September-October
We began our school year with students creating a slide show to showcase their "Who Was" book that they read over the summer. We all learned some very cool things about many, many people. 

Something new this year is called Morning Work. As studets arrive at school they unpack their belonings, copy their homework and then start morning work each day. This work is a spiral review of both 3rd grade skils and then 4th grade skills as they are introduced. As well as the time in the morning, students are given time each day during ELA to work on this packet. We also go over in during the week. This work includes math, grammar and writing practice. 

 In reading we read "Because of Winn Dixe" as our first story. In a story, students will work on their spellling, vocabulary, reading comprehension, and writing prompts that relate to our story. All this work is done during our ELA time each day.  The story skills we worked on in this story were (1) story structure and (2) summarizing. Students read the main story as a whole class and also worked in small groups with leveled readers. Students were assessed on spelling and vocabulary contracts as well as a spelling and reading test.  Out second story was called "My Brother Martin" and was a story written by Christine King about her childhood with her brothers Martin Luther King Jr and Alfred Daniel King. The skills worked on in this story were author's purpose and inferencing.  Students were again assessed through both a spelling and vocabulary contract as well as spelling and reading tests. We have also began working with a program called Simple Solutions. This is addtional work with reading comprehension. Students will read short passages and then answers 5 or 6 questions which will deal with many and varied comprehension skills. 

In grammar , we began the year with a quick review unit about different types of sentences. We use an interactive notebook and grammar workbook for this work. We have recently begun a unit on nouns. There is a lot of review of nouns and then I will introduce nouns as subject complements and direct objects. Grammar assessments will vary from lesson exit tickets( 5 or 6 questions about the lesson where students look back over their notes to help them) to slide shows where children will showcase different types or nouns, verbs, etc. 

In writing, we began with a unit on parts of a paragraph and children wrote a pargraph on a given topic. Recently we began a unit on Narrative Writing. Students are currently working on Biography of a Friend. They have interviewed a fellow classmates and are in the process of creating a small booklet about that friend. They will soon be on display outside out room.



 

4th grade ELA - Mrs. Tursi

Educational Philosophy - I believe that all students learn best when they are engaged in the learning process. Students need to be responsible for their own success and I will provide the tools they need to succeed. I will present a curriculum that will incorporate each different learning style, as well as make the content relevant to the students' lives. Our class will incorporate hands-on learning, cooperative learning, projects, themes, and individual work that engage and activate students learning.

ELA overview - ELA covers 7 different subjects. This will be taught both separately, at times, or in conjunction with other subject areas. ELA includes, Reading, Writing, Grammar, Vocabulary, Spelling, Speaking and Listening.

Binders - Each student will need to have a binder for ELA this year. Please be sure students bring it to school by Tuesday, September 13th.

Textbooks - We will use two different textbooks this year. We have “Journeys” for reading and Voyages in English. Our “Journeys” series offer us both a hardcover book that will stay in school and an on line version for every student so they never have to bring the book home. Each reading selection has an audio file for students to listen to the story whenever they want to, whether in class or at home.  Each student receive a login and password for the online version of the series as well as for our “IXL” website which allows ELA practice all year long.

Grading - The overall grading for each trimester will be based on all assessments: projects, tests, quizzes, maintenance and journals.

Test/Quizzes: Quizzes will always be given at least a two day notice and tests will be given a one week notice.

Writing - This year we will concentrate on creating perfect paragraphs. After two introduction and review units, students will work on Narrrative, Expository, or Opinion writing. This will include mini lessons, much writing and an interactive notebooks.

 Any student who is absent on the day something is due whether it be a project or a homework assignment must have it to me by 8AM the next day.  Tests must be made up within three days of the absence.

Homework - Homework is always posted on both my webpage and the white board in my classroom. 

Communication -  Homework will be posted on google classroom. Test and quiz dates will also be posted on google classroom. 

I am looking forward to working with each of your children this year.

Mrs. Leigh Ann Tursi