Hello and Welcome to the Fourth Grade Here at Hopewell Elementary School! My Name Is Rob

Welcome to Extra Help If your child is experiencing difficulty, A Quick Fourth Grade! please encourage them to ask questions in class or see me immediately for extra Reference Guide Hello and welcome to the fourth grade assistance. Waiting will only allow for here at Hopewell Elementary School! further confusion. Extra time is available to My name is Rob Kartychak and I will most days during recess, or before/after be your child’s math teacher this school. year. For those of you who are Mr. Kartychak’s unfamiliar with me, this is my twelfth Extra Credit year in the district. I spent the first Math Class Traditionally, I do not offer individual eight years teaching sixth grade, and extra credit assignments as there are at this is my fourth year teaching fourth multiple opportunities for a child to grade. I earned my Bachelors of improve their grade. On rare occasions I Hopewell Science in Elementary Education at will offer an opportunity to the entire Clarion University of Pennsylvania as class. Elementary well as my Masters of Education in Administration and Policy Studies at Closing School the University of Pittsburgh. Finally, I am very excited at the opportunity to I also possess a teaching Middle work with your child. Please do not School Math Certificate for grades 7- hesitate to get in contact with me if you 9. have any questions or concerns or if a situation would arise that I need to be aware of. I look forward to meeting many Contact Information: of you at Open House on Thursday, Phone: September 12th. (724) 375-6691 x 1207

Email: “Experience is simply the name we give [email protected] our mistakes.” ~Oscar Wilde Website: http://www.hopewell.k12.pa.us/Kartyc hak_Rob.aspx Everyday Mathematics That is also accessible at:  Random Math Boxes will be graded http://www.hopewell.k12.pa.us/Kartychak_ from the math journal. As with The philosophy of the Everyday Math Rob.aspx the homework, students that earn program is to enable children in elementary less than 70% on that assignment grades to learn more mathematical content will be afforded the opportunity to and become life-long mathematical submit corrections during recess thinkers. The key components of the Grading to earn additional points. Everyday Math program are to solve Your children will be assessed quite  Two or three problem solving problems using everyday situations, develop frequently using a variety of assessments situations will be assigned concepts through hands-on explorations to provide different lenses in which to throughout each quarter. The and activities, practice through games, and determine their understanding of the topic problem solving situations will vary provide ongoing cumulative review of skills at hand. Brief overviews of those and focus on different tasks but previously taught. Our focus is to build on assessments are as follows: are designed to have the students and reinforce previously learned skills.  Homework will be given nightly think critically and provide detailed Fourth grade math instructs students in (Monday thru Thursday) and will explanations of their thought skills that are necessary to apply be worth two points per process in solving the task. mathematical concepts to everyday assignment. Assignments must be These problem solving assignments situations. We focus on geometry, completed and submitted on time are traditionally valued at 10 computation, problem solving, logical to receive credit. Random points per task depending on the reasoning, probability, and application. assignments will be collected and complexity. Most problem solving assessed for accuracy. Students assignments are given a week for earning less than a 70% may be completion for children to learn required to submit corrections time management skills. during recess and could earn back ½ of their points for corrections.  Quizzes are traditionally given once per chapter, and are usually worth around 20 points. We will review the concepts leading up to the quiz. Having your child review the homework assignments is one Communication of the most effective strategies Communication will be maintained through for studying for the quizzes. the use of your child’s planner and email.  Tests are given once per chapter, All test dates, homework assignments, and usually worth around 50 points. missed homework assignments will be There will be an in-class review recorded in their planner. I encourage you the day before the test. The to sign their planner daily and include any review will consist of problems notes as needed in there as well. that are comparable to the test Frequently, I will email calendar lesson problems, just with different dates (month at a time) and a general numbers. overview of what is occurring in my class.