2. Who Am I? I am your constant companion. I am your greatest helper or heaviest burden. I will push you onward or drag you down to failure. I am completely at your command. Half the things you do you might just as well turn over to me and I will be able to do them quickly and correctly. I am easily managed- you must merely be firm with me. Show me exactly how you want something done and after a few lessons I will do it automatically. I am the servant of all great individuals and, alas, of all failures as well. Those who are great, I have made great. Those who are failures, I have made failures. I am not a machine, though I work with the precision of a machine plus the intelligence of a human. You may run me for a profit or run me for ruin- it makes no difference to me. Take me, train me, be firm with me, and I will place the world at your feet. Be easy with me and I will destroy you. Author Unknown

3. Each class operates using the new WAVE matrix: 1.) Well Prepared 2.) Act Responsibly 3.) Value Self & Others 4.) Earth Friendly Our focus this year will be based on a positive reinforcement system. Inappropriate behavior- 1 st time- warning, 2 nd time- student will fill out a behavior action plan. 3 rd time- parent contact, 4 th time- office referral.

4. Daily Schedule for 4 th Grade Students 4 th grade schedules are posted in each room 4 th grade room. Schedules will be sent home in the Friday folder. Can also be found on the school web page under each teacher.

5. AVID Advancement Via Individual Determination AVID is a program that helps students with appropriate study, motivation, and organizational habits. The agenda is a important aspect of implementing AVID and students as well as teachers are assessed based on how AVID skills are being used in the classroom. Additionally, students will begin taking a more active role in their learning through self-evaluations for many student directed/teacher-facilitated activities. AVID in the classroom consists of having agenda filled in and signed by a parent daily; this has to become a daily habit (look through your child’s agenda to indentify other successful habits). The agenda will be checked daily by all 5 teachers. The agenda is designed to be a communication tool between home and school. Please be sure to check the agenda daily for notes and important information from your child’s teacher.

6. Homogenous grouping will be based on students’ needs and is subject to change as goals are met or additional needs identified All 5 classes will be grouped based on academic need Students will travel with the same group throughout the day Assessment data will be used to determine when learning goals have been met Students will assess their own learning using a rubric Students will assess themselves on many assignments using a rubric

7. Specials We have a new schedule for Specials this year. There are A-G specials and each class operates using their assigned special for each day. Specials include: Art, Library, P.E., Music, Computers, Science Lab and Chinese. Students are expected to behave appropriately in specials classes Inappropriate behavior in specials classes will result in a warning for each offense Parents will be contacted if student has repeated inappropriate behavior during specials

8. How will you know how your child is doing? FRIDAY FOLDERS

9. Mr. Harris & Mrs. Burns will be teaching Science Students will learn Science Process Skills and then begin a unit on Earth in the Universe & Ecosystems Students will complete a Science Fair Project (Mid-November- Winter Break) Teaching will consist of a variety of hands-on labs and we will send letters home for donations to complete projects. Mrs. McRae-Abney will teach all subjects

10. Mrs. Burns and Mr. Harris are teaching math Accelerated Math is a computer program that allows students to work at their own pace on specific math objectives; each student is responsible for completing at least 2 AC Math scans each week Students will have homework- nightly Weekly quizzes include: Multiplication, Mental Math, and Drops in the Bucket Students will participate in First in Math, an internet based math program We look forward to meeting the individual needs of students Mrs. McRae-Abney will be teaching all subjects

11. Mrs. Miracle and Ms. Morgan will be teaching Language Arts Mrs. McRae-Abney will be teaching all subjects A variety of book projects will be assigned throughout the school year Homework will be cursive practice, study the word study list and read for 30 minutes each night Accelerated Reading will be used this year as an incentive program 1 st quarter objectives will involve establishing a literary environment. Writing will consist of complete sentence and paragraph structure.

12. Social Studies will be integrated with Language Arts There will be a variety of written and research projects that students will complete in Social Studies Students will experience innovative techniques for learning including interactive projects and performances

13. VOLUNTEER- we need assistance with copying, small reading groups, tutoring, bulletin boards, anything you can do! Donations- large and small zip-lock bags, index cards, tissues, post-it notes, notebook paper, healthy snacks, Dollar Tree party favors (for our PBIS store), small individually wrapped candies, pencils, tissues, Purex hand sanitizer Be Accountable- check your child’s agenda daily Ask questions- if there’s something you don’t understand, please ask your child’s homeroom teacher Get fingerprinted- so you can volunteer in a greater capacity Start a parent partnership- reach out to shy parents

14. If you still have questions or concerns and would like to schedule a conference, please contact your child’s homeroom teacher and a conference will be scheduled. As a team, we will notify individual parents regarding the need for a conference. Thanks so much for coming out and we look forward to working with your family this year!