Welcome to 4C

Grade 4C
2011-2012

Adrianna Meeker- adrianna.meeker@cojowa.com

Welcome to 4C!
Hello and welcome to the new school year. My name is Adrianna Meeker and I am originally from Cheyenne, Wyoming. My undergraduate degree is in Elementary Education and my Masters degree is in Linguistically Diverse Education.  I have been teaching for nine years and have taught in Texas, California, Colorado and this is my second year at COJOWA. My hope this year is for each student to experience growth and success both personally and academically. I look forward to working with you to support students in obtaining each of their hopes and dreams.

4C’s Hopes and Dreams:
Each student has reflected about their hopes and dreams for their life and for this school year. In order for each student to achieve their hopes and dreams each student is challenged to:

• Set and accomplish academic goals (Hopes and Dreams)
• Problem solve and work in groups (Classroom Community)
• Think Independently (Class work/Homework)
• Manage and monitor their behavior (Weekly Letters Home)

 Support from Home:
Students need your support in reaching their hopes and dreams.
Here are 5 ways you can help:

1. Planners
2. Homework
3. Behavior
4. Attendance
5. Student Materials

Planners
Please use the student planner as a tool to:

• Discuss and monitor student’s hopes and dreams
• Hold students accountable for homework
• Discuss and monitor student behavior success and improvements
• Communicate with me! J (Please also feel free to communicate with me by e-mail or schedule a conference with me during my open planning time.)

Homework
Reading- Students are expected to read 30 minute at least 5 days a week.  The book students are reading will be read in school and at home. Please support students in developing a system to help them read at home and return with their book ready to also read in class.

Homework will be assigned to support students in practicing skills they have learned in class. The homework is due the next day.  It is the student’s responsibility to request the homework if they are absent. Many assignments involve students talking with you. Please feel free to have these conversations in English or Spanish.

Behavior
4C has agreed to use the following behaviors to support them in reaching their hopes and dreams:

• Keep Focused
• Raise your hand if needed, wait your turn to share
• Participate
• Work Together
• Never give up
• Keep a good volume
• Take Turns
• Try your best

Students will be sending notes home to you to keep you updated about their behavior. Every Friday students will write a letter to you reporting how they did for the week. Please discuss student behavior with your child and return the note signed.

Thank you for your support at home!

School-Wide Behavior System
We will be using a school-wide curriculum called Second Step to teach and discuss the positive social skills of empathy, anger management, impulse control and problem solving.

Attendance
An additional way to support students in reaching their hopes and dreams is to assist them in being on time and at school every day. Please be aware that the bell rings and school starts at 7:30a.m.

Student Materials:
It would be greatly appreciated if each student could bring in the following materials:

• 1 Box of Tissues
• 1 roll of Paper towels

Both of these supplies help to prevent germs and keep students healthy in the classroom. Thank you!

Additional Resources
Additional on-line resources are just a click away.

http://www.brainpop.com

www.starfall.com
www.gamesforthebrain.com

Reading Websites:
www.storyline.net
www.storiestogrowby.com

Language Websites:
http://www.vocabulary.co.il
http://storynory.com/

Math Websites:
www.funbrain.com
www.pbskids.org
www.figurethis.org
http://www.mrmyers.org/Math_Mania/ttmult.html

Science Websites:

http://kids.mtpe.hq.nasa.gov/

http://kids.nationalgeographic.com

Social Studies Websites:

http://www.socialstudiesforkids.com/

http://www.kids.gov 

4C Schedule                 

	MON	TUE	WED	THU	FRI
1 7:30-8:20	Social Studies Science	Social Studies Science	Social Studies Science	Social Studies Science	Social Studies Science
2 8:20-9:10	Spanish	Sociales de Colombia	Spanish	Spanish	Sociales de Colombia
9:10-9:45	Snack / Recess
3 9:45-10:35	Math	Spanish	Drama	Math	Art
4 10:35-11:25	Library	Math	Math	P.E.	Math
11:25-12:05	Lunch / Recess
5 12:05-12:55	Reading	Reading	P.E.	Reading	Reading
6 12:55-1:45	Writing	Writing	Reading	Writing	Writing
7 1:45-2:35	Religion	Technology	Writing	Music	Extra Curricular

 

Courses

Reading: The Daily 5

The Daily Five is a literacy structure that teaches independence and gives children the skills needed to create a lifetime love of reading and writing. It consists of five tasks that are introduced individually. When introduced to each task, the children discuss what it looks like, sounds like, and feels like to engage in the task independently. Then, the children work on building their stamina until they are successful at being independent while doing that task.

The five tasks include:

1. Read to self
2. Read to someone
3. Listen to reading
4. Work on writing
5. Word work

When all five tasks have been introduced and the children are fully engaged in reading and writing activities, I am able to work with small groups and confer with children one on one. This structure is effective, the results are amazing, and the children really look forward to Daily Five time.

Writing:  Units of Study for teaching Writing, Grades 3-5

Units of Study for Teaching Writing, Grades 3-5 is organized around 6 Units of Study. Each Unit of Study lays out four to six weeks of instruction.  Presented sequentially, these units help each student learn narrative and expository writing with increasing sophistication. We will be covering 3 of the 6 Units in 4^th grade. The 3 Units are described below.

1. Launching the Writing Workshop

This unit jumpstarts the year by reviewing and teaching the essentials of writing—collecting, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing. In addition to introducing practical strategies for finding topics and generating writing, this unit also helps foster a community of writers and teach students how to work with partners constructively.

2. Raising the Quality of Narrative Writing
In this unit students learn how to use emblematic details, images, dialogue, and carefully-chosen words to make a small moment into a compelling story. While developing a personal narrative students learn to create suspense, align story elements into a cohesive whole, and use timelines to link internal thoughts with external plots.

3. Breathing Life Into Essays
This unit guides students in how to craft thesis-driven essays drawn from their own personal experiences and expertise. Throughout this unit students learn how to develop a thought, organize their thinking with boxes and bullets, and use writing conventions to strengthen their work.

Math: Everyday Math
Everyday Math is a researched based program that allows students to be exposed to math concepts multiple times throughout a given year. Everyday Math includes the following 12 Units:

Unit 1: Naming and Constructing Geometric figures
Unit 2: Using numbers and organizing data
Unit 3: Multiplication and division
Unit 4: Decimal and their uses
Unit 5: Big Numbers, Estimation, and Computation
Unit 6: Division; math reference frames; measures of angles
Unit 7: Fractions and their uses; Chance and Probability
Unit 8: Perimeter and Area
Unit 9: Fractions, Decimals and Percents
Unit 10: Reflections and Symmetry
Unit 11: 3-D shapes, Weights, Volume, and Capacity
Unit 12: Rates

Social Studies:
Students will study the six different regions of the United States and understand each region’s significance, impact on people, and relationship to the history of the nation. The six regions students will study are:

1. North East
2. South West
3. Mid West
4. West
5. Mountain States
6. South East

Science:
Students will study components of Earth Science, Physical Science, and Nature of Science.

Earth Science: Water Cycle
Physical Science: Sources and Properties of Energy
Forces of Motion
Nature of Science: Scientific Knowledge, Inquiry, Enterpise