SCHOOL YEAR 2011-2012
WATSON'S
ALL* STARS
"SOARING HIGH FOR LEARNING"
Hi, I'm very excited to welcome you and your child to my class. I have
an exciting year planned for us. I know that through good communication,
we can build a group of responsible, independent, lifelong learners.
Feel free to contact me at any time via school.
Work Phone: 447-4736 Email: thelma.watson@lrsd.org
Please read
and share the LRSD student handbook with your child about important
things that are directly related to school and the classroom.
Toys are not allowed in class. A toy is any object that the child
will use for play and distract the learning process. Please sign and
return the contract.
Birthday
Children may not bring a birthday cake, cupcakes, cookies, etc. to celebrate their birthdays. No parties in the classroom.(District policy is two parties a year: Winter Holiday and Valentine. Children may not bring birthday invitations to pass out unless everyone in the class is going to get one, also. Parents can a healthy snack to class.
Attendance
and Tardies
Attendance is crucial. However, sometimes absences are necessary. It is the responsibility of the student to make up and complete all missed assignments. The student will receive a list of assignments on the first day back to class. Assignments must be completed and given to the teacher within 2-3 days.
Tardiness must be kept to a minimum. Students enter the classroom at 7:38. The school day begins at 7:40. Classes begin at 7:45. If your child is tardy, he/she not only misses valuable instructional time, but also poses a disruption for the classroom. Finally, any child arriving after 7:40 will require a tardy slip from the office. Punctuality is an important life long skill.
Visitors
Parents are always welcome however, drop in
conferences are not appropriate, in that they distract from the
students’ learning time.
Please plan any conferences at least a day ahead of time.
All visitors will need
to report to the office before coming to the classroom. You will be
given a visitor tag to wear for the safety and security of all children
in the building.
Book Order
Students are given the opportunity to order books
through Scholastic Arrow Book Club.
Order forms are sent home each month and due by the date written
on the form. NO CASH PLEASE.
Checks are payable to Arrow Books.
Snacks
Students are allowed to bring light healthy snacks. Please check the
portion size. Snack time is
10 minutes only while working. Snacks are optional and therefore are not
provided by the teacher. Snack time is 10:00 a.m.
Classroom Procedures
Everyday your child will bring home his/her communication folder.(folder is purchased from the office $1.50) It will contain notes, important information, and or graded papers. Please check daily. When sending money to school, please send it in an envelope with your child’s name, purpose for the money, and how much money is in the envelope written on the outside. This is to ensure that the money is credited correctly. Students will be given a receipt of money received by the teacher.
Student assignment books are to be viewed nightly and initialed by the parent at least three times a week. Students are to write assignments and homework daily in the book. Books are purchased for $5.00 from the office. NO EXCEPTIONS
PTA information will be distributed at the beginning
of the year. The PTA makes many of our programs possible. We
would not be the school we are without the support of our wonderful
parents. Please take time to join PTA.
Cursive handwriting review will begin at the beginning of the school year. All students will be expected to complete and turn in all assignments in cursive beginning in January.
Multiplication / Division are very important skills in fourth grade. If a child does not know his/her basic facts, he/she will have an extremely difficult time with longer multiplication and division along with problem-solving. Please make this a part of your ongoing work at home with your child to insure success.
Supplies
It is very important to the learning environment that your child has the proper supplies. This is needed in order for your child to complete their assignments. Please make sure that your child has what’s needed at all times. Our supplies are consumable and need to be replenished as needed. Our school cart (store) sells many of the basic school supplies. You may send money for your child to purchase the items they need.
Conferences
LRSD had 2 scheduled conferences per year. I will send a note home
with your scheduled time prior to the conference day. If at any time,
you would like to have an additional conference, please call me at
school or e-mail me to schedule a time.
Homework
LRSD policy states that
fourth grade students should have nightly homework assigned every night
except for Friday. Assignments will be posted on the board daily
for students to copy into their assignment notebook. This must be
initialed nightly and will be checked often by the teacher. This is a
very effective communication tool. Feel free to also use this space for
questions, concerns, or comments. Homework time is 45min. to an hour in
fourth grade. Homework is to be completed and returned to school the
very next day. Remember,
homework is a extension or enrichment of daily learning activities.
Curriculum
Fourth grade has a very
extensive, hands-on, problem solving, reading, and writing curriculum. Writing is integrated into every
subject.
