Daily Schedule8:30 – 8:45 Morning Work
8:45 – 9:45 Specials 9:45 – 9:55 Morning Meeting 9:55 – 11:15 Math 11:15 – 11:45 Lunch 11:45 – 12:30 iLit 12:30 – 1:30 Differentiation 1:30-1:35 Restroom 1:35 – 2:00 Recess 2:00 – 3:30 iLit 3:30 – 3:40 Read aloud 3:40 Dismissal |
Special's ScheduleDay 1: P.E. & Spanish
Day 2: Art Day 3: Computer Day 4: Spanish & Music Day 5: Music & P.E. |
The 3rd Grade TeamKristi Bradley:
[email protected] Cathy Dominguez: cldominguez@bluevalleyk12.org Hunter Sherretts-Wolfe: [email protected] Katie Harmeyer: [email protected] |
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Homework Students need a consistent, focused time to study. Please work with your child to establish a 30-40 minute period each night for such study. It is important that students take ownership of this time. Let him/her know that you are available as a resource, but that the work is his/her responsibility.
Some evenings your child will have work that he/she has not finished during the school day. Some projects will be assigned just for homework. Since fourth graders are expected to have basic multiplication/division facts mastered, if your child has no assignment to work on, he/she should practice multiplication/division facts. Other activities may include practicing spelling words or reading a chapter book. Usually students should not have more than 40 minutes of work to do at home. If your child consistently has more homework than that, please contact me so we can find out why. Your student should read at least 20 minutes at home every day in addition to his/her homework. |
Letter Grades for 4th Grade
The fourth grade teachers feel it is very important that the students take responsibility for completing assignments on time. If a student does not have an assignment finished on time, he/she should check with the teacher and make a verbal plan about when it will be finished. If they complete and hand in the assignment that day, 5% will be taken off the grade they earned. If the assignment is completed later than that, 10% will be subtracted for each day the assignment is late. We hope this will help the students realize that it is very important to manage their time and materials effectively so they can complete all assignments on time.
The formal educational process would be very incomplete without an evaluation of each student's performance. The following grading scale will be used this year to measure your child's achievements in the following areas: reading, language arts, spelling, mathematics, social studies, science/health, study/work habits, and social development. Included is a copy of the progress report as well as the report card your student should receive throughout his/her fourth grade year.
EXCELLENT A (93-100%) A- (90-92%)
All work* in this activity/skill is completed correctly 90-100% and on time. The student makes consistent and superior applications of this concept in related work.
ABOVE AVERAGE B+ (87-89%) B (83-86%) B- (80-82%)
Work* in this area is completed with an average accuracy of 80-89%. The student often makes mature and meaningful applications of this concept in related work.
AVERAGE C+ (77-79%) C (73-76%) C- (70-72%)
Work* in this area is completed with an average accuracy of 70-79%. The student is learning the concept and is making good progress towards mastering it.
BELOW AVERAGE D+ (67-69%) D (63-66%) D- (60-62%)
Work* in this area is completed with an average accuracy of 60-69%. The student is making only gradual progress towards learning this concept. Contact with the teacher to determine specific suggestions for improvement is strongly suggested.
UNSATISFACTORY U (0-59%)
Work* in this area is completed with an average accuracy of 0-59%. The student is not making progress toward learning this concept. Contact between the parent and school is essential.
*Work is defined as all of the various learning activities assigned to students. Grades reflect student effort and ability as measured by grades earned on daily classroom activities, homework, special projects, tests, class discussions, etc.
The formal educational process would be very incomplete without an evaluation of each student's performance. The following grading scale will be used this year to measure your child's achievements in the following areas: reading, language arts, spelling, mathematics, social studies, science/health, study/work habits, and social development. Included is a copy of the progress report as well as the report card your student should receive throughout his/her fourth grade year.
EXCELLENT A (93-100%) A- (90-92%)
All work* in this activity/skill is completed correctly 90-100% and on time. The student makes consistent and superior applications of this concept in related work.
ABOVE AVERAGE B+ (87-89%) B (83-86%) B- (80-82%)
Work* in this area is completed with an average accuracy of 80-89%. The student often makes mature and meaningful applications of this concept in related work.
