Stetson Hills 2014-2015
A+ School of Excellence
Welcome to 4 th Grade
Curriculum Night
"You are free to do anything that will contribute to your learning or the learning of others."
Student Expectations:
*Treat all people with kindness and respect
*Respect all property
*Come to class on time prepared to learn
*Listen and follow directions
*Work in a way that doesn't distract others from learning
*Always try your hardest to do your best
It is my goal to encourage your child in a positive, supportive, nurturing environment.
Consequences:
Occasionally students have difficulty adhering to classroom expectations. We will give students cues and reminders to get back on task. If the child
continues with the behavior the following may occur:
*move student to another place in classroom
*move student to another classroom
*call parent / e-mail parent
* note in discipline log / student planner
Severe cases may be referred to the office.
Character Counts
Trustworthiness
Respect
Responsibility
Fairness
Caring
Citizenship
Our Daily Schedule
8:45-10:15 Core 1
10:15-11:00 Specials 11:00-12:15 Core 2 12:15-12:55 Lunch
12:55-2:10 Core 3
2:10-3:30 Core 4
Special Areas
Art
PE
Band/Music
Technology
Curriculum
The fourth grade team uses materials that Deer Valley Unified Schools has adopted that support the Arizona State Standards and CCR Standards (College and Career Readiness).
Reading
Mathematics
Social Studies/Arizona History
Science
Writing
Words Their Way
Curriculum cont.
“I Can” statements will be written by the
students in their planners at the start of
each core class.
Parent Communication
Student Planner (notes)
Remind 101 app (text messages)
Homework Expectations
Homework will be written by the students in their planners.
Math and reading homework can be expected Monday – Thursday.
Homework is given to practice particular skills.
Homework may also include studying for a test.
Homework will also include work not completed in
class, including any work missed when absent.
Homework Policy
Homework will be checked for completion during RTI (homeroom).
Students will turn in homework when arriving at the appropriate core class.
If students do not complete homework, he or she will sit out at recess.
An after school detention will be issued if a student
has 5 late/missing homework assignments.
Writing
Students will use the writing process to publish a variety of genre-related pieces.
Expressive
Personal narratives, stories, poetry
Expository
Nonfiction writing that describes
Functional
Directions, recipes, letters, thank-you notes, invitations
Persuasive
Advertisements, paragraphs
Literary Response
Journal entry, book review
Research
Informational report
Reading
CCR Standards (College and Career Readiness)
All Deer Valley schools use the Pearson
reading program (district adopted curriculum)
http://www.pearsonrealize.com
Homework practices vocabulary, skills,
strategies, comprehension, and Close Reading
Tests given after completing a story (6-8
school days per story)
Scholastic Book Orders
Your child will have an opportunity to order books and software at a reduced rate
through Scholastic Book Company.
Monthly selections.
Easy on-line ordering available or order through your child’s teacher.
http://www.scholastic.com/bookclubs
Mathematics
• CCR Standards (College and Career Readiness)
• All Deer Valley schools use Engage NY program (district adopted curriculum)
• https://
www.engageny.org/resource/grade-4-mat hematics-module-1
• Homework practices skills/concepts taught daily
• Additional practice is optional. Problem Set and Exit Ticket
• Quizzes are standard specific
• Tests given at the end of the module.
Some lengthy modules will include an
mid-module test as well.
*Standards supported with FOSS curriculum.
*Inquiry process embedded in each theme:
*Landforms
*Environments
*Electricity/magnetism
*Water/weather
*Other standards supported with supplemental materials.
Science
Social Studies/Arizona History
Harcourt Social Studies/ Arizona textbook.
Focus on geography, history and government - from early
civilizations to present.
Standards-Based Practices
Deer Valley Unified School District supports the use of standards-based practices.
What are standards-based practices?
The purpose of Standards-Based Practices (SBP) are to measure a student’s performance and
product against defined grade level
expectations. In using SBP, grades reflect what a student knows and can do, as outlined in the Arizona State Standards. Teachers in Grades K–8 will base
report card grades on academic achievement only.
Stetson Hills’ Areas of Focus Regarding Grading Practices
Avoid Recording Zeros
Zeros skew the grade to a point where accuracy is distorted. Avoiding zeros helps students take responsibility for their learning and be held
accountable for missing work.
Avoid Non-Academic Factors
Grades communicate student achievement in
relationship learning standards; students' grades will not be reduced or inflated due to student
behaviors outside of the standards.
What do grades mean?
Grades are a way to communicate with students and parents how a student is doing in relation to the
Arizona state academic standards/Common Core
A+ through A / Primary grade of E (Excellent)
Student is showing a high level of mastery, exceeding the standards.
B+ through C / Primary grade of S (Satisfactory)
Student is showing a good level of mastery, approaching to meeting mastery, in the state standards.
C- through F / Primary grades of N (Needs Improvement) & U (Unsatisfactory)
Student is falling far below or approaching mastery of standards.
Continued missing or late assignments may result in a
parent/teacher/student conference to develop a plan for
success in meeting the standards
Grading Policy
Missing assessments will be recorded as 49% and changed after work is complete.
Nothing less than a 50% will be recorded, unless missing.
Teachers will manage retakes.
Students will only be allowed one retake if the grade is 69% or lower. 70% and higher is
passing.
Retakes will reflect the mastery score in Powerschools.
If the student does not have a passing score after a retake, the higher of the two scores will be
entered.
*On-line grade book for parents to access.
*Need a username and password to log-in.
*Your child’s code is the same as last year.
*If you have misplaced your information, you can stop by the front office to get another
copy. (You will need to show identification)
*Every attempt will be made to update grades weekly.
Powerschools
Grade Level Website
http://dvusd.org/sh-4thgrade
Remains the Same
1-2 Letter grades (E,S,N,U)
3-6 Letter grades (A,B,C,D,F)
Averaging grades
Comment sections
• Format
• Content standards listed
• Performance level indicated
Changes
Grades 1-6 Report Card
Revisions
•Parents can now select the “Standards
Grades” tab and will be able to see a
performance level for each standard
•Parents can see the performance level of their student for each of the identified
standards
•Letter grade reporting remains housed under the “Grades and
Attendance” tab
Parent View in PowerSchool
Description of Performance levels
The Performance Levels indicated by 1-4 are not based on a percentage. It is a performance indicator based on the student’s performance toward meeting grade level standards
4 = Demonstrates above grade level proficiency independently
The student consistently demonstrates above grade level proficiency independently* for this reporting period 3 = Demonstrates grade level proficiency independently
The student consistently demonstrates proficiency for the grade level concepts and skills independently* for this reporting period 2 = Demonstrates grade level proficiency with support
The student usually demonstrates the skill or understands the concepts and meets grade level expectations with support for this reporting period 1 = Demonstrates below grade level proficiency with support
The student performs below grade level with support and is not meeting expectations for this reporting period
*Independently: The ability to demonstrate proficiency of standards without assistance after being taught a concept or skill
•4 = Demonstrates above grade level proficiency independently
•3 = Demonstrates grade level proficiency independently
•2 = Demonstrates grade level proficiency with support
•1 = Demonstrates below grade level proficiency with support