Math
Math will be taught through a mixture of hands-on learning and
pencil/paper practice. A math folder is kept at school. Please encourage
your child to use a variety of mathematical thinking strategies in
problem solving. All concept/skills are presented in a problem- solving
situation. Please provide your child with a calculator for use at
home only. Calculators are provided in class. Students also do a
daily concept building program called Calendar Math. We're excited!
Multiplication / Division are very important skills in fourth grade. If a child does not know his/her basic facts, he/she will have an extremely difficult time with longer multiplication and division along with problem-solving. Please make this a part of your ongoing work at home with your child to insure success. Homework will be assigned from the textbook. Also,they will receive a code to have access to the online textbook.
Spelling
Spelling is word study and will be taught through a systematic developmental approach with the use of spelling patterns, sounds, and high frequency misspelled words. We will also have daily hands-on phonics/spelling activities. All students are required to do the weekly in-depth word study activities. In order to help build dictionary skills, word usage, vocabulary, and word meaning, students will define words for homework. ** Please make sure a dictionary is available at home for this task.
ENGLISH / WRITING
English includes writing, grammar, and mechanics. Writing and grammar will
be taught through an individualized writer’s workshop approach.
Children will keep writing folders and journals and will conference with
the teacher individually several times a week. Grammar will also
be taught through the daily grammar activities. Writing and
journals will be assessed by rubrics. Students will also keep a
writing portfolio to document progress. Students will write daily
in one or more subject areas using different forms of writing. (example:
narrative, expository, and persuasive). Content and organization / style
are highest on the rubric. Vocabulary will also be a focus.
Encourage your child to write for many reasons at home and monitor for
progress.
Handwriting
Cursive handwriting review will begin at the beginning of the school year. Students are writing using manuscript. Cursive practice is provided weekly. Students will be expected to learn to write using cursive. They are expected to write all assignments in cursive the second semester. All handwriting is expected to be neat and legible.
Students will receive individual, small group, and whole group reading instruction utilizing our textbook, as well as, various trade and chapter books. Nonfiction reading is stressed across the curriculum. Encourage nonfiction reading at home. Students will be assessed through tests, written response, group discussions, projects, and reports, etc.
****Also, as a part of
reading, students will need to bring $5.00 to purchase a Scholastic
Magazine. ( current events)
Science
Science is taught through a hands-on discovery and
inquiry approach to learning by the use of experiments. Students will
study vocabulary, and concepts. All activities are group related.
Students follow the scientific method and use the processing skills to
answer questions. Assessment includes quizzes, unit tests, CRT’s,
journals, projects, and group participation.
Social Studies
Social Studies is often a more challenging subject
for fourth graders. It requires more strategic reading,
vocabulary, and concepts. A variety of strategies will be used in each
unit of study to help students learn and meet specific objectives.
(Example: group work and projects, technology, hands on activities, and
various reading content strategies, writing, etc.) Assessment includes:
written response, quizzes, chapter tests, daily geography skills, class
participation, and projects. Soc. Studies will also be integrated with
reading throughout the year with reading.
Accelerated
AR is a part of the LRSD reading curriculum.
It encourages students to read
books and then take a test on the book. Students are required to keep
reading logs and set period goals. Books and tests are based upon the
STAR reading level of the student. Test mastery is 85%-100%. Students
who meet mastery and individual goals, shop at the AR store each nine
weeks. AR is an excellent reading motivational / learning tool. Our
class also has monthly AR incentives. Each child is encouraged to read
30 min. nightly. The AR goal is 60min. a day. Our goal is to read, read,
read.
SOAR TESTING
SOAR testing is done by the LRSD each nine weeks to assess
student progress of curriculum standards taught to students. Also , to
help with test prep for the ACTAAP. Based upon scores, students are
given skill interventions.
Discipline
All*STARS value Teamwork. As a class we're on track for learning. This year our classroom management system will reflect "on track and off track behavior." Our goal is for everyone to stay on track. When a student's behavior is off track, the "pit stop" is an opportunity to fix the behavior and get back on track. Staying on track daily/weekly will result in tickets and class rewards. As a class, we will brainstorm rewards for this year. "IT PAYS TO DO THE RIGHT THING." Failure to fix the behavior and to get back on track will result in a 10-15min. time out with work, parent contact and or behavior document, or the Principal's Office.
I hope this
information has given you an insight, understanding, and some of the
basic procedures in our classroom. We look forward to a SUPER year in fourth
grade at Fulbright. Please contact me at any time with any
questions or concerns.
Thank you,
Thelma Watson 447 - 4736
Web Site: www.fulbrightelem.org
Email Address: thelma.watson@lrsd.org
