Welcome to 4th Grade!

(A Guide for Parents)

2016-17

4th Grade Team

Mrs. Dobberfuhl- ELAR/SS Mrs. Lee- Math/Science

Mrs. Way- Math/Science Mrs. Howard- ELAR/SS

What is fourth grade like?

It’s fun, fast-paced, challenging, and rewarding for students and teachers!

COMMUNICATION• Please make sure you have given your child’s teacher an email

address that you check daily and update her with any changes throughout the year.

• We communicate news, events, and curriculum information on our weebly: http//fourthgradeglenoaks.weebly.com. Our goal is to update this weekly, usually by 5 pm on Thursdays, but information may be added at anytime, so check often to stay informed!

• Conference days/times: Mon. and Wed./2:15-2:45 pm. We are happy to speak with you over the phone and via e-mail, but please know that we may not be able to reply until after 3.

• If there is a change in your child’s dismissal, please send an e-mail to our registrar, Lisa Taylor, at ltaylor@mckinneyisd.net and a copy to your child’s homeroom teacher..

TLIM: 7 Habits of Happy Kids

Be Proactive

Begin with the End in Mind

Put First Things First

Think Win-Win

Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood

Synergize

Sharpen the Saw

Classroom SCHEDULE7:50-8:10 Unpack/Morning Work/ Announcements 8:10-8:55 Flex Time: Interventions/ Enrichment/Clubs8:55-10:55 Block 1 11-12 Recess/Lunch12:05-2:05 Block 22:05-2:10 Clean up/Pack up2:10-3 Specials (dismissed from specials)

EXPECTATIONS FOR BEHAVIOR

We help students grow as leaders using the 7 habits.

Glen Oaks Discipline Model:1. Warning

2. 2nd Warning (with consequence- check in Take Home folder)

3. Time Out Room 4. Office Reflection Visit

5. Parent Phone Call and E-Mail 6. Office Referral

*Take-Home Folder: Behavior Log/Brags

Love and Logic

Love and Logic is a great resource for both teachers and parents. The focus is on helping children make the best choices. It teaches them to be responsible for their words and actions.

http://www.loveandlogic.com/

What to expect from your fourth grader:

Adapted from the book Yardsticks by Chip Wood

Physical Growth Patterns - increased coordination, pushes self to physical limit, fatigues easily, somatic complaints, uses tension outlets like nail biting

Social Growth Patterns - highly competitive, self-aware, anxious, sees adult inconsistencies and imperfections, complains, can be moody, critical, individualistic

Language Growth Patterns-descriptive, loves vocabulary and language play, age of negatives, baby talk may re-emerge

Cognitive Growth Patterns-industrious, self critical, less imaginative, intellectual curiosity, ability to deal with multiple variables emerges, trouble with abstractions

What to expect from your fourth grader . . .

WRITING WORKSHOP

We use several resources, including Empowering Writers, for instruction. For more information visit www.empoweringwriters.com and click on “Parent’s Corner.” This year your child will learn how to create a narrative, expository, and persuasive piece of writing. We teach the skills of writing in isolation and by January, will begin to publish complete pieces. Portfolios will come home near the end of the school year. Specific grammar and spelling skills will also be a part of weekly instruction.

This year’s STAAR test will assess expository writing as well as revising and editing skills.

READING WORKSHOP• We teach fundamental reading

strategies to help students comprehend all genres at deeper levels (Literary, Informational, Poetry, and Drama) and to become lifelong readers.

• Guided Reading activities occur daily to reinforce skills.

• Reading Response are written so students can reflect on their learning and apply strategies that are taught.

SOCIAL STUDIES

Units We Will Cover:Texas Regions

American IndiansExploration and Early Colonization

The Texas RevolutionThe Turbulent Years

Texas TodayBranches of Government

4th grade social studies focuses on the unique and

exciting state of TEXAS!

SCIENCEPhysical, Life, & Earth Science

We utilize the Engage Learning Model (ELM) to teach science through project based learning. The students will use DISCOVERY Ed Boards for curated websites, DIYs, and guided learning. Students will ask meaningful questions, conduct research, use

technology to increase their understanding of the world around them, and work collaboratively. Our major units are as follows:

Communicating as a ScientistExplore PlantsTexas ZooMatterForce, Motion and EnergySun, Earth, MoonWeather

MATH

MAJOR CONCEPTS include: • Place value- numbers up to 100 million and decimals to

tenths and hundredths places• Fact fluency!!!• Advanced multiplication and long division• Problem solving strategies and the ability to solve

multi-step problems• Fractions- we will compare, order, add, and subtract• Geometry- classifying shapes and measuring angles • Measurement- standard and metric• Representing and Interpreting Data• Personal Financial Literacy

FACT FLUENCY AND PROBLEM SOLVING

Please continue to work with your child at home on fact fluency for multiplication and division. Many new concepts rely heavily on fast and accurate recall of these facts.

There is a strong emphasis on problem solving, requiring students to choose appropriate strategies and operations and apply them to real world situations. Multiple step problems can be quite difficult, so the more practice and exposure students have, the more successful they will feel!

Math: Think CentralOnline support/practice for students. Each lesson has 10-15 questions. If students don’t know, the program will guide them through the problem, step-by-step. It gives immediate feedback/support. Students should spend 15-20 minutes nightly on Think Central, fact fluency, or math games on the weebly. Students can come in at 7:30 if needed.

HOMEWORK

All students are required to read a minimum of 20 minutes/night or a total of 120 minutes/week.

A reading response log will be coming home soon!

Unfinished work may come home in the Take Home Folder. Please check daily.

Extra practice, or homework may be sent home as needed throughout the year.

Check the weebly!

Progress Reports

Progress reports are sent home at the midpoint of each quarter. The purpose is to report student progress in all subjects, and to indicate any concerns we may have with a student’s work habits or conduct (behavior).

DATES for Progress Reports:

9/21, 11/16, 2/1, 4/26

Report CardsReport cards are posted to HAC (Home Access Center) at the end of each quarter. If you need information on how to log in to HAC, please contact the front office. Scores will be provided for Reading, Writing, Math, Science, Social Studies, and P.E. each quarter.

Music and Art scores will only be provided for Quarters 2 and 4.

DATES for Report Cards posted to HAC:

10/24, 1/4, 3/15, 6/1

Important Dates-Please avoid scheduling appts on

these dates.

• MAP Testing-refer to the weebly for dates in Sept., Jan., and May

• Parent/Teacher Conferences: Monday, October 24th-look for signup genius

• Writing STAAR, Tuesday, March 28• Math STAAR, Monday, May 8• Reading STAAR, Tuesday, May 9

Events to look forward to:• Fine Arts Field Trip-Dallas Museum

of Art-Friday, September 23• Boosterthon Fun Run-Friday,

October 14• Enterprise City Field

Trip-Wednesday, November 30• Field Day-Friday, May 19• Check the weebly for more events

throughout the year!We love volunteers! We will contact

you when help is needed!

•Check our weebly weekly•Be sure you have filled out a volunteer application so you can be a part of this year’s activities! •Let us know if you have any questions or concerns!

Thanks for your support!.We are looking forward to an

amazing year!