Transcript Welcome to Parent Orientation Westwood Elementary School Fourth Grade: Traci Hren

Welcome to Parent Orientation
Westwood Elementary School
Fourth Grade:
Traci Hren
Mandi Matchinga
Frank Vosicky
Mandi Matchinga
• Mom to David (age 10) and Riley (age 7)
• Bachelor’s Degree from Capital University
– Elementary Education grades 1-8
– Special Education K-12
• Master’s Degree from Ashland University in
Curriculum and Instruction
• Greater Cleveland Council of Teachers of
Mathematics Elementary Teacher of the Year
• Jennings Scholar
• Taught 3rd Grade for 4 years in Texas.
• 9th year teaching 4th grade at Westwood.
Traci Hren
• Mother to Andrew (10 years) and Alex (5
years)
• Westwood teacher of 15 years
• Bachelor’s Degree from the University of
Toledo in Elementary Education grades
1-8
• Master’s Degree from Ashland University
in Curriculum and Instruction
• Grades taught: Title 1 (1 year), First
Grade (6 years), Second Grade (2
years), Third Grade, (7 weeks), Fourth
Grade (5 years)
Frank Vosicky
• This is my 16th year of teaching. I have taught
4th – 6th grade at Newbury and West Geauga.
I have been at Westwood for 13 years.
• My wife Laurie is a kindergarten teacher in the
Willoughby-Eastlake system. We have a 6 year
old daughter named Meridan and son named
Cooper that will be 4 in November.
• I graduated from the Ohio State University and
am a huge fan of all sports.
– I have a Masters Degree in Educational
Administration from Ursuline.
RESPONSIBILITY
• We have a successful, proven
system in place to teach your child
personal responsibility.
• You are a facilitator at home for
your child’s education.
• It is not possible, nor do we expect
for you to know everything that is
going on here at school.
Class Schedule
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8:15-8:30
8:30-8:40
8:40-9:25
9:25-9:30
9:30-10:45
10:45-11:30
11:30-12:30
12:30-1:10
1:10-2:35
2:35-3:00
3:00-3:15
Bell Work
Switch One (Homeroom)
Specials (See Classroom Website)
Restroom Break
Switch One (Homeroom)
Switch Two
Lunch/Recess
Switch Two
Switch Three
Activity Period
Pack Up/Dismissal
Classroom Rules
• Follow directions the first time
given.
• Ask questions and do your best
work.
• Allow others to learn.
• Treat people and materials with
respect.
• Come to class with all of your
needed materials.
Communication
• Our classroom website can be
viewed at:
http://schoolbuildings.westg.org/westwood/matchinga/Mess
enger.htm
• Updated throughout the week.
– Announcements
– Important Dates and Upcoming Events
– Study Guides
– Project Criterion
– Educational Game Links
Communication
Email
• [email protected] (Voice
mail 729-5901 ext. 4308)
• [email protected] (Voice mail
729-5901 ext. 4303)
• [email protected] (Voice mail
729-5901 ext. 4309)
• [email protected] (Voice mail
729-5901 ext. 4302)
• We make it a point to return calls and
emails within 24 hours. If it has been
longer than 24 hours, it is due to
absence or malfunctioning equipment.
Communication
• Assignment notebooks are to be signed
each night by a parent, and are checked
each day by the homeroom teacher.
• If you have an academic concern, please
contact the teacher of that academic
area (Matchinga – math, Chase –
reading, Vosicky – writing/spelling, Mell
–science/social studies).
• If you have
friendship/emotional/behavioral
concerns, please contact the homeroom
teacher.
• Please contact us via email or
voicemail to schedule an appointment
for a meeting.
Homework
• Given Monday-Thursday
• Per Board Policy, it should take about 45
minutes.
– This does not include time to locate pencils, take calls
from friends, or fight with a sibling !
• Students should be able to complete it
independently.
• Homework ≠ Tears/Frustration
– Do not work to the point of frustration! Please send a
note if your student does not understand the
homework, and we will remediate during activity
period or study hall.
Homework
• Math Study Link pages given MondayThursday.
• Compositions are started in class and
occasionally will need to be finished at home.
• Reading assignments should take place for 15
minutes nightly.
• Minimal science and social studies as needed.
• Studying for Tests (short reviews each night to
help avoid developing the habit of “cramming”)
• **Unfinished classwork may also be sent home
to be completed.**
Projects
• If a project is going to be graded by a rubric,
the rubric will be posted on the website
when the assignment is given.
• Ample time to complete the project will
always be given.
• This is a project meant to be completed by
your student. We expect the project to look
like a fourth grader completed it.
• Other projects are to be completed at
school. Please trust that we are monitoring
the completion of the project. Fourth
Graders often tell parents that they don’t
have enough time to complete projects at
school so that they can bring it home and
get help. The “at-school” projects help
foster independence and responsibility.
Friday Folders
• Sent home on the last day of the school
week.
– Graded papers
• A box will be checked if there is a
student conduct slip or a progress report
in the folder. Please sign and return
these items in the folder.
• The other papers in the folder are yours
to keep.
• Return the folder on Monday with parent
signature.
• We will begin this Friday.
Everyday Math
• The Books
– Student Reference Books
• “New” (Crowned Crane) stays at school
• “Old” (Blue Butterfly) stays at home
– Study Links (Stays at home)
Math Assessments
• Math Checks
– Given on the last day of the school week,
worth 20 points (THIS IS NOT A QUIZ)
• Assessment FOR Learning
– Questions resemble homework/classwork
questions covered during the week
• Class review sessions before tests
– No tricks, no surprises, worth 100 points
• Students are expected to explain their
thinking on all assessments.
