Welcome to 4th Grade!

Arrival Please have your child here as close to 7:30 as possible. They need time for breakfast, restroom, paying lunch money, unpacking / lockers, morning work, etc…

Dismissal Send a note if your child has a transportation change. Please keep permanent changes regarding transportation up-to-date. Blue car rider cards should be visible on your dashboard until your child is in the car.

Reading with Mrs. Brooks Students will be reading 3 novels this year. Students will be given vocabulary and comprehension tests with each novel. Your child will take AR tests each 9 weeks to reach the goal that has been set for them. Book reports will be assigned for the 2nd and 3rd nine weeks. Reading journals will be used for vocabulary and skill practice. Homework will be assigned as needed. A homework grade will be given at the end of the nine weeks.

Language/Writing with Mrs. Brooks Spelling skills will be practiced through writing class. Students will have interactive language/writing journals at school. These will be used on tests and as resources when writing. Language/Grammar tests will be given as needed. Test dates will be included on weekly newsletters. On occasion, writing assignments may need to be completed at home. Homework will be assigned as needed for skill practice. A homework grade will be given at the end of the nine weeks.

Math with Mrs. Benham Your child will have a textbook, workbook, and math journal. The journal will stay at school. They will be given timed multiplication/division/ mixed fluency tests periodically. It will be counted as a test grade. *Knowing math facts is crucial!!! Homework will be given as needed. A homework grade will be given at the end of the nine weeks. Tests will be given as needed. Test dates will be included on weekly newsletters. At home, work on multiplication flash cards!

Science with Mrs. Benham We will use inquiry-based learning through AMSTI and STEAM resources. Unit and vocabulary tests will always be announced in advance, and students will be able to use their notes for most tests. I will assign homework as needed. A homework grade will be given at the end of the nine weeks. Journals will be kept at school and graded on a regular basis.

Alabama History with Mrs. Holyoak We are using Alabama Studies Weekly. This is a weekly newspaper/study guide about our state. The papers are accessible online at studiesweekly.com. Students can hear it read aloud on this site. Their user name and password will be the same as AR. This will not be active until the end of next week. We will be taking classwork grades and tests from Alabama Studies Weekly and other resources. Homework will be assigned as needed. A homework grade will be given at the end of the nine weeks.

Handwriting Students will receive a handwriting grade based on their penmanship in each class. This will be an S, NI, or U. Cursive is encouraged, but not required.

iNOW & Grading During the first nine weeks, there may possibly be fewer assignments in subjects. Be sure to check iNOW to check progress. We keep our grades as up to date as possible.

Student Responsibility 4th grade is the time for students to become more independent. In the past, you may have gone through your child’s binder, cleaned it out, organized it, etc… It’s time to allow them the opportunity to be responsible for themselves. Please DO NOT throw anything away!!! We want the students to learn vital work habits: writing their assignments in their planners checking their planner each night for assignments keeping their binder organized

Communications A weekly newsletter will be posted on the Crestline Website under 4th Grade News. This newsletter will contain important information regarding your child’s standards for the week, field trip information, and other important dates to remember. Please check this weekly to stay up-to-date!!! If you would like a paper copy of the newsletter, please send a note to your child’s homeroom teacher.

Communications Students’ binders and planners should be brought back and forth to school every day. Conduct grades will be sent home at the beginning of the week. There is a place for you to sign that you have seen the conduct grade. Graded papers will be sent home after the students have recorded their data. These will be in the back on your child’s communication divider. Papers in this divider can be removed. Please check the communication section of your child’s binder daily for notes from the school or other important information.

Communications Please put any notes from home, lunch money, etc… in the communication divider of your child’s binder. Sign up for Remind texts from each teacher on the grade level. We send texts with important information about each subject. Each homeroom will have its own Remind number. If you have not received it, please see your child’s homeroom teacher. You will need to sign up for all classes and your homeroom.

Remind Benham Text 81010 with the message @benmath Text 81010 with the message @benscience Brooks Text 81010 with the message @brooksread Holyoak Text 81010 with the message @holyoakal

Conduct / Responsibility Students will receive a weekly conduct grade of S, NI, or U. They will also receive a weekly responsibility grade of S, NI, or U. This grade helps you know how they are progressing with organizational skills, work habits, and accountability. Only the conduct grade will be listed on the report card. To attend field trips, students must have an S or NI in conduct.

Conferences By the end of January, ALL students will participate in a student-led conference. We will be glad to schedule conferences. Please just email, send a note, or call the office, and we can schedule a convenient time. Our available times during school hours are: Mon., Tues., & Fri. - 9:30-10:15 Wed. & Thurs. - 10:20-11:50 If you need a time before or after school, just let us know so we can check our schedules. Please remember we are always here for you and your student. Don’t ever hesitate to contact us.

Snacks / Water Bottles Each morning the students will have time for a snack. (usually around 9:15) Only water is permitted and must be kept in a bottle with a secure top. (No flavored water) Candy is not permitted. We suggest one healthy, easy to eat snack like crackers, fruit bars, etc… You may wish to send several snacks at the beginning of the week. Put them in a ziploc bag to be kept in their locker.

Field Trips We try to attend at least two field trips in 4th grade. One of the trips will be to Montgomery in March. Last year, just to give you an estimate on money, Montgomery was $58 for students & $63 for parents. The other field trip will be no more than $15. If you have a hardship and feel that you need assistance to pay for any of these trips, please contact us. The office has an application for field trip assistance. We wear our class t-shirts on field trips and some days during the school year.

School Visits Stop in and get a visitor tag when you arrive. When you visit your child at lunch, please remember no fast food or soft drinks may be brought in to your child for lunch. There is a special visitor table for parents so you and your child can have some quality one-on-one time. No other students will be allowed to sit with you and your child.

Thank you for coming! We are looking forward to a great year with your child!