Dear Parents,

 I look forward to a new and exciting fourth grade year.  As we progress through the full curriculum, we will focus on personal responsibilities and study skills in beginning to prepare for middle school.

• HOMEWORK – Each student needs to purchase a Student Agenda for $2.50 to keep track of assignments.  Agendas can be purchased from me.  Students will have a homework folder.  Because they will have some long-term projects, I want them to get used to organizing their time wisely and not wait until the last minute.  Most homework will be assigned on Mondays.  Please go over their assignments and help your child set up a study time that works for the family.
• LONG-TERM PROJECTS – Some months the students will receive a project assignment related to a unit of study.  This allows the children a wonderful opportunity to use the skills and critical thinking abilities they are developing.  Parents are invited to help their child obtain research and other materials, prepare a time line for completion, and help with proofreading.  While fourth graders may need monitoring with frequent follow-up, it is important that they take the responsibility to do the assignment themselves.  In order for maximum learning to take place, they need to feel ownership.  On the day projects are due, each child will present their product to the class.
• NIGHTLY READING – Research shows that children who read habitually are not only better readers but better students.  Students will be asked to read a minimum of 100 minutes each week.  The minutes recorded should be from chapter books at their independent level.  They will receive a form each Monday to record the books and pages each night that they read.  Parents need to sign the form to be returned the following Monday in order for the student to get credit.  Their nightly reading is one fourth of their Reading Grade each twelve weeks.
• SPELLING – The spelling homework and classwork is one half of the twelve weeks grade, and the test on Friday is the other half.  We will have a pretest on Thursday, and anyone who receives 100% will be excused from the test on Friday.  They will have spelling sentences to study each week, rather than a word list.  Punctuation counts!  There are challenge sentences, which are optional but encouraged for those better spellers.  They will receive extra credit.
• MATH – The Trailblazers program focuses on problem solving and critical thinking skills.  The philosophy has a strong connection between math and science, which I like.  As with any program I will supplement as needed, especially in the area of computation skills.  Some of their homework is assigned from the student book, so their math book may be traveling back and forth from school to home.  It is imperative that the math books be at school every day.  This, too, will help in preparation for middle school expectations.  Throughout the year we will be memorizing multiplication and division facts.  Students should work on memorizing facts at home, using flashcards, computer games, etc.  My class will also participate in the Math Super Star enrichment program.
• MISSING ASSIGNMENTS – If a child fails to turn in an assignment the day it is due, a Responsibility Reminder will be sent home to be signed by a parent and returned stapled to the completed assignment the following day. That is the only way the student will receive credit for the assignment.  Should the Responsibility Reminder and completed assignment not be returned the following day, parents will be notified.
• MAKE-UP WORK – It is the student’s responsibility to make up assignments and tests if absent.  I will fill out an assignment sheet for each child whenever they are absent.
• BEHAVIOR – My behavior plan is based on respect and responsibility.  Each student starts out daily with a sticker card.  If they keep that card for the entire day, they receive a chance ticket.  If they pull their card for inappropriate behavior or being off task, they first receive a warning, next 5 minutes off recess, third time loss of recess, and fourth time a behavior alert notice sent home to parents to be signed and returned the next day.  If a behavior becomes a problem, I will always inform you with a note or a phone call.  I ask that you discuss this with your child and listen to their perception of the behavior.  The child offers information that will help in solving the problem.  Working together shows the student that we both care.  At the end of each week, we will draw chances for treats.

• COMMUNICATION – I will be sending home a newsletter each month to inform you as to what we are studying in class, long-term projects, field trips, etc.  I may request items that we need for classroom projects.
• PROGRESS REPORTS – Once a month I will send home a progress report, which is basically a checklist of completion of daily work, homework, and behavior.  I will note any area of difficulty in an academic area as well and ways to support at home.  I will also note positive efforts in the classroom.  Please sign and have the students return the following Monday.
• SUPPLIES – It is important that the students have, at school, the supplies recommended.  This will alleviate problems at school.

I’m looking forward to a great year!