My Most Important Request
• Please support our curriculum and
algorithms in front of your child.
• Your words are powerful. Your
child usually values what you value.
Second Most Important
Request…
• Fourth graders must have their
multiplication facts, x 0- x11,
memorized.
• Students who do not have these
memorized by winter break really
struggle in math for the last half of
the school year.
Reading
Guided Reading
 Mini lessons used to
model strategies to
comprehend reading text.
 Reading level tested 2-3
times a year and reported
to parent.
 Vocabulary completed in
class.
 Literature Circles used for
students to discuss assigned
reading at their level.
 Activities used to display
comprehension.
Independent
Reading
 Students read from
books at their level or
slightly below.
 Activities used to display
comprehension.
 Teacher/student
conferencing used to
facilitate selecting just right
books.
Whole Group Reading
 Students read from the same novel.
 Literature circles used to discuss text and
assignments.
 Partner reading to help with text.
 Activities used to display comprehension.
Reading
• Homework – Monday-Thursday
• Index cards- quick check to practice
skill that was covered in class that
day
• Measuring Up – sometimes brought
home to finish in class assignment
• Two at home projects
• Reading for 15 minutes each night
Spelling
• DSA Leveled Spelling Lists
• Assessments modeled after the format
used on Achievement Test
– Choose the word that is spelled correctly.
– Is the underlined word spelled correctly?
– If the word is not spelled correctly, what is
the correct spelling?
- Units will be 2 weeks each. Word study will
be done in class
Writing/Grammar
• Fourth grade writing instruction focuses
on continuing grammar instruction,
correct paragraph formation, various
writing applications, and legible cursive.
• Text used: Grammar book that stays in
school
• Composition notebook, Writing journal
Writing/Grammar
• The writing applications covered will be
descriptive writing, narratives, responses to
novels, formal and informal letters (thank you
notes, letters of request), informational reports,
and informal writings (messages, journals,
notes and poems)
• There will be approximately three compositions
per grading period. Most compositions will be
graded with a rubric.
• Some will be done online
Science/Social Studies
• Units will alternate between science
and social studies and will last
about 2 weeks.
• Weekly “checks” (quizzes) from the
class notes and checks.
• Unit tests
• Occasional homework, most often
just finishing up classwork.
Project Real World
• This is designed to be a managerial program that offers
incentives for learning work skills.
• Students will interview for three different jobs on
September 24th. They will have a resume and letters of
recommendation. We will work on these in writing class.
• They will then be paid bi-weekly for doing their job. They
must pay bills for rent, car, education, electric, and water.
• Additional money will be earned for completing
homework, having the assignment notebook signed, and
getting mail at the end of the day,
• Behavior or “judge” fines also will be given for not
adhering to class rules.
• Money left over can be spent in the 4th grade prize or
food store throughout the year or at our monthly Palooza
Event.
Project Real World
• This program is funded through grant writing
and parent donations. Any assistance with the
actual interview day or with corporate donations
would be much appreciated.
• Jobs available are: librarian, financial manager,
custodial engineer, health care worker, store
manager, equipment manager, photographer,
secretary, administrative assistant, postal
worker, meteorologist, videographer,
technology director, artist, party planner, disc
jockey, reporter and graphic designer.
Project Real World
• Reflections:
– Will be written in class every two weeks.
– They will reflect on job performance, student
performance, and behavioral choices.
• Bonuses:
– Odd jobs
– Above and beyond
– Citizenship
– “We’re Proud of You” slips
Grading:
• The first experiences can be an
adjustment.
– It takes some students a quarter to get
the hang of the amount of effort
required to earn the grade they want.
– If school has come easily to a student
up to this point, s/he is sometimes
surprised at the effort required to earn
A’s and B’s in fourth grade.
Grading Continued:
• A “P” earned in third grade reflects a
grade range from C- to a B+.
• We can’t expect all students to earn all A’s
in all subjects.
– If that were the case, our expectations are too
low.
• Our focus is on progress.
• What have they learned, vs. what grade
did they get?
Parent Assist Module (PAM)
• Called PAM
• Allows parents to check students’ grades
online using a username and password.
• Grades will be posted periodically
throughout the week.
• PAM does not accurately report the
reading grade.
• Link to PAM on the 4th Grade website
Parent Assist Module (PAM)
• We have confidential letters for you
notifying you of the username and
password for your student.
• See your student’s homeroom
teacher at the end or orientation to
receive the username and
password for your child.
Organization
• We model organization multiple times
throughout the day.
• Pack up for home together at the end of
the day.
• The binder will be color coded. See the
website for details.
• 4th graders love to tell their parents they
are “not allowed” to bring home certain
materials. Students may bring home any
extra books or materials that you require.
Vacation Request
• In writing to homeroom teacher at least ONE
week ahead of time – The child will get his or
her work on the last day before vacation.
• If requested ahead of time, work IS due upon
returning
• Tests will be made up within one week
(discretion of teacher on days)
• Some things such as class discussion,
experiments and activities will not be able to be
made up.
• If work is given when the child returns, the
number of days the child was out is the number
of days s/he has to make up the missed work.
It is our goal to make 4th grade
an excellent year for your child
and for your family!
• Thank you for taking time out of
your busy schedules to attend
Parent Orientation!
• Conference sign-up sheets are in
the Library.
It is our goal to make 4th grade
an excellent year for your child
and for your family!
• See your child’s homeroom teacher
for your PAM letter.
• Please see Room Parents before
you leave:
– Matchinga Homeroom see:
– Chase Homeroom see:
– Vosicky Homeroom see:
– Mell Homeroom see: