2011-2012 4th Grade Handbook

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Welcome toMrs. Neals

4th Grade2011-2012Fordland Elementary

Contact info:[email protected]

767-2307 (to leave a message)Mrs. Neal on the web: www.mrsneal.net
mailto:[email protected]://www.mrsneal.net/http://www.mrsneal.net/mailto:[email protected]


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Dear Parents,

This week begins a brand new school year for all of us! I would like to welcome all the 4 th

grade students. As always, the start of a school year holds promises of new discovery and

learning, as well as the prospect of personal growth in all areas.

I have put together this handbook of information to help you and your child become familiarwith my expectations for the school year. I am looking forward to an exciting year with the4th grade class. Thank you for your cooperation in getting this year off to a great start!

Brain Books: The purpose of the Brain Books is to have a daily record of studentslearning. It is also a means of communication between teachers and parents. Your childsresponsibility is to fill out the Brain Book and make sure it goes home and comes back toschool each day. Your responsibility is to read it and sign it each day. I encourage you touse the Brain Book to ask questions about what your child is doing each day at school.Finally, my responsibility is to check the Brain Book for a signature each day. It is importantthat we all work together to make this a successful tool for communication.

Friday Folders: Your child's work will be sent home once a week in their Friday Folder.Please look over this section every Friday, comment if you wish, and return it on Monday.Each week, a newsletter will be included in the Friday Folder that contains a summary of theweeks learning and a glance at what well be learning the following week. This is one of thebest ways I can keep you informed of our plans and share our successes. Ill also uploadthe newsletters on our class website: www.mrsneal.net.

School Work: Your child will have a limited amount of homework in my class. Many of theclassroom activities and assignments are hands-on and interactive, therefore will becompleted in class. However, if an assignment is not completed in class it must be finishedat home. If you find that your child is bringing home large amounts of work, please contactme.

Late Assignments: If a student fails to turn in an assignment on time, the student will userecess time to complete the assignment. If the assignment is still incomplete by the end ofrecess, they may lose points on the assignment. This decision will be made on an

individual basis and will be communicated to you.

Reading: In order for goals to be met, students need to be reading at home. Part of yourchilds reading grade will come from their nightly reading. Each child is expected to read atleast 20 minutes per day, four-five nights a week outside of school. After each readingsession, have your child complete one line of the reading log. Home Reading Logs will besent home each Friday. These logs will be used to record your childs reading for the
http://www.mrsneal.net/http://www.mrsneal.net/


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upcoming week. On Mondays have your child turn in the log with their Friday Folder. Themore your child reads -- the better reader he/she will become.

A.R.: We use Accelerated Reader as an incentive program to encourage students to readbooks throughout the school year. Students read a book, and then take a test on it.Students will be given an A.R. goal based on their reading level, and they will have thesemester (August-December; January-May) to achieve their goal. It is your childs

responsibility to keep track of their A.R. points, which they may check at any time.

Classroom Behavior: This year I will be using a teaching strategy known as Whole Brain

Teaching. Whole Brain Teaching is wonderful in the fact that it gets students motivated and

its completely intrinsic motivation. As the year progresses the levels of classroom

management will increase.

The building blocks for the classroom are the following three expectations:

1. Follow directions quickly.2. Make smart choices.3. Keep your dear teacher happy.

Acuity: In the past we have used S.T.A.R. tests to check students levels at the beginningand end of the school year. This year we are excited to transition to a new program called

Acuity.

We believe Acuity will assist us, as teachers, in helping your child more accurately because

it identifies areas of need right at the start of the school year. In addition to identifying whereyour child is at the beginning of the school year, we have benchmark tests at the end ofeach quarter measuring student growth. These tests will be cumulative over what has beenlearned. The tests take a natural progression with the year.

This is the content your child will be tested over:

Test Number Third Grade Content Fourth Grade Content

1 75% 25%

2 50% 50%

3 25% 75%*** 10% of the grade achieved on the benchmark test will be applied to your childs

quarter grade**


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Snack: Students who wish to have a snack may bring his/her own each day. They mayalso bring a bottle of water. No milk will be provided for snack. Please do not send anysoda or candy for snack.

Parties: Throughout the year we will have several parties. These parties will be schedulein advance and help would be greatly appreciated. If you are able to assist in any way,

please let me know.

Website: Throughout the school year I would like to display your childs achievements on

my website, http://www.mrsneal.net. These achievements may include honor roll,

attendance, multiplication goals, and many other successes. This is an excellent way for

students to show relatives who live far away what they are doing in school. Also during the

year, class photos will be taken to post on the website. Only the first names of students

would be used, if any. I am asking that each child return this letter indicating whether your

family would like to participate or not.

Supply List

1 small art box 1 box of crayons (24 count) 1 rulers ( inches and centimeters) 2 glue sticks 1 pair of scissors 1 box of Number 2 pencils 2 colored pens 1 highlighter 2 packages of wide rules loose-leaf paper 1 box of tissues 2- one subject wide ruled notebooks 5 folders

Specials Schedule:

Monday: Music 1:00-1:30Tuesday: P.E. 2:00-2:30/ Music 2:30-3:00Wednesday: Art 2:00-3:00

Thursday: P.E. 2:30-3:00Friday: Library 1:00-1:30

Daily Schedule:

Recess: 10:15-10:3012:00-12:15

Lunch 11:25-11:55


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o 2 of your choiceo 3 solid colored with pockets and no brads

Many of these items will have to be replenished when the need arises. We will inform you

if/or when needed.

Appreciated but not required items:

Sticky notes (3 x 3 any color) 1 pkg. of EXPO dry erase markers 1 pkg. of construction paperI have great expectations for the upcoming year and am looking forward to having each andevery child in my class. I will do my best to meet the needs of each child and provide themwith the learning opportunities that will enable them to meet their educational needs. If youhave any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me at the school at 417-767-2307 [email protected]. It is of utmost importance that the parents and I work

together so that each student is successful.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Neal
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]


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Please read, sign, and return the following:

My child and I have reviewed our 4th grade handbook.

I DOgive my permission for my childs achievements and/or pictures to be

used on a classroom website.

I DO NOTgive my permission for my childs achievements and/or pictures tobe used on a classroom website.

Students name: ___________________________________________

____________________________________ _________________________Parent signature Date

ROOM PARENT VOLUNTEER

Room Parents organize and host three parties a year, which usually consist of games,snacks and a craft (be as creative as you like).

The parties are in October, December, and in February.

Name of student: ___________________________________________

Name of parent/guardian : _____________________________________

Phone number: ___________________________________

Email: _________________________________________________

I am willing to be a Leader/Co-Leader (main person(s) who organizes room partieswith help from other room parents).

I am willing to help with the parties and/or donate items. (Circle one/both)

Thanks for your help!

Documents

2011-2012 4th Grade Handbook