Welcome to Curriculum Night!

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Welcome to Curriculum Night!

• Remember to Sign-In please!

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Welcome to Mrs. Conkels 4th Grade Class!

• SCHOOL HOURS
• Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday-
• 835 a.m. (tardy bell rings)
• 305 p.m. (Dismissal bell rings)
• Wednesday 835 a.m. 205p.m.
• LUNCHES
• 1.90per day
• 9.50 per week
• Our lunch break is scheduled from 1200 p.m.
  1230 p.m.

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ESSENTIAL SUPPLIES NEEDED FOR CLASS

• Pencils (at least 2 per day)
• Crayons (not more than 24)
• A backpack
• Glue sticks (2 to begin with)
• Colored pencils
• Box of tissues
• One set of Dry-erase markers (large tip please)
• One package of copier paper
• Clipboard
• Pencil box

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Class Rules

• BE RESPECTFUL
• Follow directions the first time given.
• Listen carefully.
• Be kind in what you do and say.
• Work quietly.
• Walk straight and silent in line.
• BE RESPONSIBLE
• Take care of all personal belongings and respect
  school property.
• Complete assignments on time.
• BE RELIABLE

Follow the rules... and we all learn while
having fun!
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DRESS CODE

• The dress code at SSES is the same as last year.
  Students should wear proper, comfortable attire.
  Please be aware that our classroom can be quite
  chilly. Jackets are frequently needed.
• Sneakers should be worn for safety reasons.
• T-shirts are for sale in the office.

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BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS

• Birthdays may be celebrated at school
  by sharing cupcakes or cookies. (Brownies and
  Rice Krispie treats are always a big hit, too!)
  Please send notification at least 2 days prior.
  Your child will serve the treats at lunch.
  Remember to check in at the office first. You
  may deliver them to the office if youd like, and
  someone will see that your child receives the
  treats.

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Grades will be given in five subjects this year
Reading, Language Arts, Mathematics, Social
Studies and Science. Recorded grades will be
taken from tests/quizzes, projects, daily work,
written essays/reports, and participation. Your
child will receive a minimum of seven grades in
each subject area. If a paper comes home which
has a numerical grade on it, the grade has been
recorded. Some work will be graded, but will
receive only a smiley face, stamp, etc.- this
grade will not be recorded in the gradebook.
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GRADING SCALE

• A 90 100
• B 80 89
• C 70 79
• D 60 69
• F 0 59

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HOMEWORK POLICY
Homework is important because it reinforces
skills learned in class. Homework can prepare
students for upcoming class topics. It also
teaches students to work independently. Homework
will be assigned only on Monday through Thursday
nights. It should take students no more than 45
minutes to complete their assignments each night.
Spelling tests are given on the last day of
the week. Students are expected to study for
spelling tests even though it may not be given as
a specific homework assignment. Homework should
be neatly done and completed on time. Students
should ask for help only after they have given it
their best effort. Parents should check work
after completion.
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How much television is okay??????? Having a TV in
your childs bedroom has been linked to lower
scores on standardized math, language, and
reading tests. Children who watch the most TV
between the ages of 5 and 11 are less likely to
graduate from college. Excessive television
viewing among children has also been linked to a
greater risk of obesity and violent
behavior. Archives of Pediatrics
Adolescent Medicine
HOMEWORK ROUTINE Decide together on a
time and place to complete homework. Let kids
have a break after school before settling into
doing more school work. Allow some free time
for active play and a healthy snack.
Discourage video games and television, as kids
need to be active, not passive after school. Be
available to your child during homework time, but
be careful not to get overly involved. Parents
should be involved in their own tasks, but need
to make sure their child knows that they are
available if needed. Children must learn that
parents cannot do the work for them. Homework
can be a journey of exploration.

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• LETS READ!
• Help your child develop language skills by
  including lots of words in your childs world.
• Talk, read, and listen to him/her.
• Promote a love of reading and language by
  reading to your child and
• by listening to your child read to you.
• Get that library card and visit the public
  library.
• Be sure there is a variety of reading materials
  throughout your house
• appropriate for your childs interest and
  reading level.
• Let your child see you reading-model it!
• Remember to ask about what your child is reading
  
• think curious not interrogate.

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Accelerated Reader (A. R.)

• Students are encouraged to read outside the
  classroom. Each student has a specific goal to
  reach at the end of each nine week grading
  period. Students may take A. R. quizzes at
  school. It is not available to complete at home.
• Once again, there will be a Superintendents
  Challenge to read a minimum of 25 books.

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For Your Information

• The end of the first nine weeks is October 17th
  however I will be cutting off grades on October
  10th.
• The week of October 13th will be reserved for
  retakes and make-ups.

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RETAKES

• Students are allowed to retake any TEST within
  two weeks.
• Grades from both tests will be averaged.
• A grade of no higher than a 70/C will be
  recorded.
• If grade is lower than previous score, the
  original score remains.
• Retakes are for TESTS ONLY.

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• Are you receiving
• Weekly newsletter?
• Weekly homework pack?
• Weekly grade sheets?

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Parent Teacher Conferences

• I would like to begin scheduling parent-
  teacher conferences. You will be able to sign-up
  for three choices which will be convenient for
  you. I allow thirty minutes for these
  conferences. Please be prompt. Reschedule if
  necessary. Report cards will not be going out
  until the end of October.

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Nuts and Bolts

• Curriculum/Textbooks
• Lake Countys curriculum can be found at
  lake.k12.fl.us in the Curriculum Department page.
• ELA Wonders by McGraw-Hill
• Math GO! Math by Harcourt
• Science Interactive Science by Pearson
• Social Studies My World by Pearson

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• Seminole Springs Elementary's Web-site
• Click on Teachers to find me and updates about
  what is happening in our classroom.

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Cutting into the Core!

• ELA (English Language Arts)
• Emphasis is on text complexity using grade-level
  texts to promote deeper thinking
• Writing to different purposes opinion,
  explanatory, provide information from text,
  summarize, research
• Small group collaboration to increase effective
  communication skills
• Promote strong written communication skills

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Cutting into the Core!

• MATHEMATICS
• Make sense of problems
• Developing a greater persistence in solving
  problems (stick to it!)
• Solve problems with models
• Reason abstractly
• Construct argument for answer (full explanation)
• Analyze, understand patterns, know that
  sometimes there is more than one answer

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Why the Common Core?

• Collaboration the standards create a foundation
  for your child to work collaboratively with their
  peers.
• Preparation the standards will prepare your
  child for college and their career.
• Equality the expectations are consistent for all
  students.
• Clarity the standards are clear, consistent, and
  focused.
• Applicable the standards are relevant to the
  real world, reflecting knowledge and skills your
  child needs to be successful.
• Students, parents, and teachers will share the
  same expectations for student learning across the
  country with the Common Core standards in place.

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State Testing

• What will the Florida FCAT replacement
• test require my child to do?
• Information can be found at the Florida Dept. of
  Educations
• Website (www.fldoe.org) in the Online Portal and
  Resources
• for the Florida State Assessments link.

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State Testing

• Once inside the portal, click on
• Training Tests.

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Testing Dates

• March 2-13 - Writing Exam
  (informational/explanatory/opinion)
• March 23-24 - Math Exam
• March 25-26 - English/Language Arts
  (Reading) Exam

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Thanks for coming tonight! Looking forward to a
great school year with your child. Sincerely,
Mrs. Conkel P. S. Field trip to St. Augustine
on December 12th. Would you like to
chaperone? Have you filled out forms to
be a chaperone this year?