Welcome Families!
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Please be sure to sign in and take some paper for
notes
Read the letter your student has written to you and
respond on a separate paper or on the back
Look over your student’s goals for this month—
you’re welcome to write notes on them.
Please leave the letter to your child and the goal
sheet here.
Who is Ms. Thordarson?
-I play piano and guitar, and I love to sing jazz
-I love being active and outdoors
-I am a Husky fan and a Mariners fan
-I earned my Master’s in Teaching and Teaching Certification
from the University of Washington and My Bachelor’s of Arts in
History, with a minor in Education, Learning, and Society
-I have my ELL endorsement
-I believe that teaching is the best job in the world
Teaching philosophy
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I believe that children are the best teachers
I believe that students should always be held to the
highest expectations, no excuses
I believe that diversity should be embraced and
cultures should be explored
I believe that education is a tool for selfempowerment
Grade level overview
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Math: Multiplication up to 3 by 2 digit numbers and Division
up to 3 by 1 digit, Interpreting Data, Problem-Solving,
Decimals, Geometry, addition, subtraction, and multiplication
of fractions
Reading: Shared Inquiry, monitoring comprehension
Science: Land and Water, Electricity and Magnetism,
Astronomy, Variables
Social Studies: Washington State history, Native Americans
Health: Here’s Looking at You (Drug and alcohol awareness),
Second Step
Writing: Personal narrative, research-based writing,
descriptive, and opinion; rule-based spelling
***Curriculum map is subject to change
Curriculum
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Envision and Investigations in 5th grade; Engage NY
fourth grade
Units of Study in Reading
 Junior
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Great books
Science Kits
Washington State History and simulations
Second Step and Here’s Looking at You
Writing units from the school district
Common Core Standards
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Fewer standards, more rigorous
Meant to prepare students for the changing world
Starting at grade level, building based on need
Smarter Balanced Assessment
Links:
 http://www.thecurriculumcorner.com/thecurriculumcorne
r456/updated-4th-grade-i-can-ccss-posters-in-greenchevron/
Links for support
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Student (and parent!) friendly goals:
http://www.thecurriculumcorner.com/thecurriculumco
rner456/updated-4th-grade-i-can-ccss-posters-ingreen-chevron/
Common Core Standards home
Smarter Balanced Assessment
Discovery Program Philosophy &
Goals
Program Philosophy
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The Renton School District believes that students who
have been identified as highly-capable should have
the opportunity to develop their strengths and
talents through a rigorous academic program which
enriches and extends the adopted curricula; honors
students’ unique gifts, interests, and learning styles;
and promotes higher-order, creative, and critical
thinking.
Program Goals
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Provide an opportunity for highly-capable learners to interact
with peers of like abilities in order to promote a healthy selfconcept relative to their giftedness.
Provide an environment which encourages divergent thinking,
creative problem-solving, and higher-level thinking.
Provide leadership and participatory opportunities which will
enhance the community and society.
Provide opportunities for self-directed learning.
Changes In Program Identification
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Change in state law around gifted education
Change in assessment series in RSD
- nomination, normed data, ability
testing & committee review
Changes in how identified and served in RSD
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Highly capable vs. enrichment
Service in general education classroom
Discovery Program Documents &
Expectations
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Intervention plan
Discovery report card
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Standards based on 4-1 scale
Looking at what students can do consistently
over time (each trimester)
Assessed as a Discovery student
Classroom expectations
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We are Self-Managers
 Self-manager
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checklist and award
All work completed on time
Working the whole time and focused
Following directions the first time
Goal setting
Respect yourself and others
Consequence plan
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Students earn privilege choice time each Friday
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work on time, neat, and complete by Thursday
 One late assignment pass per month
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No name? No credit.
