Transcript Open House 2014 - Shanghai American School

Welcome to 4WM
Shanghai American School
Wessie Mekuria, Ph.D.
Grade 4
[email protected]
Blog: http://sites.saschina.org/wmekuria
Goal for Open House
➣To help you understand the work your child will be
doing throughout the school year.
➣To work in partnership with you and explain the
expectations for your child.
➣To help remind them of their character traits and
how this will help them become successful learners.
➣To share information that will help you support
your child’s learning.
Mission Statement
SAS inspires in all students:
 a lifelong passion for learning
 the commitment to act with integrity and compassion
 the courage to live their dreams.
EAGLES - Our EAGLES define the learner profiles we hope to
instill in our children:
Empowered-Adaptable-Global-minded - Literate- EthicalSkilled Inquirers.
Grade 4 Curriculum
Five core subjects
➣Readers Workshop
➣Writers Workshop
➣Math
➣Science
➣Social Studies
Specials (7 Day Rotation)
PE (3x)
Art and Music (2x)
Library Checkout and Guidance (1x)
Technology and Library are integrated
Support Teachers
Helen Jin - EAL (English as an Additional Language)
Lourdes Frayco- EAL TA
Caty Romero- Academic Support
Kelly Barons – Academic Support
Jeff Dungan - Technology Support
Jemer Danao - AS TA
Reading
The goal of our reading program is to foster a love of
reading. We do this through:
➣Shared, guided, and independent reading activities.
➣Reading strategies and skills instruction.
➣Instructional read alouds.
➣Projects which encourage reading and celebrate books .
Readers Workshop Model
Each Readers Workshop session begins with a mini
lesson.
Students then read independently and practice the
skills from the mini-lesson. This may include:
➣Meeting with reading partners
➣Writing a reading response
➣Working in guided reading
➣Conferencing with the teacher
 Discussions in book clubs
Writers Workshop Model
Each Writers Workshop session begins with a mini
lesson.
Students then write independently and practice the
skills from the mini lesson. This may include:
➣Developing writing strategies.
➣A step of the writing process- planning, drafting,
revising, editing, or publishing
➣ Celebrating ourselves as authors.
The Writing Process
Five step writing process
➣Pre-write (planting the seed, organize thoughts)
➣Draft (put ideas on paper)
➣Revise (verbs, adjectives, adverbs and elaborating)
➣Edit (correct spelling, mechanics, and grammar)
➣Publish (prepare a copy for others to read)
MATH
We are aligned to the National Common
Core Standards
LEARNING TARGETS:
Numbers, Geometry, Measurement,
Probability and Statistics,
Algebra, Patterns, and Functions,
Problem Solving,
Computational Skills
Everyday Math
•
•
1. Make sense of problems and persevere in
solving them.
•
2. Reason abstractly and quantitatively.
•
3. Explain and support strategy and
•
reasoning.
•
4. Demonstrate real life application.
•
5. Use appropriate strategies.
Word Study
Words Their Way
➣spelling patterns
➣strategies
Learning Vocabulary
➣which allows us to hear the words
➣ declare(say) our words
Transferring learning to all curriculum
areas.
Science
➣Inquiries
➣Investigations
➣Analysis
Three units studied
➣Magnetism and Electricity
➣Structure and function
➣ Earth processes
Social Studies
Trimester 1
➣Geography: Maps, Atlas, Longitude/Latitude, Landforms
➣Geography of Asia and China
Trimester 2
➣Ancient China
Terra-cotta Warriors
Chinese artifacts
Trimester 3
➣Modern China
Ongoing
➣Current Events
Technology
Each class has one-to-one laptop ratio
➣Integrated into all curriculum areas
➣Support from Technology Integrationist
Technology
From 4th grade on we have become 1:1
BLOGS:
PUBLISHED WORK
REFLECTIONS
READING LETTERS
CURRENT EVENTS
AUDIENCE
OTHER RESOURCES USED ARE:
TYPING ACE
MATHLETICS
IXL
Super Fourth Events
➣Soccer days (Fall Sept. 26th & Spring TBA)
➣Halloween Party
➣Field trips - Shanghai Museum
- China Alive - Peasant Painting
➣Sharing Lunch
➣Classroom Holiday Party
➣Book Swap
➣Other planned events
Homework
Homework is an opportunity for students to practice
and fine-tune the skills we are working on in class.
Each student will have an assignment book that they
are expected to carry to and from school each day.
Monday –Thursday Night!
➣30 minutes of reading each night. (excluded from HW time)
➣40 minutes max of homework (including Language Block)
reading response assignments, word study activities, math
practice, writing assignments, and science/social studies
work.
Class Agreement
As Life Long LEARNERS...
4WM is…
 Ready
 Responsible
 Respectful