2. 2015-2016

3.  Students will have a designated folder for use as a take-home folder.  This should go home every day and will contain graded papers, information, notes, etc.  This folder should also be used when sending notes or money to or from school.  All money should be placed in an envelope and marked with the child’s name and what the money is for. PLEASE DO NOT SEND LOOSE MONEY TO SCHOOL!

4.  Students will receive missed work upon returning to school. Please do not ask for us to send advance work home. We dislike sending home work without instruction.  It is the child’s responsibility to complete missed work and turn in to the teacher.  Any missed tests must be completed at school.

5.  Please try to arrange plans for pick up with your child before school in order to limit classroom interruptions.

6.  Mid-Nine Weeks Reports will be sent home during the middle of the nine weeks.  Please sign and return it the next day.  Grades are available on INOW at any time. You will receive a password to access this information.  Any incomplete work will show up as a zero until your child completes the missing assignment.

7.  We have created a fourth grade REMIND account. There is a sign-up sheet in your orientation folder. The account is in Mrs. Thomas’s name, however, it is used for the entire fourth grade.

8.  Students are permitted access to the bathroom as needed. They need only to place the bathroom pass on their desk. If bathroom breaks become noticeably frequent, other arrangements will be made.

9.  There are three rules in fourth grade that guide behavior. 1. Be responsible. 2. Be respectful. 3. Be safe. If a student chooses not to follow the rules, we will use the following consequences: 1. Warnings 2. First Incident: Student loses 5 minutes of recess and records behavior in class notebook. 3. Second Incident: Student loses 10 minutes of recess and records behavior in class notebook. 4. Third Incident: Student writes a letter home to parents discussing behavior choices. The note needs to be signed by a parent and returned the following day.

10.  A weekly newsletter will be sent home every Friday.  This includes important dates and skills covered for the following week.

11.  Students will be issued a locker.  Nothing may be stuck to the outside or inside of the locker with glue, tape, or stickers.  Locks can’t be used.  Magnets and shelves can be used on the inside, however, we do ask that you LIMIT INSIDE LOCKER DECORATIONS.

12.  Students are permitted to eat a snack each morning after keyboarding or special classes.  Please do not send gum, drinks, or messy snacks, however students are permitted to bring a water bottle. WATER ONLY!!  Birthday snacks can be brought in with prior permission from the teacher.  Birthday snacks must follow the nutrition policy.

13.  Christmas  End of the Year  Parents are welcome at the Christmas and End of the year parties.

14.  Montgomery – October 22  The Nutcracker - December  Wetland Wanderers – April 27  Class t-shirt order forms will come home during the first few weeks of school.

15.  Language arts instruction will be approximately 90 minutes per day.  Daily Instruction Students will spend time each day reading, discussing, and responding to text. Students will also receive direct writing and grammar instruction each day. Students’ responses to text, their writing, and grammar handouts will be periodically graded at the teacher’s discretion. Assessment will be paced by instruction.

16.  Spelling Students will be given a list of 10 words that follow a particular spelling pattern. The test must be taken by Friday on Spelling City.  Homework Students are required to read 20 minutes every night and respond to that reading on their Weekly Reading Record. Weekly Reading Records must be turned in every Monday.

17.  Daily Instruction – Students will be asked to complete an Alabama Weekly magazine per week. They will be allowed time in class to complete this activity or activities. Their Alabama History grade will come from this assignment.  The Montgomery Field Trip is a large part of the Alabama History curriculum, and participation is mandatory. If you have financial concerns, please see your child’s homeroom teacher so that all students can benefit from this trip.

18.  Nationally recognized, hands-on STEM initiative  BBE is the pilot school for Hartselle  Fourth grade was last year’s pilot grade level  Inspiring and Preparing ALL students for learning, leadership, and life.

19.  Math instruction will be approximately 90 minutes per day.  Daily Instruction Our pace is approximately one lesson a day. Daily assignments will be periodically graded at the teacher’s discretion.  Homework Homework assignments will be given at the teacher’s discretion.

20.  Tests Tests will be given at the end of each unit of study. Mid-chapter checkpoints occur in the middle of the unit. Unit tests will usually be preceded by a study guide that will be given at least one class period before the test. It is extremely beneficial to review study guides at home before testing.

21.  Science will be approximately 90 minutes each per day.  Daily Instruction During science, students will be engaged in classroom instruction, projects, critical thinking, discussion, and reading. Students’ classroom participation and any handouts or classroom activities will be graded at the teacher’s discretion.  Homework Science homework will not be given unless students are required to turn in a graded project.  Tests Tests will be given at the end of each unit of study. Quizzes will be given at the teacher’s discretion.