1. Welcome to Mrs. White, Rasmussen, & Watson’s 4th grade class!!!!
Parent orientation

2. Our Daily Schedule
7:50 - 8:10 am: Morning Organization & Announcements 8:10 – 9:05 am: Specials 9:10 – 9:20 am: Morning Meeting 9:20 – 10:50 am: Block I 10:55 – 12:25 pm: Block II 12:30 - 1:30 pm: Lunch/Recess 1:30 – 1:40 pm: Read Aloud 1:40 - 3:05 pm: Block III 3:10 – 3:15 pm: Afternoon Organization 3:20/3:25/3:30: Dismissal

3. C.A.T.C.H. Break
Students may bring a healthy snack to eat during the morning. (Fruit/Vegetable ~ No liquids please)
All snacks should be ready-to-eat. (No liquids please)
We have a later lunch, so a good breakfast and a healthy C.A.T.C.H. break will help them make it through the morning.
Our break time is after specials at 10:00 am.
***Please do NOT allow your child to bring any peanut/tree nut products due to severe allergies***

4. **An adult lunch costs $3.60**
Lunch & Recess
Lunch begins at 12:30 pm and you must check in at the front office.
If eating lunch with your child, it is Fall Creek policy that you & your child sit at the reserved tables on the stage or the main hallway.
Please let the teacher know if you wish to bring anything for your child’s birthday.
Be sure that your child is dressed appropriately for the weather. This may affect his/her ability to play outside at recess.
**An adult lunch costs $3.60**

5. Science & Social Studies Be safe. Be respectful. Be responsible.
Occasionally, short-term & long-term projects may be assigned.
Notification of these assignments will be sent home.
Students will be learning Social Studies topics based on Texas history that directly relates to our field trip to Austin in May.
Students will be learning Science topics that are related to the life science areas.

6. Math Be safe. Be respectful. Be responsible.
Students are expected to know their multiplication facts when they enter 4th grade.
Students will enhance their problem-solving and critical thinking skills in each mathematical area.
Students will continue to use the resources available to them, such as manipulatives, in order to help develop and reinforce each skill.
Students will grow and develop their skills and understanding in areas such as:
Measurement, probability & statistics, geometry, logic, patterns, and number concepts.

7. Reading Be safe. Be respectful. Be responsible.
Students will begin to focus deeper on reading to learn, not just learning to read.
Students will spend much time developing reading strategies to use before, during, and after reading that will aid in comprehension.
Nightly reading, for at least 30 minutes or more, is imperative for growth in both Reading and Writing.
It is expected that every student’s reading log is current and signed nightly by an adult.
As part of our campus literacy plan, reading logs will be checked at least once a week for reading progress

8. Word Study Be safe. Be respectful. Be responsible.
A word list will be sent home every other Monday.
Scheduled homework assignments are given each week.
Students are expected to return each assignment the following day.
Word lists will emphasize vocabulary development, spelling patterns, and the use of context clues through the utilization of strategies and inferred meaning.
Tests will be given every other Thursday.
You will be notified in advance if changes occur.
On tests, students are expected to use their words in a written paragraph and to use the words correctly, based on meaning, in a given sentence.

9. Writing & grammar Be safe. Be respectful. Be responsible.
Students will develop proofreading skills.
Correct use of punctuation, capitalization, and sentence structure will be taught and reinforced.
Students will learn the parts of speech through writing.
Correct use of specific nouns, adjectives, and verbs encourage clear, concise communication.
Students will utilize the writing process through various genres.
Students are expected to have neat and legible handwriting on all assignments.

10. Writing Be safe. Be respectful. Be responsible.
Writing will take place in all subject areas.
Students are expected to be proficient in the writing process by the end of 4th grade.
Plan, Rough Draft, Revise, Edit, Publish Final Copy
Students will be expected to use correct grammar and mechanics in all subject areas.
Daily and weekly reinforcement of these areas at home will help contribute to the overall success of the students.

11. Homework Be safe. Be respectful. Be responsible.
Weekly homework will be given in Reading, Math, and Word Study.
Any materials needed will be located in their Red Homework Folder.
All homework assignments can be found in your child’s daily planner (in RED).
Planners need to be initialed by an adult & returned daily.
Students are expected to complete homework each evening and to bring it back the next day.

