WELCOME TO PARENT ORIENTATION Fourth Grade

CURRICULUM  Math (Place Value, Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division, Geometry)  Science (Cycles, Soil, Adaptations, Energy Sources, Body Systems)  Texas History (Native Americans, Explorers, Alamo, San Jacinto, Cowboys, Oil)  Reading (Main Idea, Inferencing, Summary, Sequencing)  Writing (Narrative, Expository, Revising, Editing)  Word Work (Prefix, Suffix)

CLASS WORK  Completed in class during the school day  Counts for 90% of grade GRADING SCALE  A =  B =  C =  D =  F = Below 70

RAISE  After school time to complete missing assignments  If your child needs to stay after school for RAISE a form will be sent home for you to sign  RAISE occurs Wednesdays from 4:00-4:45

LATE WORK For classwork, homework, and projects submitted after the due date:  1 st day: -10 points  2 nd day: -20 points  3 + days: - 30 points  If work is not turned in by the end of the nine week grading period, students will be given a zero for the assignment

RETESTS  Students earning below a 70% on tests have the opportunity to retake the test  The teacher will reteach the material and the student will retake the test within 5 days from when the original test was given  Students will receive the higher grade, but cannot receive higher than a 70%  For more information, please see the handout

TAKE HOME PAPERS  Graded papers will be sent home on Wednesday  Papers should remain at home unless otherwise noted  Fourth Grade Week-at-a-Glance sent home Mondays giving an overview of the week  Flyers from the school will be sent home on Wednesdays

PROGRESS REPORTS AND REPORT CARDS  Progress reports will be sent home in the middle of the nine week grading period  Report cards will be sent home at the end of the nine week grading period  Progress reports and report cards should be signed and returned the next school day

HOMEWORK SCHEDULE

HOMEWORK  Completed at home  Counts for 10% of the grade  Major projects completed at home will count for 90% of the grade

MATH  Homework given Mondays and Wednesdays due the following day  Monday due Tuesday  Wednesday due Thursday  Homework will cover concepts previously taught in class.

SCIENCE AND SOCIAL STUDIES  Students will receive a study guide for science and social studies tests

READING  Homework given Tuesdays due Wednesdays  Reading logs  Students should read for 30 minutes each night  Parents should sign students’ reading logs daily after students read  Logs will be stapled in students red homework folders  Logs will be checked sporadically throughout the month  Logs will be collected at the end of each month for a grade

WRITING  Homework will be given on Thursdays due Fridays  Writing assignment  Revising and Editing passage

WORD WORK  Homework will be given Monday due Friday  Students should be working with the letters all week creating words with prefixes and suffixes  Word Work Tests are given covering the prefixes and suffixes discussed

OTHER HOMEWORK  Students will record their homework in their planners each day  Please make sure to read your student’s planner for an additional homework (example: field trip form due)

RULES, REWARDS, CONSEQUENCES

SCHOOL RULES  Keep hands, feet, and objects to yourself, and speak respectfully to others  Come to class prepared and ready to learn  Follow directions the first time given

CLASSROOM ECONOMY  In math we teach a unit on financial literacy. This unit involves many vocabulary words that most students are unfamiliar with, such as deposit, withdrawal, and profit.  Our classroom economy gives the students an opportunity to hear these words throughout the school year and learn some real life money applications  Here’s how it works…

CLASSROOM ECONOMY  Students apply for jobs they are interested in completing throughout the entire school year.  Students receive monthly paycheck for their work.  The money from their paycheck is deposited into their online bank account. (mykidsbank.org)  Students will rent or purchase their desk each month  Bonuses: rewards through having good grades, improving grades, doing well on tests, turning in homework on time  Fines: breaking school rules like not turning in homework, talking out, not being prepared, disrespectfulness

CLASSROOM ECONOMY  Classroom Store  Students can purchase needs like pencils, glue, pens…  Students can also purchase wants like stinky feet pass, hat pass, stuffed animal pass  Auction  6 times per year  Students may contribute items (with parent note)  Students will receive 50% of the profit for their item

PANTHER PRINCIPLE CARD  Behavior folders are sent home daily  Parents should sign the card on the designated spot each week  Students should bring their behavior folder/card with them everyday

REWARDS  Verbal Praise  Stickers, Notes  Extra Recess  “Bonuses”

CONSEQUENCES  Verbal warnings  Mark in folder  “Fines”  Loss of recess or “Laps” around the playground  Sever or repeated behavior will result in an immediate discipline referral

OTHER INFORMATION

DROP OFF/DISMISSAL  Car riders should have a typed tag to correspond to a typed hanging tag for the car picking up the child  For the safety of the children, please do not drop off students in the front of the school and have them cross traffic in the parent drive  Students may be dropped off as early as 7:50 AM and can go to the cafeteria  Students are dismissed from the cafeteria at 8:00  School begins at 8:20

DISMISSAL CHANGES  A note from the parent should be sent to the student’s homeroom teacher  Changes to back walker must be approved by an administrator  Students riding a bus home also must be approved by the office

FAMILY NIGHT  Math Night: October 15 th at 6:30  Literacy Night: November 19 th at 6:00  Science Night: February 4 th at 6:00

SNACK  Students can bring a healthy snack to school to eat during the day  Students may also bring water to drink during the school day

FIELD TRIPS  Outdoor Learning Center:  November  half day, 2 or 3 classes at a time  George Ranch  Date pending  All classes, all day

STAAR DATES  Writing: Tuesday, March 29 th and Wednesday, March 30 th  Math: Monday, May 9 th  Reading: Tuesday, May 10 th

DISTRICT LEARNING ASSESSMENTS  Simulate STAAR testing- most questions taken from previous STAAR tests  Tests are about the length of a regular class period (1 hour)  Covers only material that has been taught in class  Students who qualify will receive accommodations during testing

PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES  Sign-up Genius guide by door  Call or us too  Mrs. Goldsmith    Mrs. Embley  

THANKS FOR COMING! We are going to have a great year!