Welcome to Fourth Grade

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Welcome to Fourth Grade!

• Presented by your Fourth Grade Team
• Meredith Collins
• Kim Hall
• Melanie Homan
• Lauren Myers
• Jennifer Wilson

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The Mountain Brook City Schools Foundation

• The Mountain Brook City Schools Foundation
  provides an ongoing and dependable funding source
  for critical academic "extras" (i.e. technology,
  teacher training and development, and library
  enhancement). These extras benefit every grade
  level and every academic subject area.

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Foundation Gifts 1995-2009 3,284,609
Professional Development                       
           1,579,777          
Technology                                       
           1,575,312           Library
Enhancement                                       
  129,520                                       
                                  3,284,609      
     Professional Development 91,000   Hours of
teacher training Staff Development Specialists
(Reading and Math)  Technology  Computer
Workstations                                      
                      Classroom Response
Systems Laptop Computer Labs at each
school                         
Listening Centers Portable AlphaSmart Labs
(Wireless Word Processors)          Printers Porta
ble Dreamwriter Labs (Wireless Word
Processors)         Pocket PCs GPS
software                                          
                                 Data
Projectors Video Broadcasting Equipment           
                          Document
Cameras Classroom Sound Enhancement
Systems                                   Science
Lab Equipment Library Enhancement  4,500 Library
Books
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Approved for the 2008-2009 School
Year Professional Development Math
Coach                                         60,
000 Professional Development Stipends    
80,000 Subtotal                                  
  140,000 Technology High
School Laptops, printers, classroom response
systems Sound enhancement systems                 
                                             91,5
00 Junior High  Laptops, printers, Classroom
Response Systems, Sound enhancement systems, band
sound system                          
107,500 Grades 5-6
Classroom Response Systems                        
                 
24,000 Grades k-4 Listening Centers             
                                             
   22,918 Subtotal                               
     245,918
TOTAL                                  385,918
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Homework Policy

• Purpose to reinforce concepts and skills
  presented in class
• Approximate amount of time per day 45 minutes to
  1 hour (which does not include reading). More
  time may be required if there is a need to
  complete unfinished class work or study for a
  test.

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Homework Policy

• Frequency of Assignments 2-3 assignments
  nightly. No more than one major test per day with
  the exception of spelling tests, computation
  quiz, or DOL test, which may coincide with
  another test.
• Types of Projects and Reports Projects are
  generally integrated with Alabama History,
  Science, or Writing. When projects are assigned,
  parents are notified at the onset and progress is
  closely monitored.

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Agenda Books

• At the end of the day, each student will record
  all unfinished class work and homework
  assignments in his/her agenda book. Please review
  assignments to see that they are completed.
• If there is a frequent problem with incomplete
  homework, the student must have a parent sign the
  agenda book each night.

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Calendar
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Monthly Newsletter

• The fourth grade team will send home a monthly
  newsletter on the first Monday of the month to
  inform you of what is happening in the classroom.

Class Webpages
Please check your childs class web page for
homework, updates, class news, etc.
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Signed Paper Folder

• In an effort to inform you of your childs
  progress, work samples will be sent home every
  Monday in the Signed Paper Folder. It is
  important that you review these papers with your
  child and monitor corrections. Sign the Weekly
  Report and return the folder with the graded
  papers by Wednesday.

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Weekly Report

• If a student chooses to break a rule
• Warning- W
• Miss recess- one
• Write a letter home-two
• Mrs. Treadwell
• NOTE students will begin each day with a clean
  slate.
• Please read and sign the Classroom Management
  Plan provided by your childs teacher.

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Friday Fling Opportunity Time

• Students will earn an extra recess at the end of
  the week if they complete all homework
  assignments and do not have to sign their Weekly
  Report.
• Students who are unable to attend Friday Fling
  with take advantage of OT (Opportunity Time)
  where they will complete unfinished assignments
  or reflect on their behavior choices.

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Weekly Tests

• Math Computation- Wednesday
• Spelling Test- Thursday
• DOL- Fridays
• Reading Quiz- Friday

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Language Arts- Spelling

• Students will be responsible for 75 priority
  words used across the curriculum. A copy of this
  list can be found in the agenda book. In
  addition, your child will keep a copy of the 4th
  grade core words in his/her Take Home Folder.
• Our weekly spelling words will come from our
  newly adopted Reading program. The words will be
  posted our class web pages.

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Language Arts- Grammar

• Daily Oral Language (DOL) exercises will be
  completed and discussed throughout the week.
  Quizzes will be given on Fridays.
• Grammar will also be taught through our adopted
  Language Arts program.

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Reading Expectations

• Read Nightly for 30 Minutes
• 5 AR books 1st and 2nd nine weeks
• 6 AR books 3rd and 4th nine weeks
• Have a book at school
• at ALL times
• Reading Log

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Flash Drive

• A tool used for saving word processing documents,
  Powerpoints, pictures, etc. Students are able to
  transport their work from school to home and vice
  versa.
• OPTIONAL!

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Everyday Math

• Homework
• Math Boxes
• Study Link
• EMGames
• Students can access EMGames on the internet from
  home. Login and password information will be
  provided by your childs teacher.

• Daily Lessons
• Mental Math
• Math Message
• The Lesson
• Review a Previously Introduced Concept
• Practice (in class and homework)
• Games are played to reinforce skills

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Science

• Students will complete projects and assignments
  from the following hands-on science modules
  Electric Circuits, Solar System, Structures of
  Life, Landforms, and Sound. Student progress will
  be evaluated throughout the study of each module.
  
• A science rotation schedule has been provided for
  you in your Parent Orientation Packet.

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State-in-a-Book

• The State-in-a-book is a year-long project with
  most of the assignments being completed in class.

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States Capitals

• Our study of the states capitals will begin at
  the beginning of the 4th Nine Weeks. Feel free to
  work on this throughout the year. You can find
  links for states capitals practice on the class
  web pages.

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Alabama History

• Our Alabama History textbook is Alabama,
  published by Scott Foresman.
• Students will read and study the material in the
  textbook as well as from other sources.
• Chapter tests may consist of essay, multiple
  choice, matching, and short answer questions.
• Assignments may include studying vocabulary,
  answering questions in the textbook, projects,
  and workbook pages.
• We will wrap up the year with a field trip to
  Montgomery!

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Field Trips

• Huntsville Space Rocket Center- November 2008
• Montgomery- April 2009

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Questions??
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Thats all Folks!

• Volunteer sign-up sheets and Parent Orientation
  packets are located in your childs classroom.