September 26, 2014
Dear Fourth Grade Families,
We wanted to let you know that next Monday and Tuesday, the 29th and 30th of September, the 4th grade classes will be taking their MAPs fall tests in Reading and Math. We ask that you help prepare them to do their best by having them get a good night’s rest the night before, and a good breakfast on those mornings.
We’d also like to take a little time now to share about our curriculum now that you and your child are settling into the routines of the new school year. We chose to share this information with your now rather than at open house to give you and your child have time to adjust to a new school year!
Spelling
Spelling will be taught by Mrs. Johnson for all homerooms. This year for Spelling we will be using the Scott-Foresman word lists for 4th grade. We focus on spelling patterns each week. Mondays usually include a self-pretest, then we sort our words by patterns and then work with them as vocabulary, considering their meanings and usage. Thursdays will normally be a game review and Friday’s a test. Students will keep track of tests in a Book Creator book for Spelling tests. I plan to adjust the lists for some students who appear to need more a challenge These words will be taken from our curriculum areas.
Sciences
For Science we are using the Foss Science program. We will do many hands on activities in class to let students discover science concepts. To keep track of our Science learning we’ll use Book Creator Science logs. The vocabulary are often available on quizlet.com under mrskmj for students to practice, and the student book is available with a few other resources on fossweb.com . The class is: Grade4ScienceBethesda, class login: bethesda4science2014 password: bobcats4. Our topics of study this year will be: Soil, Rocks and Landforms, Motion, Force and Models, Energy and Electromagnetism, Living Systems, and our Lapham Peak work..
For Social Studies we will study Government, Economics, History of Wisconsin, and Geography. We are planning to visit the Capitol and museum in Madison in April!
Writer’s and Language Workshop:
Writer’s workshop will be taught in homerooms this year. Writer’s workshop begins with the children gathering together for a mini-lesson. During the mini-lesson, students are given explicit, focused and direct instruction on specific skills. Students discuss, have guided practice, or look at models based on the minilesson skill focus. Students then have an opportunity to apply the skills independently in their own writing. Writer’s workshop allows students to have choice in their writing topics and to get individual small groups conferring time with the teacher. The Common Core State Standards writing focuses on three main areas of writing in 4th grade. Those areas are narrative writing, informational writing and persuasive writing. Language will be taught and practiced through our writing block and through the content areas. Vocabulary development and writing conventions will be a part of our work on language. We look forward to the development of your children in writing.
Math Workshop:
Students will have well over an hour for Math this year. Math is taught using the workshop model. Using the workshop model allows instruction, guided practice and individual application of skill to be based on student need. Student will gather for a short focused lesson and guided practice. Students will then work in cooperative learning groups, with thinking partners and individually to develop a deeper understanding of the skill introduced during the lesson. Students will gather again to reflect on learning, explain reasoning, justify solutions and write about math.
State and district math standards have changed with the adoption of the Common Core Math standards. Math skills and content will reflect these standards. The Common Core standards focus on understanding math processes and math reasoning. Students will have the opportunity to develop understanding of concepts in order to apply their knowledge to more complex problems.
When Math homework is given it is purposeful and is given to practice a skill, apply a skill independently, deepen understanding or develop background knowledge. Most of the time, if math homework is coming home, it is due to work not being completed by your child during class time. Homework is checked in class and students have an opportunity to ask questions and have problems modeled in class. Completion of homework is important in order for students to move forward the following day. Homework is checked for completion and used to help give information regarding student understanding. This information helps to differentiate students based on their need. It is important to be sure that work is completed on time.
Students will be pre-assessed to determine background knowledge and proficiency with skills. The pre-assessment gives information to differentiate students based on level of understanding before instruction begins in a new unit of study. Formative assessments are given to check for understanding and track student progress. Formative assessments are graded assessments. Summative unit assessments are given after much practice. Summative unit assessments will also be given to celebrate our learning and to be sure of skill and concept mastery.
Fluency with Math facts is a focus for fourth grade and is an essential part of understanding patterns with numbers and applying them to higher level problems. It is expected that Math facts will be practice nightly in order to develop fluency. More detailed information regarding Math facts and resources to help at home will come home with your child.
Reader’s Workshop
Students will have 70 minutes of Reader’s Workshop per day this year. Reader’s Workshop will consist of a whole group mini lesson, small group guided instruction and independent application of strategies and skills. Some of the independent reading rotations will be listen to reading, reading games, independent practice, Versatiles and read to self. The varied stations provide the students with the opportunity to practice and apply strategies in a differentiated setting.
