Welcome to Fourth Grade!
Ms. Pettigrew’s Class
Portable 1
Curriculum Night
2014-2015
Sign up for Conferences
Will be done online, later in
the year.
Good Evening!
I’m glad you’re here!
• Please find your child’s desk
• Read your child’s letter--please write
back
• Check the back table to sign up for
volunteer opportunities
• Please write down any questions you
have during the presentation on the
note card on the desk
On your desk….
• From me:
– Letter from your child—write
back!
– Green folder—I will touch on
during my presentation
• From the office (On the back
table)
– Brochure
• Volunteer Expectations
• Background check
th
4
Grade Extra
Curricular Costs
Thank you to those who have paid 
Costs are:
 $23.75 if you purchased a recorder
 $17.75 if you did NOT purchase a
recorder (Please let me know if you
will not be purchasing a recorder!)
About Me
• Graduate of University of
Washington (Bachelor of Science
in Psychology)
• Masters in Education
• This is my fourth year at Creekside
Elementary. I just this school and I
especially LOVE Fourth Grade!
About Me
• I am a mother, friend, colleague
and teacher. I love my life!
• Mother of two, ages 8 and 11
• Interests include singing, cooking,
playing guitar and reading
• Lover of the arts – especially music
and theater
Class Management System
• Class Expectations
– Show respect
– Make good decisions
– Solve the problem
•
•
•
•
•
“Do Unto Otters”
Classroom Bucket Points
Table Group Points
Stars of Recognition
Logical Consequences
4th Grade Curriculum Plan
for the Year
• In your folder you will find a list of
what we teach in fourth grade,
please look it over
• There are a few areas I would like
to discuss further:
– Math
– Reading
– Word Study
– Science
In Everyday Math expect
to see….
• …a problem-solving approach based on
everyday situations;
• …an instructional approach that revisits
concepts regularly;
• …frequent practice of basic skills, often
through games;
• …lessons based on activities and
discussion
• …mathematical content that goes
beyond basic arithmetic
Everyday Math On-line
• Each student receives a user name
and password
– You will find your child’s in the packet
in the green folder
• When they log-on they will have access
to the Student Reference Book and
different Everyday Math games
• Students also have access to IXL to
practice math facts and concepts
(password also in packet)
Reading
• Balanced Reading Approach—
students will read books at their
own level
• Currently assessing student reading
levels to determine reading groups
• More information can be found in
the green folder
Reading
• Making Meaning is our reading
comprehension program
• The bookroom will be used for
Guided Reading groups to work on
specific skills
• Fountas and Pinnell will be used to
identify your child’s reading level
Reading
Fountas and Pinnell chart
Aug./Sept.
Nov./Dec
Feb./March
May/June
4
S+
T+
U+
V+
3
P-R
Q-S
R-T
S-U
2
O
P
Q
R
1
Below O
Below P
Below Q
Below R
Writing
• New Curriculum for ISD
• Lucy Calkins Units of Study
• Full Implementation for the 2014-15 school
year:
• Narrative Writing
• Opinion Writing- Students builds an argument about a
topic and arranges ideas and evidence.
• Informational Writing
• Essay Writing
– Refer to Letter in folder for more information
from the district
Word Study
Vocabulary
Students are taught how to learn
words and how to remember words.
• Strategies for learning vocabulary
include : context clues, root
words, prefixes and suffixes.
Word Study
Spelling
Spelling will be integrated with
writing instruction, with an emphasis
on application in students’ daily
writing.
Intermittent checks and observations
of daily work conducted throughout
the year to assess.
Science
Physical Science
PS 2 States of
Matter
What happens to the
characteristics of
matter when it
changes states?
Earth and Space
Science
Life Science
ES 2 Formation of
LS 2 Food Webs
Earth Materials
Why are relationships
What natural
in an ecosystem
processes change
important?
the look of the Earth?
ES Earth in Space
What is the
relationship between
the Earth and Sun?
If you are an expert in any of these areas or are
interested in helping out, please let me know!
Daily Schedule- Can vary
• Math
• Snack/Read
aloud
• Reading
• Word Study
• Lunch
•
•
•
•
Specialist
Writing
Recess
Science/Social
Studies/Art
Daily Schedule
• Specialist
Schedule
• Other
– SAGE is
Wednesday
– Music is on
(9:15-11:15am)
Wednesday and
– Computer Lab –
Friday
– PE is on Tuesday and To be scheduled
(still waiting for
Wednesday
all permission
– Library is every other
Thursday
slips)
Snack
• Every morning we will have snack
time
• Students need to bring their own
snack- they cannot share
• Snacks need to be healthy- top
three ingredients should not be
sugar
• Examples: fruit/veggies, crackers,
granola bars, trail mix
Homework/Planners
•
•
More information can be found in the packet in
the green folder
Homework will be assigned nearly every nightApproximately 40 minutes (except on
weekends)




Reading 20 minutes, weekly reading response
Everyday Math Study Links/IXL online practice
Unfinished work
Occasional Blog question
 Planners
 We will fill out each day – PLEASE CHECK THESE!
