Year 4 Parent Information Night

Mrs Kirsty Mikolajski, Mrs Andrea Isles and Miss Shenaid Hall

Prayer

Lord Jesus,You are with us as we commence our year's work.

Help us to understand our importance in educating our children. Guide us in our decisions and open our hearts in

friendship to each other. May we be supportive in times of need and celebrate our

successes. May this partnership of ours result in many benefits for the

children on whose behalf we gather. Amen

Religious Education

Religion Strands: Morality Beliefs Scripture Sacraments

Term 1 Focus: Making the world a better place.

30 minutes every day Students require a Bible Students will participate in class prayer, school occasions,

liturgies and Mass.

Prayer Assemblies and Liturgies

TERM 14M

Liturgy: Friday 6th February, 12:30pmPrayer Assembly: Thursday 26th March,

8:40am4I

Prayer Assembly: Thursday 19th February, 8:40am

Liturgy: Friday 20th March, 12:30pm

Sacramental Preparation

Confirmation – Term 2

Eucharist – Term 3

Sacramental team prepares children to receive their Sacraments.

English

Three English Strands: Reading and Viewing Writing Speaking and Listening

Reading, Spelling, Punctuation, Grammar, Writing

Text Books: Spelling Rules Reading Comprehension

English

• Reading Stamina– Building reading stamina supports children to read for an

extended period of time, trains muscle memory and builds increased attention.

• Students have specific responsibilities:– Collect enough books/ appropriate book.– Sit at their desk or by themselves.– Start reading right away.– Read the whole time without distraction.– Actually think about what they are reading.

English• St Patrick’s Reading Literacy Block

– Reading Stamina• Paired/group/class discussion

– Reading Whole Class Explicit/ Modelled Teaching• Reading behaviours• Reading skills/ strategies

– Guided reading/ shared reading • Small groups• Differentiated based on need• Assessment of student reading is made.

– Independent Activities• Based on modelled reading strategy.

– Whole Class Sharing/ Reflection• Provides an opportunity to share what they have learnt.

English

Term 1 Text Types: Procedure and Narrative

Each assessment piece will be introduced with a criteria sheet to outline the task. Requirements will be explained and discussed during class. School time will be used to create a draft copy. Home and class time will be used to present a final copy from the students.

Each text type and assessment piece will be explained and taught at school.

Example of the specific text types will be modeled during class writing blocks. This example will be sent home for the students to use as a guide.

Homework

Ian Lillico Homework Grid Compulsory Activities Optional Activities

To be completed each week.

Handed out on Friday and returned to school the following Thursday.

Reading Guide for Parents

• Parent Reading

• Your child is required to read everyday.

• Encourage the children to use their reading strategies.

Mathematics

This term our focuses for Mathematics are:• Multiplication• Place value • Number patterns• Fractions• Addition and subtraction strategies

• Centimetre (cm) and metre (m)

measurements

• Converting data into tables

Number and Algebra

Measurement and Geometry

Statistics and Probability

Mathematics

• Daily maths mentals

• Hands on activities and investigations

• Problem solving skills and strategies

• Independent, Group and Rotational work

• Text book - Maths Plus 4 – Teaching Tool

Science

PRIMARY CONNECTIONS• Primary Connections is an innovative program that links

the teaching of science and literacy in the primary years of schooling.

• It is aligned with the Australian Curriculum and has three interrelated strands; Science Understanding, Science as a Human Endeavour and Science Inquiry Skills.

• The learning outcomes in Primary Connections contribute to developing students’ scientific literacy.

• What is Scientific literacy?

Science

• Inquiry based approach• Student’s work together in small groups.• Team Roles:

Manager: Collects and returns equipment.

Speaker: Asks teacher or other speakers for help.

Director: Makes sure that the team understands the team investigations and

completes each step.

Team Skills: Taking turns, speaking softly and perform your role.

Science

• Primary Connections 5E’s teaching and learning model:

Phase Focus Assessment focus

Engage Engage students and elicit prior knowledge

Diagnostic assessment

Explore Provide hands-on experience of the phenomenon

Formative assessment

Explain Develop scientific explanations for observations and represent developing understanding

Formative assessment

Elaborate Extend understanding to a new context through students-planned investigations

Summative assessment

Evaluate Students re-represent their understanding and reflect on their learning

Summative assessment

History and Geography

Inquiry Based Learning Starts by posing questions, problems or scenarios—rather than

simply presenting established facts or portraying a smooth path to knowledge. The teacher is a facilitator.

Example: You have been commissioned by National Geographic to plot a

route from England to Australia.

You need to be able to justify why your route is most effective.

History

History – “First Footprints” Focus on Indigenous Culture and Traditions Investigation into the types of traditional tools and weapons that

indigenous people used and why they were needed.

Leading into: First Fleet

Life in 16th and 17th century Britain. Why was Australia chosen as a penal colony?

Life after Settlement Cause and effect of British settlement on indigenous culture and

people. Early Explorers – Columbus, Marco Polo, Ferdinand Magellan

Reasons behind early exploration.

Geography Geography –

Focus on Mapping conventions: legends, scale, north point etc Investigation into the relative location of Africa and South

America in relation to Australia.

Leading Into: World Biomes (global climates and vegetation)

How do people and environments interconnect? Environmental adaptations.

Energy Sustainability How much energy is wasted on a local, national and global scale. How can we save energy in our homes and school?

Waste Management How much waste do we actually waste? Waste Management plan for St Patrick’s school?

School Website

Library Times

Borrowing and research – 1 hour per week 4M - Monday 4I - Thursday 4H - Monday

Computer Lab – 45 minutes per week

Educational Viewing – 30 minutes per week

Bookwork Expectations

Year 4 Book Work Guidelines for St Patrick’s

• Place the date at the beginning of each day’s work.• Put a title for new work.• Underline the title.• Use pencil to complete work.• Keep work neat and tidy.• Cursive writing is encouraged and preferred.• In Mathematics, the page is divided in half lengthwise for

operations and number work.

Support Personnel

Learning Support Teacher – Mrs Donna Clarke

ESL – Mrs Liz McDine

Teacher Assistants work with classroom teachers to provide support for children in the classroom learning environment.

School Counsellor – Miss Paula Scanlan

Library Coordinator – Mrs Shelly Baker

Specialist Teachers

• Physical Education – Mr Russell Smith

• Music – Miss Stephanie Quinlan

Parent/ Teacher Interviews and Report Cards

Report Cards are written in Term 2 and Term 4. Focus on Results, Attitudes and Behaviour

Parent Teacher Interviews – Beginning of Term 2.

Student Folios – Collection of assessment and reporting documents.

Thank you

We would like to thank you for taking the time tonight to join us and we look forward to a successful 2015 with your

children.

You are welcome to come to your child’s classroom and meet with us.