1. Welcome to Open House
Mrs. LaJoy
4th Grade

2. Meet the Teacher
My name is Elisa LaJoy and I will be your child’s 4th grade teacher. I am delighted to have your child in my class this year and I am looking forward to a very successful year. I have high expectations for your child and I will do all that I can to help your child achieve those expectations.
My family and I moved to Tucson from Brookfield, Illinois where I graduated with a degree in Elementary Education from Elmhurst College. I worked at District 95 (LaGrange Park, IL) for five years where I started as a paraprofessional in Special Education and then taught third grade. The past two years I taught second grade at Academy of Math and Science (Tucson, AZ). During my teaching career, I gained a variety of different experiences and skills that I intend to apply here at Painted Sky.
I believe that each student is unique and that is why I include hands-on experiences, creative activities, and learning through play in my lessons. I also enjoy cooking and spending time with my husband, my daughter (Bianca, 7) and my son (Matteo, 3). I am looking forward to interacting with you and your child for the rest of the year! Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns. I can be reached at or at (520)

3. Class Schedule Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday 8:00 8:30 9:00
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
8:00
8:30
Morning Work
9:00
Math
9:30
10:00
10:30
Recess
10:45
Reading
11:30
12:00
12:30
Lunch
1:10
Computers
Art PE
Music
1:30
2:00
Library
2:05
Writing/Science/SS
3:15
Dismissal

4. Reading/Writing English Language Arts : Scott-Foresman Reading Street
Text-Based Comprehension
Vocabulary
Phonics/Grammar
Spelling
Writing
Listening/speaking
Fluency

5. Math My Math –McGraw-Hill
Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them
Reason abstractly and quantitatively
Construct viable arguments and critique the
reasoning of others
Model with mathematics
Use appropriate tools strategically
Attend to precision
Look for and express regularity in repeated reasoning

6. Science & Social Studies
Social Studies-Arizona
Geography
History
AZ Government
Plants and Animals
AZ 5 C’s (Cattle, Copper, Climate, Cotton, Citrus)
Science
Magnets/Electricity
Inventions/Scientists
Natural disasters/landforms
Renewable/nonrenewable resources
Plant/animal adaptations
Weather
Project Lead the Way

7. Technology
**Your child must bring their own earbuds or headphones and a thumb drive to save their work.
Computer Lab
Basic computer skills
Keyboarding
Saving to a USB drive and school server
Microsoft Word, Excel, Power Point and Smart Board software
Internet and Internet safety
Smart Board skills

8. Handwriting
Printing
Emphasis on neatness/legibility on all assignments
Cursive

9. Standards Grading Scale
4.0 – Exceeds grade level standard
3.5 – Consistently meets/at times exceeds grade level standard
3.0 – Meets grade level standard
2.5 – Often approaches/meets standard
2.0 – Making progress toward standard
1.5 – Making progress with guidance toward standard
1.0 – Making limited progress toward standard
Percentage Grading Scale A B C D F

10. Classroom Expectations “LaJoy Coupon”
Be Responsible:
~Be prepared by bringing all supplies.
~Be on time.
~Follow directions the first time given.
~Follow classroom rules.
~Complete and turn in all assignments and homework. (ON TIME)
Be Respectful:
~Follow directions.
~Use appropriate language and volume.
~Raise your hand and wait for permission to speak.
~Respect each other’s belongings.
Be Positive:
~Keep your hands, feet, and objects to yourself.
~Stay in assigned seat.
~Use classroom materials appropriately.
~Use kind words and actions.

11. Homework
Math homework will go home every night for the students to practice the concepts learned in class.
Read for 30+ minutes every night and record it on the reading log. (Planners)
Spelling homework: (Does NOT need to be turned in)
Mon. Tue Wed Thr.
5x each rainbow sentences pretest
writing

12. Quarterly Projects Projects will be given each quarter
Students work on it the whole quarter (about 8 weeks)
Tuesday nights – work on Projects for about 20 minutes
Return to school on the due date
Completed project at the end of the quarter are shared with class

13. Parent/Teacher Communication
Please check your child’s take home folder and planner every night for important notes and papers. Use this folder to send notes for the teacher or the office. Please initial the planner every night to indicate completing of homework.
Remember to send a written note with your child if there are any changes in your child’s pick-up schedule. Try to keep it consistent for the safety of the student.
Don’t forget to sign up to receive texts with important updates using the “remind” app. To receive messages via text, to
Feel free to me at or call me at

14. Snack and Birthdays
We eat snack everyday during our morning recess. Please make sure to send your child with an healthy snack. Snack is not provided by the school.
We love to celebrate birthdays in 4th grade! If you would like for your child to celebrate with us, please let me know in advance that you will send in goodies for the class. Please make sure to send store bought, easy to serve treats, and peanut free.

15. Scholastics Book Orders
Our class loves to read! Reading with your child every day helps them become better readers and writers.
Every month (or so) Scholastics book orders will be sent home. Please remember to order online using the classroom code on the order form.
No cash!!!

16. Who?
Parents, older siblings, grandparents, relatives, or any other special people are invited to surprise the children by being a mystery reader in our class this year! Shhh, remember it’s a surprise! 
Why?
Students love having their family, friends, and relatives come visit our classroom and share in our learning by reading a favorite story aloud to the class.
What?
Mystery readers can bring their favorite book from home or choose a book from our classroom library.
When?
Please contact me to schedule a day and time to be our mystery reader. I can be reached at or

17. Spring Centers to Celebrate the End of Testing
Classroom Parties
We have 5 main class parties. Please take time to sign up for a party item and I will send you a reminder note prior to the party! Thanks!
Fall Festival
Winter Celebration
Valentine’s Day
Spring Centers to Celebrate the End of Testing
End of the Year

18. Volunteers
If you would like to volunteer on a regular basis in the classroom, please fill out the HELP WANTED form. I will be making a schedule of volunteers that will begin after Labor Day.

19. Feeling overwhelmed
with information??
Don’t Worry!
This presentation
will be on my website!