Embedded Files
Welcome families! We are so glad that you are a part of the DGS community.
ThrillShare Communication: Denver Green School - Southeast is switching to a new communication app called Thrillshare. It will be accessible through the Denver Public Schools app, which you can access in the iOS App Store or the Android Play Store. This is a district wide communication tool so that you can go to one place for all important messages, including from other schools. This year, we will use Thrillshare and our emails instead of personal text messages to communicate with families.
Weekly Newsletters: We send a weekly newsletter on Tuesday evenings through Thrillshare with updates on upcoming events and summaries of what students are learning. If you are not receiving it, please let us know!
Curriculum: As an innovation school, we are able to customize our curriculum. In fourth grade, we teach a class called "Education for Sustainability" in which the students learn science and social studies in project-based units organized around topics of sustainability. All students have a 90 minute math block, a 90 minute literacy block, and twice a week, a 45 minute writing block.
Reading Homework: The most important way to support your student at home is to encourage them to read. The goal is that students read for 20 minutes each night. That can be the students reading themselves or an adult reading to the student. For multilingual students, we encourage the student to engage in reading in the languages they speak at home. When students are reading themselves, help students find books that they can read with about 95% accuracy. For most books, if a student makes more than five mistakes on a page, it is probably too challenging to read independently. All DPS students have access to books online at soraapp.com using their DPS login.
Math Homework:
For math, there is no assigned homework. The students already have lots of practice at school. We do encourage families to find ways to support math at home. We will share student specific recommendations during conferences, but here are common ways to help your student at home.
Math Questions: Mr. Meyer will send home information about each math unit with questions your can ask your students about their learning and ways to support at home. Check the newsletter and ask the questions.
Units of Measurement: In fourth grade, students are expected to know common units of measurement for weight, length, time, and liquid volume. Any opportunities to practice these measurements at home will go a long way in helping students understand them.
Multiplication Facts: By the end of fourth grade, students should know all of their multiplication tables through 12 with automaticity. Students learn their math facts best when they practice a little bit each day. It helps to practice one set of facts at a time, for example, the times five or the times four. It is best to start with times ten, five, two, and four before moving on to other sets of facts. Mr Meyer has materials that he will send home if requested.
Classroom Celebrations and Birthdays: Joy is an important part of school. We have a morning meeting with students every day and on Fridays, we have dedicated community building time, that often includes playing games. We celebrate birthdays at school for every student, unless families request that we do not. We ask that families do not send in deserts to school. If you want, you can send in a healthy snack to share with class.
School Supplies: The school supply list is available here. All school supplies will be collected and redistributed among the students, except for the headphones and water bottle. Please do not label items or buy specially patterned supplies. We ensure that all students have what they need to learn during the school day and having consistent supplies helps us to create consistent routines for kids. All students are provided with a DPS Chromebook, which will remain at school.
Please reach out to Matt and Travis by email with any questions about fourth grade.
Matt Meyer
Homeroom, math, education for sustainability (science and social studies)
Email: matt_meyer@denvergreenschool.org
I'm looking forward to another year of teaching at Denver Green School - Southeast. I first joined the DGS team back in 2016. Before moving to Denver, I taught for six years in Oakland, CA. When I told my colleagues in Oakland that I was going to work at a school with a farm, many didn't really believe me. That's actually my goal as a teacher - to make people say, "The fourth graders get to do what?!" When I am not teaching, I enjoy running (slowly), baking bread (poorly), and chasing my stepdaughter on a bike (or down a sledding hill).
Travis Ostrom
Homeroom, reading, writing
Email: travis_ostrom@denvergreenschool.org
I am very excited to be back to 4th grade where I have been teaching since 2011. Many adults I speak to about my job say something like "4th grade must be great! I remember 4th grade being my best year!" and I always agree. It is my hope that my students someday feel the same. To help that I hope to create an environment where anyone can thrive, full of learning and community. To make their most memorable year ever I try to fill each day with a little joy, challenge and support students to succeed academically, and be a valuable part of a strong team. In my own life I try to do the same, creating joy in my interests of physical activity (hockey, cycling, golf, weight lifting, swimming, hockey, kayaking and everything else in between.)
Eddie Rivera
Teacher Resident with Mr. Meyer's Homeroom
Email: eddie_rivera@denvergreenschool.org
Learning and growing this upcoming year from the fourth grade team is a privilege. For the past year, I substituted elementary and middle school at North Star Academy in Parker, teaching various subjects, such as math, physical education, and science. I retired from the Marine Corps and loved the experience, camaraderie, and leading Marines. As a resident teacher, I aim to have a growth mindset and encourage students to reach their full potential. I enjoy the outdoors, taking trips to the Lowcountry of SC, and walking my dog, Hunter.
Mary Kennedy
Teacher Resident with Mr. Ostrom's Homeroom
I am so excited to be learning from Matt and Travis. Currently, I am pursuing my Masters in Elementary Education from the University of Denver with a concentration in culturally and linguistically diverse education. I have previously volunteered in numerous classrooms helping teachers with any additional student support they may need. In my free time, I love to hang out with my husband and two dogs while watching all the Marvel movies or listening to country music.
Page updated
Report abuse