Fourth Grade
Welcomes students
and parents!
Meet the
Fourth Grade
Team
Mrs. Gibson
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15th year with GLSD
3rd year teaching 4th grade
Previously taught 12 years at GLJH
Previously taught Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Computer
Applications in 7th and 8th grade
Presently teaches Math, Social Studies and Language Arts
Educational Background:
 B.S. in Elementary Education -- 1987 IUP
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Certification in Elementary Education (Level II)
M.A. in Adult Education and Communications Technology -- 1999 IUP
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Certification as an Instructional Technology Specialist (Level II)
Certification in Business, Computer and Information Technology (Level II)
Mr. Roesch
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8th year with GLSD
8th year teaching 4th grade
Previously taught 4th grade for 5 years in VA
Educational Background:
 B.A. in Elementary Education – 2000 Edinboro University
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Certification in Elementary Education (Level II)
Miss Stynchula
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9th year with GLSD
8th year teaching 4th grade at Mt. View
Previously taught learning support at LES & was a long term
substitute in IST, 1st grade, and 4th grade.
Educational Background:
 B.A. in Elementary/Early Childhood Education – 2002 St. Vincent
College
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Certification in Elementary and Early Childhood Education (Level II)
M.A. in Instructional Technology– 2009 Penn State
Mrs. Walsh
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5th year with GLSD
1st year teaching 4th grade at Mt. View
Previously taught 1st grade at Mt. View and taught 1st grade for 5
years in Virginia
Educational Background:
 B.A. in Elementary Education – 1999 Westminster College
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Certification in Elementary Education (Level II application filed)
M.A. in Elementary Education & Reading Specialist Certification-2006
University of Pittsburgh
Our Expectations for our students
 Come to school prepared each day.
 Complete homework and other assignments
on time.
 Have a positive attitude and cooperate with
others.
 Be responsible for taking home mail and
graded assignments
 Follow school rules
Expectations
 Making Wise
Choices
 Whole Class Marble Jar/Mt.
Teamwork
 Moving to purple
 Forgetting to make
wise choices
 Reminder
 Time Out
 Lunch detention
 Call the Nest
Schedule
 6 day rotation
 Children have a schedule in their binder, it is also
available online
 Goal and Speech are scheduled during
Language Extension.
 Instrumental lessons are scheduled during
music
Our Websites
 Visit your teachers’ websites to ensure
you are up to date on daily
assignments and activities.
 Greater Latrobe School District Site
 District site again
Language Arts Program
 Teach reading life-long strategies
 Genre Study-Helps students to
organize what they are reading.
 Encourage reading at home. We
suggest at least 15-20 minutes.
 Goldilocks Rule for independent reading
 Students choose a book, find a page, read it
 0=too easy, 1-4=just right, 5 or more=too hard
Storytown
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Themes
Read Aloud
Main Selection
Paired Selection
Leveled Readers
•Robust Vocabulary
•Focus Skill
•Focus Strategy
•Word Attack
•Fluency
•Thinkcentral.com
Writing
 Taught as a process in the core
 Focus on ideas first—later revise & edit
 We write the “5” paragraph narrative and
informational essays.
 Most of the writing is completed at school—
kept in portfolio.
 Sent home at the end of the year.
 Go my access
Spelling
 Lessons begin with a pretest on Wednesday
 Pretest contains a list of words that follow a pattern.
 Whole class lessons will be taught to help children to make
generalizations so that they can apply it to their everyday
writing.
 Post test will be given on a new list of words on Tuesday.
 Spelling Projects are due Tues. They are located on the back of
your child’s spelling list
 Spelling City
Math
• Fourth grade math is FUN!! Students will learn how to become
great problem solvers and will learn how to engage in good
math talk!! They will have A LOT of opportunities to improve
their number sense!!
 GO Math!
• Transitioning between Pennsylvania State Standards and the
National Core Standards
• Students will still be taking the PSSA test in March with the
National Core Standards as field test questions
• Due to this being a transition year, your child will primarily be
using the GO Math series, as well as other supplemental
materials.
Science
 Inquiry approach: Hands on, explore
children’s own questions, activity based
 STC kits: electricity, land and water,
animal studies
 Weather and space included when we
are not in a kit.
 Science PSSA last week of April
 (Tested Grades 4, 8, 11)
Social Studies
 Government/Immigration
 Pennsylvania
 Regions of USA
 Map skills
 Scholastic News (current events)
 Non-fiction reading strategies
Homework
 Homework is assigned every night. If the assigned homework
does not take 40 minutes, children should read or study math
facts for the remaining time.
 Homework reinforces the skills that are learned at school. Your
child should be able to do it Independently, please notify your
teacher if your child consistently struggles with how to do
assignments.
 Homework assignment book
 Children are expected to write each assignment.
 Have your child show you his/her assignment book
each night.
 Website is available to check for assignments or enrich your
knowledge.
HW Continued…
 Binder
 Sent home nightly
with graded papers
or important
announcements.
 Help your child to
empty this folder
nightly.
 Homework Policy
 If an assignment is
missed, they will make
up their missed work
during recess.
 Students who do not
complete their homework
on time, will NOT
receive the full amount of
points.
Birthdays
 You may send a birthday treat into school.
 Each homeroom will celebrate birthdays at
different times
 Please have your treat ready to serve to
children (napkins, pre-cut)
 Please keep in mind 75% healthy food, 25%
not healthy food.
 Cafeteria offers a birthday basket
Math/Reading Club
 Our fourth grade has teamed up to provide more
tutoring for your children.
 This enables children who need specifically math or reading
help to get the necessary help that they need.
 Your child will meet with a fourth grade teacher or
support person when they come for tutoring.
 You will see an invitation if we feel your child will
benefit from extra practice on the skills we are
teaching. (begins 9/17)
Conferences
 We will have conference days on
November 6 & 11
 Take a post-it note with your date to put
on your calendar at home
 Please sign up before leaving
 We will send reminders at the end of Oct.
 If you need another day/time please
write me a note on the schedule.
Home School Connection
We need your help!
 Volunteer Opportunities
 a note was sent home on the first day of
school regarding volunteers for parties and
field trips
 PTO Clearance Packet
Home School Connection
 Ideas for Homework Help:
 Quiet space
 Encourage quality work
 Refer to class work for help
 Fun Websites for Parents and Children:
 Please see teacher websites for lots of kid
friendly, educational sites on the Internet
Let’s Have a Great Year!
*Thanks for coming.
Take a look around at
your child’s work!