Back to School Night! Welcome, students and Parents! Mr. Darling Room 302

Welcome to Fourth Grade!  Meet Mr. D.  Look around to see where you sit.  Who else is in the class?  What do you see that is different from 3 rd grade?

What do you know about Mr. D?  My background...  I grew up in Omaha.  I attended Dundee Elementary.  I went to Lewis and Clark Junior High.  I graduated from Central High School in  I graduated from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln in 2001

My teaching Experience  This is my eighth year teaching.  I was a student teacher at Dundee as well (I taught 6 th Grade back in 2001!).  I have been in room 302 all eight years.

My Goals  To make you an independent worker both in the classroom and out.  To develop your curiosity.  To give you the academic and social skills you need to progress to fifth grade.  To provide a supportive and fun classroom environment.  To help you make new friends and discover new interests.

Our Class Schedule  9:00 – 10:45 Reading  10:45 – 11:30 Specials  11:30 – 12:15 Writing  12:15 – 1:00 Lunch / Recess  1:10 – 2:15 Math  2:15 – 3:15 Science / Social Studies  3:15 – 3:45 Clean up / Assignment Notebooks / SSR

Reading  We trade classes for reading and work REALLY hard.  You will read a lot of novels.  You will learn tons of new vocabulary words.

Writing  You will learn how to write a personal narrative with great word choice and just enough detail!  You will be able to write five paragraphs for every personal narrative!

Math  We trade classes for math.  You will learn LOTS of new things in math (even some algebra!).

Science  We trade classes for science.  Mr. Darling teaches electricity.  Ms. Zulkosky teaches a living and non-living unit.  Mrs. Freerksen teaches rocks and minerals.

Social Studies  We trade classes for social studies.  Mr. Darling teaches economics.  Ms. Zulkosky teaches government.  Mrs. Freerksen teaches Nebraska History.

Class Rules  Our classroom has one rule: Don’t make a problem for anyone. (You will see this posted in various places around the room, as well as signs that act as memory triggers with common polite sayings)

Homework  The majority of your homework will come from your reading class and your math class.  Usually between 30 minutes and 1 hour per night, but don’t worry, you should be able to complete some of that at school (if you work hard).

Questions  If you have any questions, be sure to ask Mr. D.  Also, you should try to go and meet Ms. Zulkosky in room 304 and Mrs. Freerksen in room 305, because you will have both of them for something during the year, I promise!

Fourth grade is tough, but I think you will love it!