Welcome to my teacher connection page. I hope everyone enjoyed their summer and are excited to begin a new school year. My name is Mrs. Zentko. I teach 4th-grade ELA and Social Studies. This is my 16th year at The Villages Charter School. I'm looking forward to a great school year! 

Daily Homework: Read every day!  Students should journal after every book they have read. Short books should have more journal entries. Longer chapter books should have summaries throughout the book. The intent is always to read and summarize to build understanding.  Every other week, students will have Word Application homework. This has replaced traditional spelling tests over the years. The homework practice page helps students to decode words by using word parts such as Greek or Latin roots, prefixes, and suffixes. The students will need to know the spelling of these words, as well as the common valuable words located on the word list. Word lists are glued in your child's agenda. Students will need to know the various definitions of the multiple-meaning word and how the shades of meaning of words are related to intensity or strength. 

One parent/teacher conference is required for the school year. I will be contacting you to arrange these conferences; however, if you have any questions throughout the year, please do not hesitate to contact me at Diane.Zentko@tvcs.org. 

Upcoming Events

Monday, October 6th, is Stomp Out Bullying Day. Students wear a blue uniform shirt.

Thursday, October 9th: "Reading Buddies" day. Students will read with a first grader at the PC.

Friday, October 10th: Guest Teacher. Mrs. Zentko will be out of town.

Monday, October 13th: No School-- Teacher Professional Development Day.

Instructional Focus:

Standards: 

Reading Across Genres

R3.1 Explain how figurative language contributes to meaning in text(s). 

R3.2 Summarize a text to enhance comprehension.

R3.3 Compare and contrast accounts of the same event using primary and/or secondary sources. 

SS.4.A.3.2 Describe causes and effects of European colonization on the Native American tribes of Florida.

SS.4.A.3.6 Identify the effects of Spanish rule in Florida.

SS.4.A.3.7 Identify nations (Spain, France, England) that controlled Florida before it became a United States territory.