Welcome to the Fourth Grade!

Being able to explore God’s wonders with these bright and precious young people will be, for all of us, an exciting challenge, full of hard work and rewarding accomplishments.

The following information will be a helpful guide to you on what to expect in the 2009-2010 school year.
I am looking forward to teaming with you all.


Your Fourth Grade Teacher

 

CURRICULUM LIST      

 Bible    Building on the Rock   
        Summit Ministries

History    Heritage Studies    Bob Jones
         

Mathematics   Mathematics   Scott Foresman,  Addison Wesley

   
Reading    Various Novels/Comprehension activities Abeka Read and Think
 
   
Science    See Learning in a Whole New Light Scott Forseman


Writing/Grammar   Writers Express   Great Source


Spelling    Working Words In Spelling  Great Source

 

SCOPE AND SEQUENCE       Fourth Grade


BIBLE

We will be studying the Christian character traits of servanthood, stewardship, knowing God and self.  We will be studying the Biblical basis for these traits and emphasize life application of them.

HANDWRITING

We will be working our way through the first half of the handwriting book.  The second half will be completed in the 5th grade.  Students will also be held accountable in their daily work to write neatly in cursive at all times.

LANGUAGE/GRAMMAR

We will be focusing on nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs and pronouns this year. Use of capitalization, commas, semicolons and colons will also be reviewed.

HISTORY/GEOGRAPHY

We will be taking a year long look at our state of Oregon.  This will involve making a notebook to record basic state facts, history, agriculture, government, and many other things.  This will be an exciting study and you can be involved with your child in this project by helping to collect pictures from around the state, especially pictures of your child in places you have visited.  During our first term we will cover immigration to the United States, the continents, as well as the location of all the states and capitals in the United States.   (There will be a special study of the Pilgrims and the Colonial Period). 

MATH

We have an exciting new math series by Scott Foresman and Addison Wesley.  We will really zone in on math, and would appreciate anyone who would like to volunteer to help.

READING

We will be reading  novels which include These Are My People, Misty, and Freedom Train.  To help encourage a love of good literature, I will be reading to the students daily after lunch and the students will be required to read and chart a novel a month on their own time.

WRITING

We will be approaching writing this year using Great Source Writing. This will lead the students into writing in various domains and subject areas. Students will write daily and learn to proofread and edit their own work and that of their peers.

SCIENCE

Scott Foresman Science: We will begin with the properties of matter, heat, electricity and magnetism and end with space and technology.

SPELLING

Students will be held accountable for their spelling in all assignments. We will have daily spelling activities and weekly tests.

LITERATURE

Read Allowed:  Every day the students will be read to from good literature.

Possible Titles:     Authors:
Amos Fortune, Free Man (Newberry Winner) Elizabeth Yates
Black Beauty     Anna Sewell
Call It Courage (Newberry Winner)   Armstrong Sperry
Hans Brinker; or The Silver Skates   Mary Mopes Dodge
Number the Stars (Newberry Winner)  Lois Lowry
Smokey the Cow Horse    Will James
The Secret Garden    Francis Hodgson Burnett
The Sign of the Beaver    Elizabeth George Speare
 With Daring Faith
 Star of Light

Author Study: Elizabeth George Speare

CLASSROOM RULES         


1. We obey the Lord Jesus Christ.

2. We love and honor one another and do not hurt one another with unkind words or deeds.

3. We are thankful in all circumstances.

4. We always tell the truth and never take what is not ours.

5. When we have work to do, we do our best work, and we do it without complaining.

6. We hand in all assignments when due.

7. We keep our class notebooks, folders, and desks neat and organized at all times.

8. We act like ladies and gentlemen.

9. When we are out of the classroom, we act just as if we were in the classroom.

10. When we disobey or forget any of these rules, we accept the consequences and also the responsibility, with God's help, to improve.


REFOCUS PROCEDURE

The “Refocus Procedure” is utilized for most routine discipline issues.  Additionally, more significant behaviors may be addressed following the Office Referral policy explained below.

