Parent Orientation Grade 4: Pleasant Ridge Elementary School

1. Parent Orientation Grade 4: Pleasant Ridge Elementary School August 30, 2005

2. Grade 4 Subject Areas • Math • Language • Reading • Science/Health • Social Studies • Spelling/Vocabulary

3. Science Curriculum: 4 Units • Life Sciences • Earth Science • Physical Science • Space Technology

4. Math Curriculum: 7 Areas • Number Sense • Computation • Algebra & Functions • Geometry • Measurement • Data Analysis & Probability • Problem Solving (Exemplars)

5. Mid-Term Reports/Report Cards • Mid-Terms will go home about half-way through each 9 weeks. • The entire 4th grade uses the same mid-term sheet. • Not all subject areas will necessarily receive grades every quarter. For example, Social Studies could have a grade when Science/Health does not. (S or CR for credit is usually given in the subject not covered in that period.) • At times, the social studies grade may be a part of the reading grade. • Report cards are issued every 9 weeks. • Grades are taken from class assignments, homework, special projects, and tests.

6. Assessment: NWEA and ISTEP • Every fall and spring, students take a computerized test called the NWEA. • The NWEA (Also called the MAP test) provides data that is used to gauge each student’s overall strengths, and areas that need improvement, for diagnostic purposes. • Unlike the ISTEP, NWEA scores are available immediately and are used to plan instruction in many ways. • The NWEA gives all of us a “snapshot” of a student at the beginning of the year and at the end of the year. Scores can be compared and hopefully the students will show growth from the beginning of the year to the end. • Copies of NWEA scores will be provided to parents at conferences, or by mail. • More can be found at: http://www.nwea.org/

7. ISTEP+: Indiana State Test for Educational Progress • ISTEP+ is administered to all public schools in September. (Grades 3-10) It is a criterion-referenced (It measures what skills a student can and cannot do) standardized test based on Indiana's Academic Standards. • The test is one way to measure mastery of the state standards. The test is used to determine mastery of the standards from the previous school year. • For example, the 5th grade test is actually measuring the skills learned during 4th grade. • Test results are reported in three categories: Pass +, Pass, and Did Not Pass. • The state plans to have this year’s results available by December.

8. School Website • The Pleasant Ridge website is located at: http://www.gcs.k12.in.us/pres/ • The site is regularly updated with info on school activities, supply lists, and other useful data.

9. Special Area Classes • 9:15 – 10:00 Monday through Friday (Varies per teacher) • Physical Education • Library • Music • Art • Computers (Every other nine weeks)

10. Social Studies • Indiana History • Geography • History • Exploration and Conquest • Laws • Becoming a state • The growth of Indiana • Living in Indiana as a citizen • The Civil War • Lewis & Clark Exploration • Native Americans

11. Language Arts/Behavior Management Literacy Groups • Groups within our room • Cooperative learning • Graphic organizer • Thematic units • Novel units Creative Writing • Six Traits of Writing • Five steps of writing • Genres • Rubrics Buccaneer Bucs • Procedures • Rewards and Consequences

12. Required Paperwork • Review any forms needing immediate action • Present timeframe for completing new employee paperwork

13. Summary • Discuss topics covered • Reiterate welcome • Reminder to submit paperwork • Wrap-up