1. Welcome to 4th Grade Academic Night!
Mrs. Vitale

2. Welcome to our classroom. There is a post-it on your child’s desk
Welcome to our classroom! There is a post-it on your child’s desk. Feel free to write a note to your child and they will see it when they get to school tomorrow! Thank you!

3. A little about Mrs. Vitale
* I moved to Dallas from Omaha, Nebraska 2 years ago
* I am married to my husband Joe and we just had our first baby Enzo in June
* I graduated from Creighton University with my Education degree
* I earned my Masters in Reading from University of Nebraska-Omaha
* I am a certified Reading Specialist
* I taught 3rd grade for 8 years and 5th grade for 3 years. This is my
third year teaching 4th grade at UP
* I’m VERY excited to get to know your family and appreciate you giving me the opportunity to be your child’s teacher this year!

4. Our daily schedule Specials schedule Mondays – Art Tuesdays – Library
7:50-8:15 Arrival/Morning Work/KPAW
8:15-9:15 Specials
9:20-10:20 Math
10:30-11:30 Writing
11:30-12:20 Reading
12:20-12:50 Lunch
12:50-1:20 Recess
1:20-2:15 Language Arts
2:15-3:00 Science/Social Studies (Wed– Science Lab 1:20)
3:00-3:10 Pack Up/Dismissal
Specials schedule
Mondays – Art
Tuesdays – Library
Wednesdays – P.E.
Thursdays – Music
Fridays – P.E.

5. Curriculum based and standardized assessments
MAP (Measure of Academic Progress) Reading, Math, and Science Online Tests
Fountas and Pinnell Reading Assessment
HPISD TEKS Checks
Teacher Developed Formative Assessments
STAAR Writing Test: Tuesday, March 28
STAAR Math Test: Monday, May 8
STAAR Reading Test: Tuesday, May 9

6. Report Cards
Click the link below to view HPISD’s report card guides (K-4) and an informational video about HPISD’s standard-based report cards.

7. Reading VOLUME – Lots and Lots of Reading! Reading Program:
Mini Lesson
Guided Reading (small group, partners, book clubs)
Independent Reading (Just Right books)
Read Aloud
Fluency and Comprehension (Fountas and Pinnell Benchmark Assessment)
Genres
Nightly Reading – 150 minutes per week
Primary Focus- Individual Growth
**Research shows that for your child to simply maintain his/her reading level, he/she must read for at least two hours/day.

8. Working through the writing process...
Personal Narrative and Expository Writing
Writing in all Content Areas
Pre-Writing
Drafting
Editing
Revising
Publishing
Vocabulary/Spelling Patterns
STAAR Writing Test in March

9. Math
Differentiation – pre-assessing and meeting students’ individual needs
Problem Solving, Problem Solving, Problem Solving!
Number Sense
Measurement
Multiplication and Division
Fractions
Financial Responsibility
Critical Reasoning – Does My Answer Make Sense?
Stamina and Perseverance

10. Science Social Studies
Organisms & Environments
Earth & Space
Matter & Energy
Force, Motion & Energy
Texas History
Geography of the Lone Star State
Regions of Texas
Settlement of Texas
Europeans Come to Texas
Texas Colonies & Conflicts
Republic of Texas
The Lone Star State
New Challenges for Texas
The Close of a Century
The Gate Opens to Industry
Texans At Home & Abroad
Modern Times in Texas
Government in Texas

11. Homework expectations
Reading: Students read and record a minimum of 150 minutes of reading on their reading log per week. Consider having your child read aloud to you for ten minutes one night each week to help them practice their oral fluency rate and accuracy.
Math: A handout or online assignment will be assigned 3-4 nights a week.
Spelling/Word Work: Students will be given sentences to edit and rewrite each week. Sentences are due every Wednesday. Students should study throughout the week in preparation for a dictation test given every Friday.
Other Content Areas: Homework in other subject areas may be assigned but are not sent home on a regular basis.
Students that don’t complete daily assignments expected to bring them home and finish for homework.
NO MAKE-UP WORK will be approved for absences resulting from vacations taken for recreational purposes. This is a school policy.
ALL HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS AND REMINDERS WILL BE WRITTEN IN STUDENT PLANNERS ON A DAILY BASIS.

