Mr. James Filoso
GRADE 4
Language Arts, Challenge Reading, Social Studies, Math
OUR CLASS OPERATING PRINCIPLES
HERE YOU WILL SEE US....
Being a team that makes sure everyone learns, succeeds, and feels proud
Creating an encouraging place where we feel safe
Apologizing and forgiving
Knowing when to express and when to listen
Caring even when it is difficult
Making sure no one feels badly
Celebrating hard work and achievement
Asking for clarity and listening
Helping others to understand without being degrading or pompous
Looking out for those who need
Smiling, welcoming, including
Having compassion
GRADING POLICIES, STUDY GUIDES, TESTS, SIGNATURES, ETC.
Please review grading policies sheet that you should keep at home. This sheet explains the grading philosophy, how marking period grades are determined, homework, making up work when absent, and tests.
Study guides are distributed about one week before major tests. Students may earn extra credit points on tests if study guides are signed and returned at the time of the test. Study guides are not distributed for short, in-class graded assignments or quizzes.
All tests and assignments that are graded need to be signed and returned.
HOMEWORK
Please ask your child exactly what he/she learned in each class each day. Read the assignment pad and check that assignments are completed. Test dates, project due dates, and other information can be found in the assignment pad as well.
CURRENT LESSON TOPICS
Please note that quiz/test dates may need to be adjusted from time to time. Check here, assignment pads, study guides for updates.
CHALLENGE READING
INDEPENDENT READING LOG/RESPONSE:
Select independent reading book, read, complete log, written response from many choices; due Fridays
Use of Fountas & Pinnell reading levels
VOCABULARY:
VocabULit workbook
Lessons assigned most Mondays, workbook pages usually due Thursdays, quizzes from time to time covering several vocabulary lessons.
Lesson 6 - Week of November 11
Lesson 7 - Week of November 18
Lesson 6 & 7 quiz - Tuesday, November 26
Cumulative review test - lessons 1-7 - first week of December/TBA
CURRENT INSTRUCTION:
STRATEGIES FOR CLOSE READING: SIGN POSTS
Videos, mentor texts, and class discussions on using Sign Posts to read closely and analyze texts.
Assessments: Sign Post project - due Tuesday, November 5
APPLICATION OF CLOSE READING STRATEGIES/SIGN POSTS
THE WHIPPING BOY
In-class reading of novel, noticing & noting Sign Posts. (November/December)
Test - TBA/December
ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS
CURRENT INSTRUCTION:
EXPOSITORY WRITING
Frequent, in-class writing exercises to build foundational skills: stamina, organization, craft, and mechanics.
Writing practice exercises based on Expository Writing Master List
Assessments: Writing exercises, writing quiz near end of trimester (date TBA/December)
DISTINGUISHING BETWEEN POETRY, PROSE, AND DRAMA
Videos, samples, charts comparing the elements of poetry, prose, and drama.
Quiz - Thursday, November 21
Next:
Focus on expository writing: organizing & developing a well-written ten-sentence paragraph
MATH
CURRENT INSTRUCTION:
iReady
Individualized computer program (45 minutes/week; on-going)
Unit 1 - Whole Numbers
Place Value, Comparison, Rounding, Addition, Subtraction
Models, videos, instruction, discussions, practice, and homework.
Assessments: Quizzes following each topic and a unit test. Keep up with frequent quizzes by checking the assignment pad.
REVIEW - PLACE VALUE CONCEPTS through early November
Lesson 4 - ADDITION - Quiz Tuesday, November 19
Lesson 5 - SUBTRACTION - Quiz / November TBA
Unit test (lessons 1-5) - TBA with study guide - November
SOCIAL STUDIES
Mr. Filoso teaches social studies to both fourth-grade classes.
CURRENT INSTRUCTION: INTEGRATING HISTORICAL INFORMATION:
Daylight Saving Time
Videos, Texts, Notes Chart - on the history of Daylight Saving Time
Election Day & the History of Voting Rights
Videos, Notes, Texts - Why is Election Day in November? Who has not always had the right to vote?
Veterans Day
Videos, Poppy Project, Texts - on the history of Veterans Day
Assessments on above topics: In-class writing exercises, notes charts, integrating media test (TBA)
Next:
Thanksgiving
Later:
Document-based questions
SPECIALS / ADDITIONAL CLASSES & INSTRUCTION - SCHEDULE FOR 4FILOSO
MONDAY - GYM AND SPANISH
TUESDAY - ART AND TECHNOLOGY
WEDNESDAY - ART AND MUSIC;
- INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC LESSONS (as scheduled)
THURSDAY - TECHNOLOGY AND HEALTH
- INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC LESSONS (as scheduled) & AM BAND
FRIDAY - MUSIC AND GYM
- MEDIA CENTER (according to alternating schedule)