Welcome to 4 th Grade Parent Orientation!

1. Welcome to 4th Grade Parent Orientation! Back-to-School Night August 26, 2019 Ms. Paulson & Ms. Hubbard

2. Agenda • Morning Meeting • Meet Ms. Paulson & Ms. Hubbard • Schedule, Assessments, Homework • Curriculum and Learning Expectations • Behavior • Communication • Uniform and Health • Service and Volunteer Opportunities • Write a letter for your child’s first day • Write a praise note for our wall

3. Morning Meeting:Greeting • Read the quote that is in front of you and take some time to think about what it means and how you can connect with it. • Give me a thumbs up when you are ready. • When I say go, greet 3 people by reading your quote and telling them what it means to you. When you have greeted 3 people, please sit down!

4. Morning Meeting:Share • Turn and Talk to a Chicken Wing Partner: • 1. Find out your partner’s name • 2. Find out your partner’s child’s name • 3. Find out one thing they did over the summer

5. Morning Meeting:Activity • Rock-Paper-Scissors: • Stand back-to-back • Play “Rock-Paper-Scissors” • The winner will find another winner. The runner up will cheer on the winner. • Continue until there are only two teams.

6. Morning Meeting:Message Dear 4th Grade Families, We are so excited to begin the adventure of fourth grade with you and your children. 4th Grade is a year where students truly grow in independence and responsibility. We will look to you as experts on your child’s strengths and needs as we guide your children to reach their fullest potential. This year will be FUN and we are SO excited! Cheers, Ms. Paulson & Ms. Hubbard

7. Meet Ms. Paulson • This is my fifth year teaching at St. Mark • I received my Bachelors in Liberal Studies with a minor in English as well as my teaching credential from Loyola Marymount University. • I graduated in May of 2018 from LMU’s Graduate Program with a Masters in Educational Studies and a Reading Certificate. • This past summer I went surfing in Bali and Costa Rica • I work out every morning before school and am very active. • I will be coaching Cross Country again this year and co-running Student Council with Ms. Hubbard and Ms. Gaitan

8. Meet Ms. Hubbard (again) • This is my second year teaching at St. Mark • I received my Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education at Boston University. • I am currently working on my Master’s Degree for Curriculum and Instruction with a focus on Reading Intervention • I spent this past summer in Maine with my family • This past summer I took up boogie boarding • I don’t work out before school, I sleep in until the last possible moment • I will also be coaching Cross Country this year and co-running Student Council with Ms. Paulson and Ms. Gaitan

9. Schedule • Morning Drop off: 7:40 am students must be in line • SCHOOL NOW BEGINS AT 7:43 am • Morning 20 minute Recess: 10:10-10:30am • Lunch: 12:25-1:05pm • Trash Free – all trash will be sent home with students • Everyone, including hot lunch, need to bring reusable lunch boxes • School Ends: 3:00pm

10. Assessment • 6 reporting periods- 3 progress reports, 3 report cards • Report cards are based off of a 1, 2, 3, 4 system.

11. Homework • WHEN: A packet will be given to each student the Friday before the week • WHERE: Available on the class website as well, no excuses! • WHAT: Varies between practicing multiplication facts, word attack skills, mathematics, and reading

12. Curriculum • Reader’s Workshop: • Students choose the books they want to read • The program emphasizes the interaction between readers and text. Students learn to ask questions and make connections. • Format: • Mini-lessons on some aspect of literature or a reading strategy.• Independent Reading Time, where students keep a journal and respond to the literature in terms of what they think or how they feel about what they are reading.• Sharing Time where students share with another person their journal entries and the other person gives feedback.  

13. Curriculum • Writer’s Workshop: • Just as students learn to read best by reading, writers also learn best by writing. • To make the most progress, kids learn to take ownership of their own writing with guidance from both teacher and peers. • We will have publishing parties throughout the year that you are welcome to attend but it is NOT necessary you attend all of them. • Format: • Mini Lesson • Writing Time • Conferences • Share

14. Curriculum • Ms. Jones will be joining us 3 times a week to support us with teaching math • CGI Math • “Cognitively Guided Instruction (CGI) is a student-centered approach to teaching math. It starts with what your students already know and builds on their natural number sense and intuitive approaches to problem solving. Rather than a math program or curriculum, CGI is a way of listening to students, asking smart questions, and engaging with their thinking—all with the goal of uncovering and expanding every student’s mathematical understanding.” - Heinemann

15. Curriculum • CGI Math: • We will begin by exploring the meanings of multiplication • PLEASE don’t teach the standard way of math to your child • I KNOW THIS IS DIFFICULT, TRUST ME • ST Math: • We have created goals for the year so that everyone reaches 100 percent by May!

16. Curriculum • Religion • Will be taught 2 times a week by Mr. Aquino • Social Studies: • California History • Science • Mrs. Brisacher will be coming in twice a week and leading science experiments with the class

17. Learning Expectations • KEY: Organization!!! • Big transition from 3rd grade… We really push independence and responsibility so by the time they leave our class they are ready for 5th grade

18. Behavior • Responsive Classroom • Morning Meetings • Chill Corner • PeaceBuilders Program- praise notes, class recognition, school recognition • Mindfulness

19. Communication • Agenda- sent home daily and will list homework and any other news • Email is the best form of communication- check before and after school. We will respond within 24 hours. • Website • UPDATES • HOMEWORK • IMPORTANT NEWS

20. Uniform • Full dress mass attire • PE clothes • Recommended casual uniform • Girls: Skirts cannot be more than 3 inches above the knee. No nail polish. If jewelry is going to be distracting, please keep it at home. • Boys: Belt and can wear black socks under pants ONLY. • Socks must cover ankles. Must be white. • White, black, or blue shoes • LABEL EVERYTHING!! – if something isn’t labeled on the first day of school, your child will do it with a sharpie • Hair

21. Health • Bathroom: students will get bathroom passes that they can save and turn in for a raffle • Water Bottles: please have one in your child’s backpack each day so that he or she can access as needed when in class • Birthdays: Bring individually prepared items/ let us know prior to the birthdate. We will set aside 10 minutes at the end of the day for treats. • Snack and lunch: Healthy options, lots of protein. We are now a trash free campus, whatever trash the students bring they will take home with them. Use reusable containers! • Medicine: Kept and distributed through the office

22. Service Opportunities • Room parents will be sending out emails when volunteers are needed to help with any publishing, holiday, or class parties/field trips/ anything else throughout the year • We will reach out when we need chaperones

23. Volunteering • All parents must be fingerprinted and Virtus trained in order to chaperone on a field trip or volunteer on campus • We are offering Virtus training on Saturday, Sept 14th in the Parish hall from 9-12 pm.  RSVP required.  • Fingerprinting on Sept 14th. Other availability on Website.

24. Forms & Packets • White Envelope • Attendance Sign In • Technology Form • Question Box • Tell Me About Your Child Form

25. Write a Letter and Praise Note! • 1st Day of School Letter: Please take a few minutes to write a note for your child to receive on his or her first day. We will take time to read these special notes. • Praise Note: Please take some time to write a praise note for your child and pin it to our board behind the TV!