Mrs. Kahrer’s ClassRaritan Valley Elementary School

2014 - 2015

Meet the Teacher

• Welcome to the 2014-2015 school year at RVS!– This power point presentation will familiarize you with our

classroom academic structure, our social goals, and the rationale for the approaches used in instruction.

– I have been teaching in Hazlet Township for 14 years and have lived in Hazlet for 30 years.

– I am a certified Special Education/General Education teacher and have a graduate degree in Education with certification as a Reading Specialist.

Classroom Policies - Academics

• Students will have homework most nights, with the exception of Fridays. Students are expected to complete all homework and return it to school the next day.

• Please sign the student planner nightly, indicating that homework has been completed.

• If students are absent, they will have two days in which to make up work for each school day missed.

• Students are expected to put forth their best effort in the classroom. I do not expect students to complete each and every assignment by the time the period ends, however, I do expect that they will be working toward that goal.

• Unfinished classwork will be sent home for homework if it is determined that the student was not making wise use of class time.

Homework

Attendance

Effort

Classroom Policies - Social

•Respect for ourselves and others is the central theme of our classroom guidelines for social interaction. If we follow this one simple guideline, there will be very few social issues in our room.•We have a firm “No Bullying” policy in the classroom. We learn and practice the important role the “bystander” plays in any potential harassment, intimidation, or bullying (HIB) incidences. We learn to stand as a group and support one another to eliminate the potential for unpleasant interactions with others.

•We brainstormed and created our Friendship Contract together. We agreed to treat each other kindly with words and actions.

Respect

Friendship

Behavior Management

• There are three different reward systems currently in place: our school-wide “Bucket” and “Thoroughbred Bucks” programs, as well as our classroom “Tickets” program.

• It is my firm belief that children want to make wise choices. However, in the event of an unwise choice, students will always be given one reminder that it would be wise to make a different choice. If they do not do so, we will problem-solve the issue during “Free Time”.

Incentives

Choices

Reading

SLIP – Special Literacy and Intervention Program

• Our phonics program is based on the Wilson Reading System. Students learn the decoding and word attack process through a pattern of letter/sound association and syllable rules.

• Our comprehension program utilizes Project Read strategies and Reading A-Z leveled libraries to assist students in learning and applying comprehension skills and strategies.

• During a Read-Aloud, the teacher models fluency in reading and how students should be thinking about their reading as they read.

• Guided reading is undertaken in small groups where students can work together to practice similar skills.

• Independent reading allows students to practice decoding and comprehension skills and self-monitor their usage.

• Each component of our reading program is research-based and conducted on a daily basis.

Rationale

Comprehension

Read-Alouds

Guided Reading

Independent Reading

Phonics

Spelling

– Spelling is Wilson Systems based. The WADE assessment is administered to determine the level of the Wilson program on which students need to begin.

– Students are placed in groups with peers who will be working on similar word patterns and syllabication.

– The Wilson Reading System is research-based and utilized on a daily basis.

– Students will write sentences utilizing their spelling words .– Students will also engage in word play with their word patterns as well as in multi-

sensory activities.

– Students will select from one of the Spelling Tic-Tac-Toe activities on Monday through Thursday

– A weekly spelling test will be given on each Friday.

Wilson

Classwork

Homework

Assessment

Writing

– Writer’s Workshop is a program that encourages students to start with an idea that results in a published written work sample. We combine the practices outlined by Lucy Calkins and Ralph Fletcher to achieve desired results.• Prewriting – Brainstorming and graphic organizers• Rough Draft – Use of organizer to put our thoughts on paper• Revision – Read draft and clarify or add thoughts• Editing – Make corrections for grammar and spelling• Final Published Work – Present to class, place in portfolio

– Framing Your Thoughts is a component of Project Read that instructs students on how to get the most out of the sentences they write. It focuses on sentence structure and complexity.

• Writer’s Workshop and Project Read are research-based and conducted on a daily basis.

Writer’s Workshop

Project Read

Math

– Everyday Math is the basis of our mathematics curriculum. – It is a spiraling program that presents information without expecting students to

master it immediately as they will “spiral” back to it and revisit their learning within a few days.

