Welcome to Parent Orientation Westwood Elementary School

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Welcome to Parent OrientationWestwood Elementary
School

• Fourth Grade
• Traci Hren
• Julia Mell
• Frank Vosicky

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Julia Mell

• Bachelors Degree from John Carroll University
• Bachelors of Science, Psychology
• Worked at Eaton Corporation for 13 years.
• Masters Degree from John Carroll University
• Master of Education
• Taught 5th grade for 10 years in West Geauga, 4th
  grade for 1 year at Westwood
• Taught 7th/8th for 2 years in San Carlos,
  California
• Language Arts, Social Studies, French

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Traci Hren

• Mother to Andrew (11 years) and Alex (6 years)
• Westwood teacher of 16 years
• Bachelors Degree from the University of Toledo
  in Elementary Education grades 1-8
• Masters Degree from Ashland University in
  Curriculum and Instruction
• Grades taught Title 1 (1 year), First Grade (6
  years), Second Grade (2 years), Third Grade, (7
  weeks), Fourth Grade (6 years)

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Frank Vosicky

• This is my 17th year of teaching. I have taught
  4th 6th grade at Newbury and West Geauga. I
  have been at Westwood for 14 years.
• My wife Laurie is a kindergarten teacher in the
  Willoughby-Eastlake system. We have a 7 year old
  daughter named Meridan and son named Cooper that
  will be 5 in November.
• I graduated from the Ohio State University and am
  a huge fan of all sports.
• I have a Masters Degree in Educational
  Administration from Ursuline.

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RESPONSIBILITY

• We have a successful, proven system in place to
  teach your child personal responsibility.
• You are a facilitator at home for your childs
  education.
• It is not possible, nor do we expect for you to
  know everything that is going on here at school.

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Class Schedule

• 815-830 Bell Work
• 830-955 Switch One (Homeroom)
• 955-1005 Switch Two
• 1005-1050 Specials (see classroom website)
• 1050-1130 Switch Two
• 1130-1230 Lunch/Recess
• 1230-100 Activity Period
• 100-140 Switch Two
• 140-300 Switch Three
• 300-310 Pack Up/Dismissal

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Classroom Rules

• Follow directions the first time given.
• Ask questions and do your best work.
• Allow others to learn.
• Treat people and materials with respect.
• Come to class with all of your needed materials.

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Communication

• Our classroom website can be viewed at
  http//schoolbuildings.westg.org/westwood/matching
  a/Messenger.htm
• Updated throughout the week.
• Announcements
• Important Dates and Upcoming Events
• Study Guides
• Project Criterion
• Educational Game Links
• Calendar

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Communication

• Email
• julia.mell_at_westg.org (Voice mail 729-5901 ext.
  4303)
• traci.hren_at_westg.org (Voice mail 729-5901 ext.
  4308)
• frank.vosicky_at_westg.org (Voice mail 729-5901 ext.
  4309)
• We make it a point to return calls and emails
  within 24 hours. If it has been longer than 24
  hours, it is due to absence or malfunctioning
  equipment.

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Communication

• Assignment notebooks are to be signed each night
  by a parent, and are checked each day by the
  homeroom teacher.
• If you have an academic concern, please contact
  the teacher of that academic area (Mell
  writing/science, Hren reading/spelling, Vosicky
  math/social studies.
• If you have friendship/emotional/ behavioral
  concerns, please contact the homeroom teacher.
• Please contact us via email or voicemail to
  schedule an appointment for a meeting.

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Homework

• Given Monday-Thursday
• Per Board Policy, it should take about 45
  minutes.
• This does not include time to locate pencils,
  take calls from friends, or fight with a sibling
  ?!
• Students should be able to complete it
  independently.
• Homework ? Tears/Frustration
• Do not work to the point of frustration! Please
  send a note if your student does not understand
  the homework, and we will remediate during
  activity period or study hall.

