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All About 4All About 4thth Grade! Grade!
Bolin Elementary4th Grade
2015-2016
Welcome Parents and Guardians!
We have already started a fabulous year!
We look forward to each and every day with your children! It is a joy to come to school!
Reading In the primary grades, students have been learning to
read. As 4th graders, students are reading to learn. This year we are focusing on strategies that readers use to understand and connect to the text they read. We will go much deeper in our thinking using the following strategies.
QuestioningInferringSynthesizingVisualizingDetermining Importance
Electronic Readers
Students may bring electronic devices such as Kindles to use during reading class.
There is a form that must be completed before students can bring their devices.
Students may check out e-books from the Bolin library using their specific personal devices such as Kindle.
Independent Reading
Independent Reading Goals
Read a variety of genres (refer to the 40 Book Challenge Genre Wheel in this presentation).
Students write in Reader’s/Writer’s Notebooks and participate in book discussions.
Reading Homework Students need to read their books nightly (Monday – Friday), a minimum of 20 minutes. If they are busy one night, they need to take the responsibility to make up for the lost 20 minutes. Parents/guardians, you can read books together and have discussions.
Students record minutes read per night on the reading log. The reading log is located in their binders. It is the students’ responsibility and for parents/guardians to check that the minutes read are recorded.
Parents/Guardians sign the total number of reading minutes on the reading log at the end of the week.
Reading in class DOES NOT count for their reading at home.
Independent Reading Makes a Difference
Percentile Rank
Minutes of Text Reading
per Day
Estimated Number of
Words Read per Year
98 90.7 4,733,000
90 40.4 2,357,000
70 21.7 1,168,000
50 12.9 601,000
20 3.1 134,000
10 1.6 51,000
Your child has agreed to participate in the 40 book Challenge this year! We are looking forward to working together with you and your child to help in reaching this goal.
The purpose of this activity is to challenge students to read a variety of genres and instill a love of reading.
In addition, research shows that reading from a variety of genres has been proven the best way to improve as a reader and as a writer.
40 Book Challenge
The goal for each grading period is to read and complete a response activity for each book read.
Detailed information in reference to reading goals and book response activities will come home soon.
Meeting this reading goal will count as one of your child’s reading grades for each grading period.
40 Book Challenge Reading Goal
In class, I will assist students in picking out appropriate and appealing books for his or her reading level. Additionally, students will have reading time dedicated to self-selected reading. You can help by making sure that your child reads for a minimum of 20 minutes a night. Also, you can read books together and have discussions.
Please e-mail me if you have any questions. In advance, thank you for your support.
40 Book Challenge Book Selections
An example of the 40 Book Challenge Genre Wheel
Writing
We will be writing everyday.We will be putting a puzzle together as we focus on the 6 traits of writing.We will write narratives, poetry, expository, fantasy, etc.We will keep our writing in our Writer’s Craft folder in our classroom, so that we can use them throughout the year for self–analysis of growth. Please feel free to stop by and view your children’s writings.We will publish writings throughout the year.
Word Work
On a routine basis, students’ work will be closely evaluated and individual lists of words will be provided. The students will keep their list of words inside their Writer’s folder and use during writing activities.
This will be an interactive word list. Students will be in charge of maintaining the list.
Routine spelling tests are not given.
Math
Math Cont.Ways to help your child:
Look over their work that is returned in their Tuesday Folder.
Compliment them on things they are doing well.Help them practice topics with which they are struggling.
Use math as much as possible in daily conversation.
Use the extra problems and explanations that will be emailed home as we learn new topics.
Please feel free to contact me if you are looking for other ways to help your child.
Math HomeworkHomework will be given out every night (Monday thru Thursday) and due back the next day.Homework will consist of what we are learning in class. This should not take them more than 10 to 20 minutes.The students are encouraged to complete their homework with friends or have older siblings or parents help them and check it. I tell them: ”Two brains are better than one!”
It’s practice, so if they aren’t understanding something, it’s a great time for them to get help.
Math Homework Cont.Each homework assignment will contain math facts on the back. They will practice the same ones all week for homework and take a short “quiz” the following Monday. If they get all of the answers correct on the quiz, they will get a reward in class. If your child is struggling with the math facts, please help quiz him/her, create flashcards to practice, find an app your child can use, etc.
Feel free to email me if you are looking for other strategies to help your child learn their math facts.
ScienceTopics we will cover:
Scientific MethodScientific Process Skills
– Safety – Weather– Properties of matter– Adaptations– Life cycles– Food chains and food webs– Force and Motion– Shadows, Seasons, Moons, Tides– Inherited and Learned Traits
Hands-on learning in the lab often
Social StudiesWe will be learning these topics about Texas:
Geography- – Mapping Skills– Landforms
Regions of TexasAmerican IndiansEuropean ExplorersTexas ColonizationThe AlamoTexas RevolutionCattle Kingdom, Oil, and Railroads
We will enjoy learning about the history of our great state!
