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17th Year teaching 4th grade in NA 
Grade Level Facilitator
Graduate of University of Pittsburgh with completion of
Masters Degree
Born and raised in Pittsburgh (Morningside)
Live in Shaler with my husband Jim and two kids,
Elisa (7th) & Noah (5th)
Expectations of our fourth graders
 Put forth their BEST EFFORT!
 Don’t “rob others of the opportunity to learn”.
 Come everyday with a SMILE and a POSITIVE “I CAN”
ATTITUDE! 
 Next to their parents, I’m their biggest FAN!
 More responsibility & independence this year on the
student!
 Be great problem solvers! Set GOALS!
 “M” word is NOT permitted in 4th Grade! 
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Quick Links on the Hosack Webpage
 Include Student Handbook (HES procedures)
 Birthday Form
 Thursday e-Blast
 Hosack Happenings
 Lunch Menu
 Much more!
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Walkers: Notes must be handwritten
Conference Sign-Ups (Office Foyer)
Clearances: “The School District is working on the
development of a clearance policy for volunteers. It
is unclear what the final parameters of the policy
will look like or when it will be officially
implemented. However, there will be ample time
for communication of a final policy before it would
be implemented.”
 Morning Routine Sheet
 AM Work Folder
 Stays in the desk
 Work varies: Spelling and Grammar
 Organization!
 Expandable File
Daily file, subjects file, homework file, keep home file
 Red Pen, Highlighter, Pencils, Pencil pouch
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SSR, Read Aloud
 Keep chapter book in desk
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Assignment Notebooks
Homework
o “Practice NOT punishment” 
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Mailboxes
Webpage
o Go to: northallegheny.org
o Select a school (top left): Hosack Elementary
o Building Staff: Gabriel, Caterina
o Click on “4B Homework Page”
Storytown Series: Harcourt
 Six themes; Spiral review of key skills
 Study Guide-sent home Monday
 Includes: story of the week, spelling words, robust vocabulary with
definitions, skills
 Practice Book Pages
 Comprehension Check pages
 Robust Vocabulary
 Practiced all week, but must study at home!
 “RV” Enriching Vocabulary page/reread story is homework evening
before reading test.
 Weekly Centers, Jeopardy, Leveled Readers
 “Text Sets” Learning: Extension of themes/topics in our story
 An additional way to help meet standards within the new Common Core
Reading Log
Read 5 out of 7 nights
Mark “off” on the log
Parent to initial
Due every Tuesday
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PURPOSE: to increase love of reading, improve fluency &
comprehension
Read 25 chapter books
10 must be “Accelerated Reader”-take quiz at school
http://www.northallegheny.org/Page/9402 : AR Book List here
4 can be their “free choice” with a summary (plus 2 summer books)
5 “Teacher Picks” go toward goal
4 from books read for “Book Responses”
Track with a chart kept in school
Parents receive AR tests to sign
Earn “Fish” with 5,10,15,20, 25 books read.
Fun incentive at the end of the year!
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Oral Presentation
Quarterly (excluding December) (Due: 10/14)
Self-selected chapter books
Taps into student interests & talents
Evaluation Sheet/Idea Packet
USE project to summarize book
 Project serve as the “note cards”
 Project is “interactive”
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April-science presentation
May-social studies presentation
“Living Museum”
Reading Folder
Review work, sign record sheet, return promptly
Weekly tests and practice work
Tests: Reading (story test/skill test), Grammar, Word Work,
Spelling
Cover Sheet included to show overall test scores, but input
separately in TYLER
Comes home roughly every other week!
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Grammar Packets by Theme
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Reinforce grammar skills via reading story
and writing completed in that week(s).
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Assigned as AM work or homework as
needed
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Grammar Test on Fridays
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Basic List (20)/Challenge Words (5)
Words introduced Monday
Spelling pages (3 + Challenge page) due Thursday
 Theme Packet
 AM Work
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Test Friday
 Cursive required- Practice for test at home
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*spellingcity.com
Writing as a Process…
 Narrative
 Persuasive
 Informational
 Reading Responses: PSSA practice
 Poetry
 Journals
 4 Square Writing
 Reading nonfiction articles and writing responses about
the topic.
 Harcourt Series
Online access from home
Workbook Pages, PSSA Workbook
1 Subject Notebook
 Lesson Work, Sample problems
 Homework aid
 Lesson Quizzes, Tests
 Problem Solving
 Placement is data driven and learning is
differentiated/challenged in each class.
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Grades 1-5 Basic Facts Program
Purpose: To increase fluency and
automaticity of basic multiplication/division
facts (4th grade)
Daily practice and quiz
Parent involvement important to student
success!
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Parent Involvement important to child’s
success with Rocket Math.
 Study with your child using the oral practice sheet
 Practice sheet focuses on 3-4 new facts plus facts
your child has already mastered
 Use flashcards from the Rocket Math program
 *Child must practice saying problem and answer
 Homework
 20 points each quarter
 Deduct 1 point for late homework
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Harcourt US Regions Text
 Maps & Globes
 Explore 5 US Regions
▪ 5-6 lessons per unit
▪ Chapters grouped (Ex: Chapter 1-2 Test)
 Economics
 Current Events: TFK magazines
▪ Periodic reading assigned on current events
 Learn US States/Capitals
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Study Packets
Week notice of test
Regions Day (May)
State Reports (May)
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Mrs. Linda Kleeb
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Mr. Keith Gillis
 Reinforce reading/writing skills
 Teach test taking strategies
 Areas of focus are data driven
 Extensions of Science and Social Studies
 Everyday edits packet (grammar)
 SRA Reading Lab (comprehension)
 Clock Buddies
 Group Work
 Think-Pair-Share
 “Happy Checks”
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Student of the Week
“Feel Good Friday”
 Peebles Pen Pals
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Going once…
Going twice…
Rewards
Consequences
Quarterly Auction
Prizes donated…Thank you!
Rules established!
 “Care for Ourselves, Care for Our School, Care
for Others”
 Three Checks” system
 Reminder
 Warning
 Behavior Slip
 Golden Tiger Program
 Ties into our monthly themes within Olweus AntiBullying Program
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Elective classes - not required
 Students who are not at a rehearsal will be
participating in extension/remediation
activities and/or working on special projects
 Students who are not at a rehearsal will NOT
be scheduled for study hall-like periods
 Additional homework possible on that nightplease monitor child’s schedule
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Band and Orchestra students need to bring their instrument
music every week. Chorus students need to bring their music
every week.
Band/Orchestra Groups: Tuesdays
Chorus: Thursdays
Schedules have been distributed by Mrs. Funk/Watton and
Mr. Novak
Students attend their lesson every week
May leave for their lesson five minutes before scheduled
lesson begins
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Please contact me to discuss any concerns!
cgabriel@northallegheny.org
412.366.9664 (Hosack Office)
Home-School Communication is
KEY to SUCCESS!!
I look forward to a wonderful and productive year!
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Your name & child’s name at the top of your
paper.
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Number your paper 1-5.
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Get ready to earn your child their first
HOMEWORK PASS! 
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
In a compound sentence, should you insert a
comma before the conjunction? YES or NO?
What is the name for the largest of the 5 Great
Lakes?
In which region do Alaska and Hawaii belong?
The answer to a multiplication problem is called
____________________.
True or False: The number 13 is a prime number.