12. 4th grade Homework Policy
If Homework is Not Complete
1st time: Student receives a warning recorded on Conduct Sheet and is expected to bring completed assignment the following school day.
2nd time: If homework is not returned the following day, the student will be expected to complete the assignment during recess. The infraction will be recorded again on the conduct sheet.
If two or more assignments need to be completed during recess in a week (Monday- Friday), the student will lose a FUN FRIDAY letter.

13. Student expectations On-time class attendance
Planners filled out daily
Returning completed homework
Good behavior choices
Materials ready
Turning in class work in a timely manner
Must always have a book to read
Clean and organized desks and lockers
Record in reading log nightly
Parent initials on weekly Conduct Sheet (Fridays)

14. 4th Grade Discipline Policy
Conduct Sheet
Conduct sheets are to be kept in the homework folder for the duration of the nine weeks. At the end of the nine weeks, students will be given a new one.
Each time a student chooses not to follow classroom guidelines/expectations, the teacher will make note of it on the calendar with a notation of what rule was broken.
When student receives 7 or more marks in a week (Monday-Friday), he/she will lose a letter.
The letters FUN FRIDAY are on the bottom of the conduct sheet and must have at least one letter remaining to attend Behavior Party.
Parents are expected to sign the conduct sheet at the end of each week.
1 - Verbal Warning:  no recess lost, no letter lost
2 - Mark on Conduct Sheet, no recess lost
3 - Mark on Conduct Sheet, 5 minutes off recess
4 - Mark on Conduct Sheet, 1 letter lost and 10 minutes off recess

15. How Parents can support responsible behavior
Find a safe place for school items at home.
Decide on the best time and place to complete homework.
Arrive to school on time.
Contact Mrs. Vitale if you have ANY questions or concerns.
Check daily planner with child regularly.
Encourage your child to READ, READ, READ and to share what they are reading about with you!
Encourage your child to learn (memorize) their multiplication facts.
Send back Thursday folders (every Friday) and signed Conduct Sheets (every Monday) on time.
Set academic goals with your child.

16. Parent teacher conferences
Parent-teacher conferences in 4th grade are held on an as needed basis.
I will contact you with any academic or social concerns.
You may contact me to request a conference. me at to schedule a time and day to meet.
We can conference in person or by phone.
Conference times are available during my planning time from 8:20-8:50. I am typically available to meet on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays unless an unforeseen meeting has been scheduled.
If you are unable to meet during my planning time, we can schedule a time after school.

17. Sign up genius and Class parties
Sign-Up Genius will go live on Friday, September 9th at 9:00am.
Please be courteous of all parents, and limit the number of times you sign up for events.
Events to sign up for include:
Class Photographers
Ancestor Feast Volunteers
Valentine’s Party Volunteers
End of Year Party Volunteers
Faculty Thanksgiving Teacher Luncheon Volunteers (Monitor students during faculty luncheon.)
Faculty Teacher Appreciation Week Luncheon Volunteers (Monitor students during faculty luncheon.)
Click the link below to login to Sign-Up Genius. I will send out notifications when it goes live.

18. Field Trips
4th grade traditionally goes on three field trips during the school year including:
Fine Arts Field Trip (Wednesday, October 19)
Visit to MIS
Mesquite Rodeo
We will only need parent chaperones during the Fine Arts and Mesquite Rodeo field trips. I will send out an or note home in Thursday Folders for field trip volunteers. Once those interested in chaperoning have let me know, I will “draw out of a hat” to make it fair. Field trips will NOT be on Sign Up Genius.

19. A few more things…
Please have a “rainy day” plan with your child so they know how they will get home in the event of thunderstorms during dismissal time.
I will respond to s within 24 hours. Because our planning period is first thing in the morning, I am unable to check my often. If you have an end of the day change of plans or message you need your child to receive and you haven’t heard back from me by 2:30 at the latest, please contact the office.
Remember: We no longer allow birthday treats in the cafeteria.
If your child forgets their lunch or homework, parents are no longer allowed to drop it off for them.
Information about Student Council and Kindness Club will be shared at a later date via and/or Thursday Folders.
If your child is interested in being a part of KPAW, detailed information can be found on the UP website.
Click on the link below for detailed information about KPAW.