Murdock Elementary School

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Welcome to Fourth Grade Open House!

• Murdock Elementary School
• 2011-2012
• Mrs. Rhodes

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A Typical Day

• 725-800 Arrival Morning Work
• 800-900 Science/ Social Studies
• 900 945 Specials
• 945 1000 Read and eat
• 1000-1100 Reading/Language Arts
• 1100 1150 Writing
• 1150 1220 Lunch
• 1235-1255 Recess
• 100-200 Math
• 200 - 225 Read Aloud/Agendas/Pack
  up/Dismissal

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Specials 900-945

• Monday P.E.
• Tuesday Art
• Wednesday P.E.
• Thursday -- Music
• Friday Fitness

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Morning Work

• Repeat skills weekly that are necessary for
  success in both subject areas Scaffolding
  system
• Not graded, but expected to be completed
• Discussed and reviewed in class together
• This is also the time I will be checking
  agendas and reading logs for parent signatures

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Math

• Homework nightly!
• Minimum of one graded assessment per week
• Math Journals are used promote mathematical
  thinking and problem solving
• Introduction of new skills in algebra, fractions,
  geometry, and basic operations.
• Please brush up on subtraction and multiplication
  skills at home. (these are easily forgotten over
  the summer?)
• First In Math and IXL practice both at home and
  in the classroom

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Language Arts

• Homework Nightly
• Spelling Grammar
• Vocabulary
• This includes Words Their Way, Gums, and Great
  Readers, Great Writers.
• Spelling and Vocabulary Units begin each
  Wednesday and will be assessed the following
  Tuesday
• Grammar skills are taught yearlong both in
  reading and writing

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Readers Workshop

• RAH (Read at Home) 20 minutes required
  daily-The students will continue to keep a daily
  log with date and parent signature showing that
  they have read 20 minutes a day. The student is
  responsible for filling out their reading log.
• Weekly instruction includes whole group learning
  and small group Guided Reading
• Flexible grouping based on need / skill level /
  common theme / standards that must be taught
• Books read will vary from student self-selected
  choices to teacher-assigned books and will be
  chosen from varying genres
• Book Clubs-entire 4th grade, every 9 weeks

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Writing Workshop

• Incorporates the 6 Traits of Writing and the
  complete writing process (pre-writing, drafting,
  editing, revising, and publishing)
• Different genres of writing include Narratives,
  Informational, and Persuasive
• At least one piece of writing will be graded on
  the GA State Writing Rubric per quarter.
• Weekend News Writing with a rubric
• Journal writing / responding to literature
  completed in class
• Various writing projects will be assigned
  throughout the year

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Science Curriculum

• We will be using the science lab! Mrs. Kauffman
  is fabulous!! We are so lucky to get into the
  lab for every science unit at least once if not
  more!
• Topics include
• Water Weather
• Force Motion
• Light Sound
• Stars, Star Patterns, Planets
• Earth, Moon, the Solar System
• Ecosystems Protective Adaptations

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Social Studies

• Economics
• Maps Globes
• Native Americans
• Explorers
• Early American History
• French and Indian War
• Revolutionary War
• Creation of the New Nation

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Health Studies

• Guidance counselor bi-monthly in-class
  presentations
• Fire Safety-conducted by the Cobb County
  Firefighters
• Drug Awareness
• Nutrition Digestion
• Personal Health Safety
• Disease Prevention

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Grading Scale

• 90-100 A
• 80-89 B
• 74-79 C
• 70-73 D
• 69 and below is an F

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Lunch Procedures

• Green, Yellow, Red system in cafeteria used to
  determine appropriate class behavior
• Students expected to talk quietly, raise their
  hands if they need assistance, and clean up
  around themselves
• Visitors may eat with their child only at the
  visitors table

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Homework Assignments

• Their binders need to come home every night!
• PLEASE SIGN THE AGENDA NIGHTLY! ? Signature
  acknowledges that the agenda was looked at by an
  adult
• Approx. 40 - 60 minutes total per night (that
  includes reading and additional assignments)
• Assist, but (please) dont do HW for them!
• Daily requirements across the grade level
  include
• 20 minutes of reading-please sign Reading Log as
  well
• Spelling/Vocabulary
• Math
• Occasional Science/Social Studies/Grammar

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Behavior System

• 3 Rs Contract-Respect Self, Respect Others, and
  Respect Property
• Bonus Bucks -5 is distributed for exceptional
  behavior and work study habits
• Colored Slips (not red) Work Study Infractions
  on report card
• Incomplete, late, or missing assignments /
  lack of supplies or unpreparedness
• -Slips will be sent home as necessary. Please
  sign and return, if attached to agenda
• 0-2 Outstanding
• 3-5 Satisfactory
• 6 or more Needs Improvement
• Red Slips Behavior / Conduct infractions
• -Slips will be sent home as necessary. Please
  sign and return, if attached to agenda
• -3 warnings (15) will equal a red slip
• 0-2 Outstanding
• 3-5 Satisfactory
• 6 or more Needs Improvement

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Weekly Evaluation Folders

• E-Folders taken home each Friday
• Please sign the folder in the appropriate spot,
  empty all papers, and return on Monday
• Weekly Progress Reports show current grades in
  all subjects, behavior/work study progress, etc.
• Grades of D or F must be corrected, signed by a
  parent, and returned

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4th Grade Testing

• SRI, STAR, and DRA testing to aid in
  determination of reading level (below, on, or
  above grade level)
• CRCT Spring
• GA Writing Assessment Spring

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Communication

• Murdock website 4th grade page will contain
  links to individual teacher blogs, class
  information, and happenings.
• E-mail is the safest bet ?-lindsay.rhodes_at_cobbk12
  .org
• Notes-Bus, ASP, etc. handwritten notes needed!
  Please send them in with your child and I will
  make sure they get where they need to go.

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Any Questions?
The entire teaching team welcomes you and your
child to fourth grade! We are excited to work
with you. ? Any questions?