.

8. Important Website Links • My Email: leeann.cichon@northroyaltonsd.org • School Website: www.northroyaltonsd.org • Classroom Website: http://teachersites.schoolworld.com/webpages/LCichon • Math Textbook: www.eharcourtschool.com • Username: VV04 Password: VV04 • Social Studies Textbook: www.eduplace.com/kids • Username: royalton Password: 4grade • IXL: www.ixl.com • Username: firstnamelastname685 Password: bears • Study Island: www.studyisland.com Username: ____________Password: ______________

9. My Goals • To challenge students to work at their personal best each and every day. • To individualize instruction as much as possible to meet each student’s individual needs. • To give students the academic and social skills needed to be successful in the middle school.

10. Subjects • Math (OAA Test: Thursday, April 25th) • Science/Social Studies (switch subjects every 4-5 weeks each quarter) • Reading (OAA Test: Tuesday, April 23rd) • Writing • Daily Edit (Grammar) • Spelling • Writing Process • Specials: Art, Computer, Gym, Library, and Music

11. Daily Schedule/Specials • Please see handout for the daily schedule • Useful for planning doctor’s appointments, etc. • Monday:Computer & Music • Tuesday: Computer & Library • Wednesday: Gym • Thursday: Art • Friday: Library & Music

12. Math • Please refer to our Classroom Website • Copies of Worksheets • Handouts • Utilize the Online Math Textbook • Show Me, Try These • My Goals • Cover all standards • This requires a fast pace • Content is spiraled throughout the year • Individualize lessons as much as possible • Same concept, different assignments Most Common statement at the end of the year: “This is so easy now.”

13. Math • Homework • Expect 1 worksheet/assignment each evening, Monday-Thursday • Expect approximately 1 test per week • Study Basic Facts NIGHTLY until Mastery is Achieved • Please email me when your child is struggling so we can brainstorm together. • The more you can help them use math in their daily lives, the more successful they will be. • Calculating at the store • Rounding and estimating • Cooking/Measuring

14. Science/Social Studies • In Science, our main focus is to utilize the Scientific Method as we explore the concepts of: • Weather, Plants, and Physical/Chemical Changes • In Social Studies, our main focus is on Ohio and how Ohio has been influenced by events throughout America’s history. • My Goals • Cover all standards • Incorporate Reading in the Content Area Skills in preparation for Middle School • Accessing Prior Knowledge • Creating Graphic Organizers • Taking Quality Notes

15. Science/Social Studies • Enrichment • Please encourage your child to access topics online. • Mini trips to places discussed is an excellent way to develop schema in social studies. • Conducting experiments at home and encouraging scientific inquiry using the Scientific Method will help develop science reasoning skills. • Homework is minimal, but nightly studying is greatly encouraged. • Could be as simple as asking your child about the lesson each day. • Just a Reminder: Social Studies Textbook is Online.

16. Language Arts • Spelling: Students will complete a page each night for homework (can work on at bus time). A test over all of the words will be given each Thursday. • Daily Edit: Students will complete a packet each week and will be tested over one complete page on Friday. • Writing: Students will utilize the writing process to write, revise, and publish various original works. • Narratives, Letters, Messages, Journals, Notes, Research Reports, etc.

17. Reading • Reading Level: Each student will be evaluated to determine if he/she is reading at grade-level, below grade-level, or above grade-level. • DRA, DIBELS, STUDY ISLAND, etc. • Combination of Teacher-Led and Independent Centers • Teacher Led: Comprehension, Vocabulary, Writing, OAA • Independent: Listening, Writing, Silent Reading and/or Book Study, PALs Reading • Guided Reading Lessons: New Story Every Wednesday, followed by a test every Tuesday

18. Grading Scale • A 100-90 • B 89-80 • C 79-70 • D 69-60 • F 59- Below Remember to Check Grades Online Regularly!

19. Homework • Please expect about 40 minutes of homework each night. • Monthly reading/math calendars are REQUIRED… failure to complete and/or turn in on time results in a blue letter, with a blue letter then being issued for each subsequent month missed. • Blue letters will also be issued once a student misses 3 homework assignments over the course of a quarter. • We will complete assignment books each Friday for the week ahead (please note… assignments are subject to change). • Please sign over the weekend.

20. Behavior Expectations • School Rules • I will follow directions. • I will be prepared to work. • I will respect myself and the feelings and property of others. • I will keep my hands, feet, and objects to myself. • Specific Classroom Directions are listed on our classroom website. • Can you help? • If possible, please send in small treats/rewards to be used as individual rewards.

21. Conferences • Wednesday, November 7th or Thursday, November 15th • If you feel a conference will most likely not be necessary, or prefer to conference via phone or email, please sign on the appropriate form. • If you feel it is likely a conference will be needed, then please sign-up under the date/time that best meets your needs.

22. Important Details • Parent Survey • Complete online through our classroom website • Internet Survey • Complete online though our classroom website • Emergency Forms: • Complete Online • Follow Link on School Website

23. Please cover all books by the first day of school • Paper bags from the grocery store work best • Students do not need to write their names inside, the books are numbered • Please label all folders: Reading- Red, Writing- Orange, Math- Blue, Science- Yellow, Social Studies- Green, Take Home- Purple, Paper- Black

24. Reminders • Write a letter to your child and leave it in their desk- it makes a great surprise on the first day!  • School starts at 9:00 A.M. • Students should be in the building by 8:45 • It is very important that students are on time since we will be starting our math lesson at exactly 9:00.

25. Looking Forward to a Great Year!

26. Before You Leave Parents: Remember to Sign-In, Complete the Email Request Sheet, Sign-Up for Conferences, & Sign-Up for PTA Parties. Students: Before leaving, please put away and organize your supplies. Remember, you need to take your TEXTBOOKS and FOLDERS home with you tonight. Don’t forget to turn in your paper(s) to Ms. Kelly before you leave!