WELCOME
TO
BACK-TO-SCHOOL-NIGHT
4th Grade
Kerby Elementary
2013-2014
Ms. Kristin Zens
TONIGHT’S AGENDA
 Welcome!
 6:45 – 7:15 Gym with Ms. O’Neil
 7:20 – 8:00 Homeroom, Language Arts, and Social Stud.
 8:00 – 8:15 Rotate to Math (Mr. Pfeuffer)
 8:15 – 8:30 Rotate to Science (Ms. Walsh)
Ms. Zens
• Michigan State University
– Bachelors in Elementary Education
– Masters in Elementary Education with a Literacy
Concentration
– Teaching Endorsements: Elementary K-6,
Social Studies (RX) 6-8 grades
- Kerby Elementary School
- 2013-14 School Year, 4th Grade 
- 4th year teaching within GP Public Schools!
- 4th Grade Homework Club teacher
Ms. Zens
• Kerby Elementary School
– 4th Grade Teacher (2012-2013)
– All Day Kindergarten teacher (2011-2012)
• Grosse Pointe North/South
– Varsity Gymnastics (Assistant Coach)
• Defer Elementary School
– All Day Kindergarten teacher (2010-2011)
4th GRADE TEAM CLASSROOM
MANAGEMENT
• Classroom Rules and Consequences
– Student created rules “Agreements”
– Color flip chart
• Consequences for poor choices
• “Think Time Sheets”
• Behavior Bingo
– Whole Group Positive Reinforcement
– Walking in hallway, positive choices, following
procedures
– Compliment Parties
FISH Philosophy
• New this year!
• School-wide character education program
• Series of experiences to encourage the
following…
– Be There
– Play
– Make Their Day
– Choose Your Attitude
HOMEWORK
• Homework will vary… CHECK
PLANNERS DAILY!
• Math homework just about every night
• Book Bingo project (or book review) monthly
• Reading at Home every night (20 minutes)
documented in the Reading Log
• Spelling Test and Spelling Sentences due every
Friday!
• Occasional Social Studies and Science projects,
tests, and assignments
MAKING THE GRADE
ES
Exceeds Standards: Consistently performs
MS
Meets Standards: Consistently and accurately
AS
CA
above grade level standards. Demonstrating mastery
of the academic content at grade level and beyond.
demonstrates skills. Independently applies the
knowledge, skills, and standards appropriate to their
grade level. Shows evidence of mastery on multiple and
varied assessments over time.
Approaching Standards: Demonstrated skills
inconsistently. Show progress, but is not at grade
level standard yet.
Concerns in the area: Needs considerable
assistance and is performing significantly below
standards. Struggles in this area; shows little or no
progress.
+ area of strength @ meets expectations x needs improvement
ACTIVITIES FOR
FOURTH GRADE
• Student Council
• Choir
• Enrichment activities
at lunchtime
– Knitting
– Yoga
• Safety/Service
• Homework Club
Field Trips
• Planetarium: Aligned with
Astronomy Science Unit (Winter)
• Lansing trip: April 14, 2014
• Henry Ford Museum: “If I Had A
Hammer” in late Spring.
COMMUNICATION
• Assignment books (Planners):
should be
signed/reviewed daily by parents. “3 Strikes, You’re In”
• Weekly Report:
Summary of past week and a
look ahead to upcoming events/tests will be posted on
my web page and sent home through email attachment
unless otherwise notified.
• Conferences:
March 26th & 27th
December 11th & 12th and again
• **EMAIL IS PREFERRED!!!
Departmentalizing
• Ms. Walsh: Science
• Ms. Zens: Social Studies/Spelling
• Mr. Pfeuffer: Math
• Switching begins tomorrow!
TEACHER CONTACT INFO
Located on Kerby website:
• Kristin Zens
Kristin.Zens@gpschools.org
• Voicemail: 432-5681
• Jennafer Walsh jennafer.walsh@gpschools.org
• Voicemail: 432-5479
• Bill Pfeuffer
william.pfeuffer@gpschools.org
• Voicemail: 432-5250
DAILY SCHEDULE: Tu-Fri
School begins
Announcements
Writer’s Workshop
Math (with Pfeuffer)
Science (with Walsh)
Reading Groups
Recess/Lunch
Reader’s Workshop
Wordly Wise
Special
Math Boxes
Social Studies
School ends
8:20
8:25-8:30
8:35-9:15
9:20-10:05
10:10-10:55
11:00-11:20
11:36 -12:24
12:25-1:15
1:20-1:50
1:50-2:35
2:40-2:55
2:55-3:30
3:38
SPECIAL CLASSES
 A Day: Gym
 B Day: Art
 C Day: Library / Spanish
 D Day: Music
1:50p.m.- 2:35p.m.
