Welcome to Fourth Grade

Moving into 4th Grade

concrete thinking abstract thinking

skill acquisition skill application

learning to read reading to learn

“Ratchet Year”

Increased academic challenge

More emphasis is placed on:

• problem solving

• making inferences

• cause and effect

• justifying

• communicating in formal language

• effective writing skills

• multi-step questions

Increased student responsibility

Students are expected to:

•work more independently

•write down assignments as directed

•complete and turn in work without specific, personal invitations

•ask about make-up work

•take responsibility for their actions

Steps to SuccessFollow directions:

• Listen to and follow classroom instructions.

• Read carefully and follow directions.

• Students can no longer just do what it “looks like” they should do. Directions may change several times within a paper.

• Provide answers to all parts of questions.

Use Time Wisely:

Time on Task: Focus on the task at hand

• Limit trips to bathroom/water fountain/nurse to what is necessary

•Control talking and story-telling

•Have necessary supplies and snack

Work ethic:

Students should:

• Answer in complete sentences, using correct punctuation.

• Spell words correctly when copying from a worksheet or book.

• Always show work and label correctly.• Produce thoughtful, quality work in a timely manner.• Check work before turning in.• Ask questions when they don’t understand.

Students who have managed to skate by with A’s with minimal effort and product will probably find a significant drop in grades if they continue this practice.

Correct and Returns/Tests

• Homework: No Correct and Returns

• Daily Work: 2 Correct and Returns per 9 weeks per subject (for a grade up to a 70)

• Tests: 1 Corrected per 9 weeks per subject (for a grade up to a 70)

– Spelling tests cannot be corrected for a higher grade.

• No district tests will go home with students

– test corrections will be completed at school

Learn how to study:

• Should parents help students study? YES!

• Strategies and skills – Learning what works for them

• Take textbooks, journals, handouts home to study

• Go back into the text and use resources

• Cannot just memorize and regurgitate

• Organization – Colored folders and binders help organize materials

Assignment and Responsibility Folder(Red Folder)

• Front pocket is for school work that needs to be returned to school.

• Please put any notes, checks, etc. that need to be returned to school in the front pocket.

• Back pocket is for graded work, PTO fliers, and other items of information. Please remove these papers and go over the newsletter and your child’s graded work with them as needed.

Assignment and Responsibility

Folder

Assignment and Responsibility Folder(Red Folder)

Students record assignments and upcoming tests on the front of the page.

HW due

The back of each sheet is for teacher/parent communication regarding behavior, missing homework, etc.

Please initial any comments daily.

Sign on Monday at the bottom of the page for the previous week to let us know you have seen the newsletter and graded work. Please sign only one week at a time.

About Homework . . . :

• Math packets given on Monday, due Thursday

• Spelling lists given on Monday, test Friday

• Unfinished class work may be assigned as homework

• Other homework may be assigned from time to time

• Work is due at the beginning of the day – 10 points per day is deducted for late work and folders will be signed each day the work is not turned in

•Yes, parents may help and check; that’s not cheating.

Reading and 30 Book Challenge

•At home, students need to read a minimum of 20 minutes a day, Monday thru Thursday. This will be part of their daily homework.

•30 Book Challenge - This challenge is to inspire and encourage our children to read. Research shows that children who read are life long learners.

Historical Fiction

Reading/Language Arts

A few things to remember:

• Language Arts Journals – creating a reference journal that the

student has created as we learn new skills

• Compilation of grammar, literary elements, figurative language, and

other language usages (i.e. prefix, suffix, etc.)

• Use Journals for tests

• Journeys– Reading book

• Writing is taught using multiple sources.

• Spelling tests are weekly.

Study Aids…

•Spelling – www.spellingcity.com/suzannecoco

Scholastic Book Orders

https://clubs2.scholastic.com/

Class Activation Code: LRBLK

Math

A few things to remember:

• Math Journals – Can go home but should be at school everyday.

• Use Journals for homework

• Use Journals to study for tests

• Use Journals for daily work / warm-ups

• Math Books – Texas Go Math! There are two math books the

students will use during the year.

Science

A few things to remember:

• Science Journals – Can go home but should be at school everyday.

• Use the journal for daily work, homework, and to study for tests

• Science Book – Science Fusion – Your child’s consumable textbook

is here at school. We won’t use it very often. Our science journal

will have what students are expected to know.

Social Studies

• We will mainly be using Studies Weekly, a consumable newspaper.

Your child will need to keep their newspapers in their social studies

folder. Please do not throw them away. We will use them to

complete classwork, homework, and open note tests.

Attendance:

School hours are 7:25 – 2:45. Students should be in the classroom by 7:35 when the tardy bell rings. This gives them the opportunity to settle in for the day and reduces stress.

Regular attendance is very important. We understand there are times when your child will have to miss school for medical appointments.

Students must have a note when they return to class in order for their absence to be excused.

While we don’t want students to miss class, we also don’t want them to come when they are ill for the sake of their health and the health of others.

Communication

• Newsletter, spelling list, schedule, and other information are available on ourBISD website (www.boerne-isd.net)

•Graded work goes home in red folder on Mondays.

