Ocean Springs Upper Elementary

4th grade Curriculum Night

Teacher IntroductionsTeam 1

Jodi Rice (ELA) and Julie Rossi (Math/Science)Bernadette Vitale (ELA) and LaLinda Waldrop (Math/Science)

Team 2Mary Hirsch (ELA) and Paige Webber (Math/Science)

Tracie McDaniel (ELA) and Heidi Verner (Math/Science)

Team 3Ashley Chennault (ELA) and Kristina Alfonso

(Math/Science)Pam Bates (ELA) and Michelle Allen (Math/Science)

Team 4Linh Morales (ELA) and Kellye Bolar (Math/Science)

Tina Harris (ELA) and Leigh Browning (Math/Science)Rebecca Sisco (ELA) and Sarah Merrill (Math/Science)

Discipline and BehaviorAll students are expected to follow the Greyhound Code

at all times:I will be..

RespectfulResponsible

Self-controlledWe use PBIS: Positive

Behavioral Interventions and Supports

Each class has developed a Class Contract

Academics

COMMON CORE

WELCOME TO THE…

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW: Standards are different. (Some added, some eliminated,

some more in-depth) Skills are taught year-round so that scaffolding takes place,

and skills are mastered more efficiently. Assessments will look different. Teaching styles should change.

Expectations are higher. Students will be asked to JUSTIFY THEIR ANSWERS. Students will be studying cross curriculum lessons. OUR GOAL/OBJECTIVE: “COLLEGE/CAREER READY

STUDENTS!”

“I CAN” STATEMENTS Skills/standards are expected to be mastered by end of year. Review is a quick mini lesson, rather than a week long skill

lesson. Standards taught in earlier grades are not included in the fourth

grade curriculum. Within each standard there are several “I CAN” statements that

are expectations of what the student should be able to accomplish after learning that standard.

The standards are broken into 6 categories: Reading: Literature, Reading: Informational Text, Reading:

Foundational Skills, Writing, Speaking and Listening, and Language.

EXAMPLE STANDARD:

• RI.4.1 Refer to details and examples in a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.

• I CAN: – RI.4.1.1 Use prior knowledge to understand what I read.– RI.4.1.2 Discover clues to understand and explain ideas

and events that are directly state in the text.– RI.4.1.3 Uncover clues to draw inferences that explain

ideas and events that are not stated directly in the text.

AssessmentsMississippi is a member of the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness and College

Careers (PARCC)PARCC is a 20-state consortium working together to develop next-generation K-12

assessments in English and math. PARCC benefits:Students who will know if they are on track to graduate ready for college and careers

Teachers with regular results available to guide learning and instructionParents with clear and timely information about the progress of their children

States with valid results that are comparable across the member statesThe nation as it is based on college- and career-ready, internationally-benchmarked

CCSS This is the last year students will still be required to take the MCT2.

CCSS assessments are projected to be computer based. The new assessments will ask students to answer a variety of types of questions, show their work, and

explain their reasoning. Teacher will focus on finding justification within text throughout the year to

prepare them for finding this text based evidence on their test.

CROSS-CURRICULUM

• MORE NONFICTION TEXT• Students will be required to work

with more nonfiction literature integrated through the core subjects. • Students will be doing mini-research

projects frequently.

STUDENT DRIVEN LESSONS

Teachers become facilitators! Common Core encourages less lecturing and more student driven

lessons. Teachers are to provide higher order thinking opportunities and allow time and opportunity for

students to collaborate and work together to figure it out. This method has been proven affective and

more beneficial to young minds. REFLECTION is a key element to the learning

process!

HIGHER EXPECTATIONS

Because mastery is expected in the lower grades, teachers will expect students to know

certain skills coming into fourth grade. Students are expected to master skills stated

in the 4th grade curriculum, scaffolded throughout the year, before exiting 4th grade.

How Can Parents Help… EXPOSURE!

The majority of what we read as adults is nonfiction text. According to CCSS guidelines, by the end of 4th grade students' reading should

be half fiction and half informational. Expose them to nonfiction text as much as possible: newspapers,

information websites, magazines, etc. Read nonfiction text to them… the news is a great place to start!

ENCOURAGE WRITING! Journal with your students at home- Write letters to one another.

Encourage typing or setting up an email for you and your child to communicate.

