Thank you for coming! We are glad that you are here.

Mr. C, Mrs. Coontz, Mrs. Parsons, & Mr. Shubel

Flexible Seating
● A Flexible Seating classroom provides students with seating
choices so they are able to pick a seat or place in the room that
allows them to do their best.
● This setup allows for more active and student-centered
learning.
● Each student will have a “home base” or assigned seat that will
be used during the day when they are not choosing their
“learning space” (where they would like to work).
● How each classroom will implement this will be explained in
individual classrooms
● Expectations of students will remain similar to traditional
seating environments.
● Examples include: tablespaces, standing spaces, and floor
spaces. Each classroom will have different options.
Homework Policy

● We believe homework is an important part of the learning

process. It will be given most nights of the week.
● Homework will always tie in to what we have learned in
class. It is an extension of our learning, not just busy work.
● Homework is due the day after it is assigned, unless
otherwise stated.
● Homework is to be completed by students with assistance
from family members when necessary.
● Please see Homework Handout for more details!
Important Dates/Field Trips!
● OHS Stadium Show: Sept. 27th (Fri) ● Halloween Party - Thursday, 10/31 PM
● OHS Orchestra Concert: Feb. 6th (Thurs) ● Winter Party - Thursday, 12/19 PM
● 4th grade performance: April 23rd (Thurs, 6:30!) ● Valentine’s Day Party - Friday, 2/14 PM

Seeds of Science (MSU Children’s Garden):

● Sept. 30th (Mon), Oct. 8th (Tues), & Oct. 17th (Thurs)
● 9am-2pm

Michigan History Center:

● History Center Tour: Thursday, February 27, 2020

State Capitol Building & Hall of Justice:

● Capitol & Hall of Justice Tour: Thursday, May 27, 2020 Kinawa trip: Sometime in May...TBA
Lugnuts game: Sometime in
May...TBA
Encampment (Lake Lansing Park-South):
● Sometime in May...TBD, stay tuned.
MSTEP testing: Dates will be in
● Busses to take us ONLY. Parent/adult pick-up at the park.
May...TBA
● Going with 3rd grade this year to transition them...
●
●

●
●

●
●
●

●
●

●
●

●
●

●
●

○
○
○
○
Math
What does Math Expressions look like in the classroom?
Structures of the Program:

Quick Practice – Involves whole-class responses or individual partner practice and is frequently led
by student leaders.
Student Leaders – Teachers facilitate students' growth by helping all students take on leadership roles
with structured practice activities.
Building Concepts – Objects, drawings, conceptual language, and real-world situations strengthen
mathematical ideas and understanding.
Math Talk – Students explain thinking using drawings that support understandings and promote
meanings.
Helping Community – A classroom in which everyone is both a teacher and a learner to enhance
mathematical understanding, competence, and confidence.
Language Arts: Reading Street

Okemos Public Schools uses the Scott Foresman Reading Street Curriculum. It is
a multifaceted program that covers reading fluency skills, comprehension skills,
writing, grammar and oral language practice. See the “Family Times” newsletter
for information about each week’s content.

Components

● Two weeks to cover one “week” of curriculum

● Weekly story
● Vocabulary that goes with the story
● Spelling tests every OTHER week (different from 3rd grade)
● Weekly tests every OTHER week (opposite from spelling)
Good-Fit Groups

● Good Fit Groups are designed to meet the needs of

individual groups of students in both literacy and in
mathematics.
● Groups will meet 3 days a week for 30 minutes per day.
● Number of days designated for each subject depends on
the need of the grade level as a whole.
● Students are mixed up as a grade level into different
classrooms/teachers based on their specific need.

*We will begin as soon as our testing begins and data is

interpreted
Switching

● Students will “switch” teachers for one subject

● Mr. Shubel and Mrs. Parsons work together and Mr. C and
Mrs. Coontz work together
● Students will switch on average three days a week
(Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday)
● Students will be expected to follow the other teacher’s
classroom expectations, which will be explained on day 1
● Each teacher will have their own set of due dates etc., this
will be communicated and included during planner time
Science - Bring Science Alive! Exploring Science Practices–Grade 4
Bring Science Alive! Exploring Science Practices examines the functions of internal and external plant and animal
structures in growth, reproduction, and information processing. Students explore the roles of weathering, erosion, and

deposition in shaping Earth’s surface. They analyze patterns in wave motion, and how energy is transferred by sound, light,

heat, and electric currents.

● WHO: Mr. Shubel & Mrs. Coontz will teach science.

● WHAT/WHY:
○ Each unit encompasses a variety of hands-on activities, lab experiences, written work, and group discussion.

○ Students will be evaluated on work done in class and the completion of related assignments.

○ They will also be given formal assessments that focus on their understanding of the topics covered.

○ Test alerts will be given in advance so families can help their child study at home.

○ In the fall we take a multi-day trip to the MSU Children’s Gardens to learn more about plants!

● HOW:
○ This program can be done ALL online, using the students’ Chromebooks but we also have print versions of both

the text and the interactive student journals.

○ We are going to use a combination of all resources to try and keep things novel & engaging for the students.

○ We are also going to utilize a science journal/notebook (the red one) to help teach and reinforce newer NGSS

(Next Generation Science Standards) concepts.

Explorers
EXPLORERS is an opportunity for students to expand their social studies skills and
knowledge about their world and how it works. We focus on the four disciplines: history,
geography, government, and economics. Our goal is to expand our critical thinking skills
and focus on how to analyze our world in a more meaningful way by building a
comprehensive background of different social studies related topics.

● WHO: Mr. Clements & Mrs. Parsons

● …
●
●
●
●
●
Technology

● One-one personal devices, every student is assigned a Chromebook

● Implemented across every subject whenever appropriate, there is a
technology component included in each subject
● Areas of concentration
○ Google docs, slides, and sheets
○ Word processing
○ Research
○ Reading and Math practice
○ Assessments
○ TCI
○ Math Expressions
○ Reading Street
● Reminder: If your Hawk has a phone or similar device at school, it must stay
in the lockers during the day. This includes any Smart Watches and/or similar
devices.
Specials
● Art with Mr. Staib
● Gym with Mrs. Dean (Gym Shoes)
● Music with Mrs. Reed
● Exploratory with Mrs. Trygier
● Students will rotate amongst the four specials on a rolling
basis.
○ A copy of our schedule is in your packet
Carline/Dismissal
● Asking that families post their Hawks LAST name in
the vehicle front window.
● If you need paper, the classrooms will have some for
you to use.
Okemos Education
Foundation

https://www.oefsite.org/
Support schools, give awards to
outstanding teachers and support staff,
fund projects, field trips, grants, and
much more!