Hello Everyone,

Thank you for a successful launch to our school year on the zoom and the distance learning platform. The kids are continuing to get the hang of things, and I will continue to guide and instruct them on how to use these digital tools. We will continue to practice and reinforce high student posture. ZOOM NORMS are here for your reference.

I wanted to provide some information for parents so that you can find things that you may need. Reminder, adults may not join the google classroom. It is just for students who are enrolled at Mountain School. 

**Students should use google classroom, here is a Sample schedule

**Parents should use the 4th grade website to find schedules with checklists, reading, writing and math resources, reading logs and links to sites that you and your child may need to navigate to. The home page and drop down menus at the top will navigate you to the items you seek. I will attempt to put schedules and resources on the site in a timely fashion. I cannot always works days and weeks in advance. Although I am going as fast as my feet will travel, it takes time to put together the schedules, etc.

**Note: students cannot print from a chrome book, that said, there may be times when you need to print something for your child. The website is, likely, the best place to attempt to locate a document you may need. If you are really stumped, please email me and I will try to help you in a timely fashion.

-Here are the links to the sites we are currently using as well as additional announcements and information.

-Zoom Meeting ID: 948 5071 9668 Passcode: mountain4

-Check out Our Awesome Summer in 4th Grade

-You will find the Music, PE and Art zoom links on your child's daily schedule and the teachers will be contacting you with that information as well. Their links are recurring, but I will always put them on your child's schedule so that they can click on the links right from the schedule they will be working on each day.

-Accelerated Reader: Your child was given instructions on how to successfully log into Accelerated Reader today in class. This was something Heather Treen used last year, so students should be familiar with it.  All quizzes should be completed within 24 hours of finishing a book (reading it cover to cover).
login convention for all students: 
Example User Name: janieb

Password: mountain

-Accelerated Reader Book Finder: Your child should be reading "good fit" books--on their reading level and interest level.  You can check to see that the books your child is choosing to read are in AR. If you put the title in and see the book pop up with information on reading level, points, and quiz #, you know that this is a good pick.  If you cannot find the book in the AR book finder, this is a book that has no quiz associated with it and no points.  This is not a good pick.

There is no login. This is a search engine to find good-fit books for your child. Try using the more sophisticated search options: "Advanced Search" and "Collections" to find many more books in your child's area of interest, reading level and wheel house. You can refine the searches and find better choices. Then, consider finding them at the Mountain School Library or Public Library.


**We will have some digital library alternatives for books shortly. We are working on procuring these. Thank you for your patience. 

The Blue Binder: This is a system to help your child manage and organize math lessons, math practice and math tools--pages or print outs to help with math lessons. Please help your child keep their lessons and papers organized. They may need a 3 hole punch to get those sheets into a binder.

**Please let me know, on the Beginning of the Year Parent Interview I sent last week, whether you plan to pick up weekly lessons from the 4th grade table on Fridays at 3:00 or print them out yourself. If you would like to print them out yourself, you will find weekly math lessons in the PDF Lesson Folder on the 4th grade website on the home page drop down menu.

Math: we will review whole numbers and place value up to the millions. We will continue to review math facts and begin to go forward in the coming weeks with estimation, approximation and rounding. We, as a general rule, have a test every Friday to assess the week's concepts. This will be on Singapore digital. This week, we will have a short quiz on Friday. 

History Social Sciences: Will start in the coming weeks as our staff aligns our distance learning platform.

Science: Foss curriculum on solid earth--land forms and soils will be forthcoming as our staff aligns this content for a distance program. 

Current Read Aloud and Lucy Calkin's Novel: The Tiger Rising

Growth Mindset video: I support best practices and a growth mindset in the classroom. To view an excellent video on this concept. Your child will view this in the classroom this week.


**4th Grade Back to School Night: Thursday August 27th at 5:00

Heather Young is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/95437132556?pwd=WGV1aTd4WnNzRDFESDYyRzc0YThXZz09

Meeting ID: 954 3713 2556
Passcode: Xap19X

Warmly,

Heather

Hello Everyone,

Thank you for attending our short meeting this evening.

