Hello! Welcome to the 2009-2010 school year. The 4th grade Teachers are excited to work with both you and your child. We feel communication among parents and teachers is vital in our students’ lives and in their educational experiences. We believe that it is a necessity that we work together to insure your child receives the best education possible. We think that every individual has the ability to succeed and it is our goal as educators to see that this proves true. In this packet, we have included information that you may find beneficial.
Unity
I dreamed I stood in a studio,
and watched two sculptors there.
The clay they used was a young child’s mind,
And they fashioned it with care.
One was a teacher - the tools she
used were books, music and art.
The other, a parent, worked
With a guiding hand, and gentle loving heart.
Day after day, the teacher toiled,
With touch that was deft and sure.
While the parent labored by his side,
And polished and smoothed it o’er.
And when, at last, their task was done,
They were proud of what they had wrought.
For the things they have molded into the child,
Could neither be sold, nor bought.
And each agreed they would have failed,
If each had worked alone.
For behind the teacher,
Stood the school,
And behind the parent, the home.
Author Unknown
Homework: Each evening your child will bring home an assignment book with his/her assignments and homework that must be completed. These assignment books must be signed and returned each Monday. Please assist your child in establishing a routine for doing any homework. Your child will be required to read 400 minutes each month. A reading log will be provided to assist in keeping track of times and pages read. Reading logs will be due at the end of each month. Homework should be turned in the following day. All students will have an accordion folder to assist in organizing papers.
Graded Papers: Each Friday your child will bring home a folder with work that has been completed during the week, book orders, newsletters, (unless they need to be out the day received), etc. Please take time to review your child’s work and sign the form attached to the folder, return on Monday.
Positive Incentives: I use, “Fabulous Attitude and Behavior Cards”, also called “FAB’s”, in my room as a positive incentive. Each student has a “FAB” card on his/her desk. At random times during the day, students are given the opportunity to earn a punch on the card. After a certain number of punches are gathered the students may redeem their card for a reward. A marble jar is a class incentive. Marbles are given if the class as a whole deserves them, but they can also be taken away if need be. As a class they are rewarded with a homework pass, read-in or extra recess.
Rules and Procedures: The fourth grade team has established the following rules:
Turn papers in on time
Exhibit appropriate hallway behavior
Use appropriate bathroom behavior
Be prepared
Be respectful
We will be utilizing the following Conduct Card system. Each student will begin the week with a new card. Each time a rule is broken the card will be initialed by a teacher and the number of the broken rule will be written. Weekly there will be a Friday Free Time for students who have a designated number of unmarked spaces. (Students will know in advance the number of unmarked spaces required.) Teachers will collect cards weekly . At the end of each month there will be a reward party for students who qualify. Students who have too many initials on their cards will be provided a study hall during the reward party. It will be the student’s responsibility to keep track and have their Conduct Card with them daily.
Reading: Each student will be required to read four Accelerated Reading chapter books and pass a test on each test at 80% or better each nine weeks. If there is a book (on your child’s reading level) which is not on the Accelerated Reading List but has been okayed by both you and your child's homeroom teacher then the child will be allowed to read that book and write a written report on it. Also as fourth graders the students will have the opportunity to vote on the winner of the William Allen White Award book this year. Any child who has read the required number of the nominated books will be invited to a special party in April or May. We will attempt to read two of the nominated books to the class orally so that all students will be able to vote. Each month students will be required to read 400 minutes outside of school. These minutes can be spent reading for pleasure, AR reading, reading a story that has been assigned, reading the newspaper, or social studies book etc. Fourth graders will take the state reading assessment this year.
Math: We will be using a new curriculum this year, Everyday Math. You will recieve parent letters frequently to explain the concepts being covered in each unit. Please remember this will be a learning year for you, your child and all teachers. We will have to work together to insure a smooth transition. Students will be required to take the Kansas State Math Assessment this year.
Science: This year in science we will rotate among the three teachers. Students will spend part of the year with Mrs. Traylor, part of the year with Mr. Bextel, and part of the year with Miss Hoopes. We will be taking the state science assessment in the spring again this year.
Social Studies: We will be studying regions of the United States this year. Students will be doing reports on various states. All students will need to know the states and their capitals and will be tested over these toward the end of the year.
Health: We will be following the district Health curriculum this year. Miss Hoopes will be teaching Health this year.
If you or your child ever have any concerns, please feel free to contact one of us through phone or email. In the event that we are unavailable at the time of your call, we will return your call as quickly as possible. Emailing will give a more prompt response: Miss Hoopes:
hoopesr@usd385.org, Mr. Bextel:
bextelc@usd385.org ,and Mrs. Traylor:
traylora@usd385.org .
We are looking forward to experiencing fourth grade with your child and we know this will be an exciting and wonderful year! Your child is extremely important to us and we are thrilled to have him/her in 4th grade. Thank you for allowing us the opportunity to be part of your child’s life and together we can make anything possible.
Sincerely,
The 4th Grade Team:
Miss Hoopes
Mrs. Becker
Mr. Bextel
Mrs. Milner
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