Welcome, 4th grade parents! Mrs. Gisler Southminster School Room 373.

Welcome, 4th grade parents!Mrs. Gisler

Southminster SchoolRoom 373

About Me

• I’ve been married to my amazing husband, Evan, for nine years.

• Our church home is Christ United Methodist Church in Sugar Land.

• We have two children:– Anna is 7 years old and is starting 2nd grade here

at Southminster.– August is 4.5 years old and is starting Pre-K here at

Southminster.

My family

My educational background-

• Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies from Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi

• Certifications:– Early Childhood EC-4 Generalist – Grades 4-8 Generalist– Gifted and Talented– ESL (English as a Second Language)

• I have eight years of teaching experience– 2 years in Rockport, Texas (teaching 3rd grade)– 4 years at Dulles Elementary in Sugar Land (also 3rd grade)– 2 years teaching 4th grade here at Southminster

What happens in Writers’ Workshop?

1. Minilesson focused on writing strategies, skills, and/or writer’s craft.

2. Independent Writing time• Teacher confers one-on-one with

students while the rest of the class writes.

3. Group Share/Reflection time

4th graders will write:

• Narratives– Tells a personal experience or tells a

story based on a real or imaginary event

• Expository writing– Seeks to inform, explain, persuade,

clarify, define, or instruct

What happens in Readers’ Workshop?

1. Each session will begin with a minilesson. Each mini lesson will focus on a reading strategy.

2. Independent Reading with instruction– Readers’ Response Journaling– Guided Reading/Literature Circles– Reading conferences or strategy groups

3. Reflections/Sharing/Lesson Wrap-up

Math Curriculum

• Math program: Everyday Mathematics (everydaymathonline.com)• Geometry• Multiplication (up to 2 by 2 digits)• Division (including long division)• Decimals• Fractions and Percents• Measuring angles using a protractor• Reflections and Symmetry• Rates

What makes Everyday Math unique?

• It teaches students that there are many ways to solve a problem• For example: Multiplication can be solved through

a traditional algorithm, partial products method, or through lattice multiplication

• Students practice newly acquired skills through games• Many of these games can be played at home

online (see everydaymathonline.com)

Science topics in 4th grade:

• Life science-• Living things and ecosystems

• Earth science-• Rock cycle, weathering & erosion• Weather and Space

• Physical science-• Properties of matter, mixtures & solutions, and

chemical & physical changes• Sound, light & heat

• Forces & Motion• Electricity & magnetism• Force of gravity & acceleration• Simple machines

What to expect in science:

• Lots of hands on investigations (many times in the science lab)

• Repeated exposure and practice following the scientific method

• Science Fair• Occasionally, I will teach a fun lesson that involves food or

candy. If you do not wish for your child to eat a tiny amount of candy after a science or math lesson, please let me know! • An example of a lesson involving candy: I will give the students

toothpicks and gum drops. The instructions will be to construct a 3-dimensional structure using those materials.

Social Studies• History-

• Native American groups in Texas• European exploration• Texas Revolution, the Republic of Texas,

and annexation of Texas to the U.S.• Geography-

• Regions in Texas and the Western Hemisphere

• Landforms in Texas• Patterns of settlement in Texas

• Government, Economics, & Culture in Texas

Christian Education

• Southminster follows the curriculum from Purposeful Design for Bible lessons.

• Students will have a Bible verse to memorize each week (sometimes every 2 weeks)

• Chapel is on Mondays and Fridays from 8:15-9:00 a.m.

Homework- What to Expect• Homework will be assigned Monday

through Thursday. • Every morning, students will write down

that day’s homework assignments into his/her planner.

• Students are required to read for approximately 100 minutes per week. I will check student logs at the end of each week. A reading log grade will be taken at the end of each 9 week period. Students with at least 900 minutes logged will earn a 100. 800 to 899 minutes- 90, 700-799 minutes- 80, etc.

Typical Homework Assignments

• Math (called Study Links) will be assigned almost daily

• Spelling at least 3x/week• Wordly Wise Vocab 2 to 3x/week• IXL Math Homework- 45 min./wk

(6 hrs. 45 minutes per 9 week period)

Tests• Spelling: Fridays• Wordly Wise Vocab.: Every other

Thursday• Math and Science: At the end of

each respective unit (every 2-3 weeks)

• Bible quizzes: only occasionally

Technology in the classroom

• Google Chrome Notebooks• For word processing, research, etc.

• Kindle Fire eReaders• eBooks and educational apps

**Both of these can be checked out to your child and taken home after you and your child sign and submit the technology forms.

P.E.

• 4th graders now need to “dress out” for P.E. You can purchase the gym clothes here at school.

• P.E. is on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays.

Parent/Teacher Conferencing

• October 9: Parent/Teacher Conference Day• Any day by appointment, during my

conference period or after school• School phone: 281-261-8872• My email: [email protected]

Remind101

To receive important messages and updates throughout the year, please sign up for Remind101.• To receive messages via text, text @gisle

to 81010• To receive messages via email, send an

email to [email protected]

I’m looking forward to an amazing school year!

✓ Meet the Teacher tomorrow from 10-11 a.m.✓ First Day of School: Thursday at 7:55 a.m.!!!