If you were not able to attend or would like to review, the meeting notes are here along with our zoom meeting link, zoom norms, and the schedule for the specials--PE, Art and Music. These teachers will have their own zooms in the afternoons. See the scheduled times and days below.

Zoom: 4th grade zoom link password: mountain4

-Connection, partnership, engagement, instruction (8:30-9:30 M-F to start)

-Whole group, breakout sessions, small groups, individual help.

-Office hours (11-12) 

-High student posture is required on zoom

-Norms

-Come prepared to zoom daily with your chrome book, notebook, sticky notes, a pencil, math workbook, math lesson, etc. 

-Keep the things you are asked to bring to zoom in a bin or basket so that you are ready each morning.

-Listen to the instructions and engage with your teacher and classmates.

-Follow directions and practice as we go.

-participate and ask for help in the zoom.

Specials--Music, PE, Art:

-Music: 4th Monday 12:30-1:10

-P.E. 4th Tuesday 1:10-1:45

-P.E. 4th Thursday 1:10-1:45

-Art: 4th Thursday 2:30-3:10

** Specials start the week of the 17th. I will be present at these zooms for the first 2 weeks, but the specialist teachers will be sending out their own zoom links. I will put a reminder on our daily schedule, however, to remind you and your child of these afternoon special classes.

I welcome your feedback and partnership and look forward to seeing you and your children on Wednesday morning!

Take care,

Heather

Hello Everyone,

We are in the home stretch. We will finish our last week of academics and wrap that up by Friday June 5th. Please be sure your child has turned in all google classroom assignments by 3:00 p.m. on Friday. We will be working on report cards and emailing those out by June 12th.  

We have our final zooms on Monday June 8th and Tuesday June 9th. 

I have thoroughly enjoyed being your child's teacher this year and have celebrated getting to know all of you as caring parents and community members here at Mountain School. This was a very different kind of year for all of us, and I am impressed with how resilient we all have been. Your children have done a fantastic job of growing, maturing and meeting many challenges this year.

Important dates and messages:

1. Summer CAASPP Practice Recommended:CAASPP Practice Link
This year, the CAASPP practice link is being shared with families for "at home" practice. This is recommended. Please take a look at these resources with your child. Go onto the practice and training tests website. Select student interface practice and training tests. Sign in for a guest session so your child does not need an ID. select grade 4. Your child should practice the following tests: Math practice test and Math performance task; and the training test for ELA grades 3-5. The answers are not scored, but there is value in looking at the questions together and discussing how to select the best answer to multiple choice questions and looking at how to answer those prompts that require a written response. Your child should practice 1 of each kind of test. This also gives your child a chance to practice the fourth grade CAASPP in preparation for the fifth grade CAASPP next year.

2. Summer Khan Academy Math Practice recommended
topics to focus on: addition, subtraction, multiplication and division of whole numbers, fractions, measures, decimals, area and perimeter, graphs, line plots, volume, geometry

Last 4th grade zoom: Tuesday June 9th
*Teachers have been asked by administration to put together optional recommended schedules for Wednesday and Thursday. There are no grades or turn in requirements for these optional recommendations. These optional schedules, which will be light, will be available on the website under the home menu in schedules. Because many of you will have returned chrome books by this time, your child will need to use a different device to access these.

Chromebook return and check in: Tuesday June 9th from noon - Friday June 12th @ noon

Music and PE last day-- Monday June 8th

Last day of Art--Thursday June 4th

Art work: please pick up your child's art projects that are in the fourth grade box on the table outside our classroom. 

Report cards--emailed by teachers to parents by June 12th

Singapore Digital Math Practice-- please make sure your child is wrapping up their digital math practice. Many children are not finished with this practice. 

Google Classroom-- please check in with your child on their chrome book for google classroom assignments and be sure all of those are turned in by Friday June 5th at 3:00 p.m.

Thank you all for your wonderful support,

Heather

Hello Everyone,

I hope you are enjoying the beautiful spring weather and the bird activities in our area with your children.