12. Blue Tuesday Folders Be safe. Be respectful. Be responsible.
Tuesday folders are sent home each week.
It will contain graded assignments & your child’s conduct card.
Graded papers should be taken out of your child’s folder & kept at home unless a signature was requested.
If your child receives a grade lower than 70, they are to make corrections in red pen and return with a signature.
Tuesday folders are expected to be returned to school, with the conduct card signed, no later than Thursday of that week. You will be notified if Tuesday folders are not sent home.

13. Classroom Conduct Be safe. Be respectful. Be responsible.
The Cardinal Creed is expected to be followed by all students and staff.
Weekly conduct marks will be based on these expectations.
Weekly conduct grades are based on the following:
Grade # of Conduct Marks E S N U

14. Progress Reports & Report Cards Be safe. Be respectful. Be responsible.
Distributed 4-5 weeks into the grading period (except for the 1st 9 weeks)
These do not need to be returned to school.
Report Cards
Sent home every 9 weeks in a small manilla envelope.
Once signed & returned, a parent copy will be sent home with your child.

15. Tutoring Be safe. Be respectful. Be responsible.
We will not request tutoring for any student unless we see a real need.
If you feel your child would benefit from tutoring, even though I may not have requested it, he/she is welcome to join us.
Please contact me by in order to set this up.
Tutoring days and times will be determined by the teacher.

16. STAAR Be safe. Be respectful. Be responsible.
Your child will be taking a STAAR test for:
English usage/Writing composition (March)
Reading & Math (May)
All of the tested objectives are taught in the course of the daily lessons.
In January, you will begin to see STAAR-related packets & worksheets coming home.
These worksheets are used to familiarize the students with the testing format & develop good test-taking skills so that they may perform to the best of their abilities on the actual test.

17. Book Orders Be safe. Be respectful. Be responsible.
Scholastic flyers will be sent home throughout the year.
Our classroom code will be noted on the front of the flyer.
When ordering books, please make the check out to the Scholastic Book Company for the amount of the purchase.
Cash is not accepted.
You may order online with our class code if you cannot send a check.
Please send the order form & check in an envelope with the child’s name on the outside.
Any points earned will be used to purchase reading material for our classroom library.

18. Classroom Parties & Birthdays Be safe. Be respectful. Be responsible.
There will be two parties during the year.
Winter Party
Friendship Party
If you would like to help with these parties, please feel free to contact me by .
Birthday celebrations are such a special time!
Birthday treats are welcome, however they will not be dispersed until we are in the cafeteria for lunch.
Invitations are only allowed to be handed out during our morning organization, as to not distract from our daily learning.

19. Medications & Allergies Be safe. Be respectful. Be responsible.
A note and the medication are to be given to the nurse.
Nurse Brown MUST have the medication in the original bottle, or she cannot distribute it to your child.
If there are any students in either class with allergies, you will be notified. We ask that you not bring any of the following:
Peanut products
Tree nut products
Almonds, pecans, walnuts, etc.

20. Dress Code Be safe. Be respectful. Be responsible.
Straps on shirts must be 3 fingers wide.
Spaghetti straps are not acceptable.
No cut-up jeans or jeans with holes.
Hair color must be natural – no crazy colors please 
Shorts MUST reach the end of your child’s fingertips.
Tennis shoes with backs MUST be worn for P.E.
Any students that are out of dress code will be sent to Nurse Brown for a change of clothes.

21. Arrival & Dismissal
Drop off is beside the cafeteria doors with safety patrol or at the front of the building with safety patrol. 
Do not drop students off at the gate.

22. Teacher Contact Be safe. Be respectful. Be responsible.
Writing/Science Questions?
Kira Rasmussen
BEST way to reach me:
School: (281)
Conference Time: 8:10 – 9:05 am
(M/ Tr/F Only)
* me to set up a conference*
Math Questions?
Novi White
School: (281)
(M/W/ Tr/F Only)
RELA Questions?
Amanda Watson
BEST way to reach me:
School: (281)
Conference Time: 8:10 – 9:05 am (M/W/F Only)
* me to set up a conference*