WELCOME... Title 1 Annual Meeting

and Open House

Mrs. Franco’s ClassRoom 201 - Fourth Grade

ReadingLanguage Arts / Writing

About the Teacher

• This is my 7th year with Somerset Academy Miramar.

• I attended the University of Central Florida and Florida International University, and graduated in 2004 with a degree in Mass Communication and a minor in Writing.

• I love teaching reading, grammar and writing to our students!

• I have been married for 7 years now, and we have a daughter named Grace, a miniature daschund named Coco, and an African Pygmy Frog named Ernie (…talk about class pets gone wrong!) ;)

Somerset Miramar Elementary – We are a Title I School

• Title I is the largest federal assistance program for our nation’s schools.

• The goal of Title I is a higher quality of education for every child.

• The program serves millions of children in elementary and secondary schools each year. Somerset Miramar is a Title I school.

• “What every parent should know about Title I” brochures are available in our front office.

• For a detailed description of Title I, please attend our first School Advisory Council (SAC) meeting in the beginning of September.

How Title 1 Works…

• The federal government provides funding to states each year for Title I.

• The Florida Department of Education sends the money to the district.

• The school district identifies eligible schools (based on the number of students receiving free/reduced lunches) and allocates Title I funds.

• Somerset Miramar implements a school-wide Title I program. This means that all students receive the benefits of our Title I funding.

School Status and Testing

As part of our Title I compliance, we are expected to reach certain achievement levels dictated by our School Improvement Plan.

We utilize FCAT (grades 3-8 for previous years), FSA (grades 3-8 from this year on), Primary Reading and Math tests (grades 1-2), and FAIR tests (grade K) to determine our achievement levels.

Our elementary and middle school are both “A” rated schools!!

Working Together!

As part of our Title I compliance, we are expected to reach certain achievement levels dictated by our School Improvement Plan.

We utilize FCAT (grades 3-8 for previous years), FSA (grades 3-8 from this year on), Primary Reading and Math tests (grades 1-2), and FAIR tests (grade K) to determine our achievement levels.

Our elementary and middle school are both “A” rated schools!!

SAC (School Advisory Council) Commitee• Assists in preparation and evaluation of The School Improvement

Plan (SIP)

• Decides how school improvement funds are spent

• Assists principal with the school budget

• Making suggestions relating to the improvement of the school in all areas

• SAC meetings are held quarterly

• Students are notified of SAC meetings by distribution of flyers, parent link notifications, teacher emails and the Somerset School website.

• Meetings are usually held at 6:00 p.m. in the Media Center

• 2 volunteer hours are given for attending these meetings

Works hand in hand together for the success of the students and the school!

Tour of Our Classroom• Classroom schedule

• Personal desks

• Class Rules, rewards, consequences

• “Caught Doing Good” marbles, weekly helpers, agenda

• Student textbook shelf

• Class library zone

• The Promethean Board

• Informational board – homework, goals and scales, daily agenda and writing prompts

• Somerset Oath and Pledge of Allegiance

• Weekly vocabulary chart and word wall

• Small Group Instruction and centers

Specials

• Tuesday, Wedesday, Thursday, Friday Q1 Ms. Rosario – Music

* Specials are rotated at the start of every quarter.

• Every Monday – PE – Coach Capiro

• Every Friday – Library – Ms. Farran

Specials are from 8:45am – 9:15am

Rewards and Consequences

• Verbal Praise

• Treats

• Parent Contact

• Reward Coupons (includes free dress down days, class snack time, HW passes, “lunch bunch” passes, etc.)

• Student of the Month

• Verbal Warning

• Loss of Privilege

• Parent Contact

• Detention

• Referral

Grading Policy

Grading Scale: Category Weights (calculated

based on individual assignments rather than category totals:

90-100 A NEW***89-80 B Class work = 25%79-70 C Tests = 25%69-60 D Projects = 25%59-50 F HW/Participation = 25%

Incomplete - 0

• Late Work : 15 pts deducted per day

• 2 day max

Grading Policy

• Conduct Grading Scale: 1 = Excellent 2 = Satisfactory 3 = Unsatisfactory

• Grades entered online with Pinnacle – student login information provided.

• Graded Papers – Papers cannot be sent home, but parents are welcome to schedule a conference with their child’s teacher to view any graded assignments filed in the student’s portfolio.

• Homework – counts for one grade every two weeks. 10 points per each night’s assignments.

Communication

• Planner – checked daily, homework documented

• Email – gfranco@somersetmiramar.com Most convenient

• Phone – 305-829-2406 Messages returned after school

• Minimum 2 Conferences per year, and as needed

Textbooks & The LAFS (Language Arts Florida Standards Assessment)

Texts and Curriculum• Reading

* Journeys Common Core Grade 4

(Includes a non-consumable textbook

as well as A reading workbook)

* Sadlier’s Grammar Workshop

* LAFS - READY Workbook* ReadingPlus online program

• Writing:

* Writing Superstars* Razzle Dazzle Writing

What are the Florida Standards?

• On February 18, 2014, the State Board of Education revised elements of the Common

Core State Standards and renamed the benchmarks the Florida Standards. The

board voted unanimously to revise the student performance standards in

English/Language Arts and Mathematics.

The LAFS consist of Six Strands:

READING STANDARDS FOR LITERATURE READING STANDARDS: FOUNDATIONAL SKILLS READING STANDARDS FOR INFORMATIONAL TEXT WRITING STANDARDS STANDARDS FOR SPEAKING AND LISTENING LANGUAGE STANDARDS

*Writing is incorporated within the Language Arts standards. Extended responses and writing will be based on textual evidence.

*The use of digital tools and technology to conduct research and publish writing using keyboarding skills is required.

*Visit www.fsassessments.org for more information on the strands and to view sample tests

Volunteer Hours• Minimum of 30 hours for one child OR multiple siblings

within the same school (either both in middle OR both in elementary)

• Minimum of 40 hours per family with children in both the Elementary AND Middle campus only

• On campus assistance, fieldtrips, copies, ice cream sales, cafeteria help, book fair volunteers, etc.

• Donations – 1 hour for every $4 spent Please refer to the “Classroom Wish List” on the board for a

list of items needed in our class. Be sure to keep and turn in all receipts.

Thank You for Coming!

• Make sure you signed in.

• Turn in your index card with any questions.

• Please take any necessary forms from the front table (Volunteer, Free/reduced lunch, Spirit/PE Shirts.)

• Visit our Specials Teachers:

Art, Music, Spanish, PE, Computers, Media