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 Please make sure you keep the transportation form up to date. Please keep green car rider cards visible on your dashboard until your child is in the car.

Reading We will be reading novels this year. They 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. I assign book reports for the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th nine weeks. Reading journals will used for skill practice and kept at school. Homework will be assigned several days a week. A homework grade will be given at the end of the nine weeks.

Spelling Weekly tests will be given on Fridays. Students are assigned spelling activities for morning work. This is their spelling classwork grade. Students are given a list of 20 spelling words. They will be written on the weekly newsletter and posted on the 4th grade website.

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

Language Students do not have a grammar workbook. Students will have interactive 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 once a week. A homework grade will be given at the end of the nine weeks.

Math Your child will have a textbook, workbook, and math journal. The journal will stay at school. There will be a timed multiplication/division/ mixed fluency test each week. It will be counted as a test grade. Homework will be given most nights. 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. First in Math login information is in their binder.

Science 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 weekly homework. It is always due on Friday. 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 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 are the same as AR. We will be taking classwork grades and tests from this and other resources. Homework will be assigned several days a week. A homework grade will be given at the end of the nine weeks.

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 Students’ binders and planners should be brought back and forth to school every day. Newsletters and 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 4 classes and your homeroom.

Remind Benham Text 81010 with the message @benmath Brooks Text 81010 with the message @brooksread Halverson Text 81010 with the message @halverson Penrod Text 81010 with the message @msp1516

Conduct / Responsibility Students will receive a weekly conduct grade. They will also receive a weekly responsibility grade. This will help you know how they are progressing with organizational skills, work habits, and accountability. Each time a child signs for either conduct or responsibility, they will lose 5 points. Only the conduct grade will be listed on the report card.

Conferences 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 PE time is from 8:00-8:45. This will be a good time for us to meet any day. Please remember we are always here for you and your student. Don’t ever hesitate to contact us.

Snacks Each morning the students will have time for a snack. (usually around 9:50) Only water is permitted and must be kept in a bottle with a secure top. 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 to keep in the locker.

Field Trips We go to a least two field trips in 4th grade. We go to the Nutcracker in December and Montgomery near the end of the year. Last year, just to give you an estimate on money, the Nutcracker was $12, & Montgomery was $58 for students & $63 for parents. 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!