4th Grade Back-to-School Night
Garritt 2021-2022
Welcome to Traveling through fourth! Get ready for your child's greatest journey!
Before we start...
- Change your display name on Zoom to include your first name and your child's name - (Devon, mom of Isabel)
- Feel free to use the chat for questions. We will also use the chat to answer the questions your children want to know.
- We'd love to see you, turn your camera on if comfortable.
A message from Mr. Rodia
About Me
I am a proud West Chester University grad and received my degree in Elementary Education. I have two children, son Shawn (6th grade) and daughter Isabel (2nd grade) both who have attended Chesterbrook Academy their entire lives. Our family loves watching the Eagles, playing ANY sport and enjoy spending time together.
Hi from Fourth Grade!!
Class Safety Procedures
- Handwashing- students wash hands upon arrival and before leaving, before and after eating, after using the bathroom, after being outside, before removing their mask, and before and after using shared materials
- Masks- Mask breaks are offered multiple times in the day and upon request, we have the option to work outside without our mask
- Cleaning- classroom cleaned throughout the day, thorough end of day cleaning, materials cleaned between users
Class Procedures
- Students each have a yellow communication folder and an assignment book. The assignment should be delivered shortly. For the most part each will go home every night. Even though we don't have daily homework, assignment books will be used for daily reminders and speciality reminders.
- Students also have binders which they began using this week. The folders in the binders will be home to different subject areas where they will keep assignments. This will help prepare them for middle school.
- Binders will stay at school.
- Students have individual book bins where they keep all notebooks, workbooks and clipboard. Everything is housed in one spot so students can easily find their things.
What to look forward to...
- Studies Weekly - PA History
- PA Day
- STEMScopes
- First In Math
- Technology - 1:1 iPads - Creating not consuming
- Maker's Hour
- Experiential Learning - On and offsite field trips, virtual field trips
- Customization
- Kindness Challenges
- "I" Time - Organization, Planning, Goal Setting, Growth Mindset-Getting them ready for Middle School
- Chester County Food Bank
4th Grade vs. 3rd Grade
- Level of student independence
- Writing - various genres, writing to sources
- Leadership piece - Not the youngest of the oldest anymore
- Organization - "I" Time, Binder, Assignment book
- Time management & Due dates
- Rubrics - Student accountability
- Note taking - Sketchnoting on iPads (SketchesSchool & Logitech Crayon)
- Book Reports - heavier emphasis on creating and presenting (possibly iPads can go home)
- Podcasts
A Day in the Life of a 4th Grader
Field Trips and Events!
September
- 9/8-Chester Valley Trail
- 9/20- Harrisburg
October
- Fort McHenry-TBD
- 10/13-Cardbord Box
December
- Winter Concert TBD
February
- Orchestra-TBD
- Franklin institute
- 2/11-Gal Pal
March
- John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge
April
- STEAM Fair
May-All TBD
- Barnes Foundation
- Washington D.C/Virginia overnight trip
- PA Day Celebration
- Spring Concert
- Mother/Son-TBD
Upcoming Virtual Field Trips
Nearpod-Touring PA
Project Based Learning
Cardboard Box Challenge/Stem Fair
The first big project of the year is the Cardboard Box Challenge. Inspired by Caine's Arcade, this is an opportunity for students to work in small groups to bring their imagination to life. They will design and build a device entirely out of cardboard. Students will use their iPads to document each step of their creation, and share their final projects with YOU and others in the school. This will happen on October 13th from 1:30-2:30. Parents are INVITED! We will be needing donations of cardboard and duct or shipping tape! We will be accepting donations starting on Monday!
The second big PBL of the year is the Steam Fair! This is a new project where we will combine students, collaborate and create.
What will your child learn in 4th grade?
- Writing Workshop
- Guided Reading Groups - More Complex Texts
- Phonics & Word Study
- Grammar
- Conventions
- Vocabulary
- Novel Studies
Math
- Place Value
- Addition and Subtraction of multi-digit numbers
- Multiplication by 1 and 2-digit numbers (strategies and properties)
- Division by 1-digit numbers
- Factors and multiples
- Fraction equivalence and ordering
- Addition and subtraction of fractions
- Multiplication of fractions
- Line plots
- Decimals
- Lines, Angles, Shapes
Social Studies
- Pennsylvania history
- Pennsylvania's waterways
- Pennsylvania weather/climate
- Early natives
- William Penn
- Ben Franklin
- Pennsylvania Government
- Pennsylvania's great men and women
STEM Scopes
- Plants and Animals parts and sense receptors (students will create different plants or animals and create their adaptations)
- Changes over time to Earth's surface and resources
- Energy and Speed
i-ready
- i-Ready is an on-line diagnostic assessment in reading and in math
- The diagnostic assessment will pinpoint a child's needs in reading down to the domain and sub-skill level by using sophisticated adaptive logic and a bank of thousands of test items.