•Email – Our conference time is from 9:25 to 10:15 a.m. If you email after that time, please know we may not be able to read it until after school. If you send information about a change in transportation, we will respond when we read the email. Please call if you don’t get a response.

• It is helpful to put student name and message topic in subject line: Eric, transportation change today

• Student Use of Classroom Phone – should be limited to emergencies, changes in school-related activity schedules, and unusual circumstances. Please try to communicate to your child how they are getting home before they come to school.

Bus Passes

Any student attempting to ride a bus which he/she is not assigned to

must provide to the homeroom teacher a written note or email. Once

this note/email is received, the teacher will fill out an orange “bus pass”

and submit it to Mr. Robinson or Ms. Shults. One of them will

approve/deny based on the following:

If the bus requested is already capped the request will be denied.

If more than one student is trying to go home with another student the

request will be denied.

If the request is made any time after 11:00 am on the day of the request,

it will be denied.

Please submit these requests to the homeroom teacher in writing at

least one day prior so that the office can have time to verify with

transportation that there is enough room on the bus.

Other Notes….

•Textbooks need to be covered – If you buy book socks, the jumbo size is needed for our books. Students are issued 1 textbook.

•Cell phones may not be used at school. If your child has a cell

phone, it should be turned off and kept in their backpack during

school hours.

•Toys are not allowed at school.

•Snacks –Our lunchtime is 12:20p.m., so we have a morning snack time around 9:10 a.m. We recommend that your child bring a healthy snack that can be eaten while they work.

•Birthdays - We cannot have birthday parties, but students may provide cookies or cupcakes at the end of the day (2:30pm). If you send a cookie cake, please make sure it is cut in the appropriate number of pieces. Napkins are appreciated.

•PTO – We encourage you to join the PTO. They provide wonderful support for our school. (Forms are on the back counter.)

Join FORES PTO FORESPTO

UNITE. EMPOWER.

SUCCEED.

Why Join PTO?

The purpose of FORES PTO is to aid the students and staff by providing support for educational and recreational needs, to

promote open communication between administration, teachers, and parents, and to encourage FORES school spirit and pride.

FORES PTO uses its resources, both manpower and monetary, to support the efforts of the staff of our school.

Your membership gains you access to a network of teachers, parents & friends that work to

make our school the best it can be and includes:

Access to exclusive volunteer and student engagement opportunities

Email and school communication that is distributed solely to the PTO membership

database

Updates regarding PTO funded initiatives

Most importantly your membership helps support our school financially

Our school goal is for 100% of our families to be PTO members! JOIN TODAY!

***Classes w/ 100% Participation will win an Ice Cream Party!***

FORESPTOUNITE. EMPOWER. SUCCEED.Why Pay Student Enrichment Fees?

These fees stay with the children in their grade level and must be used in the 2016-2017 school year so that the

families who fund it, benefit from it. Thanks to your student enrichment fee donations, the PTO was able to provide

ALL of the following and more for FORES students last year:

● Classroom library books

● Classroom presentations & in-house field trips

● Grade level field trips

● Classroom computers, iPads, & Apps

● Classroom learning stations & manipulatives

● Supplemental classroom supplies, materials & subscriptions

In order to continue to provide these enrichment activities for our students, the PTO is asking for a student enrichment

fee donation in the amount of $20 per student. Although this donation is voluntary and individual student

participation in such activities is not tied to contributions, we are asking all parents to contribute. These programs,

materials, and services will be reduced or eliminated absent funding.

Please note that while your PTO membership dollars go towards supplementing the entire school’s needs, the

enrichment fee stays with your child’s grade level. Both are VERY important and both have equally important

benefits.

PTO Funded Initiatives in 2015-2016

● 40 + ipads

● 85 Chromebooks

● Apple Apps

● SumDog Grades 2 & 3

● Moby Max

● Mathletics

● Weekly Reader Subscriptions

● Accelerated Reader & AR Store

● Equine Therapy

● Starfall

● Bluebonnet Books

● Staff Development

● Resources for 4th Texas

History

● Poster Maker

● 15k Technology Grant

● Ipad Cases

● Classroom materials

● Guest Author

● Brain Pop

● IStation

FORESPTO

UNITE. EMPOWER.

SUCCEED.

How can you get involved?

1. Communications: Like us on facebook.com/forespto/.

2. Join: Our school goal is for 100% of our families to join the PTO!

3. Meetings: Attend a meeting. Next meeting is Thursday, September 8th

2016 at 5:30 PM in the cafeteria just prior to 3-5 orientation. **

4. Give: There are many ways and opportunities to give throughout the year;

start today by joining the PTO.

5. Volunteer: A little or a lot, when you can. We have diverse options to fit

all schedules.** This is a new date from previous postings.

FORESPTO

UNITE.

EMPOWER.

SUCCEED.

March 28th – Writing STAAR

- Passages to Revise and Edit – Multiple Choice

- Expository Composition

May 8– Math STAAR

May 9– Reading STAAR

Field Trips:

•Date TBD – Fine Arts Presentation at Champion High School.

(Due to limited seating, this field trip is for students only.)

•Date TBD – Mission San Jose(springtime)

Welcome to Fourth Grade