WELCOME Mrs. Espenshied’s 4th Grade Class 2018-2019

Family

Fourth Grade Team

AGENDA -About your teacher -Schedule -Curriculum -Report Cards and Grading -Testing -Homework -Behavior and B3 -Important School Information

Mrs. Espenshied I have taught for 18 years at all levels (elem., middle and high). This is my fifth year at Nickajack. I have 3 grown children – Rachel (30), Emily (26) and Ace (24). I also have 2 grandchildren – Issac (almost 4) and Evelyn (16 months). I absolutely love teaching and helping students to make connections to their learning and challenging them to go beyond.

Schedules 7:15 – 8:00 Breakfast/ Morning Work/ Announcements   8:00 – 8:10 B3/Growth Mindset 8:10 – 8:55 Science/Social Studies 9:00 – 9:45 Specials 9:50 – 11:05 Math 11:08 – 11:38 Lunch 11:40 – 12:10 Recess 12:10 – 1:10 Language Arts 1:10 – 2:05 Reading 2:10 Afternoon Announcements/Dismissal

Curriculum Reading: Informational, Nonfiction, Foundational Skills Writing: Informative/Explanatory, Opinion, Narrative Math: Numbers in Base 10, Whole Number Operations & Algebraic Thinking, Multiplication & Division, Fractions, Multistep Problem Solving, Geometry and Angles, Measurement Science: Water, Weather, Force & Motion, Light, Sound, Stars, Earth, Moon, Solar System, Adaptations & Ecosystems Social Studies: U.S. History to 1860 Maps & Globes, Economics, American Revolution, New Nation, Westward Expansion

Report Cards and Grading This school year students will receive numerical grades averaged at the end of each quarter. -Progress reports are issued every 4.5 weeks. -Monitor progress using an online grading system called ParentVue. -Check your student’s progress frequently. Graded work will also come home in Thursday Folders. No score given will be below a 60. Students will be given the opportunity to correct failing papers the first half of the year. The two grades will then be averaged. Grading System: A= 100-90 B= 89-80 C= 79-74 D= 73-70 F= 69 and below

ParentVue Parents may pick up login information from the front office. You can set it up to send you alerts when your child falls below a certain grade if you desire. Download the app

Testing 4th grade curriculum can be accessed via Cobb County Website Standardized Testing will take place in the Spring (Georgia Milestones) DRAs and SRIs are used for Reading Level – Lexile levels at the end of the year should between 740 – 944.

Homework Please read and sign the agenda nightly Homework Please read and sign the agenda nightly! Your child should be reading 30 minutes each NIGHT! Vocabulary, LA and Math are nightly homework assignments. Reading packets are due each Friday morning. Projects or late assignments may be required over the weekend. (This can be done on 365 on the Cobb County website.) Students are responsible for writing down their homework each day and returning completed homework the next day.

B3 Be A Better Brave Students learn appropriate behavior of a respectful, responsible, role-model through instruction, practice, feedback, and positive reinforcement.

B3 How does it work? Students are taught desired behaviors through modeling and acknowledging the expected behavior when and where it happens using positive reinforcement. Students will be acknowledged with Braves Bucks which can later be redeemed for monthly rewards (movie, art, extra recess, etc), and class coupons from teachers. Students can earn a certain amount of Dojo points each month to participate in a grade level celebration of positive behaviors. Any staff member can acknowledge any student for being a respectful, responsible, role-model.

B3 Poster

Classroom Conduct Our class follows protocol that matches PBIS. We are encouraging students to be respectful, responsible, role models. Students have created classroom rules, and these rules are posted in the classroom. To reinforce those rules we will be acknowledging students by giving them points that they may exchange for class rewards. Students will be given 2 warnings and then retaught the expectation at recess. A note will be sent home explaining this. The second time will be a direct email or phone call home to parents. Students who are off task during individual work time can miss a few minutes of recess to complete work (up to no more than 15 minutes). Parents will be notified of student misbehavior when necessary. We may notify parents through the agenda, email, or phone calls. Student reflections may also come home in the student agendas. Please check the agenda nightly.

BEHAVIOR EXPECTATIONS Students should follow directions the first time given. Transitions should be efficient (quick and quiet), not only in the current classroom, but between specials as well. Every teacher should be treated with the same respect as the homeroom teacher.

Highlights this year Students will be learning how to code through different apps and websites in partnership with Mrs. Helfin (Science lab) and Mrs. Espenshied. All students will be participating in a Genius Hour project that will last several months and will be mostly completed at school.

Important School Information -Transportation Please make sure that your child arrives to school on time and they know how they are going home. All transportation changes must be made in writing to the front office. Please do not email your child’s teacher. -Check-Out Per office guidelines we ask that you do not check your child out after 1:45 unless there is an emergency.

Important School Information -Lunch Parents are only allowed to eat lunch outside at the lunch tables with their OWN child or on the stage of the cafeteria. No other child may join. -Cell Phone Policy It is Cobb County Schools Policy that cell phones must remain off and in their backpacks during the school day. School staff members cannot be responsible for student’s cell phones. -Change in Transportation Please call the front office if you need to make a change in transportation. I won’t always see your email.

Important School Information -Absences and Tardies Please send a note the day following an absence stating the reason for the absence. You may also send a note for a tardy. Intouch automated system will be calling when students have 5, 10, or 15 unexcused absences. It will also call when students have 7 tardies. Students may enter the building at 7:15. No supervision will be provided before this time. Staff are not required to arrive prior to 7:10. The school day begins at 7:50. If you arrive after this time please sign your child in to the front office. Our school day ends at 2:10.

What can you do to help? View and Sign agenda daily Discuss your child’s day Review homework Review Assignments that are in the Thursday Folder Check ParentVue for Grades Contact teacher for Questions & Concerns Encourage Reading and talk about books

Last but not least Please be sure to sign up for Class Dojo – letters went home last week Parent homework assignment – send in a letter telling us all about your child

Thank you in advance for helping to make this a successful school year Thank you in advance for helping to make this a successful school year. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions. Dina.Espenshied@cobbk12.org Don’t forget to check out my Blog.

Open House for current Target students is August 17, from 8:00 – 8:45 in the Learning Commons. Gifted Eligibility Meeting - Friday, August 17 at 9AM in the Learning Commons. Purpose: to share with the public the eligibility process in Cobb County. All are welcome to attend.