Build their vocabulary! Focus on exposing and broadening their current vocabulary. Talk about words you use or find in text that you

read together! BE SUPPORTIVE

Helpful Websites:

• A complete list of standards: www.corestandards.com

• Achieve the Core: www.achievethecore.org• Miss. Dept. of Ed:

www.mde.k12.ms.us/curriculum-and-instruction/curriculum-and-instruction-other-links/common-core-state-standards - Go to CCSS Training Materials to look at their PPT

• PARCC http://www.parcconline.org/about-parcc

Curriculum

Reading StreetEnglish Language Arts Curriculum for 4th grade.

Designed with Common Core in mind, Used as a resource as we teach the CCSS.

Comprises nonfiction, fiction, drama, prose, and poetry

Excellent resources to integrate social studies and science.

Offers an online component Students can access at home for review and skill

practice.

Enhanced through the use of novels, trade books, and other resources

Accelerated ReaderAccelerated Reader provides students with the

incentive to practice the craft of reading.

Students will take the STAR assessment this week to identify their reading level and areas of

necessary instruction. Teachers use this data to set individual goals for each student and to guide small

group lessons.

A.R. goals are set quarterly. Students who meet both their percentage AND points goals will be invited to participate in quarterly celebrations.

Monitor your child’s activity through Home Connect at the OSSD website.

Grammar and Writing Writing constitutes 50% of Common Core

instruction. Grammar will be imbedded into the writing.

The students must apply grammar skills in their writing to show mastery.

Modes of Writing: Narrative, Informative, and Opinion

Writing will be integrated with reading. The students will reflect back on the text to help

give their writing evidence and support. Grammar skills are reviewed through bell ringers,

homework, and classwork. Students are ultimately expected to be able to read

and write in cursive. Since this is a 3rd grade objective, teachers will provide limited practice.

Social Studies

Based on Mississippi history and state information

Taught through the Language Arts Program

Grades can range from daily work, to projects, to tests.

The Jackson field trip plays a vital role in our social studies curriculum.

“Mississippi My Home”

Musical Program All 4th grade students participate in this outstanding musical program that highlights the marvels of

Mississippi. Programs are presented by team in fall and spring

(you will be notified when your child is preparing for the program.)

There are roles for singers, dancers, speakers, Southern Belles, Miss America, and Elvis.

Auditions for particular parts take place during music class.

Great way to learn about Mississippi and reinforces our year-long study of this great state we call home.

Envision Math

• New textbooks aligned with Common Core Standards.

• Features:– New workbooks have re-teaching and practice for each

lesson on opposite sides of same page.– Access to pearsonsuccessnet.com for textbook, copies of

practice pages and review of videos.

• Please expect math homework most nights.• Knowledge of multiplication facts in addition to other

facts is essential in Common Core.

Accelerated Math Accelerated Math (A.M.) is an important part of our math

program at OSUE. School-wide minimum goal is 30 objectives mastered each

quarter. Quarterly grades are based on the average of percentage correct and percentage of goal met.

Objectives are assigned by your child’s teacher based on STAR test results.

Accelerated Math can be accessed from home through Home Connect on the OSSD website, www.ossdms.org,

under the Parents’ tab. Using Home Connect, (though not required) your child can

score and reprint practices from home, and you can check on your child’s progress.

Science Science Fair is tentatively scheduled for late

January. Be on the lookout for information in October.

Although science projects may be required by your child’s teacher, participation in the

“Science Fair” is optional. We build Estes Rockets in the Spring. Approximate cost is $7-$10. Please start

looking for information in the Spring.

HomeworkHomework is assigned daily/weekly per

teacherStudents write homework in agendas daily.

Graded for completion and effortReinforces skills and concepts

Assessments/Grading Common assessments

Grade weights: Tests x4, Projects x3, Quizzes x2, Labs/Daily/Homework x1

Please check your child’s Tuesday folder each week for graded assignments.You can also monitor your child’s grades through Parent Connect.

Events and Activities

Rocket Launch

Kickball Tournament

Reading Fair

Science Fair

And the highlight of the year…

JACKSON FIELD TRIP

Where are we

going?

Mississippi Sports and

Hall of Fame Museum

Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame

Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum

New Mississippi Capitol

Old Capitol

Mississippi Museum of

Natural Science

When?Spring 2014

(Each team has a different date)

We leave school at 5:30 a.m. and return around 9:30 p.m.

Information will be sent home at least 3 weeks in

advance.

How much?Around $50.00 per

student includes:

coach bus transportation

entry into each venuedinner

Thank you for your time and attention!

For any additional information, please contact your child’s

homeroom teacher. We look forward to hearing

from you!

QUESTIONS