- This allows teachers to differentiate instruction based on student needs.
- I-Ready provides a Lexile score, which is a number used to identify each students' reading level.
- I-Ready is built on the Common Core State Standards, but also reports out on individual state standards.
- We will have a formative assessment at the beginning and end of each quarter.
First in Math
If you are new to First in Math, it is a program that helps students with fluency, strategy, coding and word problems. Each grade and child has specific goals that they should be working on, which will change throughout the year. Students will use First in Math in class everyday for at least 15 minutes. Students are also able to use the program at home. We recommend students use at home so you, as parents, can see what your child is learning.
Our mindsets are ready and we are determined to be number one this year!!
Report Cards and PLP's
- Your child will receive a standards based report card including an achievement and effort grade for each trimester.
- We will hold conferences 3 times a year with an extra conference during the first week of October.
- During conference time we will develop a Personalized Learning Plan for your child to meet their individual needs.
Flexible Seating
- Linked to higher academic performance, better health, improved behavior
- Increased motivation and engagement
- Takes practice
- We will still have flexible seating! Students will pick a new spot each day!
PA Day
Positive Behavior
Dojo Points
- Earned for demonstrating excellent character, sportsmanship, behavior, academic diligence, transitioning quickly and quietly, specialty classes, manners, staying on task, etc...
- Awarded throughout the day
- Rewards for points accumulated individually and whole class
Random Acts of Kindness Calendar and Social Emotional Learning
Returning this year!
New this year...Schoology! All assignments will be housed in one area. Students can log in, write questions and receive feed back. More on this to come soon.
STEMScopes/Studies Weekly
- Instead of doing one large STEM project we will be implementing STEMscopes which is a daily science curriculum
- Hands on science and experiments to engage different types of learners
- Support students' deeper understanding of science so they can relate it to the world around them
- Students work like scientists and engineers to discover and design solutions
- Studies weekly-Students will use the interactive journal and books to learn about Pennsylvania, early explorers, inventions from the past and legends and lore.
Technology Integration
- Your child will be using various forms of technology on a daily basis in the classroom and in specialty classes.
- In the classroom we will use our Apple TV and iPads and to enhance our phonics, reading, writing, math, social studies and STEM skills.
- We will use technology individually, in small groups and whole group.
Specialty Classes
MUSIC
- Ukulele ensemble-Miss Moser will send more about what type to purchase shortly.
- GarageBand Grammys (collaborative music/tech project)
TECH
Making use of our mobile technologies and environments, students will continue to experience hands-on learning in their tech classes.
Students will have the opportunity to:
- Focus on digital citizenship skills
- Continue to learn Apple iWork programs - pages, keynote, iMovie, Numbers
- Program Spheros - complete various Sphero build/design makers challenges
- Focus on Coding 2nd Quarter with various apps/programs including Tynker and basics of Swift language
- Learn Apple Swift Playgrounds
- Apple Store Field Trip
- Independent Study 3rd Quarter
- Personal Website Design
- Integrate with classroom teacher and stemscopes
SPANISH-No official Spanish teacher yet but we have Miss Benson on our team!!
- This year students will develop a more complex vocabulary with different phrases and structures..
- Students will enhance communication skills through oral language, reading, and written exchanges.
- In addition, they will explore more cultures of Spanish speaking countries. Technology is used often to give students other ways to learn and incorporate their learned skills.
GYM-No gym teacher yet but students will go outside for organized games during their gym period. Miss Benson or myself will run gym class.
- Students will master basic movement combinations and manipulative skills. Students will research a Health topic of their choosing to show a complete understanding of the significance of Health. I-pad/technology is used to dramatically enhance learning.
- Some Skills: throws, soccer skills, basketball skills, jump rope skills, volleyball skills
ART
Fourth Graders are beginning to excel in different areas of art, some will be drawn to painting, others to drawing, collage and some will thrive in 3-D art projects. They are especially eager to draw from imagination!
The skills we will be working on this year in art class are:
• Understanding positive and negative shapes and forms
• Using pan watercolors effectively
• Drawing and painting a landscape
• Identifying and using complimentary colors
• Using the concept of proportion in a work of art, such as a portrait
• Using fibers to create weavings
• Using contrast in a work of art
• Creating art that focuses on different culture and heritage
• Identifying different artists and art movements
Parent Resources
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Mrs. Garritt, Fourth Grade Teacher
Email: Devon.garritt@NLCINC.COM
Website: http://www.chesterbrookacademy.com/elementary/philadelphia/west-chester/parents/our-faculty/teacher/amanda-capotrio/
Location: 1190 McDermott Drive, West Chester, PA, United States
Phone: 610-719-0240
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChesterbrookAcademyElementaryWestChester/
Twitter: @cbawestchester