1. August 14, 2014 Dear Parents, I’m very excited about the upcoming year! We are going to learn so much and have tons of fun in the process. If you need to get in touch with me, I prefer that you e- mail me (denise.murphy@stlucieschools.org) or send in a note/write a note in your child’s planner since I have limited use of the phone. I do check my e-mail several times a day and I can get back with you quickly. If you write a note, I will always do my best to respond that day. Make sure you visit our fourth grade website at http://murphysturtles.weebly.com Click on our class tab for important information to help acquaint you with our classroom procedures and other useful information. http://murphysturtles.weebly.com I believe that communication is very important in any relationship and my relationship with you is a vital one. Your child will benefit greatly from our work as a team. Sincerely, Denise Murphy

2. Expectations and Reinforcement Classroom Expectations: 1. Be Safe 2. Be Responsible 3. Be Respectful 4. Be Positive To encourage students to follow the classroom expectations, I reinforce appropriate behavior with positive feedback and osprey dollars. Students will have the opportunity to spend their osprey dollars each week. ULTIMATE SURVIVOR Students will have the opportunity to vote for other students who show appropriate behavior. The Ultimate Survivor will have special privileges including picking an alliance to sit in a special sitting area. Consequences: 1st time – Verbal Warning 2nd time – Written Warning 3 rd time - Note to parent 4rd time – Parent Conference 5th time – Referral to administration Severe Disruption – Referral to administration

3. Homework Policy MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY: READING RESPONSE HOMEWORK: Students will be required to read for 30 minutes each day. Students will prepare a weekly written assignment using the 4 th grade Homework Reading Response Menu which is DUE EVERY FRIDAY. (Keep copy is in Homework Folder for the entire month.) SPELLING/VOCABULARY HOMEWORK: A Monthly Menu will be provided monthly with different choices for completing spelling, vocabulary, sight word Homework. Each night, students will choose 5 spelling word assignments and 3 vocabulary words. On Thursday, there will only be 1 vocabulary word with the 5 spelling words so there will be time to STUDY for the weekly test every Friday. HW is to be completed in your child’s notebook; DUE EVERY FRIDAY. Word lists are provided weekly and glued into the HW notebook. It is also available on our website: murphysturtles.weebly.com EDITING WORKSHEETS: will come home in HW folder; must be returned the NEXT DAY so we can review. This will come home each week in your child’s HW folder. MATH WORKSHEETS will come home in HW folder; must be returned the NEXT DAY so we can review them. Sometimes, Math worksheets are assigned over a weekend. This will come home each week in your child’s HW folder. Assessments occur as we complete the skills being taught. There will be a weekly vocabulary and editing assessments. Usually, there will be no homework assigned on Fridays. If your child experiences any difficulty with homework or you have a question about the homework, please send me an email (denise.murphy@stlucieschools.org ) as I frequently check my school email in the evenings. I will get back to you.denise.murphy@stlucieschools.org Homework Helpers: I provided a variety of homework helpers for Math either by hardcopy via email attachment or websites. In addition, I will provide you with websites for your child to practice Math skills online via interactive games which track the student’s progress through mastery of the concept/skill. Projects I will also send home a packet of Florida projects that we will be doing throughout the year. Research, of course, involves reading, so their research projects will also be their reading homework. A reminder sheet with a date will be sent home at the beginning of each month.

4. Home/School Connection Survivor Florida Website The Survivor Florida website is up and running. It has many helpful links as well as a copy of our vocabulary and high frequency words, project information, and other homework helpers. Each week, it will be updated with any important information. It has great resources for researching for museum projects and homework helpers so make sure you add the address to your favorites and check it out often. http://murphysturtles.weebly.com http:// Planner Your child will be receiving a planner to record homework assignments, important information, and reminders for parents. I ask that you sign your child’s planner each night and check to make sure your child has completed his/her assignments. Please feel free to write a note to me in their planner as I will be checking these every day. Your child will put handouts such as homework sheets, reminders, or office notes in this planner as well. Progress Reports Every other week, your child will bring home a green parent/teacher folder which will include your child’s work from the previous weeks and a progress report showing your child’s averages. All the work is yours to keep once you receive it. You will be asked to sign the progress report and return it promptly. Parent/Teacher Portal You can view your child’s grades at any time through the Parent Portal. Please contact the front office if you have any questions about how to access the Parent Portal.

5. Miss Murphy’s Supply List Book bag or Backpack (no wheels) #2 pencils (always needed in class so please replenish throughout the year) pencil case or box 2 boxes of tissues * 2 packs of 24 count crayons (no larger!) 5 composition notebooks (no spirals) * Ziploc bags (quart and sandwich) * Disinfecting wipes (2) 5 folders (red, blue, yellow, green, purple) 12 glue sticks colored pencils Scissors 2 black chisel tip dry erase markers 1 pack of cardstock (any bright color or a variety pack WISH LIST ITEMS Donations of any of the following items would be greatly appreciated: PENCILS, CARD STOCK, index cards, light bulbs, computer labels (10 or 30 labels per page), scotch tape refills, duct tape, clear packing tape, Flair pens, chisel tip dry erase markers (color packs), dry erase erasers, brads (brass fasteners), and paper plates (any size).

6. Murphy’s Turtle Schedule 8:30 – 8:45Morning Business 8:45 – 9:30RTI 9:30 – 10:00 PE 10:00 – 11:00 Math 11:00 – 11:45 Resource 4 Day Rotation (see below our class is split) 11:45 – 12:15 Lunch 12:15 – 1:15 Language Arts 1:15 – 1:45 Social Studies/Science 1:45 – 3:10Reading 3:10 – 3:30 Clean up and Dismissal Kurtz: Day 1: PE (Hoffman) Day 2: Science Day 3: PE (Carlson) Day 4: Music Levin: Day 1: Music Day 2: PE (Hoffman) Day 3: Science Day 4: PE (Carlson)

7. Murphy’s Class List Anthony Apicella Chris Berrera Christian Basdeo Ashley Birmingham Tiyan Cunningham Ashley Darden MicahDavis Julia Decesare Jose Estrada Liliana Galvan Deanna Geraskin Caleb Hindman Owen Jean Dylan McKinley Andrew Moens Kaidan Nichols Alyssa Pharay Alexander Proulx Leonard Rodriguez Roudenie Saint Juste Tyler Schneider Thomas Singer Kaylee Spencer Jansell Tielve