Components of
Fourth Grade Language Arts
• Reader’s
Workshop
• Making Meaning
• I.D.R (Individualized
Daily Reading)
• Book Bingo
• Read Alouds
• Writer’s
Workshop
• Grammar/DOL
• Spelling Practice
• GP Writing
• Informational
Reading and
Writing
Reader’s Workshop
• Begins each day with a mini-lesson focused on a specific
reading strategy or text feature
• Followed by an Individualized Daily Reading Period of 25
minutes where students practice this strategy in their
own reading
• During this time, I will be able to individually confer with
students and evaluate their application of the skill
• Students will be simultaneously jotting down notes with
post its throughout their text and responding in their
reading journals
We will be reading leveled books to accompany the Making
Meaning program based on each student’s reading level.
Advantages of
Reader’s Workshop
•Key word… Differentiation!
•Students read at their own level
•Student choose their own books
•Allows teachers to understand and connect with our students as
readers.
•Students are spending more time reading
•Increases vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension
•Creates independent reading habits
•Teachers have time to individually confer and meet with students
and differentiate instruction based on students’ needs
•Students discover the JOY of reading!
Leveled Reading
• Students will be reading at their own
reading level
-Studies have shown that the best way to become a
better reader is by reading at your own level
-Classroom libraries across the district are
organized according to F&P reading levels
- Students will be tested using the F&P Reading
Level twice a year to measure progress
-If interested in finding the level of books at your
home check out www.Booksource.com
Book Bingo
• Monthly book reports
– Project one month
– Written Report the next month
• Encourages students to experience
different genres
• Choice of report activities
• Class Presentation
• Folder going home today!
• First book bingo due on Tuesday,
October 1st…
– Students may use a book they have read
over the summer for this one.
– Please treat this one as a practice!
Spelling Program
• New spelling list weekly based on pre-tests
• Tests and spelling sentences will be assessed or
turned into homeroom teacher every Friday.
• Fourth Grade High Frequency Spelling Test
– Fall, Spring
• Spelling also emphasized and assessed in writing
projects across all subject areas
Writing
• Writer’s Workshop Approach
– Taught through mini-lessons and conferences
• Narrative: adventure, personal narratives
• Informational: Comparative piece, Endangered
Species research project, Persuasive, and
Letters
• Poetry
• Daily Paragraph Editing– conventions, grammar
Testing Schedule
• NWEA:
•
September 10-18th for Reading and Math
given in Winter and Spring as well
• MEAP:
October 8-25
 Language Arts
 Math
 Writing
• Fountas & Pinnell Reading Assessment
– Fall and Spring
• Grosse Pointe Writing Assessment: May
– two practice tests in Fall and Winter
Social Studies
• Switching begins tomorrow morning!
• Social Studies Alive! By TCI and
Scholastic News
• Aligned to meet the State Grade
Level Content Expectations.
Social Studies
• 4th Year using this textbook
• Social Studies Alive! By TCI
– Standards based
– Supports Multiple intelligences
– Textbook, readability level, graphics
• ONLINE!!!! Look for your student’s code, coming
home on Thursday night!
– Projects designed for the students to apply
what they have learned
Teaching Approaches
•
•
•
•
•
•
Reading
Whole Group / Small Group
Role Playing
Creative Simulations
Group Projects
Writing Activities
Topics: Many Hats!
• We will be wearing many hats in
Social Studies this year…
–
–
–
–
Geographer
Historian
Economist
Political Scientist
Main Units We’ll Cover
• Geography (Map Skills)
• Government/Politics
• Regions of the United States (5
different regions)
• Economics
Tips for Success
• Discuss Social Studies and current
events with your child, and listen to
what your child has to say.
• Ask to see your student’s folder on a
regular basis so you can see what
they are learning and ask them about
it.
• Provide a quiet study place.
4th Grade Spelling
• What to expect each week…
– Lists given Monday during Social Studies
(check assignment book)
• Strategies, patterns, and spelling lessons will be
taught during the Social Studies block on Monday
morning.
• Tests will be given in homeroom on Friday and
checked by homeroom teacher.
– Test will NOT be in sentence format
• Weekly spelling sentences will be assigned and
checked by homeroom teachers, more
information to come later!
MAKING THE GRADE
ES
Exceeds Standards: Consistently performs
MS
Meets Standards: Consistently and accurately
AS
CA
above grade level standards. Demonstrating mastery
of the academic content at grade level and beyond.
demonstrates skills. Independently applies the
knowledge, skills, and standards appropriate to their
grade level. Shows evidence of mastery on multiple and
varied assessments over time.
Approaching Standards: Demonstrated skills
inconsistently. Show progress, but is not at grade
level standard yet.
Concerns in the area: Needs considerable
assistance and is performing significantly below
standards. Struggles in this area; shows little or no
progress.
+ area of strength @ meets expectations x needs improvement
CLOSING COMMENTS
• Fall and Spring Conference sign-up will be
ONLINE THIS YEAR! Look for more info to come!
• We are looking for bagel volunteers on Friday
mornings!
• I’m looking for one or two parents to be my
“Room Parents” this year. Please let me know if I
can count on your throughout the year for special
projects and parties.
Class Party Volunteers
• Please sign up (on the U-Shaped
table) if you would like to lead one of our
class parties.
• 2 parents per party…
• Responsible for:
• Planning games and activities
• Organizing food donations
• Contacting parent volunteers
Questions?
It was so nice meeting you all. I
am look forward to another
wonderful year here at Kerby!