AVERAGE C+ (77-79%) C (73-76%) C- (70-72%)
Work* in this area is completed with an average accuracy of 70-79%. The student is learning the concept and is making good progress towards mastering it.
BELOW AVERAGE D+ (67-69%) D (63-66%) D- (60-62%)
Work* in this area is completed with an average accuracy of 60-69%. The student is making only gradual progress towards learning this concept. Contact with the teacher to determine specific suggestions for improvement is strongly suggested.
UNSATISFACTORY U (0-59%)
Work* in this area is completed with an average accuracy of 0-59%. The student is not making progress toward learning this concept. Contact between the parent and school is essential.
*Work is defined as all of the various learning activities assigned to students. Grades reflect student effort and ability as measured by grades earned on daily classroom activities, homework, special projects, tests, class discussions, etc.
ABSENT OR MAKE-UP WORKWhen you call to report your child's absence, please include how you'd like to pick up his/her make-up work. (It can be sent home with a sibling or neighbor or you may pick it up at the end of the day as long as the message was left before 9:45.) Please help your child take the responsibility for completing his/her make-up work promptly. District policy allows 2 days for each day missed because of illness, but that often makes it difficult for students to understand the new concepts that our class is working on.
It is very important that your child attends school regularly. Many of our classes require participation in activities that can only be done at school. Please try to schedule family vacations during school vacations. If you do schedule a vacation during time that school is in session please be aware of this school board policy: Make-up work is required for "family vacations and family business arranged in advance and due upon return, or upon a date agreed upon by the teacher, whichever is later." Work that has been given to students before a vacation that is not completed when return will be counted as late work. (The students DO NOT have two days per day missed to make-up work.) |
DISCIPLINE The classroom rules follow the pattern of the Preamble to the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. This format allows us to focus on the reasons for our rules and to think about our responsibilities. Please see the tab marked "Our classroom" for details.
Knowing that students are fulfilling their responsibilities to create a positive environment in our school will reward students who choose to follow our classroom expectations. We'd like to emphasize this as the most important reason for following our expectations. We want to reinforce the idea that the students are in control of their behavior, not some external force. We use a visual aid in the classroom to assist the students with this by giving each student a baggie with a number of tickets for the week. Students will lose tickets for inappropriate choices/expectations and have the opportunity to earn them for exceeding expectations. At the end of the week, students need to have three tickets to turn into the teacher to participate in the extra recess activity on Friday. If they do not have three, they remain in at study hall and complete a reflection to assist them in examining their behavior to allow them to focus on how to reach the goal the following week. You will be asked to sign this reflection and return it to school. If they have more than 5 tickets, they have opportunity to sign the Q-Board. The Q-Board provides the students with opportunities to receive rewards over and above the extra recess. As homework is an essential component to the learning process, we practice natural consequences when it is not completed. Students will lose a ticket for not completing it on time and if they complete it and return it the next day they will earn that ticket back. If it is not done the next day, another ticket is taken, the student will remain in at recess to complete a reflection sheet and homework. |
Class ConstitutionBe Responsible: I have the right to learn; therefore...
1. I will be prepared for class (supplies and assignments). 2. I will be in my seat and ready to begin class on time. 3. I will listen to directions, work quietly and try my best. 4. I will have all my papers signed by a parent on time. Be Respectful: I have the right to be treated kindly and with respect; therefore, 5. I will treat my peers with respect. 6. I twill treat my teachers and other adults with respect. 7. I will talk at appropriate times. 8. I will use my materials and the materials of others appropriately. Be Compassionate: I have the right to be safe; therefore, 9. I will be careful by using safe behaviors and not hurting others. 10. I will be considerate and kind to others (no bullying). |
BirthdayWe encourage the purchase of a birthday book from the library to celebrate birthdays. Students may also bring birthday treats to share with the class. Due to several severe allergies among the grade level, we ask that these treats be non-edible. Please see a list of suggestions . Please include enough for each student in the class (see attached class list). Time will be set aside at the teacher's discretion for such treats.
