Welcome Mrs. Eastin’s Welcome Mrs. Eastin’s 44thth Grade Curriculum Night Grade Curriculum Night

CommunicationCommunication Email:meastin@kyrene.orgEmail:meastin@kyrene.org

This is the best way to get in touch with me.This is the best way to get in touch with me. Voice Mail: 480-541-2535Voice Mail: 480-541-2535 Eastin WebpageEastin Webpage http://kyrene.org//site/Default.aspx?http://kyrene.org//site/Default.aspx?

PageID=25812PageID=25812 Sign up for ListServe. Sign up for ListServe.

http://www.kyrene.org/Page/2790 http://www.kyrene.org/Page/2790 Sign up for Classroom Sign up for Classroom

Directory-http://www.kyrene.org/Page/24818Directory-http://www.kyrene.org/Page/24818

CommunicationCommunication Weekly Email with important information. Sent home Weekly Email with important information. Sent home

Friday or Monday. Please readFriday or Monday. Please read. Please let me know . Please let me know if you have not received my communications in if you have not received my communications in the past two weeks.the past two weeks.

Students will complete weekly self-reflections, form or Students will complete weekly self-reflections, form or letter format, sent home on Friday. Behavior letter format, sent home on Friday. Behavior reflections will be included. My notes may also be reflections will be included. My notes may also be included. Please sign and return the Weekly Report included. Please sign and return the Weekly Report on Monday. on Monday.

Completed work and other information will go home Completed work and other information will go home on Friday in homework Folders.on Friday in homework Folders.

7:40 Students picked up from courtyard 7:45 Tardy bell 7:45 Language Arts 8:40 Specials (Library, PE, Art, Music) 9:30 Morning break 9:45 Language Arts and IFG10:45-11:40-Science and Social Studies11:40 Lunch/Recess12:20-1:55 Math Block and IFG 2:05 Writing/project block 2:30 First bell *Students will be dismissed on Tuesday and Friday at 2:30(Duty) 2:35 Dismissal (12:35 on Wednesday)

Typical Schedule

Goals

•Students will assume responsibility for their own learning.•Students will become creative problem solvers and will preserve in problem solving.•Students will be engaged and excited about learning.

Report Cards

Report cards are given out quarterly. The grading scale is A, B, C, D, F. The returned work will help you stay informed about their progress. Also, you may view your child’s progress on Genesis.

•Variety of assessment types: class work, homework, tests, writing, projects, and presentations •Tests directly reflect what we have been learning in class. Homework, Class work and/or notes can be kept to help review. Sometimes review sheets are sent home. See the agenda for upcoming tests. •Tests are percentage grades based on the number correct out of the number possible.•Rubrics specifying requirements for A, B, C…are used for projects and presentations.•Class work and homework may also be graded based on percent, but are not weighted as heavily as tests and projects.•Writing gets graded based on the 6 Traits of Good Writing. Most 4th graders score 3.0-5.0.•There is not a separate grade for spelling. It is incorporated into the writing grade.

Missing WorkMissing Work If homework is not completed, this may be If homework is not completed, this may be

noted in agenda. If work is not completed noted in agenda. If work is not completed by Friday, student will miss Goal Club and by Friday, student will miss Goal Club and complete missing work in study hall.complete missing work in study hall.

This also applies to work that needs to be This also applies to work that needs to be redone, due to quality issues. (incomplete redone, due to quality issues. (incomplete or not personal best).or not personal best).

Behavior ChartBehavior Chart Used in conjunction with our district-wide PBIS (Positive Used in conjunction with our district-wide PBIS (Positive

Behavioral Interventions and Supports) program which Behavioral Interventions and Supports) program which promotes a positive climate for our schoolpromotes a positive climate for our school

Emphasizes the importance of making good choicesEmphasizes the importance of making good choices Promotes positive behavior and encourages students to self-Promotes positive behavior and encourages students to self-

monitor their choicesmonitor their choices Allows students to be acknowledged for positive behavior, and Allows students to be acknowledged for positive behavior, and

provides a sense of accomplishment for students who are able provides a sense of accomplishment for students who are able to “clip up”to “clip up”

Allows students who have “clipped down” an opportunity to Allows students who have “clipped down” an opportunity to “clip back up” during the day-they continue to stay motivated.“clip back up” during the day-they continue to stay motivated.