I have a list of some of the important dates and items that I would like to communicate and share with you:

CAASPP Practice Link
This year, the CAASPP practice link is being shared with families for "at home" practice. This is recommended. Please take a look at these resources with your child. Go onto the practice and training tests website. Select student interface practice and training tests. Sign in for a guest session so your child does not need an ID. select grade 4. Your child should practice the following tests: Math practice test and Math performance task; and the training test for ELA grades 3-5. The answers are not scored, but there is value in looking at the questions together and discussing how to select the best answer to multiple choice questions and looking at how to answer those prompts that require a written response. Your child should practice 1 of each kind of test. This also gives your child a chance to practice the fourth grade CAASPP in preparation for the fifth grade CAASPP next year.

Art work: please pick up your child's art projects that are in the fourth grade box on the table outside our classroom. Mary Beth will let me know whether or not there are additional pieces that require a pick up in the next week as well.

Last 4th grade zoom and instructional day of school: Tuesday June 9th
* Teachers have been asked to put together optional recommended schedules for Wednesday and Thursday. There are no grades or turn in requirements for these optional recommendations.

Chromebook return and check in: Tuesday June 9th from noon - Friday June 12th @ noon

Music and PE last day-- Monday June 8th

Last day of Art--Thursday June 4th

Report cards--emailed by teachers to parents by June 12th

Singapore Digital Math Practice-- please make sure your child is wrapping up their digital math practice. Many children are not finished with their decimal practice. This is especially important if your child struggles with the material.

Google Classroom-- please check in with your child on their chromebook for google classroom assignments. They can complete assignments and turn them in for credit. 

We are in the home stretch, now.

Thank you all for your wonderful support,

Heather

Hello Everyone,

I hope you are all healthy, and that you are enjoying the beautiful spring weather!


We will continue with our PBL (project based learning) in subjects like science and history and ELA with a mix of Lucy Calkins where and when appropriate. We will also continue our emphasis on writing,  AR book reading, reading logs, and quizzing on the AR site as well as Singapore math with taped teacher lessons to accompany each section of the lesson as well as digital practice and digital assessment.

Here is the check list of items that are due daily or every Friday. I attach this checklist at the bottom of every schedule, but I wanted to make sure there was a copy of the latest updated one here. The only new addition on the check list is the reading log which is due every Friday and can be turned in by your child on google classroom.

ARE YOU ON TRACK? CHECK OFF THE ASSIGNED AND DUE ITEMS FOR WK 4/27/20:

THINGS THAT REQUIRE A PHOTO OR A SCAN UPLOADED TO TURN-IN FOLDER BY A PARENT:

• COMPLETED Decimal Adding & Subtracting lesson due next Monday  PAGES  34-46
• DUE Monday 5/4/20
• TEXTBOOK B WORKBOOK PAGES 46-63 FOR THE WEEK (UPLOAD PHOTOS/SCANS FOR
• THE DAILY ASSIGNMENT TO YOUR CHILD’S TURN-IN folder link)
• DUE DAILY AS PAGES ARE ASSIGNED

ART:

• Art from Mary Beth--snap a photo and email to mbduncan@mountainesd.org
• Have your child take a photo on PADLET and upload it there, they can do it with their
• chrome book themselves.

THINGS THAT ARE AUTOMATIC/DIGITAL OR REQUIRE YOUR CHILD TO HIT BLUE TURN IN BUTTON:

• SINGAPORE DIGITAL MATH--AUTOMATICALLY COMES TO ME AS YOUR CHILD DOES
• THE ASSIGNED LESSONS DAILY
• FRIDAY DIGITAL MATH TESTS--AUTOMATICALLY COMES TO ME WHEN THEY SUBMIT ON FRIDAYS
• GOOGLE CLASSROOM ASSIGNMENT ON EXTREME WEATHER OR MISSIONS--
• (CHILD HITS BLUE TURN IN BUTTON, THAT’S IT. DONE. DUE DATE ON ASSIGNMENT
• SCHEDULES M-F THAT YOUR CHILD REFERS TO--(CHILD HITS BLUE TURN IN BUTTON,
• THAT’S IT. DONE. DAILY
• GOOGLE CLASSROOM SCIENCE ASSIGNMENTS--(CHILD HITS BLUE TURN IN BUTTON, THAT’S IT.
• DONE. DUE DATE ON ASSIGNMENT
• GOOGLE CLASSROOM PE LOG-- (CHILD HITS BLUE TURN IN BUTTON, THAT’S IT. DONE. 

