WELCOME TO OPEN HOUSE Ms. Traynor 4th Grade Room 406 A Little about me: • • • • I have been teaching for 19 years. This is my 16th year in Red Clay I have taught 4th, 2nd, and K. I have a Master of Education degree from U of D and my undergraduate degree in education from Millersville University. • I have three children, Lauren (14), Brian (11), and Olivia (10). They go to St. Mark’s, • Skyline and Lombardy. School Day 8:50-3:40 • No one may ride any bus except the one they are assigned to • Siblings may not come in to school during the instructional day or lunch • Early dismissals must be done by 3:15 • Notes required for every dismissal change • Doors are locked at 4:00-check on the website or with a friend for homework • Sign-in at the office upon arrival Health and Well-Being • Please check in with your child and discuss how they are feeling each morning. • Many students come through the door each morning with aches and ailments and want to go to the nurse. • I have found that it is helpful if they have already talked to you about their issue. • Please check Mrs. Muffley’s website for health and wellness procedures. Our Daily Schedule • 8:35-9:00 Opening- Morning Work, Journal, Pledge, Moment of Silence • Attendance- remember to send a note when your child is absent or needs to go home early or in a different way • Materials: Homework Folder, Agenda, binder and writer’s notebook Reading/Language Arts 9:00-11:36 • Reader’s Workshop- students will Predict/read/summarize/connect to books in a particular genre • I will present mini-lessons on particular skills before they read • Students will complete a Reading Response Journal when they read • They will complete before, during and after reading entries. • We will also use the Scott Foresman reading materials to meet our reading goals. Silent Reading/AR • Accelerated Reading is a part or our reading program. • Students are expected to have an AR book at all times. • They will complete a Star Test to find their ZPD. For optimal results they should choose books within their ZPD. (However, they can read any/all books) • The link for the bookfinder is on my webpage. • Quizzes are taken in the classroom. • Results can be viewed online. RTI- Intervention Period ½ hour a day • Students will be grouped according to needs • The students will work on skills that they are struggling with. • Some students may go to other rooms or be serviced by other teachers at this time. Word Work • Students will work on: • • • • • • Vocabulary Prefixes, suffixes, and root words Commonly misspelled words Reading and figuring out words in context Word Sorts Words Their Way Writing/Language Arts • Writer’s Workshop • We will use the writing processprewriting, drafting, revising and editing, publishing to write narrative, persuasive, informative, and creative pieces • Students will use rubrics to self assess their writing Writing Journals • Due Dates are written in their agendas. (They are due near the end of each marking period.) • 5 one page entries is the minimum amount of work required. They may always do more. • Journals are graded for neatness, quality, quantity, and proofreading. Lunch-11:36-12:06 Recess- 12:06-12:36 • Please send your child to school every day prepared to go outside. • Please adhere to the dress code (no open backed shoes) • Students may not bring any “equipment” from home Math Warm-up • As students re-enter the classroom after recess, we take time to cool down or warm up. • Students are able to use the restroom/fill water bottles/get drinks • I use this time to work with students to complete assignments or reteach a concept • Students are starting a Math Warm-up at this time and working on the problem of the day. • Math 12:40-1:50 • We are using the Math Trailblazers curriculum to present the 4th grade Core Curriculum. • Students complete Daily Practice Problems, lessons and practice activities, and Labs. • I will also supplement with other materials as needed • Fourth Graders need to know their multiplication basic facts (Flash cards) Science 1:50-2:30 • • • • • Kits: Structures of Life Electricity and Magnetism Land and Water Skywatchers Graded on group experiments and classwork • Tests • Study Guides and quizzes Social Studies 1:50-2:30 • We will use classroom newspapers, textbooks and materials to investigate civics, geography, economics, and history • We will study these areas by using the State of Delaware as an example. • We study the Native Americans through the Revolutionary War • Students are graded on classwork, study guides, and quizzes • • • • • • • • Related Arts 2:30-3:15 Technology with Dr. Bernal Art with Ms. Phillips Music with Mr. Marion Library with Ms. Marinelli-remember your books Gym with Ms. Cox -remember sneakers Spanish Experience with Ms. Palmer Band with Mrs. Murphy See the Related Arts Schedule for your child’s specific schedule Pack-up 3:15-3:20 • We pack up all of our belongings to go home • Homework is placed in mailboxes and students are responsible for getting it on the way out Band, Chorus and Strings • These are excellent additional programs that are offered through Linden Hill • Please address any concerns, questions, etc. about these programs and their schedules to the appropriate staff member • Students are responsible for any work they miss when they are out for these programs • I will provide them with the work by giving them a copy of anything they miss and listing the assignments on the board. It is their responsibility to ask any questions they have pertaining to the work and to make sure they hand the work in. Homework • Reading- students are expected to read 15 minutes each night. • We will have one project each marking period • Math- students will have math homework most nights • Science and Social Studies homework, studying or projects will be given occasionally, as noted in the agenda • Word work will be given weekly. Students are responsible for knowing the definitions of the words and how to use them in context • Students will be asked to write in their writing journal at least once a week. Agendas/Website • Please see the agenda for the homework assigned for each night and nightly reminders • Please sign the agenda to show that you have seen the homework for the night • Please write any notes, questions, or concerns about homework in the agenda • If your child is really struggling with an assignment please note that in the planner • Homework should not take longer than 45 min.one hour Grades • Students in Fourth Grade receive letter grades • A=Excellent 90-100 • B= Very Good 80-90 • C=Satisfactory 70-80 • D=Poor 60-70 • F= Failure Below 60 • Grades will be affected by class participation, homework, class work, projects, and tests Behavior • We are trying to instill a sense of responsibility for one’s actions in our students. • The behavior plan is driven by “Love and Logic” • The classroom rules are “Be Nice and Work Hard” • Levels of Behavior: – I show good behavior because: • I do not want to get in trouble • I will get a reward • I will get praise • I am a rule follower • I will impress other people and they will appreciate me • It benefits my life and makes me proud of myself. It is my character. It is who I am. Assessments • • • • Grade Level Assessments Smarter Balanced Star Reading Classroom tests- they will be noted in the agenda and study materials will be sent home when applicable Home Access Center • You received a password to log into the HAC. https://hac.doe.k12.de.us/homeaccess/ • You can monitor your child’s grades and progress throughout the year by logging on. • Please send questions, concerns, comments about grades via e-mail or the planner. Websites • District http://www.redclay.k12.de.us/ • Linden Hill http://lindenhill.redclay.k12.de.us/ • My home page http://tunaruna.com/traynor_bodnar/ Other Little Tidbits • Conferences are on the four half days and I will be sending home notices to schedule them. • E-mail distribution list-I will start sending home class messages via e-mail. If your information changes please let the office know ASAP. They have to change it in the system. • No Birthday foods allowed. District wellness policy. PTA • Please be sure to join the PTA. • They support many of our programs. Contacting Me • Please contact me as soon as you have a question, concern, problem or suggestion • E-mail- Tammy.traynor@redclay.k12.de.us • Phone- 454-3406 (Before school 8-8:35) (Planning 2:30-3:15) (After school most nights until 4:15) • You may also write a note in the agenda or send a separate note with your child to school • I will try my best to always respond within 24 hours.