2013-2014

This is my 6th year at Patterson, as well as my 6th year teaching 4th Grade.

This is my second year teaching CTA. Personal Info:

Bachelors in Elem. Ed. from ASU in 2006Masters in Elem. Ed from NAU in 2007Kids (Owen 7 and Hayden 5 ½).

CTA Classic

Uses Saxon Math and is 1 year ahead.

Math concepts are taught through spiraling.

To keep aligned with new Common Core math standards, supplemental material is used.

4th grade students will be piloting a new district acceleration program.

Weekly timed tests will be graded. This is a separate line on the report card and does NOT affect the overall math grade.

Uses Scott Foresman for math, and is on grade level.

Math concepts are taught in overall units.

To keep aligned with new Common Core math standards, supplemental material is used.

4th grade students will be piloting a new district acceleration program.

Timed tests are not part of the Classic report card.

CTA Classic

Uses Opencourt, as well as McCall Crabs.

Supplemental materials may be used.

Easy Grammar and Spalding is used to meet Common Core standards.

2 Oral Recitations a quarter.

The Writing Road to Reading and Thinking Maps are used.

Projects are the same or similar. 50% Non-Fiction and 50% Fiction

Silent Reading Time

Uses Harcourt. Supplemental materials

may be used. Easy Grammar or

Harcourt is used to meet the Common Core Standards.

The Writing Road to Reading and Thinking Maps are used.

Projects are the same or similar. 50% Non-Fiction and 50% Fiction

Silent Reading Time

CTA Classic

Uses The Spalding Method. It integrates, spelling, writing, and reading.

Spelling words are from the Ayres word list.

Phonograms OPR & WPR

Spelling notebooks. Dictation and marking. Spalding Cursive is used.

Words are from the Harcourt text.

The weekly words usually have a skill or theme, such as words with the “long a” sound.

Weekly spelling tests are given.

CTA and Classic use the same Harcourt Social Studies text.

Supplemental materials, such as Splash! Publications are often used.

Lessons, assignments, and projects are aligned with state and district standards.

Quarter 1 Project: Salt Dough Map of AZ Quarter 2: Pioneer/Western Day Quarter 3 Field Trip: State Capitol Museum Quarter 4: Famous Arizonan Wax Museum

CTA and classic use the same Harcourt Science text.

Supplemental materials, based on the unit being taught, are used.

Lessons, assignments, and projects are aligned with state and district standards.

Quarter 1: Life Science (Cells, adaptations, resources).

Quarter 2: Electricity and Magnetism… Begin Science Fair. Field Trip: Chandler Water Festival

Quarter 3: Finish Science Fair… Earth Science (The Water Cycle, Weather, etc.)

Quarter 4: Review and apply The Scientific Method.

HW will take the average student around an hour. This does NOT include AR time.

HW is assigned Monday-Thursday. Includes:

30 math problems from the Saxon text. Finish/Correct timed tests from the day. Spelling Either a grammar or reading assignment. AR Reading if needed.

Long-term projects will require extra HW time.

HW is graded based on COMPLETION. There is a separate line on the report card for HW. SIGNATURES count as part of the HW grade.

Students will take a STAR test quarterly to see what their Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) is. This is the level at which the student can successfully read independently. I am somewhat flexible with this because of

students’ interests and background knowledge. Students will receive a Quarterly Goal. Students will read books and test on them. Students WILL be graded on AR, based on the

completion of their goal, and their average scores. This does NOT affect the overall Reading grade.

AR Home Connect My Expectations: Students should test on a non-

fiction book at their AR Level weekly. They should continue to read chapter books of interest to them.

Mr. Douwstra has made changes to the Millionaires Club.

Awards are based on word count. 4th graders’ word count goal is 750,000

words. Students will receive an award when they’ve

reached ½ of their grade level goal. When they’ve reached their goal. If they read 1, 2, 3, or 4 Million words.

For the last 2 years, a 4th Grader has been the top reader in the school. Last year the top reader read over 6 million words. Can we do it again?

4th Grade’s Incentive Program. (Similar to “Rock Star Readers” in 3rd Grade).

Students will receive awards in 4 categories…Word Count# of non-fiction books readMeeting their goal and going over itEnd of quarter average score.

The difficulty for reaching these awards will change quarterly, so watch for the flyer each quarter.

I will e-mail 1-2 times per week with information that I feel is valuable.

I will try to send an update e-mail on Fridays in lieu of a newsletter.

When we need volunteers or supplies, I will either contact you via e-mail, or through signupgenius.com.

E-mail is the easiest way for us to keep in touch. If you have any questions, comments, or

concerns, please come to me first. My classroom phone number is 224-3672. It will

automatically go to voice-mail and I will call you back at my earliest convenience.

Students MUST have a note, or I must have a phone call or e-mail if there is a change of plans for the way your child gets home. If I don’t have this, your child will go home their “normal” way.

Behavior Incentives

We will be using ClassDojo, and online program.

Students will earn positive or negative “Dojo Points” depending on their behavior.

Points will be logged in students’ agendas.

A weekly e-mail should come to you from ClassDojo.

Daily Brain Break Fun Friday Tickets (to be

drawn on Fridays for a visit to the treasure box).

Praise Notes home Phone calls Special Treats Etc.

Agendas are filled out at the end of the day, reminding the students what their HW is for the night. You DO need to sign this.

Filling out agendas and having them initialed by a parent is part of the HW grade.

Behaviors will be logged in the agenda.

4th Grade is the year that we study AZ. Therefore, there are a LOT of great field trip ideas.

The only way we can go on one or more of these field trips, is if YOU help out with Tax Credit money.

This is NOT a deduction, but is a refund. (Talk with your tax preparer for more information).

Singles can donate up to $200 and Married Couples can donate up to $400.

Make sure to mark your form for 4th Grade Field Trips.

Online grade book: Infinite Campus Math Book: PDF is online. Website: Patterson

http://mychandlerschools.org/pattersonSelect “Teacher Pages”Select Cumbo

Website: Cumbohttp://mychandlerschools.org/page/19260

Long-term assignments, oral recitations, or assignments that need an explanation will be posted.

I will try to put up the weekly HW.

Thank you for attending Curriculum Night…

I’m sure you have questions… Ask away!