Missed Homework - (All Subjects)Testing DatesRules, Consequences, and ProceduresCommunication between Home and SchoolQuestions and Comments
Incomplete Work and Missed Class Work - (All Subjects)
Incomplete work from the day = Homework
Absent Student - Any work that needs to be completed from the
day he/she is absent will be given one day to
complete. (1 day absence = 1 day to complete work)
Work can be sent home with a sibling, neighbor, or picked up at the office. Please request the homework before noon.
4th Grade TestingBenchmark Dates
Math = November 10th
Reading= November 11th
Science = November 12th
Simulation Dates
Writing= January 12th-13th
Math = February 22nd
Reading = February 23rd
STAAR Dates
Writing = March 29th-30th
Math = May 9th
Reading = May 10th
Our Classroom Community
Our classroom is a community. In our community, we have rules and procedures to help us get along with one another and learn to the best of our ability.
The next few slides will present our classroom rules and a few classroom/school procedures.
Classroom Rules
1. Follow the teacher’s directions.
2. Respect your classmates in your words and actions.
3. Keep your hands, feet, and objects to yourself.
4. Listen when someone else is talking.
5. Class time is for class activities.
Non-
negotiabl
e
Breaking Rules
Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 5 - Warning
- Behavior Concern Notice sheet
- Loss of recess
- Think sheet
- Lunch detention
- Loss of recess
- Parent phone call
- Parent sign both sheets
Parent conference
Office visit
Recess
Line up quickly in # order at the sound of the whistle
Straight line
Zero voices
Hall/Restroom expectations
Specials
Enter quietly
Listen to directions
Exit silently
Home Notes
The next couple of slides explain the types of notes that could be sent home:
Behavior Concern NoticesThink SheetsResponsibility Reports
Behavior Concern Notices
There are two types of behavior concern notices: one without a spot for a parent signature and one with it.
The one without a parent signature will be the first one given to a student when his/her behavior needs to be corrected. This is the student’s opportunity to fix his/her behavior before a parent is notified. If the behavior continues, another behavior concern notice will be filled out, but this time the student will need to get a parent to sign it and return it to school.
Behavior Concern Notice
Name: ______________________________ Date: ___________________
Please correct your behavior.Please return to task.See me after class!
Behavior concern ___________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Conference results _________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Student signature _____________________________
Behavior Concern Notice
Name: ______________________________ Date: ___________________
Please correct your behavior.Please return to task.See me after class!
Behavior concern ___________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Conference results _________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Student signature _____________________________
Parent signature _______________________________
Think Sheets
A think sheet will be filled out by the student for extreme behaviors or when behaviors continue even after behavior concern notices have been sent home.
Think sheets always require a parent signature and need to be returned.
Student Responsibility Reports
Student responsibility reports will be filled out and sent home when a student does not have his/her homework completed on the assigned due date.
A parent needs to sign the sheet, and the student needs to return it to the teacher
the following day.
Student Responsibility Report
Date: _____________ Printed Name: ________________________ Subject:____________
Completing your homework is your responsibility as a student.
Missing homework: _______________________________________________
I do not have my homework today because:
_____ I did the assigned homework, but I did not bring it to class._____ I chose not to do my homework._____ I forgot to do my homework._____ I did not have the appropriate materials at home._____ Other reason is ____________________________________________
Explanation of checked item above (provide detailed explanation).________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Student Signature: _____________________ Parent Signature:______________________
Agenda CommentsThe teacher will write a short note if there is a behavior concern. It will indicate if there is a behavior notice or think sheet that needs to be signed and returned.
Parents need to sign the note. It is a way for us to communicate that you have read the note and most importantly, you have discussed it with your child.
**** Parents please check your child’s agenda daily. It will also have their homework recorded in it,
so it is a good time to check that your child has completed all of his/her homework.
Communication between Home and School
Tuesday Folders (please sign and return the next day)Weekly Newsletters online (4th grade website) and through emailBinders/AgendasConferencesProgress and report cards via Family Access Phone calls, notes Email is the best way to contact us during school hours.
[email protected] - Reading/Writing
[email protected] – Math/Science/Social Studies
Classroom Websites
Throughout the year, please check our individual classroom websites and 4th grade’s website for valuable information.
Please check the homework section for daily updates, if any.
Questions? Comments?
If you have questions/comments after reading this presentation, please email:
Mrs. Azimi with reading/writing questions/comments.
Miss Daniels with math/science/social studies questions/comments.
both of us with questions/comments about any other part of this presentation.
Parent ConferencesWe will be sending an email to set up parent conferences soon.
It is important to us to get to know our students’ parents/guardians. We would like you to have all of your questions/concerns addressed and feel comfortable to contact us for any reason.
We would like every child to have at least one parent/guardian attend.
The conferences will be about 10-15 minutes.What will be discussed:
Questions/concerns you may haveOur expectationsHow the year is going thus far
Thank You!
Remind your child to bring a water bottle, a healthy snack, and a sweater/jacket to class each day. (It is cold in our classrooms!)
Classroom t-shirts are coming soon!
We will wear them on Wednesdays.
It is going to be a great year!
