Writing:

Students will write in different genres including personal narrative, nonfiction, poetry, friendly letters, diary entries, and journals.  They will take seed ideas from their writer’s notebook, through the writing process of drafting, revising, and editing to a published product.  Students will write several related paragraphs linked to a specific writing prompt.  Students will write responses to literature using evidence from the text to support their analysis.  They will use knowledge of word study to monitor and check their spelling.

 

Reading:

Students will self-select books for independent reading based on their individual reading levels. Students will also participate in shared reading, which utilizes grade level/age appropriate texts found in our Trophies Anthology of Literature.   Students will also participate in guided reading groups that are tailored to their individual strengths and needs.  Short reading selections matched to our week’s shared reading will be utilized for small group instruction.  Students will be grouped according to instructional reading level for small guided reading groups. 

 

Mathematics

Through investigations, students will explore major mathematical ideas and develop an understanding of Number Sense and Operations; Data Analysis; Statistics and Probability; Geometry; and Measurement.  Students will utilize more than one strategy to solve a problem and will be expected to explain their thinking in numbers, pictures, and words. Students will demonstrate fluency with basic number combinations for addition, subtraction, and multiplication and will begin developing fluency for division facts.  Students will use TERC Investigations in Number, Data, and Space materials for their mathematical investigations.  For “open response” questions, students will solve a real world math problem, show work to prove their thinking, and explain how they solved the problem.

 

Social Studies:

Students will develop their understanding of geography, location, and the physical and human characteristics of place.  They will develop a beginning knowledge of Early Civilizations and Human beginnings.  Civilizations possibly surveyed include Mesopotamia, Egypt, Indus River Valley, China, and Greece.

 

Science:

Please see separate Science page on the School’s web site.

 

Student Products/Major Assignments

English Language Arts:

Reader’s Notebook

Writer’s Notebook

Published Writing Pieces

Writing Assessments Responding to Narrative Prompts

 

Mathematics:

Work Collection

Student Journal Pages

End of Unit Assessment

 

Science:
Scientific Investigations

Science Notebook

Observation of Science Skills

Work Collection

 

Social Studies:

Social Studies Folder

Work Collection

 

Assessment/Grading Policy:

Students’ progress will be frequently assessed using the following methods:

 

End of Unit Assessments

Quizzes

Student Products

Writing Assessments

Homework

Daily Work

Notebooks

Student Conferences

Participation

 

Instructional Strategies to be Used:

Tactile strategies utilizing manipulatives

Partner Learning (think-pair-share, turn and talk)

Small group instruction/discussion 

Questioning

Whole group instruction/discussion

Cooperative Learning

Modeling with “think alouds” or overhead 

Structured Choices

Independent work

Activate Prior Knowledge

Scaffolded Instruction

Response Journals

 

What can parents do to help?

Check student’s agenda for school dates and information.  Kindly check for assignments daily and provide assistance as needed with homework.  Communicate to me by notes, agenda, phone, or schedule a private meeting.  Attend open house meetings and conferences.  Read with you child and encourage reading at home.  Encourage good attendance and enforcement of the uniform policy.  Please read all notices and return them promptly.  Always encourage positive school and bus behavior.

 

Parent Appointments:

Parents should please write a note or call the school to schedule an appointment.  The school phone number is (617)635-8064.

 

Other Expectations:

Please make sure students arrive promptly.  Students who enter the classroom after 9:30 are marked tardy.  Please make sure that if your child is a walker, he or she is picked up promptly.  Dismissal ends at 3:30 and supervision ends at 3:40.  Kindly notify the school of any changes in address/ phone/ emergency contacts/ transportation changes/ etc.  We encourage all students to do their personal best work and behave appropriately everyday of the school year.