DUE WHEN FILLED IN COMPLETELY

• GOOGLE CLASSROOM READING LOG--CHILD HITS BLUE TURN IN BUTTON, THAT’S IT.
• DONE. DUE FRIDAYS

• READ WORKS--AUTOMATIC

DIGITAL BOOK CREATOR--AUTOMATIC

It is so appreciated to have such dedicated parents to help with distance learning and the turning in of assignments. We very much appreciate your partnership.

Thank you for joining our zooms each morning. It is great to see the kids, and they are quickly getting up to speed and doing a phenomenal job!

Have a great week! And remember to check our website if your are looking for schedules, etc.

Warmly,

Heather

Hello Everyone,

I hope all of you and your families enjoyed the spring break and that everyone is rested and healthy.

I am continuing to streamline paper assignments as I move us increasingly toward google classroom and digital website and assignments. Moving forward, there will be a paper math lesson for the week which can be printed off at your home from the PDF folder on the 4th Grade Website under the "Home" menu. If you prefer to pick up a copy at the fourth grade table outside our classroom, I will have copies there as well that you may help yourself to.

**Reminder: our zoom will have a password starting on Tuesday, 4/14/20.
ZOOM

Password: mountain4

Here are the participation and expectations for distance learning as we move forward together for the next nine weeks:

Participation and Expectations:

1. Participation in each content area is expected and grades will be assigned.
2. We are committed to engaging student learning as a Mountain School community.
3. We embrace the challenge to help prepare students to return to on-campus learning in the fall. 
4. It is invaluable that students continue to participate in teacher-led learning so that their academic skills can be maintained and increased. Zoom, etc.
5. Performance Assessment/Grades: teachers will track participation and submitted work so that students receive credit for at-home learning.

Paper assignments for each week (click on the PDF Folder to print at home or pick up a copy from the school, if you prefer):
1. Math lesson for the week 4/13/20: Thousandths pages 24-26

Digital classroom assignments on google classroom that require your child to complete and then hit the turn-in button include the following:
1. Science questions for comprehension--when assigned

2. History--customized assignments on the Missions, for example

3. Writing--on extreme weather report
4. Spelling/grammar/word work--embedded in units of study, on websites and google classroom--when assigned
5. Schedules
6. P.E. logs from Ms. Fleming--When complete, turn in

These teachers do not require their assignments to be turned in on google classroom:
1. Music lessons from Ms. Conway
2. Art lesson from Mary Beth--MB would like finished art shared to her by email: mbduncan@mountainesd.org

Websites where work is displayed automatically:
1. Singapore Primary Math Digital
2. ReadWorks
3. Book Creator
4. FOSS Science (ebook)
5. My World History Social Sciences by Pearson Realize--when assigned

**The office is open from 8:30-2:30 with social distancing protocols still in place.

Directions on how to keep your child reading good-fit books that have AR reading quizzes associated with them on myON:

1. First, go to AR Book Find, select "advanced search" SEE SCREENSHOT BELOW

2. Scroll down to "additional criteria"

3. Select: myON books, myON book all, fiction, English

4. Select: "reading practice" for quiz type

5. Select: "middle grade (4-8)" for interest level

7. You can narrow the search further by putting in an author, title, publisher or ISBN; but remember, myON will not have every book your child may want to read. They have thousands of titles, but not all books will be there, so please help your child be a bit boarder in their searches for books.

8. Once your child has found a myON book in the AR book find that they want to read, copy the title to paste into the myON search bar. 

