WelcomeWelcome TO OPEN HOUSE!

*This is an important year for your student!

*You will see big changes socially and academically.

*If you have any questions during my presentation, please feel free to ask.

About Mrs. Brys• I graduated with my Bachelors degree in Elementary Education from Oakland University in 2008• I earned my Masters Degree in the Art of Teaching from Marygrove College in 2013 • This is my sixth year teaching fourth grade – It is my 5th year teaching here at Switzer• I am really looking forward to this school year!!

*The Switzer Elementary community is committed to helping all students become responsible life-long learners by maintaining a safe, positive environment that encourages individuals to reach their full potential.

Writing Goal: All students will improve their writing by incorporating an organized structure with relevant details and examples.

Reading Goal: All students will increase their ability to comprehend and apply information found in text.

Math Goal: All students will improve their math achievement.

Goals for Switzer Students

• To provide your child with a classroom environment where they feel safe and inspired.

• To provide your child with the tools and knowledge they need to be life long learners.

• To make learning exciting, interesting, and fun!

• For your child to make new friends and discover new interests.

*12:00 Science*12:45 Language Arts

Block*1:45 Recess*2:00 Language Arts

continued*3:00 Agendas, Clean,

Pack & Stack*3:15 Dismissal

*8:25 Morning work/Announcements*8:35: Specials*9:35 Social Studies*10:15 Snack *10:25 Math*11:15 Lunch

Snacks & Birthdays

Snacks & Birthdays* Snack: The children will be allowed to eat a HEALTHY snack

throughout the morning. Each student is asked to provide his/her own snack and is not permitted to share. Fresh fruit, veggie, crackers, yogurt, etc. are all great choices to send with your child. Please do not send any candy or dessert type snacks.

*Birthday Treats: Birthdays are a special time for children. If you choose to do so, your child may celebrate their birthday by bringing in a NON-EDIBLE birthday treat for the class. Some ideas may include: pencils, erasers, stickers, etc. Your child may also choose to donate something to the class such as outdoor recess toys, games, or a book.

IMPORTANT IMPORTANT Classroom Classroom ProceduresProcedures

When will homework be assigned?* Your child will be given time in school to work on all assignments. Any

unfinished work for the day will be taken home to be completed. (This tends to be math). Students should also study spelling words and read for 15-20 minutes on a nightly basis.

Check and sign your child’s agenda every evening. Circled assignments are homework! Ask to see their “Brain” for any H.W. assignments or notes.

Write me a note if your child did not get their homework finished.

EXTRA CREDIT/REDO WORK:* I do not give extra credit, as I allow students to redo work for grade averaging. Any homework assignment scoring below 70% can be corrected and returned for an average of new and old grade.

**POWERSCHOOL – BE SURE TO LOG-IN TO POWERSCHOOL ON A WEEKLY BASIS TO STAY UP TO DATE ON YOUR CHILDS CURRENT PROGRESS! Check for students grades, missing work, or possible redo assignments.

Homework

GRADES **POWERSCHOOL – BE SURE TO LOG-IN TO POWERSCHOOL ON A WEEKLY BASIS TO STAY UP TO DATE ON YOUR CHILD’S CURRENT PROGRESS! Check for students’ grades, missing work, or possible redo assignments.

Last year’s passwords will work this year.

Please stop by the office if you need Powerschool log-in and password information!

FRIDAY FOLDERS*All graded assignments for the week will be in Friday folders.*Students will take home Friday folders every Friday to look over contents with parent.*Any assignment in the Friday folder scoring at BELOW 70% should be REDONE and returned on Monday for grade averaging *Friday folders must come back to school Monday morning.

Absent Students • Absent students are responsible for getting

missed work and completing it. • A classroom absentee buddy will try to collect

extra copies of everything passed out and put it in a folder.

• Appointments best first thing in the morning during specials Unfinished

Work• Each day, any unfinished work should be taken home unless I told otherwise.

• Work needs to be completed at home and turned in the next day.

• Students who do not complete their work will have consequences such as loss of PE, ISM, Art, Music, or recess until their work is completed.