Behavior Chart-ContinuedBehavior Chart-Continued Your child will write the behavior they ended on for the Your child will write the behavior they ended on for the

day in their daily agendas beginning next week.day in their daily agendas beginning next week. This immediate feedback will show you where he/she This immediate feedback will show you where he/she

ended up on for the day. ended up on for the day. I will contact you if necessary regarding major incidents I will contact you if necessary regarding major incidents

which required your child to clip downwhich required your child to clip down I appreciate your understanding that it will not be possible I appreciate your understanding that it will not be possible

for me to contact you for every clip down that occurs. for me to contact you for every clip down that occurs. Clipping down from time to time is to be expected and can Clipping down from time to time is to be expected and can

be an important learning opportunity for your childbe an important learning opportunity for your child

Homework ExpectationsHomework Expectations 44thth Grade: 40 minutes nightly. Grade: 40 minutes nightly. Homework is assigned as follows: Spelling and project, Homework is assigned as follows: Spelling and project,

given on Friday(students may work ahead if they would given on Friday(students may work ahead if they would like. Due Friday. Math homework is assigned Monday-like. Due Friday. Math homework is assigned Monday-Thursday and is due the following day.Thursday and is due the following day.

Math -May include Dreambox, math practice work, or Math -May include Dreambox, math practice work, or application project.application project.

Word study(Worldly Wise or spelling) practice. Spelling or Word study(Worldly Wise or spelling) practice. Spelling or vocab matrix. vocab matrix.

Students are be expected to read 20 minutes a day Students are be expected to read 20 minutes a day outside of class. Students should complete the Reading outside of class. Students should complete the Reading Record sheet to log their reading.Record sheet to log their reading.

1 book project a quarter(Due dates will be announced.)1 book project a quarter(Due dates will be announced.) Sometimes unfinished classwork becomes homework.Sometimes unfinished classwork becomes homework. Research and book Projects throughout the year.Research and book Projects throughout the year.

Curriculum OverviewCurriculum Overview

Research Based and data driven Research Based and data driven Opportunities to examine topics in-depth with Opportunities to examine topics in-depth with extended units of study focusing on the application extended units of study focusing on the application of the concept.of the concept.Inquiry Based Inquiry Based Lots of Choices and student involvement.Lots of Choices and student involvement.Goal of creating life long learners!Goal of creating life long learners!The complete curriculum is found on the Kyrene The complete curriculum is found on the Kyrene District Webpage.District Webpage.

Math ConceptsMath Concepts Critical AreaCritical Area

• Developing fluency with multi digit Developing fluency with multi digit multiplications and quotients. multiplications and quotients. Place value.Place value.

• Fractional equivalence. Addition Fractional equivalence. Addition and subtraction, and and subtraction, and multiplication of fractions.multiplication of fractions.

• Geometric propertiesGeometric properties

• Problem SolvingProblem Solving

Math WorkshopMath WorkshopQuizzes/progress checks most Fridays.Quizzes/progress checks most Fridays. TestsTests Integrated S.T.E.M ProjectsIntegrated S.T.E.M Projects Daily Work including games, math stations and Daily Work including games, math stations and

Dreambox.Dreambox. Problem Solving recorded in math journal(Graded on Problem Solving recorded in math journal(Graded on

rubric)rubric) If a student scores less than 75% on a math test or If a student scores less than 75% on a math test or

quiz, a retake test will be required. quiz, a retake test will be required.

Writing WorkshopWriting Workshop Students are taught the 6 plus 1 Writing Traits Students are taught the 6 plus 1 Writing Traits

and the writing process. All written components and the writing process. All written components of projects and writing pieces are graded using of projects and writing pieces are graded using the 6 Traits of writing. the 6 Traits of writing.

Types of writing: Narrative, Informative, Types of writing: Narrative, Informative, Opinion, Poetry, and creative writing. Opinion, Poetry, and creative writing.