9. Go to myON 

School Name: Read at Home

Username: readnow

Password: myon

10. Paste the title of the book into the search bar on myON. Check to be sure the AR quiz number is the same. Many books have the same or similar titles. The book will come up immediately, and your child can select "i" for information on the book to check to be sure the AR quiz numbers match. Then, your child can select "read". Your child can begin reading knowing that when they are finished with their book, they can visit the AR quiz site and take their reading quiz within 24 hours. 

I frequently check on reading quizzes for all students within AR. I give updates/progress reports with a screenshot if your child is NOT quizzing every 2-3 weeks so that parents are aware of progress. For students who are on track with their reading and quizzing, I will not create a progress report/screenshot. If you are concerned, please let me know, and I am happy to update you.

Thank you for supporting your child and me with their distance learning and reading.

Warmly,

Heather

Hello Everyone,

I hope all of you and your families are well.

Thank you for your partnership last week and in the weeks to come as we embark upon distance learning. It has been very different from what we are all accustomed to. Your adaptability and flexibility are very appreciated.

Here are the participation and expectations for distance learning:

Participation and Expectations:

1. Participation in each content area is expected and grades will be assigned.
2. We are committed to engaging student learning as a Mountain School community.
3. We embrace the challenge to help prepare students to return to on-campus learning. 
4. It is invaluable that students continue to participate in teacher-led learning so that their academic skills can be maintained and increased. Zoom, etc.
5. Performance Assessment/Grades: teachers will track participation and submitted work so that students receive credit for at-home learning.

The office is open this week from 8:30-2:30 with social distancing protocols still in place. We will be closed for spring break April 6-10

This week I am continuing with a pdf or paper packet option of classwork and homework in the content domains of:

1. Spelling and grammar

2. Math lesson, workbook practice, extra practice homework, and test B

Digital assignments on google classroom will include:

1. Science

2. History

3. Reading

4. Writing

Again, thank you for your partnership and flexibility.

Heather

Hello Everyone,

Welcome to the Fourth Grade Distance Learning website--a work in progress.  During these unprecedented times, we all have to adjust to a new way of work, school, and life!  The purpose of this new website is to keep students engaged in their learning, connected to school, and to minimize learning loss.  The goal of the resources provided is to give students and parents some options for educational activities each day and to keep us connected. 

We do not know how the next few weeks will look, so this is the first step in maintaining fourth grade learning and continuing to cultivate the enthusiasm for school that every student has!  Please know, there is NO expectation that parents will be able to replicate what happens each day in fourth grade. I  want to provide some resource recommendations and specific assignments for parents and students to access readily, create learning opportunities, and maintain the momentum in learning from this year.

On this website, I will be using Google Classroom (as usual) to assign lessons and practice and to keep students connected to: our classroom, other sites we currently use, log in information, instructions and their teacher. All students are familiar with Google Classroom and can log on to assignments and sites we use regularly.   The Digital and distance learning website which will provide additional resources are new to us all. I will do my best to support everyone as needed. Distance learning for fourth grade will be predominately digital. However, the items below are things I am recommending you pick up to enhance the experience and to keep your child moving forward with their learning.

Pick up for your child's: chrome book, its charger, blue binder and red binder, and the Singapore textbook A and B on Thursday, 3/19/20, between the hours of 10:00-12:00.  We are attempting to minimize heavy traffic to the office and maintain social distancing protocols. Shauna has prepared these items for every student and those items are on your child's desk.  Do not hesitate to contact me with questions or challenges. If you need to come by Wednesday, Sharon can show you into the classroom and you can collect your child's things.

I hope that this new site will help familiarize you with what distance learning might look like in your home.  As always, it is important to develop routines throughout the day, including the time and space that your child will use to settle into their learning time. This is a new frontier for all of us, and we will move forward together in the best way possible learning as we go, making some mistakes as well as brilliant discoveries along the way. I will continue to add on and build content, lessons, assignments and other resources over time.

I already miss all of my students and their smiling faces and hope that we will return to our normal routines and lives soon.

Thank you all for your flexibility, adaptability, and trust in this process. 

Heather

Hello Everyone,

I hope you enjoyed the 3-day Valentine's Day weekend.