Common Core has caused Waukesha School District to change the Literacy Curriculum over the past few years to meet the standards. During Reader’s Workshop we are building comprehension, accuracy, fluency and expanding our vocabulary.
For homework, the students are asked to read 30 minutes every night. The additional practice outside of school will help reinforce strategies learned throughout the day as well as instill a love of learning and reading! During the school day, students are asked to complete a Thoughtful Log after reading independently. When students write down their thinking in their Thoughtful Log, they are working on making their learning visible. Our Thoughtful Logs are currently being organized in Notability on our iPads. All homework has a purpose and is provided to help the students achieve proficiency in reading.
Technology
Technology is integrated into all aspects of our daily lives. Technology is used in the classroom to engage students, enhance instruction and provide tools for productivity and information. Students will access information using websites, applications, create multimedia presentations and create and save work electronically.
With our integration of WaukeshaOne to Bethesda being in its second year, students, teachers and families will have an exciting tool to interact with learning. With any new learning, time, patience and positive thinking contributes to successful outcomes. We are excited to continue to discover new and transformational learning opportunities with your children using the iPad as a learning tool. We appreciate your support with our technology and we will work together to make this year a fabulous learning journey.
We appreciate your support to be sure that your child is bringing their ipad and the school issued carrying bag each day. Helping your child to bring their iPad charged to school each day will ensure they are prepared for each learning opportunity. Occasionally apps will need to be downloaded. Families will be notified as to the app and purpose for review. Making sure that these apps are downloaded and ready for learning is important to ensure your child is equipped with the necessary tools for learning.
Snacks
Children will have the opportunity to have a healthy snack packed from home each morning. Since they will be working as they enjoy their snack please send items that will not be too messy in order in ensure a clean work space.
Assignment Notebooks & Communication Reminder
This year the fourth grade teaching team will be using a shared electronic assignment notebook to present to students the assignments/notes/reminders that should be written in student assignment notebooks. The shared feature ensures consistency and will allow for electronic student and parent access at school and home. Another feature to this format is that you and your student will have access to previous days and weeks in case of an absence or an appointment.. Students will be able to access this information with families and make sure that they know what they missed. Soon we will post the link to the assignment notebook to Blackboard 9, SDW’s electronic learning platform. Blackboard 9 (bb9) will give students and families an opportunity to access curricular resources and communication behind a password protected structure. With the district’s move to Infinite Campus, the online gradebook, it will be a few weeks before family access to bb9 is available. Once it is ready for family access, you will use the same parent username and password for IC and bb9. Students will learn how to access the student side of bb9 soon and will be able to share that with you. We will also begin to post parent communication on bb9 as well once it is fully functional. In the meantime, communication will be a hard copy. If your family is in need of a hard copy of communication, please let us know so that we can make arrangements for that.
All students will be given time for writing assignments into their assignment notebooks at the end of the day. Students are responsible for writing everything that is included by the teaching team. “If we write it, you write it” is the expectation. At home, you will be an important role in helping your child to stay accountable for being responsible with doing this daily. This will help your child know that when they write it down, they must also make sure they understand, before they go home, what it is that they need to complete and how to complete it. We encourage students to ask each other and the teaching team to clarify when they have a question. We believe that our students can be responsible for this without the need for a daily teacher signature. Since email is the best way to communicate to the team, we won’t be checking assignment notebooks for communication and daily parent signatures from home. Fourth grade is such a great year of growth in responsibility, we are confident that your children will be able to stay accountable. If there are patterns in unfinished or late work with your child, then we will need to require a parent signature to assist with growing in this responsibility.
Behavioral Expectations
Bethesda students will conduct themselves in a safe, responsible and respectful manner. Students will be expected to display behaviors that reflect responsibility, safety and respectfulness in all areas of our school. These expectations ensure that the learning environments are optimal spaces for all learners. We appreciate your support with helping your child understand these expectations and we are looking forward to our year with your children!
The best way to reach any of the teaching team is through email so please feel free to email with questions or concerns regarding your child’s learning. We are looking forward to working with you!
Mrs. Carrie Driscoll 4th Grade Math/Writing
970-1363
Mrs. Kathy Johnson 4th Grade Sciences/Spelling/Writing
970-1311
Ms. Courtney King 4th Grade Reading/Writing
970-1413
cking@waukesha.k12.wi.us
We look forward to working with you to support your child. We are eager to learn more about your children from you at our listening conferences coming up.
Thank you,
The 4th Grade Teaching Team
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