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2.  This will be my 9 th year to teach at Bell Elementary and my first year to be a parent at Bell.  I absolutely LOVE teaching 4 th grade math and developing a love of math in my students. I believe all students have the ability to be successful through hard work.

3.  Numbers through the billions and decimal numbers through the hundredths.  Multiplication of 2 digit by 2 digit numbers.  Long division: 4 digits divided by 1 digit.  Fractions  Angle Measurements  LOTS of problem solving!!!

4.  This is my second year to teach 4 th grade at Bell Elementary. I previously taught 2 nd grade in another district.  Just like you, I am a TISD parent. My husband and I have 4 sons; two have already graduated from TISD and our twins are Seniors this year.  I believe reading is the foundation of learning and the gateway to knowledge. It is my pleasure to guide your children as they discover new things through reading!

5.  Reading: we will explore a variety of genres including fiction, non-fiction, drama, and poetry. Students will be expected to read, comprehend, and draw conclusions from their reading.  TX History: this is the first year of actual history lessons. We are no longer learning about ideas such as communities. Students will be accountable for learning historical facts.

6.  This will be my sixth year teaching and my first year at Bell Elementary! GO BELL BEARS!  Teaching is my career but building relationships is my passion. I am excited to be your child's teacher and to guide them in their learning.

7.  Writing: Students will write EVERY day in the 4 th grade. They will have a Writing STAAR test this year in which they are expected to write a narrative and expository paper.  Science: Students will explore a variety of science concepts through hands on learning, reading, group work, and of course writing!

8.  Folders will go home and should be checked EVERY DAY!!!  Behavior charts come home on Fridays. Look over your child’s behavior chart, sign it, and put back in the RED folder.  Papers come home in Take Home Folders on Mondays– please keep these papers.  Any paper with a grade below a 70 needs to be signed and returned the next day.

9. 7 Habits / Classroom Expectations Correlation: 1.Be Proactive (Bring materials to class) 2.Begin with the End in Mind (Listen and Follow Directions) 3.Put 1st Things 1st (Complete Assignments/Homework) 4.Think Win-Win (Talk at Appropriate Times) 5.Seek 1st to Understand then to be Understood (Allow Teacher to Teach and Others to Learn) 6.Synergize (Respect Others) 7.Sharpen the Saw (Follow Rules at Recess) Work Habits: 1 & 3 Conduct: 2, 4, 5, 6, & 7

10.  All Bell Bears are expected to read for 30 minutes EVERY night!!! – This should be tracked on the reading log provided by Mrs. Gibson.  Students are also expected to memorize multiplication facts and should work on them nightly until they have mastered the facts.  Monday – Every Monday your child will have math homework. Usually this will be 5-10 word problems.  Tuesday – No additional homework assigned due to tutorials.  Wednesday – If there is any additional reading homework, it will come home on Wednesdays.  Thursdays – If there is any additional writing homework, it will come home on Thursdays.

11.  Students should come to class prepared each day.  Library books and red folders should go home and come back to school EVERY DAY!  Parents, please check red folders each day in order to help your child have a successful school year.

12.  Wear tennis shoes.  Students are expected to participate unless a signed note is sent from the parent.  After 3 days of not participating, a doctor’s note must be provided.  Getting exercise at recess is a great way to refuel the brain for the afternoon and sharpen the saw! Please have appropriate shoes every day.

13.  PLEASE call the office if your child will be absent. It helps us SO much to know this information!  Remember that work may only be made up for an excused absence.  Make-up work can be picked up the following day/when the student returns. Often times teachers will request work be made up at school so that we can help students to understand what was missed.

14.  If a student arrives before 7:45 and is not eating breakfast, he/she must go the gym.  Students are expected to be in class by 8:00 a.m and prepared to go to their 1 st block.**  If a student arrives after 8:00 a.m., he/she must go to the office and get a tardy slip before going to class.  If tardies are excessive, a visiting teacher will be sent to the home.

15.  Writing –Monday & Tuesday, March 30 th & 31 st  Math – Tuesday, April 21 st  Reading – Wednesday, April 22 nd  http://www.tea.state.tx.us/

16.  Students are allowed to bring a water bottle each day.  Water bottles should be filled during morning preparation time.  Water bottles must close with a complete seal.  Students are not permitted to add any flavoring to the water that they drink during class (this is fine for lunch time)  If a student has repeated spills, begins asking for excessive restroom breaks, or their water bottle becomes a distraction from learning in any way they may individually lose this privilege. The 4 th grade team of teachers will make this decision together.

17.  4 th grade conference time is 9:45-10:30 daily. If you need to make contact with a teacher, please call the school or email the teacher ahead of time to schedule the conference. *  By the end of October we hope to have conducted a three way conference with each of you. This conference will be to discuss current levels of performance and goals for the year. It would be best for your child to attend this conference with you so that they can see their parents and teachers are on the same team!