Mountain Science Fair- Wednesday, March 4th:

Our science fair is rapidly approaching. All students in grades 4-6 are required to complete science fair projects at home. Refer to the clear guidelines and timelines your child brought home in the science fair packet. Please help support your child with this project. It is a wonderful opportunity for learning how to complete a very detailed experiment.

http://www.sciencebuddies.org/ and SC County Science Fair Link provide helpful resources for project planning.  Please contact me with any questions.

Upcoming Dates:
Symphony violinist classroom visit-- Tuesday 9:15-10:15

Mountain Science Fair-- Wednesday, March 4th

SC County Science Fair--Saturday, March 14

Symphony performance at the Civic--Thursday, March 5th
Seymour Center--Friday, March 13th

Winter Report Cards go home--Monday, March 16th

Important field trip dates: We will be sending home permission /driver/chaperone slips on Tuesday with your child. **Please look for them in your child's orange folder. We always appreciate our parent volunteers. Please let us know if you would like to drive/chaperone on either one of these field trips. 

Symphony Youth Concert at the Civic--Thursday, March 5th at 9:30-10:15. They will allow 2 chaperones in the venue with the teacher. That said, we still need volunteers to transport all the kiddos. Drivers will need to drop off their car loads at 9:15 and pick up their car loads at 10:15. Return by 11:00 for math.


Seymour Center--Friday, March 13th, at the Seymour Marine Discovery Center from 9:00-10:40. Return by 11:00 for Math.

IMPORTANT: UCSC requires parking permits. All drivers will need to enter a parking code and their license plate number into one of the parking machines in the Seymour Center parking lot to have their parking validated during your field trip. The parking code for your class is SM3331. Please see attached document with instructions.

**Just a reminder that the Seymour Center allows exactly 4 adult chaperones, in addition to the teacher in our classroom during the one-hour Discovery lab. This is to ensure the best possible learning environment for all students. The other chaperones (and we can rotate) will need to visit the exhibit or grab a cup of coffee off site and meet us back at the facility for the rest of the tour at 10:00. 

Typing Club

Typing practice!! typingclub.com

We will be typing in class each week.  

Curriculum Updates: February

ELA: Lucy Calkins, Everything Weather

SC Symphony: daily musical compositions are introduced and enjoyed every morning. Our violinist visits this week in preparation for our symphony experience next month.

Mindfulness: best practices in mindfulness are being incorporated in our classroom this year.

Harmony: best practices school-wide curriculum for building a strong social-emotional community within our classrooms.

AR Reading: Accelerated Reader continues to be an important part of our reading program.  Students should be reading informational AR books on the weather they are studying as well as any other nonfiction books they are interested in. You can still use the AR book find link to see if a book has a quiz associated with it. Quizzing on them within 24 hours of finishing a book is a part of the classroom.  It is critical to support your child in book selection (many books are in our school and classroom libraries), although you and your child may need to expand your horizons by going to some of our community libraries to find more informational books. Students have a goal of 14.5 points for the second trimester.  On average, your child should be reading anywhere from 3-5 books a Trimester--more if they are shorter informational books. That said, help your child select books that are on their reading level (their latest DRA2 level), and have high interest for them.  This will allow them to accomplish reading books from start to finish successfully.

    

Math: we will be studying multiplying fractions. Please check your child's planner for specific page numbers. We will continue to review these concepts. POM solving and presentations (problem of the month) continue. Silicon Valley Math Initiative (SVMI) MARS tasks continue all year.

**Keep Practicing: times tables should be rehearsed and memorized. 

Science: Foss module "Energy." This includes magnets, electricity, and circuits.

Social Studies: Missions

Writing: informational reports on weather will begin.

Grammar: Study of various grammar: prepositions, nouns, verbs, adverbs, adjectives and adjective clauses. Shades of meaning vocabulary, capitalization, quotation marks, citing evidence within texts.  Figurative language: simile, personification, hyperbole, alliteration, onomatopoeia, metaphor.

Warmly,

Mrs. Young