Garden City School

Grade 4

In our fourth grade classroom we focus on the essentials of academic advancement. Using the New Standards and Grade Level Expectations, the focus is to provide the highest level of educational instruction and guidance to each student.

· All of our subjects center upon the four basic skills of communication:

Reading/Writing and Listening/Speaking

Academics

Reading: In class we are constantly reading! We will be reading many exciting books and having “guided reading” groups and literature circles throughout the year to learn, practice, and reinforce reading skills. There are 30-45 minutes of independent reading time each school day. Each student keeps a log of the different books they are reading at the time. Each student needs to meet the standard of reading twenty-five books during the school year, and we have an area in the library to keep track of these books. For each book read there needs to be a summary card. These age appropriate books can be read at home or in school. There is also a nightly reading assignment in which each student reads a book for at least 20 minutes. They keep track of these books on their “Nightly Reading Log”.

Writing: In class we are constantly writing! Students keep a writer’s notebook to keep ideas flowing. They are encouraged to write in their notebooks frequently... even at home! Writing is a process and there is strong emphasis put on this process. Writing workshops on authors, traits of good writing, revising, and editing, will be conducted on a daily basis to learn, practice, and reinforce this process. The students will be producing different types of creative writing pieces… narrative, expository (informational), memoirs, persuasive, biographies, and poetry. Each student is expected to write in their writer‘s notebook for at least 20 minutes a few nights a week for homework.

Math: A strong emphasis is put on the area of problem solving, and every day there is a “Problem of the Day”. Each student will keep a Math Notebook in which daily math problems will be computed. New concepts in computation are taught and old concepts are reinforced. Many math games are learned throughout the year and can easily be played at home. Every Friday our class will spend our Math time playing these math games. Homework to practice these concepts will be given each week. It is expected that students also practice their math facts throughout the week as well.

Science: The curriculum of Science explores weather, climate, magnetism, electricity, living things, and properties of matter. Weekly experiments will be conducted to help reinforce new concepts taught in class. The class will also be taking “internet filed trips” to learn more about the topics being studied. Each student is expected to keep a Science notebook and folder in which experiments will be recorded and notes are stored. They are encouraged to review these notes before a test.

Social Studies: The curriculum for Social Studies travels through the five different regions of the United States. Climate, natural resources and other aspects of the regions will be studied. In addition to the curriculum, students are expected to be aware of current events. The class has ordered Time For Kids, a current events newspaper and will be reviewed on a weekly basis.

Assessment: Each student will be assessed in these areas in a variety of ways. Student progress is continually observed and noted. Rubrics and criteria guidelines are used to facilitate assignment expectations. Also, traditional quizzes and tests are given periodically. In addition, students are continually motivated with sincere, authentic, personalized feedback.

_____________________________________________________________

Classroom Rules

1. Listen carefully. 5. Follow directions.

2. Work Quietly. 6. Work and play safely.

3. Respect others.

4. Respect school and personal property.

These rules help foster our caring classroom environment and a community of learners! I’m always looking for ways to “catch” your child doing something good!

Expectations

v The best is expected. Daily, each child is expected to give his or her best on all assignments. Our shared goal is to instill PRIDE and RESPONSIBILITY in our children. To accept anything less diminishes their education and opportunity for advancement.

v Proper RESPECT and CITZENSHIP is required by both student and teacher. Social misconduct will inevitably affect academic progress and will be addressed according to school policy.

v Students are expected to be ORGANIZED and to make up missed work assignments, notes, and homework. One day for each day absent is given to make up the work missed. Daily assignments are kept track of in their planners. A list of assignments that were missed will be provided when an absent student returns.

Homework

v Students will have 45 minutes to an hour of homework every night. You can expect your child to have daily homework except on rare occasions. Along with nightly reading, your child is expected to write in their writer‘s notebooks, complete 3 spelling assignments by Thursday, practice their math facts, and complete any other assignments there might be. If homework is incomplete or not done recess time will be taken to complete the work that was incomplete. The best way for you to help your child with homework is to provide a quiet place for working.

Miscellaneous

v Additional time for extra help, make-ups, or someone to talk to is always available!

v Parent/Teacher conferences will be scheduled on an as needed basis. If you would like to request a conference to discuss your child’s progress, please call the school or send me an email to set up an appointment.

( If there are ever any questions, concerns, or comments please don’t hesitate to call Garden City (270-8073) or send me an email: MrsFinelli@yahoo.com