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Homework

• Math Study Link page (Monday-Thursday)
• Reading assignments usually are Time for Kids
  (Monday-Thursday)
• Simple Solutions (grammar) (Monday-Thursday)
  Compositions are started in class and
  occasionally will need to be finished at home.
• Studying for Tests (short reviews each night to
  help avoid developing the habit of cramming)
• Unfinished classwork may also be sent home to
  be completed.

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We Missed You!
Name __________________ Date Absent
______________ Date Assignments are Due
_______________________________
The following are the assignments that you missed
when you werent here. We are glad you are back
to class! Please check the website for further
explanations of assignments and ask if you have
any questions. Parent Signature when work is
completed. _______________________________________
__________________
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• Recess
• We make every attempt to make sure your child
  has recess.
• When a child is absent, recess will be used to
  make up missed instruction or assessments.
• To ensure your child gets the necessary break
  at recess, please help them to make up any work
  that was missed due to absences.

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Projects

• If a project is going to be graded by a rubric,
  the rubric will be posted on the website when the
  assignment is given.
• Ample time to complete the project will always be
  given.
• This is a project meant to be completed by your
  student. We expect the project to look like a
  fourth grader completed it.
• Other projects are to be completed at school.
  Please trust that we are monitoring the
  completion of the project. Fourth Graders often
  tell parents that they dont have enough time to
  complete projects at school so that they can
  bring it home and get help. The at-school
  projects help foster independence and
  responsibility.

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• Projects
• September Project Real World (in school)
• October Realistic Fiction Reading
• - Citizenship
• November Invention Convention
• December Begin Biography Scrapbook
• January Native Americans (in school)
• - Biography Scrapbook
• February None
• March None
• April Test Prep. (in school)
• May Economics (in school)

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Monday Folders

• Sent home on the first day of the school week.
• Graded papers
• The papers in the folder are yours to keep.
• Return the folder on Tuesday with parent
  signature.
• We will begin on September 10th.

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Everyday Math

• The Books
• Online version of Student Reference Book
• Study Links stays at home

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Math Assessments

• Math Checks
• Given on the last day of the school week (THIS IS
  NOT A QUIZ)
• Assessment FOR Learning
• Questions resemble homework/classwork questions
  covered during the week
• Class review sessions before tests
• No tricks or no surprises
• Students are expected to explain their thinking
  on all assessments.

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My Most Important Request

• Please support our curriculum and algorithms in
  front of your child.
• Your words are powerful. Your child usually
  values what you value.

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Second Most Important Request

• Fourth graders must have their multiplication
  facts, x 0- x11, memorized.
• Students who do not have these memorized by
  winter break really struggle in math for the last
  half of the school year.

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Reading

• Independent Reading
• Students read from books at their level or
  slightly below.
• Activities used to display comprehension.
• Teacher/student conferencing used to facilitate
  selecting just right books.

• Guided Reading
• Mini lessons used to model strategies to
  comprehend reading text.
• Reading level tested 2-3 times a year and
  reported to parent.
• Vocabulary completed in class.
• Literature Circles used for students to discuss
  assigned reading at their level.
• Activities used to display comprehension.

• Whole Group Reading
• Students read from the same novel.
• Literature circles used to discuss text and
  assignments.
• Partner reading to help with text.
• Activities used to display comprehension.

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Reading

• Exit Slips quick check to practice skill that
  was covered in class that day
• Measuring Up test preparation done in school
• Tiered Assessments will be given at the end of
  each unit
• Reading for 15 minutes each night

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Spelling

• DSA Leveled Spelling Lists
• Assessments modeled after the format used on
  Achievement Test
• Choose the word that is spelled correctly.
• Is the underlined word spelled correctly?
• If the word is not spelled correctly, what is the
  correct spelling?
• - Units will be 5 days. Word study will be done
  in class

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Writing/Grammar

• Fourth grade writing instruction focuses on
  continuing grammar instruction, correct paragraph
  formation, various writing applications, and
  legible cursive.
• Text used Grammar book that stays in school,
  Simple Solutions goes home every night and comes
  back the next day
• Composition notebook, Writing journal

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Writing/Grammar

• The writing applications covered will be
  descriptive writing, narratives, responses to
  novels, formal and informal letters (thank you
  notes, letters of request), informational
  reports, and informal writings (messages,
  journals, notes and poems)
• There will be two to three compositions per
  grading period. Most compositions will be graded
  with a rubric.