Research writing will be emphasized.Research writing will be emphasized. Greek and Latin roots(Word Smith)Greek and Latin roots(Word Smith) Grammar-parts of speech and sentence Grammar-parts of speech and sentence

structure, and spelling patterns.structure, and spelling patterns.

Reading WorkshopReading Workshop

Focus on literary elements and analysis: Focus on literary elements and analysis: Theme, plot, climax, rising action, Theme, plot, climax, rising action, characterization.characterization.

Emphasis on non-fiction, informational text, Emphasis on non-fiction, informational text, and historical fiction.and historical fiction.

Resources Used:Resources Used: Literature sets and JR Great Books to promote Literature sets and JR Great Books to promote

discourse.discourse. Harcourt Trophies Anthology(skills)Harcourt Trophies Anthology(skills) Primary Documents and current events Primary Documents and current events

Checking ProgressChecking Progress(Reading Workshop)(Reading Workshop) Book Clubs or literature conferences-Book Clubs or literature conferences-

dialoguing about books as a group.dialoguing about books as a group. Literature Log-responding to literature in Literature Log-responding to literature in

written format.written format. Inquiry projects-in-depth investigation of a Inquiry projects-in-depth investigation of a

concept in book.concept in book. Other assignments-book projects, book Other assignments-book projects, book

reports, reviews, skills work, or anthologies.reports, reviews, skills work, or anthologies.

Social Studies Curriculum Social Studies Curriculum Geography-map skillsGeography-map skills Arizona StudiesArizona Studies Explorers and MissionariesExplorers and Missionaries Economics(student businesses.)Economics(student businesses.) Prehistoric and modern day Prehistoric and modern day

Native Americans.Native Americans. Project Based and integrated Project Based and integrated

into language curriculum.into language curriculum.

Science CurriculumScience Curriculum Inquiry Based /Scientific MethodInquiry Based /Scientific Method Problem-Based Learning projects-creating Problem-Based Learning projects-creating

solutionssolutions

Concepts:Concepts: Life Sciences-Plant and animal adaptations.Life Sciences-Plant and animal adaptations. Physical Sciences-Magnetism and Physical Sciences-Magnetism and

Electricity.Electricity. Earth Science-Weather and water. Earth Science-Weather and water.

Renewable and Nonrenewable Energy.Renewable and Nonrenewable Energy. Design Squad Activities, Defined STEM, and Design Squad Activities, Defined STEM, and

Engineering is Elementary- with focus on the Engineering is Elementary- with focus on the design process and creating solutions.design process and creating solutions.

Online Grading

http://sw.kyrene.org/Page/1411

Please include your child in the process of checking grades and ask them first about questions you have.

OtherOther Won’t see lots of papers going home.Won’t see lots of papers going home.

We work in math journals everyday/problem We work in math journals everyday/problem solving and literature logs (kept in class)solving and literature logs (kept in class)

We take notes and complete daily math work in We take notes and complete daily math work in our math notebooks.our math notebooks.

Project-Based learning, which requires application Project-Based learning, which requires application of learning. Hands on.of learning. Hands on.

We practice math using whiteboards.We practice math using whiteboards. Group projects/projects on the computerGroup projects/projects on the computer..

Students will be expected to redo work, including Students will be expected to redo work, including tests, if their score is less than 70%. The Common tests, if their score is less than 70%. The Common Core is a Standards Based Curriculum. Therefore, Core is a Standards Based Curriculum. Therefore, Mastery of concept is the goal.Mastery of concept is the goal.

Odd and Ends ContinuedOdd and Ends Continued Please send a Please send a healthyhealthy snack and a water bottle everyday. snack and a water bottle everyday.

Please no electronic devices.Please no electronic devices. Conference will be held twice a year. Dates will be posted on the Conference will be held twice a year. Dates will be posted on the

calendar.calendar. Per the Student Handbook, please remember to not send in treats or Per the Student Handbook, please remember to not send in treats or

gifts for students birthdays. gifts for students birthdays.

Video From PTO

Thank you for coming!Thank you for coming!