1. August 26, 2015 Dear Parents, Welcome to Fourth Grade. I’m looking forward to a great year working with you and your child! I have put together a folder of information to help you become more familiar with our classroom routines and curriculum. It is for you to keep at home throughout the year. Please read and discuss the information with your child. Today several papers and notices came home for you to read through and sign, as needed. Please return the medical surveys, as soon as possible. Next week your child will have a “getting to know you” activity to complete for homework. I will explain it to students on Monday of next week. The following week we will start our weekly homework and reading logs. More information will be sent home then. Our class has Library tomorrow. Thank you for your cooperation and if you have any questions, please email me: kpodeszwa@waterfordschools.org or call the office at 442-2593 Sincerely, Mrs. Podeszwa --------------------------------------------------------------------- I have read and gone over the information in the 4th Grade Handbook with my child. _________________________ vParent Signature

2. Fourth Grade Handbook Mrs. Podeszwa Room 216

3. Mrs. Podeszwa’s Class Cooper Bellos Catherine Chen Alexa Collins Xavier DelGrosso Demitrias Fletcher Jamie Gannon Adrianna Houle Kayla Johnson Quinn LeBelle Nevaeh Lucacovic Jaden Peck Devon Powers Sofia Prenga Maya Seidel Thalia Senkewitcz Sienna Sferrazza Matthew Simonds Julia Sjostedt Liam Stahl Ava Tinnerello Jay Zimmermann

4. Reminders Welcome to Fourth Grade! Please read the following pages and keep them at home for future reference. I have attached a copy of our specials. Please dress accordingly and remember the necessary materials for each day’s special. Please wear your sneakers for Phys. Ed. and bring your recorder for music class. Included in our daily schedule is a 10-15 minutes working snack. Please bring a nutritious snack and drink. Please remember that due to a classroom peanut allergy, students should not share snacks or bring in peanut products for the classroom. It would be helpful to have the following supplies at home when completing your assignments: pencils, erasers, crayons, and a quiet work space. Please remember to contact the school office in the morning if your child is absent. Donations of disinfecting wipes, boxes of tissues, and gallon or sandwich size Ziploc bags would be greatly appreciated throughout the year. Please feel free to contact me with any questions/concerns Email = kpodeszwa@waterfordschools.org Phone = 860-442-2593 Check www.waterfordschools.org for important information, monthly lunch menus, and district news.

5. Art 11:05-11:50 Fourth Grade Schedule – Mrs. Podeszwa’s Class 2015-2016 LUNCH 12:45-1:05/RECESS 1:10-1:30 A DAY: C DAY: D DAY: P.E. 1:35-2:20 Comp. Lab 11:05-11:50 Music 2:15-3:00 Library 1:35-2:20 B DAY: Band A & D1 days Orchestra B & D2 days Chorus C day

6. Science/Social Studies The fourth graders will be switching classes this year. I will be teaching Science and Mrs. McCue will be teaching Social Studies. Reading and Accelerated Reading Program All fourth grade students will be required to read 120 minutes per week at home, in addition to their in-school reading. They will record information about their reading on a “Home Reading Log” each night. Logs will require a parent signature and are due on Mondays. Data from these logs will be used during individual student/teacher conferences, in which goals will be set for future home reading. During their library time, students will choose books that are appropriate for their particular reading level. Books from the leveled classroom library will also be available. After reading the book, students take a brief quiz on the computer and their points are recorded. In working with the school librarian, students have individual incentives, as well as class goals. We encourage students to use their Accelerated Reader books for their weekly reading, both in school and at home. In addition to going to our school library each week, students have access to our class library. They are allowed to choose books at their level for Readers’ Workshop, or if they are researching a particular topic.

7. Math It is very important for students in fourth grade to be able to recall their multiplication facts quickly and accurately. Students should practice this skill at home on a regular basis. It would help to have resources such as multiplication cards, games, or websites available for practice, at home. Frequently in class, students will be tested on their facts. Students will try to master all their multiplication facts, and be able to quickly apply them. We will be working on this skill throughout the year, and encourage students to practice on their own at home. Our math program is called My Math. We will share information with you about the units and Common Core Standards at the beginning of each new unit, as well as, send home unit related vocabulary words. Organization/Friday Folders Students will receive a Homework/Communication folder at the beginning of the year. Students are expected to bring the folder home daily and bring it back to school every morning. In the back of the folder there will be a pocket with a weekly assignment sheet. The sheet will be used to keep track of homework assignments and reminders. We will fill out the assignment sheet in class daily. Families are responsible for checking the assignment sheet regularly. Daily, the folder will be filled with mail, notices from the office, and student work. Please review what is in the folder. Students need to bring the empty folder back each day. Please contact me if you have any questions: kpodeszwa@waterfordschools.org Thank you for your cooperation and help at home.

8. Homework Schedule In order to accommodate different learning styles and schedules, students will receive a packet of homework at the beginning of each week, which will be due on Friday. Directions will be reviewed in class and students will be expected to complete the packet neatly at home. Students will be given an assignment sheet to record their assignments and any reminders that need to be sent home. Students in fourth grade will also have a Home Reading Log. Students should read for 20-30 minutes a night. Their goal is to accumulate a minimum of 120 minutes in a week. Students will be allowed to record times they have read on the weekend to add to their total time and hopefully surpass the minimum goal of 120 minutes. Students will receive this monthly Home Reading Log in their homework folder to record their reading progress. This should remain in the homework folder at all times, as they will be checked frequently. These logs are due every Monday (Tuesday if there is a holiday). Students will be reminded each week to return their monthly log on Monday, with a parent signature. We will review these homework procedures frequently over the next few weeks in class. Please contact me if you have any questions. Thank you for your cooperation!