1. 4th Grade Expectations

2. Helpful Hints for a Successful Year
Communication between a parent, teacher and child is essential to having a successful year

3. Please check your child’s planner nightly
Please check your child’s planner nightly. It needs to be initialed daily by a parent-Vital so you know what your child is learning  ***Planner cost = $5.00
Monday – Thursday: will not have homework every night in Social Studies and Science. These subjects are more project based.  Occasionally your child will come home with their Science Journals to study vocabulary. 
Homework in 4th grade should take no longer than 40 minutes per night.

4. If you have questions please do the following
You can write a note in your child’s planner, I’ll see it when I stamp it.
- I check during the school day and will respond back within 24 hours.
You can call the front office and they will give the message to me

5. Crew Member’s Responsibility Agreement
Attentive Listening
Mutual Respect
Appreciation/ No put downs
Right to pass

6. Dress Code
Please remember that all students must be in uniform daily except for "Dollar Thursday's" 
"Dollar Thursday's" allow students to bring $1.00 to their homeroom class to dress "down"
This money is collected by the school and distributed to your child's homeroom class. Teachers can purchase anything needed for their classrooms. 
Reminders:
ALL students must wear tennis shoes except for Thursday's
ALL hi-jab's must be navy blue or white
ALL polo's/shirts MUST have Manara Academy logo

7. Our Websites
Please look on the manaraacademy.org website to find our individual pages
The websites are located under the "Staff Directory" section
On the sites you will find weekly updates such as
Newsletters
If you would like a hardcopy please request one with your homeroom teacher
Homework updates
Manara News/Events

8. 4th grade schedule Monday Schedule
8:00- 8:25                       Morning Meeting in homeroom                       
8:25/8:30- 9:40              1st rotation/students in H.R.
9:45- 10:55                     of students extra time
                                         w/ Mrs. Mercer or Miss. PJ
11:00- 11:55                   2nd rotation  
11:55- 12:25                   Lunch
12:25- 12:45                   Recess
12:45- 1:05                     Dear time/aloud reading
1:05- 2:05                       P. E. (all 4th grade)
2:10-3:15                        Final rotation
3:15-3:30                       Closing circle

9. 4th grade schedule Tuesday Schedule
8:00- 8:25                       Morning Meeting in homeroom                       
8:25/8:30- 9:40              1st rotation/students in H.R.
9:45- 10:55                     of students extra time
                                         w/ Mrs. Mercer or Miss. PJ
11:00- 11:55                   2nd rotation  
11:55- 12:25                   Lunch
12:25- 12:45                   Recess
12:45- 1:05                     Dear time/aloud reading
1:05- 2:05                       P. E. (all 4th grade)
2:10-3:15                        Final rotation
3:15-3:30                       Closing circle

10. 4th grade schedule Wednesday Schedule
8:00- 8:25                       Morning Meeting in homeroom                       
8:25/8:30- 9:40              1st rotation/students in H.R.
9:45- 10:55                     of students extra time
                                         w/ Mrs. Mercer or Miss. PJ
11:00- 11:55                   2nd rotation  
11:55- 12:25                   Lunch
12:25- 12:45                   Recess
12:45- 1:05                     Dear time/aloud reading
1:05- 2:05                       P. E. (all 4th grade)
2:10-3:15                        Final rotation
3:15-3:30                       Closing circle

11. 4th grade schedule Thursday Schedule
8:00- 8:25                       Morning Meeting in homeroom                       
8:25/8:30- 9:40              1st rotation/students in H.R.
9:45- 10:55                     of students extra time
                                         w/ Mrs. Mercer or Miss. PJ
11:00- 11:55                   2nd rotation  
11:55- 12:25                   Lunch
12:25- 12:45                   Recess
12:45- 1:05                     Dear time/aloud reading
1:05- 2:05                       P. E. (all 4th grade)
2:10-3:15                        Final rotation
3:15-3:30                       Closing circleT

12. 4th grade schedule Friday schedule- 8:00- 8:30 Morning Meeting
8:35- 9:20 Social Studies/Science Hoyt homeroom (A)
9:25-10:10 S.S./Science Mercer homeroom (B)
10:15-11:00 S.S./Science Pjtrovic homeroom (C)
11:05- 11:35 Lunch
11:40- 11:50 Clean up/Back up for the day
11:50- 12:30 Community Circle every 3rd Friday
12:35- 12:55 In Class Recess
*on the Fridays we do not have Community Circle we will have 4th grade team building and/or work on our expedition. 