3 Strikes system
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1: Warning
 Strike 2: Loss of 5 minutes privilege and reflection
 Strike 3: Loss of additional ten minutes of privilege
 Repeated disruptions/lack of work completion will
result in parent contact
Communication
With Students:
 Communication journals
 Self-manager checklist
 Recess time, independent
work, after school
 Writing conferences
 Class meetings
 Incident reports
With Parents:
 Blue folders
 Email/Phone calls
 Weekly newsletter
 Progress reports/report cards
 Scholastic book orders LLBND
Assessment
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Formative (on-going)
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Classwork, homework, performance
assessments/projects, student conferences
Not all classwork is graded, but may have a “check”
grade
Some homework is not graded, only checked for
completion
Summative
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Quizzes, tests, Benchmark Assessment System,
Smarter Balanced
Homework policies
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Weekly work due Thursdays
January twice a week
 Tuesdays
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and Thursdays
No late work accepted—homework notices sent
home to be returned with completed work
Homework is posted electronically
Consists of reading every night (Good readers
should read as much as possible!), Khan academy,
IXL, reading worksheets, projects, writing pieces,
reading responses
Student organization
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Self-Manager Checklist
Binders—home every night
Work folder—keeps desk organized
Monthly goal sheet
Monthly planner for recording homework and long
term work
Expectations for Parents
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Encourage your child to become independent
Call before or after school hours
If you need to get a message to your child, call the
front office
Help your students with homework, but don’t do it
for them!
Don’t hesitate to share concerns in your child’s
growth or ask for ways you can help at home
Conference information
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Mid-October we will send out a letter asking for
preferred dates and times
Around November we will send home a letter of
confirmation for the conference date and time.
One night will be set aside for late conferences.
All students are required to have a student-led
conference
Specialist times
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Monday: Music 10:05-10:50 with Ms. Skinner
Tuesday: PE 10:05-10:50 with Mr. Brotherton
Wednesday: Music 10:50-11:35
Thursday: Library 9:20-10:05 with Mrs. Davis
Friday: PE 1:55-2:30
Note from PE:
KENNYDALE Physical Education Days 2015-16
Children wear comfortable clothes and gym shoes that will not leave marks on the floor
on their class PE days. Please no boots, dress shoes or sandals.
Please send a note if your child is injured and can not participate. A parent note will cover
up to 3 days of missed PE. A doctor note is required if a child will miss more than 3
consecutive days of class.
Kennydale PTA
What we’re REALLY about is BETTER EDUCATION
The PTA supports and supplements areas of education that State and District school funding do not cover.
Each year, Kennydale PTA invests over $25,000 in academic areas for our students that are not funded by state, federal,
or district budgets. Here are a few examples:
Science Week — $3,000
Pacific Science Center’s hands-on exhibit, Science Night, ‘Celebrity
Scientist’ guest speakers
Curriculum Enhancement — $2,500
Science kits, writing program, on-line books, library resources,
technology tools, etc
Camp Seymour / Science Education — $2,500
5th grade environmental education curriculum
Art Docent Program — $1,000
Regionally-recognized, volunteer-driven Arts curriculum in every
class
Library Fund — $1,000
Purchase of high-quality books representing a variety of genres that
keep kids excited about reading and learning
Classroom Periodicals — $3,500
Discussions about current events are aided by social studies
magazines such as “Scholastic News” and “TIME for Kids”
Mini-grants for Teacher Materials — $3,000
Teaching aids & classroom materials to help students learn in different
ways
Grade-level Enrichment — $4,500
Booking or admission fees for functions and events which provide
‘outside the classroom’ learning
EVERY student at Kennydale benefits from the PTA.
We could really use your enthusiasm, support, & TIME!
Get involved in your child’s education by
becoming a PTA member!
Kennydalepta.org
BE IN THE KNOW:
Check us out on Facebook:
“KennydaleElementaryPTA”
Contact information
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Anna.Thordarson@rentonschools.us
(425) 204-4732
Reminder- Classroom Newsletters are posted on the
website every Friday afternoon
Don’t forget—families with a fourth grader get a
free pass to National Parks! Link on my website.