ELEMENTARY REFOCUS SHEETS

Refocus sheets are a way of informing you of the opportunities your child has during the week to “refocus” or change an inappropriate behavior.  After a student has been given a reminder of the appropriate behavior that is not being exhibited (e.g. being quiet during study times, keeping hands and feet to self, etc), s/he is given the opportunity to think about his/her actions and make the decision to change his/her behavior to reflect more positive conduct.  In order to encourage the student to change his/her behavior, s/he is asked to go to a designated place and complete a refocus sheet.  The student will be allowed to return to his/her schoolwork when s/he is ready.

Each refocus sheet given will be matched with a progressive consequence at the teacher’s discretion.

Please do not be overly upset if your child receives a refocus sheet.  This does not mean that your child has been “bad.”  It merely means that your child has needed an opportunity to work on improving behavior.  Please sign any refocus sheets your child receives and return them the following morning.

Students who accumulate multiple refocus sheets for the same behavior during a grading period will have an appointment scheduled to discuss a plan of action.

Obscene, vulgar or profane language will be dealt with following the Refocus Procedure.  A copy of the Refocus sheet will be submitted to the Administration that day.  At the Administration’s discretion, additional consequences may be imposed depending on the severity of the language.  Continued violations will result in a conference with the parent(s), and Administration.

OFFICE REFERRAL PROCEDURE

Office referral must occur for significant unacceptable behavior, such as: 
1. Rebellion:  Outright disobedience in response to instruction.
2.   Fighting:  Striking someone in anger with the intent to harm.

If these significant behaviors occur, the following actions will result:
1. The student will be removed from classroom or activity.
2. The school will contact the parent.

The following statement gives our focus for coming to school:
I came to school to learn and I will learn.  I will act in such a way that I will be proud of myself and others will be proud of me too.  Because God is my helper, I will have a great day!

HOMEWORK         

Homework is important because it is a valuable tool in helping students make the most of their experience in school.  Homework is useful in reinforcing what has been learned in class, preparing students for upcoming lessons, extending and generalizing concepts, teaching responsibility and helping students develop positive study habits.

The teacher will usually assign 30 minutes of homework on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays.  No homework will be given on Wednesdays, over vacations or holidays, and with few exceptions, over weekends.  Each homework day your child will fill out their assignment book that is to be returned the next day with a parent's signature.  Please do not sign your child's assignment book unless all the work has been done and done to the best of his/her ability.  Having the assignment book signed is part of their homework.  It is important at this age to establish good homework habits.

It is also important that homework be handed in on time.  If an assignment is handed in a day late it, will be marked down one full grade and must be signed by a parent indicating that the assignment is late.  If the work is still not completed the second day, the student will receive a zero for the assignment and it must be completed that night and signed by a parent indicating it is now two days late.  If the student comes to school the third day with an uncompleted assignment s/he will be sent to the office to complete the work and talk to the principal.  Homework will always be completed, even if the student chooses to turn it in late and receive no credit.  Sometimes there is a family emergency that prevents homework from being completed, in that case, a note from a parent will excuse the student and it can be handed in the next day.

We will be working toward helping the student assume responsibility during the year.
If a student is absent because of illness, the student has two days to make up the work for every day that s/he was sick. 

If a student is absent for any other reason, arrangements will be made as to when the work must be completed and turned in. 

LABELING ITEMS         

Please label all items that your child will be bringing to school such as: individual markers, pencils, scissors, ruler, erasers, pencil box, and ALL CLOTHING.  If it can drop on the floor or be laid down somewhere, label it.  Initials work well on small items.  Every year we find clothing items in the lost and found.  If they are labeled we can return them to the owner.

SNACKS           

Please send only nutritious, non-sugary items. Foods with sugar such as pudding or cookies may be eaten at lunch but not for snack.

Here are some ideas:  Fruit, Yogurt, Muffins, Veggies, Breads, Chips, Pretzels, Crackers and Cheese or Peanut Butter.

PARENT VOLUNTEERS         

We welcome your help in the classroom.  If you would like to come in and lend a hand with correcting papers or helping with reading groups or parties please let us know.


Revised 3-09