Behavior Expectations Conduct Folders Conduct v. Work Habits “Fantastic 4” School Values Grade determined at the end of the 9 weeks Parents initial every time a teacher signs. Cougar Cash Reward for making good choices “Cashed in” for coupons corresponding to rewards on reward menu

Graded Work  Be sure to check folders each Tuesday.  Sign the top page to indicate you have seen the work and return all graded work.  Review work you see your child having trouble with.  Contact your child’s teacher if you have any questions.  If your child receives below 70 on an assignment, re-teaching of the skill will be provided and there will be an opportunity to improve the grade. There are many great resources available on the Internet. If you search for a specific concept or skill, you can find many practice pages, online games, background information, etc.

Homework *Assigned Monday-Thursday *Up to 40 minutes a night *Used to review skills *Students should be reading (or on Istation) minutes every day outside of school hours *It is important to set up a regular routine for doing homework and making sure it is returned to school the next day.

Conferences *Ms. Kumari and I are available by appointment on Wednesdays and Fridays from 8:10-8:40. Please contact either one of us to schedule an appointment.

Schedule Important times to know: First bell – 7:35 Tardy bell - 7:45 Instruction begins immediately Magnet – 8:00-8:45 P.E. – once a week during Magnet Art – Tuesday Science Lab – Friday and every other Wednesday Library and Computer Lab - Thursday Recess – 11:10-11:40 Lunch – 11:45-12:21 (staggered by teacher) Dismissal – 3:00

Testing Dates for 4 th Grade  STAAR Writing – March 29/30  STAAR Math – May 9  STAAR Reading – May 10  IOWA – no longer given

VIPS Clearance We will be taking a field trip to Camp for All (near Burton, TX) in the spring. We love to have volunteers! Remember that VIPS clearance is an annual process. You must show your driver’s license at the front office every year. Please take care of this early. The clearance process can take 2-3 weeks.

IStation Letters will be sent home soon with installation and login information. Istation is a program to help with a variety of reading skills. It is individualized and assesses the student’s progress monthly. I would like each student to be on Istation at least 30 minutes per week at home.

C A F E Comprehension Accuracy Fluency Expand Vocabulary

Words Their Way Differentiated spelling program Students are responsible for bringing words home Monday Students will have a Spelling Menu of activities and will be required to complete an activity of their choice each night, Monday through Thursday Test on Friday

STAAR Writing Test 2 day test (March 29/30) 4 hours each day 1 composition each day + multiple choice revision and editing questions 2 styles of writing– Personal Narrative and Expository 1 page/26 lines Parent Information Writing Night

Magnifying This is a strategy for narrowing focus on a personal narrative. One of the biggest mistake students make is ‘listing’ everything that happened rather than telling about one part of an experience in detail. Write down 3 ‘big’ ideas in response to the prompt. Pick one. Write down 3 ‘smaller’ ideas about the idea you picked. Write a central idea sentence for each idea. Pick one.

Magnifying Step 1 Prompt: Write about a favorite memory.  college graduation  visiting the Great Wall of China  getting a new puppy Pick one idea to write about.

Magnifying Step 2 Write 3 ‘smaller’ ideas about the idea you picked.  driving to get the puppy  picking the puppy from the litter  driving home with the puppy in my lap

Magnifying Step 3 Write a central idea sentence for each.  As we drove down the street, my heart beat with excitement at the thought of getting my new puppy.  The fluffy puppies tumbled over each other, and my heart melted when I caught sight of a small brown and white bundle of fur I knew would soon be mine.  The puppy squirmed in my arms as we drove home.

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