1. Welcome to 4th Grade Greentree Elementary 2018-2019
Melissa Ebarb
Meg Gandy
Laura Smith
Julie Wimberly
Susan Mitchell
Michelle Stroud

2. Grew up in Kingwood
Graduated from KHS
Texas A&M University
Taught in Humble
Taught in Houston
Taught in Budapest, Hungary

3. Arrival
School start this year at 8:00. The tardy bell will ring at this time. Please make sure your child is on time to school this year.

4. Dismissal
Dismissal is at 3:20. During dismissal, our goal is to dismiss 730+ students safely and efficiently.  Once we get going, our car rider dismissal rarely exceeds 25 minutes.  PLEASE be mindful that we are all doing the best we can.  We need parents to follow these guidelines:
Please display a CLEARLY WRITTEN car rider sign at all times (see example).
Please DO NOT leave your car to walk up to the school during dismissal.  It is a safety and traffic issue.  
Please do not come to the car rider lines before 3:10. No one will be dismissed before 3:20 and any parked cars impede emergency vehicles and buses.
Please do not park on Brook Shadow to pick up your student as a Walker.  

5. Lunch Times: Mitchell/Gandy --- 11:05 Ebarb/Wimberly --- 11:07
Smith/Stroud :10
Eating with your child:
We ask that if you visit during lunchtime, please sit with your child at the center guest table only. Students may not ask a friend to join them, as this is your special time with your child. If you have peanut products, please notify the teacher on duty.
Cafeteria Prices:
Breakfast - $1.45
Lunch - $2.25

6. STAAR Testing 2018 Testing dates: April 9–Writing May 13 – Math
May 14 – Reading
The building will be completely closed those days, so please do not plan on lunch with your child or schedule any appointments for them those days.

7. Daily Schedule 7:30 - Students to cafeteria 7:50-8:00 Arrival routine
8:00-10:00 1st Block
10:05-11:00 Specials
11:10-11:45 Lunch
11:45-12:15 Recess
12:25-12:55 Sparkle Time
12:55-3:05 2nd Block
3:05-3:20 Dismissal routine

8. Specials
Specials rotate by classroom. Please make sure your child wears good athletic shoes on the days they go to P.E. (Wednesday and Friday)
Students learn the recorder in the second semester of fourth grade. Students will need to be responsible to bring their materials to music.

9. PBIS & Character Education
PBIS (Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports) is practiced throughout Greentree. This means we reinforce positive behaviors as models for all students. Gator tickets are one way to reward students for “Great Gator Behavior”.
We also study character education using The Great 8 in our classrooms. Each quarter, the entire school will focus on a pillar of character, such as, Optimistic Thinking or Self- Awareness, and students will be expected to exhibit each pillar through their behavior.
Weekly conduct will be recorded and communicated to parents through the purple folder.

10. Planners & Purple Folders
Planners are filled out each day indicating all homework assignments and important notes. These should be checked and signed by parents each and every day.
Purple folders will come home daily and will include graded papers and other communications. There will be a homework side and keep at home side.

11. Class Dojo
We will be using a class conduct system through Class Dojo. This is a positive behavior system that lets students earn points as they exhibit good character and follow or exceed classroom expectations. This also allows for students to be reminded of behaviors that need improvement.
Students and parents can easily access these points daily by joining the Class Dojo. We will communicate with you through this APP. Please accept the invite through your .
A weekly conduct sheet will be in the daily folder. Please sign on Tuesdays for the previous week’s conduct.

12. Tutoring
Tutoring needs will be assessed on an as needed basis. Official tutoring will be determined after the first round of DBA’s (district benchmark assessments). Tutoring groups are kept small to meet the needs of each student effectively.
Sparkle Time is a daily 30 minute block where interventions take place based on a student’s individual needs or plan.

13. Supplies
Mrs. Stroud and Miss Smith have decided not to use a binder this year.
Please attempt to purchase a green 2 pocket, 3 brad plastic folder for reading and a red 2 pocket, 3 brad plastic for math.
We apologize for any inconvenience this change may cause you. We feel that with the children traveling to the other classroom, the folders will be best for them.
Students can bring decorative duct tape for their interactive notebook on the first day.

14. Power Walk - Every Thursday afternoon
Power Walk - Every Thursday afternoon. Please make sure your student wears appropriate shoes that day.
Fruit Break - Please pack a nutritious snack for your student each day. Healthy foods only ☺. We encourage students not to bring peanut products to the classroom due to food allergies.
Water bottles - Be sure to send a non-spill water bottle with your child daily and remind them to bring it home often for washing. Please do not send any beverage other than water.

15. Balanced Math
The hands-on curriculum is designed for students to rotate to different activities every 15 minutes. The students will have a center that is Math with Teacher where I will teach the lesson to 6 students and have practice with the teacher. After the first center then we have Math At My Seat which this is where students will complete an assignment that has previously been taught. Technology is the next center and we use different Math websites that go along with our Math lesson. The last center is a Hands On activity with a partner. Each center last 15 minutes. When the centers are over we will go over Math At My Seat as a class. Usually on Fridays we do not have stations and have an assessment for a grade.
In fourth grade, multiplication and division are huge. Please help your student practice their 1 – 12 multiplication facts nightly.

16. Science and Social Studies
The science curriculum is focused on hands-on labs.
The social studies curriculum is focused on Texas history.

17. Word Study/Spelling
All students will be learning the same spelling skills required by the TEA for 4th grade. The program helps students learn spelling patterns, NOT simple memorization. We will be studying a skill for 2 weeks to allow for deeper understanding.

18. Reader’s Workshop
Reader’s Workshop is the framework we use to teach reading. It includes a mini-lesson, independent reading time, and guided reading groups. We will focus on many comprehension skills, such as determining importance and summarizing. We will also use many wonderful read-alouds to foster a love of reading.

19. Writer’s Workshop
Writer’s Workshop is the framework we use to teach writing. It includes a mini-lesson, writing time, and time to share. They will learn writing across several genres. STAAR testing is focused on the genres of personal narrative and expository.
Camp Write Along, a fun review in a camp-like setting, will be in March prior to the STAAR test. Writing is an ENORMOUS part of fourth grade!

20. Support your school – Annual Fund
Please help support our school through the Greentree Annual Fund. Unlike fundraisers, 100% of your tax deductible donation goes to help our school.
Our goal is to raise $60,000 for things such as technology, training, and equipment.
You can donate today or go online to

21. Support your school – Annual Fund

22. We look forward to a GATOR GREAT new school year!