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.
Lessons 17, 18, 19 quiz - Monday, June 10
CURRENT INSTRUCTION:
STRATEGIES FOR READING HISTORICAL FICTION
IN THE YEAR OF THE BOAR AND JACKIE ROBINSON
by Bette Bao Lord
Author study, in-class reading and discussion, participation; short, in-class writing responses
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
WRITING NON FICTION
Reading mentor texts, discovering non-fiction text features, determining a topic, researching information, organizing writing, writing/editing/publishing non-fiction booklet.
Assessment: Final published non-fiction work graded against rubric - due Wednesday, June 12
MATH
CURRENT INSTRUCTION:
iReady
Individualized computer program (45 minutes/week; on-going)
Multi-Step Problem Solving
Frequent practice solving multi-step problems.
Fact Ring
50 Geometry & Measurement vocabulary terms & concepts
Assessments: Fact Ring and Test - Friday, June 7
Multiplication using the standard algorithm - up to 4 digits x 1 digit and 2 digits x 2 digits
In-class and homework practice to be prepared for math in grade 5
SOCIAL STUDIES
Mr. Filoso teaches social studies to both fourth-grade classes.
CURRENT INSTRUCTION: INTEGRATING HISTORICAL INFORMATION:
INTEGRATING MEDIA: VIDEOS AND TEXTS; WRITTEN EXERCISES:
Lenni Lenape in New Jersey (Text/Unit 1): videos, texts, in-class project; related field trip to Huber Woods
SPECIALS / ADDITIONAL CLASSES & INSTRUCTION - SCHEDULE FOR 4FILOSO
MONDAY - GYM AND SPANISH AND HEALTH
TUESDAY - ART AND TECHNOLOGY;
- MEDIA CENTER (alternate weeks)
WEDNESDAY - ART AND MUSIC;
- INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC LESSONS (as scheduled)
THURSDAY - TECHNOLOGY;
- INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC LESSONS (as scheduled)
FRIDAY - MUSIC AND GYM
- MEDIA CENTER (according to alternating schedule)