WELCOME!

Back to School Night

Mrs. Kolarsick’s Fourth Grade Class

“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.”~Benjamin Franklin

LANGUAGE ARTS L ITER ACY CO U RSE OVERVIEW

• Common Core Standards & NJ Core Curriculum Standards

• Balanced Literacy Program

-Reader’s Workshop-Writer’s Workshop-Word Study

READER’S WORKSHOPC R E A T I N G L I F E L O N G R E A D E R S !

“You know you've read a good book when you turn the last page and feel a little as if you have lost a friend.”  ~Paul Sweeney

My goal is to help create, maintain, and develop your child’s reading life.

Monthly reading goals

Weekly meetings

Reading Logs for inside and outside the classroom

Sharing our Reading Life• Choices and flexible projects

READER’S WORKSHOP• 43 Minutes• Mini-Lesson (Teaching Point) for the strategy or

skill of the day• Guided Practice• Leveled Independent Reading Books

• Literature Circles• One project after completing the book

• Treasures Textbook • Treasures Practice Book

WRITER’S WORKSHOP“If there's a book you really want to read but it hasn't been

written yet, then you must write it.”  ~Toni Morrison43 Minutes

Mini Lesson (Teaching Point)• I begin the lesson by modeling the skill in my own

writing. • Students will practice this skill in their own writing.

Time to plan, draft, revise, edit, proofread, and conference

WRITER’S WORKSHOP

Students will work on several pieces and pick two to publish in each unit.

Of the two published pieces one will go home and one will stay in their portfolio

Sharing party after publishing

WRITER’S WORKSHOP

Writing Homework: Weekly writing prompts will be given on Monday and will be due on Friday

Every other Friday- Writing Prompt Assessment

Creative Writing Journal• Will travel to and from school• Short homework assignments on occasion to build on

ideas and topics to write about• Write creatively in class during homeroom

• Weekly dates to turn in

WRITER’S WORKSHOPUnit 1: Finding Ideas and a Voice

• Introduction to Writer’s Workshop: Becoming a Writer• Small Moments• Narrative Pieces

Unit 2: Writing to Teach (Informative/Expository Writing)• Research Papers • Comparing & Contrasting Character’s in Books• How-To Essay

Unit 3: Persuasive• Persuasive Letters• Persuasive Essays

Unit 4: Point of View• Stories with a Twist

WORD STUDY 30 Minutes

Grammar LessonsTreasures Practice Book

Weekly Spelling Pattern10 Words per week (There will be a regular and a challenge List)Center activities and lessonsPre-Test on MondaySpelling Test on Friday

High Frequency Words 5 Words per week

WORD STUDY

High Frequency Words• The first 1,000 words are used in 89% of everyday writing.• Spelling Inventory• Individualized Spelling List

Homework will be given on Monday and due on Friday. • Students will pick three assignments off of a menu of choices

Week 1 will begin on Monday

SOCIAL STUDIES COURSE OVERVIEW

• Unit 1: The Land of New Jersey• Unit 2: Native American and European Settlers• Unit 3: A New Nation• Unit 4: Building a New Nation• Unit 5: New Century, New Challenges

Novels (Leveled Novels on the same topic)

Projects

Current Events & Reflections

MATH COURSE OVERVIEW

Envision Common Core Practice Books

Direct Instruction, Centers & Guided Small Group Instruction

Notebook (Left Side Notes)

Quizzes, Tests, & Homework

MATH COURSE OVERVIEW

Unit 1: Operations & Algebraic Thinking

Unit 2: Number & Operations in Base Ten

Unit 3: Number & Operations-Fractions

Unit 4: Measurement & Data

Unit 5: Geometry

SCIENCE COURSE OVERVIEW

NJ Core Curriculum Standards

Discovery Works

SCIENCE COURSE OVERVIEW

Unit 1: WEATHER

Unit 2: MAGNETISM & ELECTRICITY• Project Based Learning

Unit 3: MOTION AND DESIGN• Project Based Learning

Unit 4: EARTH, MOON, AND THE SOLAR SYSTEM

HOMEWORK EXPECTATIONS

Language Arts• Reading Log• Spelling Practice• Practice skills and concepts that were taught in class.

Math• Practice skills and concepts that were taught in class. • Photo copied hand out or the Envision Practice Book

Science and Social Studies• Projects will be assigned in advance• Occasional assignments for homework.

• Unfinished classwork

HOMEWORK EXPECTATIONS

Vacations

Absences

GRADING“ I F W E A L L D I D T H E T H I N G S W E A R E C A P A B L E O F ,

W E W O U L D A S T O U N D O U R S E L V E S . ”T H O M A S E D I S O N

School Wide Grading Rubric for Elementary School• 4 is Exceptional (The student produced a product that is above & beyond

mastery of the skill.)• 3 is the Target (The student demonstrated mastery of the skill)• 2 is Developing • 1 is Beginning

Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) Assessments in the Fall, Spring, and Summer

Benchmark Math Assessments

Short Writing Assessments every other week

Reading Levels are assessed in the Fall, Spring, and Summer• Progress is monitored and recorded throughout the week.

GRADING

Homework 15%

Class Work & Participation 20%

Tests 20%

Quizzes 15%

Projects 30%

COMMUNICATION

Email

Phone

“How Was My Week?”

Letters

RESOURCES

Class Website

Khan Academy

Study Island