Fourth GradeWelcomes students

and parents!

Meet the Fourth Grade Team, from a

galaxy far, far away. WHO’S WHO? WHICH FOURTH GRADE TEACHER MATCHES WITH WHICH STAR WARS CHARACTER?

Mrs. Gibson∙ 18th year with GLSD∙ 5th year teaching 4th grade∙ Previously taught 12 years at GLJH∙ Previously taught Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Computer

Applications in 7th and 8th grade

Educational Background:∙ B.S. in Elementary Education -- 1987 IUP

∙ Certification in Elementary Education (Level II)

∙ M.A. in Adult Education and Communications Technology -- 1999 IUP∙ Certification as an Instructional Technology Specialist (Level II)∙ Certification in Business, Computer and Information Technology (Level II)

Mr. Roesch∙ 10th year with GLSD∙ 10th year teaching 4th grade∙ Previously taught 4th grade for 5 years in VA

Educational Background:∙ B.A. in Elementary Education – 2000 Edinboro University

∙ Certification in Elementary Education (Level II)

Miss Stynchula∙ 11th year with GLSD∙ 10th year teaching 4th grade at Mt. View∙ Previously taught learning support at LES & was a long term

substitute in IST, 1st grade, and 4th grade.

Educational Background:∙ B.A. in Elementary/Early Childhood Education – 2002 St. Vincent

College∙ Certification in Elementary and Early Childhood Education (Level II)

∙ M.A. in Instructional Technology– 2009 Penn State

Mrs. Walsh∙ 7th year with GLSD∙ 3rd year teaching 4th grade at Mt. View∙ Previously taught 1st grade at Mt. View and taught 1st grade for 5

years in Virginia

Educational Background:∙ B.A. in Elementary Education – 1999 Westminster College

∙ Certification in Elementary Education (Level II application filed)

∙ M.A. in Elementary Education & Reading Specialist Certification-2006 University of Pittsburgh

Our Expectations for our students

∙ Come to school prepared each day.∙ Complete homework and other assignments

on time.∙ Have a positive attitude and cooperate with

others.∙ Be responsible for taking home mail and

graded assignments∙ Follow school rules

Expectations∙ Making Wise Choices-

Take Home Folder∙Please review &

sign daily

Whole Class-∙ Marble Jar/Mt.

Teamwork∙ Moving to purple

∙ Forgetting to make wise choices∙ Reminder∙ Time Out

∙ Lunch detention

∙ Call the Nest

Schedule∙ 6 day rotation

∙ Children have a schedule in their binder, it is also available online

∙ Goal and Speech are scheduled during Language Extension.

∙ Instrumental lessons are scheduled during music

Our Websites∙ Visit your teachers’ websites to ensure

you are up to date on daily assignments and activities.

∙ glsd.us

Language Arts Program

∙ Teach reading life-long strategies∙ Genre Study-Helps students to

organize what they are reading.∙ Encourage reading at home. We

suggest at least 15-20 minutes.∙ Goldilocks Rule for independent reading

∙ Students choose a book, find a page, read it∙ 0=too easy, 1-4=just right, 5 or more=too hard

Storytown• Themes• Read Aloud• Main Selection• Paired Selection• Leveled Readers

•Robust Vocabulary

•Focus Skill

•Focus Strategy

•Word Attack

•Fluency

•Thinkcentral.com

Writing∙ Taught as a process in the core∙ Focus on ideas first—later revise & edit∙ We learn opinion writing, narrative writing,

and informational writing∙ Figurative Language (poetry)∙ Most of the writing is completed at school—

kept in portfolio.∙ Sent home at the end of the year.

Spelling∙ Lessons begin with a pretest on Wednesday∙ Pretest contains a list of words that follow a pattern.∙ Whole class lessons will be taught to help children to make

generalizations so that they can apply it to their everyday writing.

∙ Post test will be given on a new list of words on Tuesday.∙ Spelling Projects are due Tues. They are located on the back of

your child’s spelling list∙ Spelling City∙ Spelling grades are now included in Language

Math• Fourth grade math is FUN!! Students will learn how to become

great problem solvers and will learn how to engage in good math talk!! They will have A LOT of opportunities to improve their number sense!!

∙ GO Math!• PA Core Standard Based• Students will still be taking the PSSA test in April • Continue to practice multiplication facts

Science∙ Inquiry approach: Hands on, explore children’s own

questions, activity based∙ STC kits: electricity, land and water, animal studiesl∙ Weather and space included when we are not in a

kit.∙ Science Fusion: New consumable text book, uses

thinkcentral∙ Science PSSA-April

∙ (Tested Grades 4, 8, 11)

National ParksFree Passes to Parks for Fourth Graders

The program is part of the White House’s “Every Kid in the Park” initiative, in collaboration with the National Park Service and the National Park Foundation.

“In many provinces in Canada, ski resorts give a free season pass to a particular age of child, and the objective is to introduce kids to outdoor recreation with a view that this will be on their radar,” Interior Secretary Sally Jewell said. “It’s the same basic principle.”

Beginning in the 2015-16 school year, studentscan sign up online to receive a voucher that grants entrance to the holder and a carload of passengers to federal recreation areas for a year.

“There’s a difference between seeing a grizzly bear and two cubs on TV and on a screen and seeing them there,” in the park, said Dan Wenk, the interim president of the National Park Foundation.

Social Studies∙ Government/Immigration∙ Pennsylvania∙ Regions of USA

∙ Map skills

∙ Scholastic News (current events)∙ Non-fiction reading strategies

Homework∙ Homework is assigned every night. If the assigned homework

does not take 40 minutes, children should read or study math facts for the remaining time.

∙ Homework reinforces the skills that are learned at school. Your child should be able to do it Independently, please notify your teacher if your child consistently struggles with how to do assignments.

∙ Homework assignment book∙ Children are expected to write each assignment.∙ Have your child show you his/her assignment book

each night.

∙ Website is available to check for assignments or enrich your

knowledge.

HW Continued…

∙ Take Home Folder∙ Sent home nightly

with graded papers or important announcements.

∙ Help your child to empty this folder nightly.

∙ Homework Policy∙ If an assignment is

missed, they will make up their missed work during recess.

∙ Students who do not complete their homework on time, will NOT receive the full amount of points.

Birthdays∙ You may send a birthday treat into school.∙ Each homeroom will celebrate birthdays at

different times∙ Please have your treat ready to serve to

children∙ Please keep in mind 75% healthy food, 25%

not healthy food.

Math/Reading Club

∙ Our fourth grade has teamed up to provide more tutoring for your children.∙ This enables children who need specifically math or reading

help to get the necessary help that they need.

∙ Your child will meet with a fourth grade teacher or support person when they come for tutoring.

∙ You will see an invitation if we feel your child will benefit from extra practice on the skills we are teaching.

Conferences∙ Conference day on November 10th∙ Take a post-it note with your date to put on

your calendar at home∙ Please sign up before leaving

∙ We will send reminders at the end of Oct.

Home Access Center (HAC)

∙ You are getting your username and password tonight.

∙ Please check that you can login.∙ Access to your child’s current grades.∙ We will NOT be sending home mid-term

reports unless your child earns a D or F.∙ glsd.us

Home School Connection

∙ Ideas for Homework Help:∙ Quiet space∙ Encourage quality work∙ Refer to class work for help

∙ Fun Websites for Parents and Children:∙ Please see teacher websites for lots of kid

friendly, educational sites on the Internet

Let’s Have a Great Year!

*Thanks for coming.