1. Deep in the Heart of 4th Grade
A Trail Guide for
Fourth Grade at Norton Elementary

2. Teaching Teams
Partners:
Wheeler/VanWinkle
Herrington/Dobson

4. We Believe Our Job Is To…
Inspire
Excite
Challenge
Appreciate

5. Daily Itinerary 7:45-7:55 Begin 8:15-8:45 Castle time
8:55-9:40 Specials
9:45-11:45- Block 1
11:45-12:15 Lunch (Extra 10 minute recess)
12:15-12:35 Recess
12:50-2:50 Block 2
2:55 Dismissal

6. Tools for the Trail
Fourth graders use binders to stay organized. Homework, the Norton Code of Conduct, unfinished work, reading logs, and agendas are kept in the binders. Students are required to bring their binders to school with them each day.
Please check agendas nightly for notes and homework assignments.

7. Download CITRIX for your child to
Complete Nightly Work
Fourth graders have homework almost every night. Homework will consist of:
Math homework
Reading four nights per week
Studying for social studies and science tests
Some long term projects.
Download CITRIX for your child to
complete work at home.

8. Keep In Touch
If your fourth grader will be absent, please your homeroom teacher, and she will gather any missed work. Please let us know if you would like to pick up your child’s work at the end of the school day in the front office area.
Please turn in an absence note within 3 days of the absence.
Your child will have one day for each day missed to complete makeup work.
If there is a change in plans during the school day, contact the office.

9. Keep In Touch, continued….
If you have questions or concerns, please your child’s content specific teacher.
We welcome communication from you. Please understand that it may take 24 hours for a response.

10. Stay Connected
Wednesday Folders contain communication from school and completed graded work for you to keep. Please return folder and papers the next day.
Codes and Agendas are to be viewed and signed on Wednesday nights.
Fourth Grade Newsletters are done weekly either through or websites.

11. Know the Lay of the Land Language Arts Writing
Spiraling Process of prewriting, drafting, revising, editing, publishing
Word Work (grammar, spelling)
Reading
Reading is Thinking!
Social Studies
Everything is bigger in TEXAS! 

12. Know the Lay of the Land, continued…
Social Studies-Texas History
Map Skills/Geography
Regions of Texas and the United States
Texas Beginnings
Influence on North America, Spain, and Mexico
The Road to Statehood
Civil War
Cattle Industry and Oil Boom
Elections/Government

14. Lay of the Land, continued…
Math
Drill and Practice- Need to know multiplication facts!
Problem Solving- critical thinking and multi-step problems
Content Instruction- modeling and guided practice (Many new skills this year.)
Learning Groups- assessments, work stations, reinforcement of skills
Math Journals- concepts, examples, strategies on solving problems
Websites have many resources to help your child

15. Know the Lay of the Land, continued…
Science
Scientific Processes
Properties of Matter
Mixtures & Solutions
Energy, Force, & Motion
Shadows, Seasons, Moon, & Tides
Weather & Water Cycle
Soil, Weathering, Erosion, Deposition
Natural Resources
Life Cycles, Inherited Traits, & Adaptations
Food Chains & Food Webs

16. Know the Lay of the Land, continued…
CASTLE TIME
30 Minute block from 8:15-8:45
Time for Intervention and/or Enrichment
Access to various teachers and resources including, SSI, Dyslexia, ESL, and Speech
Students will move between groups as needed throughout the year

17. Avoid An Ambush AKA: Don’t be Caught off Guard at Report Card Time
Skyward is available for students and parents to view grades at any time.
Access Skyward through the family access link on the district website.

18. Identify Friend or Foe
Conflicts occasionally arise in a classroom of nine and ten-year-olds.
Talk with your child about concerns.
Share concerns with teacher.
Teacher cannot discuss another child with you.

19. Use Technology
Fourth graders use a variety of technology during the school day and for homework.
Consider downloading CITRIX on your home computer.

20. Plan to Hit the Trail
We will be taking several field trips this year including:
More information to come …

21. Shoot for the STAAR Testing
Please be aware of these dates when making appointments.
November 8th & 9th week benchmarks
January 10th- STAAR writing simulation
February 21st – STAAR math simulation
February 22nd – STAAR reading simulation
Fourth graders take 3 STAAR tests.
State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness
Math– May 8th - rigorous math problem solving
Writing– March 28th - consists of revising/editing and writing one expository compositions
Reading – May 9th - rigorous reading and comprehension

22. Parent Conferences
Parent conferences will be held in October. We will send out a pre-conference form and an invitation to sign-up genius to schedule your conference.

23. Q & A
Thank you for attending tonight’s session. We look forward to a fun year.