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Project Real World

• This is designed to be a managerial program that
  offers incentives for learning work skills.
• Students will interview for three different jobs
  on September 19th. They will have a resume and
  letters of recommendation. We will work on these
  in writing class.
• They will then be paid weekly for doing their
  job. They must pay bills for rent, car,
  education, electric, and water.
• Additional money will be earned for completing
  homework, having the assignment notebook signed,
  and getting mail at the end of the day,
• Behavior or judge fines also will be given for
  not adhering to class rules.
• Money left over can be spent in the 4th grade
  prize or food store throughout the year or at our
  quarterly Palooza Event.

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Project Real World

• This program is funded through grant writing and
  parent donations. Any assistance with the actual
  interview day or with corporate donations would
  be much appreciated.
• Jobs available are librarian, financial
  manager, custodial engineer, health care worker,
  store manager, equipment manager, photographer,
  secretary, administrative assistant, postal
  worker, meteorologist, videographer, technology
  director, artist, party planner, disc jockey,
  veterinarian, and graphic designer.

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Project Real World

• Reflections
• Will be written in class every week.
• They will reflect on job performance, student
  performance, and behavioral choices.
• Bonuses
• Odd jobs
• Above and beyond
• Citizenship
• Were Proud of You slips

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Grading

• The first experiences can be an adjustment.
• It takes some students a quarter to get the hang
  of the amount of effort required to earn the
  grade they want.
• If school has come easily to a student up to this
  point, s/he is sometimes surprised at the effort
  required to earn As and Bs in fourth grade.

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Grading Continued

• A P earned reflects a grade range from C- to a
  B.
• We cant expect all students to earn all As in
  all subjects.
• If that were the case, our expectations are too
  low.
• Our focus is on progress.
• What have they learned, vs. what grade did they
  get?

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Parent Assist Module (PAM)

• Called PAM
• Allows parents to check students grades online
  using a username and password.
• Grades will be posted periodically throughout the
  week.
• DO NOT REFERENCE PAM FOR THE READING GRADE!!
  Contact Ms. Hren directly if you have any
  questions about current reading progress or
  grades.
• Link to PAM on the 4th Grade website

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Parent Assist Module (PAM)

• We have confidential letters for you notifying
  you of the username and password for your
  student.
• See your students homeroom teacher at the end or
  orientation to receive the username and password
  for your child.

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Organization

• We model organization multiple times throughout
  the day.
• Pack up for home together at the end of the day.
• The binder will be color coded. See the website
  for details.
• 4th graders love to tell their parents they are
  not allowed to bring home certain materials.
  Students may bring home any extra books or
  materials that you require.

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Vacation Request

• In writing to homeroom teacher at least ONE week
  ahead of time The child will get his or her
  work on the last day before vacation.
• If requested ahead of time, work IS due upon
  returning.
• Tests will be made up within one week (discretion
  of teacher on days).
• Some things such as class discussion, experiments
  and activities will not be able to be made up.
• If work is given when the child returns, the
  number of days the child was out is the number of
  days s/he has to make up the missed work.

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It is our goal to make 4th grade an excellent
year for your child and for your family!

• Thank you for taking time out of your busy
  schedules to attend Parent Orientation!
• Conference sign-up sheets are in the Library.

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It is our goal to make 4th grade an excellent
year for your child and for your family!

• See your childs homeroom teacher for your PAM
  letter.
• Please consider signing up to be a room parent.
  The forms went home today.