 I will star planner
 Would be helpful if you take a look at the planner and
sign after they complete their homework
Reading at Home
• Students are expected to read at least 20
minutes every night
– They can read independently
– They can read to someone else
– Someone can read to them
• They need to record what they read and for
how many minutes on weekly log
• They will also sometimes record new
vocabulary
• Total the minutes and sign it- it is due on
Friday, with the completed reading
response.
Additional Projects
• Starting next month students will be
asked to read a specific genre (students
will receive the information soon)
• There will not be a book project, but
students will be asked to reflect on the
book they read in their reading response.
• THIS IS DIFFERENT IN MY CLASS and
different than last year.
Star of the Week
• Each full week a student is
scheduled to be the star of the
week
• You will find the directions/schedule
in the green folder
• You do have one job on your child’s
week!
• Star lunch: once a month, parents
are welcomed to join us + 1
FRIEND!!!
Communication
• I won’t believe half of what they tell me
about you if you don’t believe half of
what they tell you about me. 
• Email or call me with any concerns/
questions
• Connect Website
• Friday is the day things are sent home
– Newsletters
– Friday Report
– Corrected work
Newsletters
• Every Friday I will send home a
newsletter via email or kid mail
• Newsletter will have important
information and dates of upcoming
events so please make sure you
read it
• Week in Review
Friday Report
• Friday Report will let you know if your
child is missing any work from the week
• Students have the chance to complete
the missing work over the weekend and
turn it in on Monday so it is not a ZERO
in the gradebook. Please turn the
missing work in STAPLED to the HW
report
• Corrected work from the week will be
attached minus work I keep to add to
their file. Keep work at home.
Quicktip
• New anonymous reporting tool for students
• 24/7 access from any computer with internet access:
https://asp.schoolmessenger.com/issaquah/quicktip/
• Students can report concerns anonymously and directly to
an administrator
• Offers students a form of support
• Only for students
Portfolios
• To help students be more involved in
their learning, the 4th grade students
will have portfolios
• They will set goals
• Track progress on multiplication facts
• Track progress on tests
• Tests will be sent home then are to
be returned so students can keep
them in their portfolios
Report Cards
1st Trimester Report Cards:
 November 26th
 Conferences:
 December 3/4th
 Online – later this year
 2nd Trimester Report Cards:
 March 13th
 3rd Trimester Report Cards:
 Last day of school

Grading Rubric
Standards Based.
Meeting Standards:
• Consistently Goes above and beyond
=4
• Consistently Demonstrates =
3
• Usually Demonstrates = 2
• Seldom Demonstrates =1
Field Trips/Celebrations
• In-school field trips- Kate Poaster
Science Labs
• Walking field trips
• Celebrations:
– Pumpkin Math
– Friendship Brunch
– End of Year
Birthday Celebrations
• We will honor everyone’s birthday in the
classroom with:
– A Birthday balloon
– Singing Happy Birthday
• The school will honor students’
birthdays once a month in the lunch
room.
• Please DO NOT bring any treats on
your child’s birthday
Important Dates
• There are important dates in the
booklet
• NEW Smarter Balanced
Assessment – sample in green
folder
• Testing Window: April 20th – May
22nd
Volunteers
• Volunteer Expectations on the back table
• Volunteer Calendar will begin near the
beginning of October
• ALL must fill out a Washington State
Patrol Form if you plan on volunteering—
even if it’s just for ONE field trip. It lasts
two years. (Back Table)
Experts Wanted
• If you are an expert in an area that
we are studying and feel
comfortable in front of a classroom,
I would love to have you.
• Please contact me and let me know
your area of expertise
Supply Request
• 3x5 Notecards
• Roll of Paper towels
• CLEAN, single sock (to erase dry
erase boards
• Avery 8160 labels (30 labels per
sheet)
• Avery 8163 Shipping Labels (10 per
sheet)
PTA Contacts
• Michele McCoy
3m2coy@gmail.com
• Jackie Firth
jackie.creekside.ptsa@gmail.com
REMINDER!
Picture Day is tomorrow!
If you haven’t already sent in the
order form, have your student bring it
tomorrow, and wear their best clothes
and smile!
Are there any
questions?
Thank you for coming!
•
•
•
Please make sure to write back to
your child.
Take the folder with you and leave
the notecard
Please make sure you have signed
up for any volunteer opportunities
before you leave!