13. Learning Targets 1st 9 week overview Science Goals Safety Tools
(Our learning targets are based on the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills- TEKS)
1st 9 week overview
Social Studies:
 Community
Citizenship
Map Skills  
Science: Earth
Science Goals
Safety
Tools
Objects in the Sky- Moon/Sun-Affect the Earth
Weather
Seasons
Bodies of Water
Sept 22nd-Nov 23rd, 2011

14. Learning Targets 1st 9 week overview Sept 22nd-Nov 23rd, 2011 Math:
(Our learning targets are based on the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills- TEKS)
1st 9 week overview
Math:
  Place Value
Adding/Subtracting 
Rounding whole numbers/decimals
Subtracting Across Zeros
Multiplication Meaning/Facts
Division Meaning/Facts 
Homework will USUALLY be given Monday-Thursday 
Sept 22nd-Nov 23rd, 2011

15. Language Arts Curriculum Information
* Textbooks:
- Texas Treasures by McGraw-Hill
* Writing: students will complete multiple essays throught the year. This will prepare them for the STAAR test and help build their writing skills.
* Homework: every week students have a spelling list and reading assignment sent home to prepare for Friday tests.
    -Spelling:  Students should write their spelling words four to five times a week.  They are only required two times for a grade
    - Reading:  Students are encouraged to read every day at home for at least fifteen minutes.  They are expected to know their assigned reading so they can pass their reading quiz on Firday.

16. First Quarter Learning Targets (Our learning targets are based on the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills- TEKS)        
I can write journal responses to various topics .
I can practice editing skills.
I can complete journal entries using higher-order thinking skills.
I can learn new sight words and review old sight words.
      (spell, define, and use in a sentence).
I can write a three paragraph essay and use the writing process to complete a final draft.
I can read with understanding and comprehension.  
I can gather information, organize my thoughts, and present to the class.

17. Important dates for the year
Student Lead Conferences- Dec 14th-16th
Dismissal on those day will be at 1pm
Student Lead conferences are MANDATORY for a guardian and THE STUDENT
Writing STAAR- March
Math  STAAR- April 26th
Reading  STAAR April 27th
The STAAR is the new State Mandated test and their are many differences with this test.  Biggest:it is a time test (5hrs)

18. Expeditionary Learning
Expeditionary Learning (EL) is an instructional approach that focuses on teaching in a rigorous and engaging way.
Elements of an Expedition
Integrated subjects, linked with overarching Guiding Questions
Field Studies and expert visitors
Character education, including service
Final project or performance demonstrating learning goals

19. Water, Water, Everywhere? Field Studies and Guest Speakers
Expeditions
Water, Water, Everywhere?
Field Studies and Guest Speakers
This expedition is a science based expedition with language arts and math integration within.
December- Lake Lewisville Nature Preserve
December/Jan Onsite Virtual Field Study on Erosion and Weathering
January-Denton Water Treatment Plant 
January-Expert Speaker on Wells 
** All field studies and months are approximate, as we begin confirming and setting up events we will notify you.**

20. Assessments/Science Lab Journal Entries
Teacher Observation/ Anecdotal Records
Projects/ Presentations
Lab Work
Tests
Labs/Cooperative learning groups

21. Assessments/Social Studies
Teacher Observation/ Anecdotal Records
Projects/ Presentations
In Class work
Tests
Groupwork

22. Assessments/Math Teacher Observation/ Anecdotal Records
Projects/ Presentations
In Class work/Centers
Tests
Groupwork
***All TESTS that students score below a 70% on may be corrected

23. Assessments/Language Arts
Teacher Observation/ Anecdotal Records
Projects/ Presentations
In Class work
Tests
Groupwork

24. Special’s and Language Teachers
Kelly Ford- Art
Micah Grimes-Health Fitness
Amal Alazzeh- Arabic
Gamal Kahla- Arabic
Sohier Mohsen- Arabic
Farhanza Ghazizadeh- French