Birthday treat ideas: Gel Pens, Silly Pens, Bouncy Balls, Party Favors, Whistles, Postcards, Mini Note, Pads, Mini Address Books, Fancy Boxes Bags, Magnets ,Wooden Building Sets, Deck of Cards, Stickers, Mini Picture Frames, Playdough, Craft Kits, Key Chains, Bracelets, Rubber bugs, Rubber animals, Erasers, Plastic Jewelry, Silly Putty, Small Toys, Coloring Books, Bubbles, Pencil Toppers, Marbles, Dice, Hairclips/Pins, Finger Puppets, Squeeze Ball, Polished Rocks, Nail Polish, Rubber Stamps, Socks, Earphones, Charms, Lanyard, Stuffed animals, Wristbands, Spider Rings, Wind Up Toys, Glow Sticks, Glow Necklaces, Novelty Toys, Origami paper, Paper Airplanes, Books of games |
We look forward to a great year with both parents and students! One way we can guarantee a successful year is to ensure each part of our team-parents, students, and teachers-communicates efficiently and often. Your student's teacher will contact you with concerns about something that your student is, or is not, doing. Please e-mail, voicemail or write a note if you have a question about something that is happening at school.
School Center- All weekly announcements will be put on the School Center website via the weekly announcement tab. There are several ways communication can happen: • Assignment Notebooks : This is the easiest way to correspond as we will see each student's notebook every morning and you will see your student's notebook every evening. Simply jot a note and we'll be happy to get back with you as soon as possible. • Voicemail: If you feel more comfortable leaving a voicemail message, we can be reached by dialing 239-4700, then following the prompts to leave a message. Voicemail will be checked each morning and again each evening. • Progress Reports : Progress Reports will be visible on Parent Vue several times throughout the year giving you a record of your student's progress in the core curriculum areas. Due to team teaching and the timing of certain units, a grade may not be provided for each content area on every progress report. These reports must be signed and returned with any questions or comments. •Report Cards : Report Cards are visible on Parent Vue quarterly and report your child's progress in the core curriculum areas. These reports can be kept at home for your records. • Parent/Teacher Conferences : Teachers will meet twice this year with you and your student. This is a great time for everyone to share successes and set goals for the remainder of the year. Thanks for all you do to promote your student's positive attitude toward learning. When your child knows that his/her parents and teacher are a team, we can all have a spectacular year! |
One of our goals as teachers is to develop students' responsibility and accountability. The Appropriate Choices/Expected Behavior plan is focused on guiding students toward assuming responsibility for their own behavior and toward becoming self-disciplined. We believe they will learn skills that foster life-long success. Students will learn to make appropriate choices from 3 areas:
• Responsibility • Respect • Compassion To assist in monitoring student growth in these areas, we provide a visual representation of how they are doing daily. The students receive a bag of tickets (5) to start off the week. Students have the opportunity to earn tickets for exceeding our expectations for behavior and/or effort. Students exhibiting any of the inappropriate choices or unexpected behaviors will have the consequence of having a ticket removed. Students that do not complete homework lose a ticket and have the opportunity to complete the homework that night at home. If they turn the homework the next day completed, they will earn the ticket back. If not, they will remain in at recess to fill in a reflection sheet, lose another ticket and work on the homework that was due the previous day. Students must have three tickets at the end of the week in order to participate in the EXTRA RECESS on Friday. If they do not have 3 tickets, they will go to study hall during the extra recess time and fill out a reflection sheet to give them the opportunity to think about their week and how they could change their actions in order to participate in the free recess the next week. Parents will be required to sign and return that sheet. Students that have more than 5 tickets at the end of the week will also get to sign the Q-Board. The Q-Board is a positive reinforcement incentive. When the board is full, a number of students are awarded prizes for their commitment towards our expectations. If students exhibit consistent inappropriate/unexpected behaviors, we may need to address these situations as needed- such as a parent conference or a visit with the principal or counselor. We feel that our students will be dedicated to developing responsibility and will treat everyone with respect based on using expected behaviors. On the other hand, it is not a reasonable expectation for a child to be perfect , because we all make mistakes or "inappropriate/unexpected behaviors". We feel this plan addresses these needs. Thank you for your support. We are off to a great start and looking forward to a fabulous fourth grade year! Sincerely, The Fourth Grade Team |