Curriculum Night
Fourth Grade
Miss Meder
2014-2015
Welcome! Thank you for coming!
Please find your child’s desk. Read
the Math letter on the desk, and use
the small index card to write a note
to your child.
About Miss Meder
This is my 28th year of teaching.
 I am a native of Arizona.
 My father taught at Washington
High School in Phoenix.
 My oldest sister teaches fourth
grade in Boise, Idaho.
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A Typical Day
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Morning Routine/Morning Meeting
Math
Special Area class 9:35-10:25
Grammar/Spelling/Writing
Recess/Lunch
Science/SS/Health
Language Arts
Common Core Standards
This is a national effort to have students
across the country learn the same
knowledge in Math and English language
arts.
 The emphasis is on critical thinking over
rote learning of facts.
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Learning Goals/Scales
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These goals are taken from the Common Core
Standards and are taught with the adopted
curriculum.
Goals: a statement of what students will know
or be able to do.
Activities are then done to help students attain
these goals.
Scales: used to measure knowledge and growth
Shown on a point system from 4.0-1.0.
Math
Scott Foresman: traditional textbook that
focuses on practice and problem solving
 Investigations: focuses on critical thinking
and reasoning
 Problem Solving notebooks.
 IFG: Instructional Focus Groups
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Common Core Math Standards
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Operations and Algebraic Thinking
Number and Operations in Base Ten
Numbers and Operations: Fractions
Measurement and Data
Geometry
Social Studies
Harcourt textbook
 World History: exploration of
Arizona
 Arizona statehood and history
 Arizona Native American tribes
 Geography: maps; landforms
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Health
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Life Management Skills
Safety and Injury Prevention
Nutrition
Community Health Resources
Disease Control and Prevention
Personal Health and Hygiene
Human Growth and Development
Science
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FOSS
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Process Skills/Scientific Method
Magnetism and Electricity
Water: water cycle
Animal Adaptations
Language Arts
Spelling: goes along with the story;
vocabulary included
 Spelling dictation will be given on Fridays.
 Harcourt Reading program
 Book projects: one each quarter
 Writing process: Thinking Maps based
 Literature Studies
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Write From the Beginning
Types of writing:
• Narrative (personal and imaginative)
• Response to Literature
• Expository (nonfiction)
• Argumentative (persuasive, problem/solution)
• Summarizing
Components:
 Focus Model Writing
 Mini-Lessons
 Writing rubrics
 Unassisted Writing
Thinking Maps
Eight maps: Circle; Bubble; Double Bubble;
Tree; Flow; Multi-Flow; Brace; and Bridge
 A visual way to organize information
linked to a specific thought process.
 Helps the brain make patterns and
connections
 Can be used in all subject areas
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Specials
Monday- Computer Lab 9:35-10:25
 Tuesday- P.E. 9:35-10:25
 Wednesday- Music 9:35-10:25
 Thursday- Library 9:35-10:25
 Friday- Art 9:35-10:25
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Homework
Homework should take about 20-30 min. plus reading
for 15 minutes (or 1 hour total for the week).
 Book Projects: one per quarter
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Incentives: end of the week enrichment time, privilege
cards, sense of completion and success
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Natural or Logical Consequences: Study Hall,
incomplete assignments which creates more work,
lower grades, etc.
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In fourth grade, we want the students to be responsible
with their work. If your child forgets his/her
homework, please allow him/her to accept
responsibility and deal with the related consequences.
Grades
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Grading scale: assignments are weighted, tests and quizzes
count for more than classwork
100-90%=A
89-80%=B
79-70%=C
69-60%=D
59% and lower=F
Grades on assignments and assessments
 Mid-term Progress Report (Parent Vue is available
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anytime)
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Report card
Planners
At the end of each day we write what
we learned and accomplished.
 We also write any project dates or
reminders.
 Homework assignments will be written
there as well.
 Should be brought home every night
so you can see what is going on in the
classroom.
 Used as a communication tool.
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COOL COYOTE CODE
BE: RESPECTFUL
RESPONSIBLE
SAFE
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Classroom Rules: Love and Logic
Our class rules are:
1. I am responsible for my own
learning.
 2. In the classroom, we will not cause a
problem for ourselves or others
(including Miss Meder).
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PBIS/Love and Logic
Rules are few
 Situations are dealt with as they arise.
 Consequences will be designed to fit the
problem.
 Enables the student to grow and learn
from their actions.
 Gives the kids opportunities to be
personally responsible for their choices
and helps them make better choices in
the future.
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Communication
The best way to contact me is through email
lmeder@kyrene.org
 Classroom phone number is 480-541-2743.
 You may also send a note with your child.
 Website: http://www.kyrene.org/staff/lmeder
 Newsletter and other information posted on
website (monthly).
 Friday news emails.
 Weekend Envelopes sent home on Fridays with
work from the week inside.
 Behavior Report – starting Aug. 17th; sent home to
be signed and returned.
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Internet Short cut
To get to the Colina home page, use this
address for a short cut:
www.kyrene.org/col
To get to Miss Meder’s home page, use this
address for a short cut:
www.kyrene.org/lmeder
Thank You!
Thanks for coming tonight. I appreciate all
that you do to help your child get the most
they can out of school. I’m looking forward to
a great year of learning with your child.