– Touch Math offers an excellent supplement to the Everyday Math program for students who need reinforcement in the areas of computation.

– Touch Math builds counters into the numbers so students can learn to add, subtract, multiply and divide without reliance upon fingers, number lines, or charts.

– Students will have math homework every night, Monday through Thursday, unless I have presented new material and do not feel that they have a strong enough understanding to practice the strategy for homework.

Everyday Math

Touch Math

Homework

Science, Health, Social Studies

– Our science program is a hands-on program that relies on student participation and discovery that is guideded by the teacher as the basis for their learning.

– Students work in groups with the vast array of materials that accompany this highly structured, but engaging program.

– Our health program utilizes a textbook and various activities to assist students in learning about health, safety, and the need to care for our bodies.

– 3rd Grade students will be learning about what comprises a community and about various communities throughout the world.

– 4th Grade students will utilize the knowledge they have learned from grades 1 through 3 and apply it to their home state of New Jersey. We will explore history, geography, and government.

Health

Science

Social Studies

Technology

– Smart Board Classroom Computers– Ipad Internet Access– Document reader

– Netbooks Computer Lab– Library Computers Ipads– Internet Access Large Screen TV in Library

– A huge “Thank You” to Mr. Verderosa , the Board of Education, the voters of Hazlet, and our PTO for bringing the following technological resources to our building in recent years: Smart Boards in every classroom, Ipads, Netbooks, Updated computers in Computer Lab and Library, and Large Screen TV in Library. These resources are allowing us to grow in tandem with the world.

Classroom Resources

Building Resources

Thank You

Daily Schedule

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

Homeroom

8:50 – 9:02 AM

Room 25

Room 25

Room 25

Room 25

Room 25

1

9:02 – 9:50 AM

Language Arts

Language Arts

Language Arts

Language Arts

Language Arts

2

9:50 – 10:38 AM

Science

Science

Science

Health

Health

3

10:38 – 11:26 AM

Language Arts

Language Arts

Language Arts

Language Arts

Language Arts

4

11:26 – 12:14 PM

Language Arts

Language Arts

Language Arts

Language Arts

Language Arts

5

12:14 – 12:59 PM

Lunch

Lunch

Lunch

Lunch

Lunch

6

12:59 – 1:47 PM

3rd – Music

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4th - Gym

3rd – Gym

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4th - Computers

3rd – Computers

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4th - Music

3rd – Gym

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4th - Art

3rd – Art

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4th - Gym

7

1:47 – 2:35 PM

Math

Math

Math

Math

Math

8

2:25 – 3:22 PM

Math

Social Studies

Math

Social Studies

Math

Social Studies

Math

Social Studies

Math

Social Studies

Dismissal

3:22 – 3:30 PM

Room 25

Room 25

Room 25

Room 25

Room 25

Special Classes

Students will visit five special classes each week. Our schedule is as follows:

* On P.E. days please make sure your child wears sneakers and dresses appropriately. Girls with long hair should have a pony tail holder for their hair. If they do not dress appropriately they will have to sit out of P.E. and this does affect their grade.

Day of Week 3rd Grade 4th Grade

Monday Music Gym

Tuesday Gym Computers

Wednesday Computers Music

Thursday Gym Art

Friday Art Gym

Stay Connected!

My website is updated daily. Please refer to it for information regarding homework, upcoming events, breakfast and lunch menus, and our classroom schedule.

My Email: tkahrer@hazlet.org

School Phone: (732) 264-1333

Best time to call me at school during the day: 1:00 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.

Thank You!

• As we close, I would like to thank you in advance for the following:

– For your attention during this presentation;– For your support in ensuring that homework is completed

on a timely basis;– For contacting me directly and immediately if you have

any questions or concerns regarding the classroom or your child’s education; and, most importantly,

– For trusting me to care for and instruct your children throughout their day here.

I am looking forward to sharing a wonderful year with you and your children!

Welcome to a great yearat Raritan Valley School!