Ways to stay “IN TOUCH” How do I know what’s going on?

1. Log-on to PowerSchool for current grades/progress. 2. Sign your child’s agenda every day AFTER making

certain that homework is completed.3. Visit our classroom website:

www.switzer4thbrys.weebly.com4. Remember to go through the Friday Folder – Look for

any work that should be REDONE & RETURNED (**NO REDO ON TESTS OR QUIZZES) 5. Sign up for REMIND Text messages! –(See the handout

at the table or grab one at the door on your way out. )6. Any questions or concerns feel free to call, write, or

email me!

BehaviorBehavior

We will continue using the school wide PBIS model. (Positive Behavior Intervention and Support). There will be monthly incentives such as kickball, popsicles with principal, school store vouchers, etc.)

Behavior

* In addition to the school wide PBIS model, I also incorporate a classroom behavior system. We will use the color coded chart ( located by the classroom door) for inappropriate behavior.

* If persistent inappropriate behavior occurs, students will flip their card. Consequences of card flipping include loss of recess time and/or a note/phone call home to parents (depending on severity of behavior).

* Severe disruptions/offenses may result in an automatic phone call home and/or written referral to the principal.

Positive/Rewards:I also believe in positive rewards for encouragement and a job well done! Students

can earn tickets for the end of the day raffle (Trip to behavior bin or Treasure chest)

In addition to raffle tickets, other forms of positive rewards include: * Praise* Positive notes home* Extra/longer recess* Prize Bin* Reward movie* The joy of learning

Behavior/Classroom Management

Spelling will be completed in context with the reading series.

Differentiated lists (Student choice – On Level or Challenge)

Lists & games available on-lineChallenge words – I give two “bonus” words each

week. The bonus challenge words will be used as EXTRA CREDIT on that weeks test. Misspelled bonus words will not affect score.

Spelling

Your child will be doing a lot of writing this year. We will be working on the writing process as well as the mechanics of the English language.

Students will have the opportunity to write using various genres including including both fiction and nonfiction. We will also work on cause and effect, compare/contrast, personal narratives, and persuasive essays.

Students will be using the McGraw Hill writing rubric. We will also work on using the 6+1 writing traits which include: Ideas, Organization, Fluency, Voice, Word Choice, Conventions, and Presentation.

Small Group Guided Reading Rotations –

R.E.A.D. Our “READ” Rotations will incorporate parts of the

Daily 5 routines. **Book Bins: Students will be expected to always have books stored in their “book bin” so that they can read independently on a daily basis.

We will use the McGraw Hill Reading Series. The series incorporates reading, language arts, and teaches spelling in context.

Students will log-on to their online reading account through “ConnectEd”.

Reading

Students will be using a variety of resources for math (text book and online learning).

Throughout the year, students will be working on addition properties, place value, multiplication and division properties, fractions, geometry, and decimals.

It is important for your child to know his/her multiplication facts well!

Dreambox Learning & MobyMax – In addition to direct instruction lessons, students will be using an online elementary math program. These programs assess each students individual math level and tailors math lessons based on the students needs.

Students can extend their learning by logging on at home using their assigned login & password.

The math text which students will use is published by Houghton Mifflin.

This year we will be working online through Discovery Science. Students will engage in interactive learning experiences in addition to hands on classroom learning experiences. Lessons will consist of informational reading, hands on exploration/experiments, and research and discovery!

We will be conducting various scientific experiments throughout the year, which I know students will thoroughly enjoy!

Review Jeopardy will be posted before each test on the 4th grade website:

www.switzer4thbrys.weebly.com

OR LOGIN FROM OUR

CLASSROOM WEBSITE!

• The main focus in Social Studies this year will be history and regions of the U.S.

• Students will learn about major events that have shaped our nation including wars, immigration, government, and amendments.

• Students will learn about the five regions of the United States. We will discuss the culture, geography, and resources of each region.

Social Studies

Any Any questionsquestions

??

REMIND TEXT MESSAGES

Let’s Have a Great Year

Together!!!!!