4th Grade Orientation

2013-2014

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Mrs. Drain, Mrs. Gloria, Mrs. Jackson, Ms. Leining, Ms. Losli, Mrs. Ripley

"I promise you every day your children will learn something. Some days they'll bring it home in their hands. Some days they'll bring it home in their heads. And some days they'll bring it home in their hearts."

-Valerie Welk

Homework

• Students should spend about 50 minutes each night working on homework.
• Includes 20 minutes of reading
• Includes 5-10 minutes practicing multiplication facts
• Monday & Wednesday = Math
• Tuesday & Thursday = Language Arts
• Homework assignments are subject to change based on class needs.

Agendas/Planners

• Students are responsible for recording information daily.
• All homework will be recorded
• Should be carried to and from school daily

Wells Branch Expectations

• Be Responsible
• Be Respectful
• Be Safe

• www.sokikom.com
• Parents can log in daily (with the e-mail address previously receiving a report) to check on their child's status.
• Reports will be e-mailed on Fridays. -- This feature is currently not working. We will e-mail reports as soon as it is back up and running.
• All 4th grade classrooms are using same system.
• Points can be given/taken away by any 4th grade teacher.

4th Grade Behavior - Sokikom

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• Behaviors vary slightly for each teaching team.
• Positives: following directions, using time wisely, participating, following WBE expectations, showing kindness, returning HW, putting forth extra effort, etc.
• Negatives: not following directions, not using time wisely, not following WBE expectations, being disrespectful, not returning HW, being out of seat, interrupting, off task, etc.

4th Grade Behavior - Sokikom

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Grading Guidelines

• Class Assignments - 60%
• Test/Quizzes - 30%
• Homework - 10%
• In subjects where no homework is assigned, the test/quizzes section will be adjusted to 40%
• Students will have an equal number of school days to complete the work they missed due to an absence.
• Late work:
• Any assignment more than 5 days late will receive a maximum grade of 70.
• First semester 5 % off daily
• Second Semester 10% off daily

Math

• Develop in-depth learning of concepts with an emphasis on understanding, reasoning, and problem solving, involving real world application of knowledge and skills
• Integrate math and science as much as possible
• Provide opportunities to collaboratively solve and share problem solving strategies
• Encourage students to use various strategies to solve multistep problems, including the use of manipulatives and technology support materials
• Provide daily opportunities for students to reflect on their learning, misconceptions, and strategies used to solve math problems
• Provide student with rigorous and challenging instruction, incorporating higher level questioning and thinking skills

Reading

• Includes daily mini-lessons (7-15 minutes), shared reading, small group/guided reading, conferring and independent reading
• Includes five required components of reading instruction: phonological awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and text comprehension embedded in genre-based study
• Provides opportunities for students to respond to texts through varied means: authentic discourse, written responses, creation of graphic organizers, buddies, etc.
• Uses Words Their Way as a component to teach spelling for a maximum 10 minutes daily

Writing

• Demonstrate 6 + 1 Traits and writers' craft through a variety of literature and mentor texts
• Provide opportunities for students to self evaluate with a rubric that is common across the grade level and based on the 6 + 1 Traits
• Includes individual teacher guidance for writing through conferences
• Emphasize authentic student writing using a variety of genres and purposes
• Include regular opportunities for students to share their writing

Science

• Emphasize academic rigor and high expectations of achievement for all students, focusing on higher levels of thinking
• Incorporating common science vocabulary
• Develop in-depth learning of concepts with an emphasis on understanding, reasoning, and problem solving, involving real world application of knowledge and skills
• Include ongoing reflection and representation of learning in science journals.
• Include experiential learning through classroom and field investigations
• Provide opportunities for student engagement in meaningful cooperative learning activities that enable them to construct and apply knowledge of key concepts.
• Use technology as a way to explore, connect, and represent scientific ideas.

Social Studies

• Examines the history of Texas
• Discuss the important issues of the 19th and 20th centuries
• Conduct a thorough study of the regions in Texas that focus on location, distribution, and economic patterns.
• Identify the contributions of people of various racial, ethnic, and religious groups to Texas.

Conferences

• Goal-setting conferences will be held September 30th - October 11th.
• All parents/guardians must make arrangements to have a Fall Goal Setting Conference with your child's teacher.
• Look for information from your child's teacher about signing up for specific times.

4th Grade Websites/Blogs

• Each teacher has a classroom website/blog.
• Please look there for important and up-to-date information.
• Each blog can be found through the WBE Homepage:

www.wellsbranch.roundrockisd.org

ASPIRE

ASPIRE is back this year in a limited capacity. For those of you who do not know, ASPIRE is a grant funded program which has had reductions that have changed the scope of the program. It is now primarily a program that offers extended day school services that include, but are not limited to, homework help and enrichment through the YMCA. ASPIRE is a FREE program!! Please let your child's teacher know if you are interested.

ASPIRE

Parent Orientation…...ASPIRE Session Start

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September 5………………………..September 16

September 12……………………...September 16

October 17…………………………..October 28

October 24………………………….October 28

STAAR Writing

• April 1st and 2nd
• 4 hours each day
• Each day includes a revising/editing multiple choice section and a written composition section
• One composition will be an expository piece, one will be a narrative

STAAR Math

• April 22nd
• Time limit of 4 hours will be enforced
• Students will solve multi-step problems

STAAR Reading

• April 23rd
• 4 hours
• Students will read different genres of texts and answer multiple choice questions

Thank You!!!

Thank you for coming! Your child's education is a joint effort and working together will help ensure they are that much more successful in 4th grade.

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If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact your child's teacher!