Tuesday, October 8th
As we begin a new month, I wanted to round up the month of September. The 4th grade was very busy in the area of ELA. We completed our first story in Journeys about a new girl in town and her new dog, Winn Dixie. Students completed both a vocabulary assessment and a spelling contract. We began work on a grammar and writing unit all about Sentences. Students will be assessed on this tomorrow.
As we begin October, we will start a new story that is a autobiographical account of Martin Luther King Jr's childhood. Students will be receiving a vocabulary list and a spelling list as well as an assessment for both. In our writing workshops we will be beginning a short review of paragraph writing and then begin a Personal Narrative. In grammar we will begin a unit on Nouns. 

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 Monday, September 16th.

Textbooks - We will use two different textbooks this year. We have “Journeys” for reading and a workbook for Grammar. 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.

Three days a week we will be having a Writer's Workshop. 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 -  I will post a weekly update on my website to keep both parents and students in the loop of what we are doing in ELA.  It will contain due dates of upcoming projects, test or quiz dates or any other pertinent information that you may need.

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

Mrs. Leigh Ann Tursi