Course Syllabus

Maryland Elementary School

Jeanine Kelnhofer
4th Grade
Jeanine.Kelnhofer@BexleySchools.org

   

Phone: (614) 327-3280 

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Welcome to my digital classroom!  I am looking forward to getting to know and working with each one of you this year!  We are going to learn a lot this year through lots of classroom experiences and of course, we will have fun! 

 

Background:
I have been an elementary educator with the Bexley City Schools for 23 years.  I have a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from Ohio Dominican College and a Masters of Elementary Education degree from Capital University.  I love teaching across the disciplines but have a particular love for science.  Your children will have many opportunities in my classroom to explore their passions, content and ideas. 

 

Classroom Content Description

4^th Grade Topics of Study

Social Studies: (with Mrs. Niswander)

         

Theme: Ohio in the United States

 The fourth grade year focuses on the early development of Ohio and the United States.  Students learn about the history, geography, government and economy of their state and nation.  Foundations of the United States history are laid as students study prehistoric Ohio cultures, early American life, the U.S. Constitution, and the development and growth of Ohio and the United States.  Students begin to understand how ideas and events from the past have shaped Ohio and the United States today. 

 

 

 

Math: Text series - My Math: (Additional support is given through the use of Mathematics Context for Learning (Fosnot) and Number Talks (Parish)

• Number and Operations in Base Ten
  • Generalize place value understanding for multi-digit whole numbers
• Operations and Algebraic Thinking
  • Use the four operations with whole numbers to solve problems
• Number and Operations – Fractions
  • Extend understanding of fraction equivalence and ordering
• Measurements and Data
  • Solve problems involving measurement and conversion of measurements from a larger unit to a smaller unit
• Geometry
  • Draw and identify lines and angles, and classify shapes by properties of their lines and angles

 

 

 

Language Arts: (Additional support is given through the use of A Word A Day – Grade 4 vocabulary resource)

Reading - fiction and non-fiction genres

• Fluency
• Research skills
• Comprehension skills
• Word identification and vocabulary skills
• Organizational Patterns
• Listening skills
• Figurative language styles

 

Writing – narratives, informational and persuasive/opinion

• Ideas
• Organization of details/addressing a prompt
• Voice
• Word Choice
• Sentence Fluency
• Conventions/Grammar
• Writing letters and Invitations

 

Spelling – Sitton Spelling Program

• High frequency words and core writing words (4^th grade)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Science (with Mrs. Kelnhofer)

Earth Science

• Landforms, processes that shape the Earth
• Earthquakes, weathering, erosion, volcanoes

 

Physical Science

• Matter
• Electricity

 

Life Science

• Earth’s Living History, fossils and ecosystems

 

Health

• Nutrition

Homework/Assignment Notebook

     Your student should have approximately one hour of homework each night including independent reading time.  Students should be recording their nightly assignments in their homework pad.  My initials on the pad are a signal to you that the homework has been copied correctly from the assignment board.  If an assignment is finished, they are allowed to check off the box on their note pad to indicate that they have completed their work.  Each night, please review with your student the work that they are asked to do.  Once you have checked with them, place your initials on the pad.  Your initials indicate to me that you have seen the assignment notebook.  This is also a great way for you to stay in touch with current topics of study and projects that we are working on in the classroom.  Homework is usually a practice of what has been taught in the classroom.  If homework becomes overwhelming or takes over an hour to complete, please write me a note. 

 

Organization

Each student’s trapper has been organized with labeled folders for each subject area as well as a special parent folder.  You and your son/daughter should empty this parent folder each night together.  The contents of this folder include graded papers and any important information that needs your attention.  Papers kept in the other subject folders need to remain there.  These activity sheets are either current notes or works in progress.  We hope that this is a helpful tool for you and your child.

 

Grading Ranges:
90-100% - A | 80%-89% - B | 70-79% - C | 60-69% - D | 59% or lower – F

 

 

Classroom expectations:  Our Promise to Each Other:

 

Because we care about each other and our Maryland Community we...

           - share what we have

           - listen carefully

           - help each other learn

           - use kind words

           - work hard and have fun together

We understand...

           - that everyone makes mistakes

           - that we stand up for ourselves and others

 

Consequences for inappropriate behavior:

1. First offense: conference with Mrs. Kelnhofer.
2. Second offense: a phone call to the parent.
3. Third offense: conference with Mr. Hood, parent and Mrs. Kelnhofer.

 

 

 

 

Changes/Challenges

Fourth grade is a year of many changes and challenges.  The students are in a classroom down a new hallway.  They are allowed to use lockers for the first time.  They have the opportunity to sign up for strings and choir.  There is an increase in independent responsibility and workload.  The materials will become a bit more challenging as the year moves along. 

As a fourth grade teachers, we will do what we can to help ensure a successful experience for your child.  Together, as a team we will create an exciting year.  Thank you for your time and support.  If you have any questions, please feel free to write a message in your child’s assignment notebook, send an e-mail, or contact us by phone at school.  We would be happy to assist you in any way.  We are looking forward to a wonderful fourth grade year.

 

 

 

 

 

Parents and Canvas: 
Please sign-up for a parent account into Canvas.  A parent/observer account will enable you to view classroom notices, assignments, resource lists, and more.  It's important that you have your own account and not use your student's login.  Privacy of student information and interactions are covered by Federal Educational Rights Privacy Act (FERPA). Your account permits you to see your student's work.  Your parent Canvas account will work across all buildings and classrooms that your children are in at Bexley Schools.

How to Sign-Up: Please use a desktop or laptop computer to sign-up initially, not a mobile device.  Go to the Canvas page (http://bexleyschools.instructure.com) click on Parent of a Canvas user.  Enter in the information asked for and then have your child enter in their Canvas/Network username and passcode.  Passcodes are unique to each student, this is why you’ll need your child with you when you initially setup your Canvas account or when adding another student.  An email will be set which you'll click in the finish the registration process.  Once you’re registered in the system you can add additional children under your Account, Settings, Observing.  Canvas provides you with one place to view and access course and classroom information across the multiple schools and classrooms.  Here is a website that describes the features available to the observer role.

 

 

 

 

 **This syllabus is subject to change at any time. 
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