Communications:

I think it is your child's best interest that we work together in relation to his/her schooling. I will be in close contact regarding your child's progress in fourth grade. Please call me any time you have a question. 972-923-4666

Vocabulary:

Your child will have a weekly vocabulary list and be tested over the words on the second day of each week.  Your child may answer test questions with the correct definition or use the word correctly in a sentence. Your child will be responsible for writing a sentence for each highlighted word on the list. These sentences are to be written at home. Please check the sentences for correctness. These sentences are due on test day. Your child will receive a new vocabulary list each Tuesday. A new vocabulary list will be sent home each week. Please help your child study the vocabulary words everyday.

Spelling:

A multiple choice spelling test will be given on the last day of each week. Please help your child study the spelling words.

Reading:

Your child's reading level and required A.R.  points will be determined by the S.T.A.R. program each 9 weeks. Your child is to read 20 minutes each night in an Accelerated Reading novel. Please initial the reading log nightly only if your child does the required reading. this log let's me know  your child is taking steps to improve his reading skills. Students that earn all of the 9 weeks A.R. points will attend the 9 weeks A.R. party.

Math:

We are using the Saxon math textbook. This textbook introduces one new skill and reviews old skills daily. We will take a math test weekly. The test will cover the previous week's skills.

English/Writing:

We are using the Shurley Method English series this year. It use jingles to teach grammar rules. Please ask your child to sing the jingles to you. We will practice what we have learned through writing compositions.

Incomplete class work:

All work not finished in class on the assigned day is due the following morning at 7:50. A. M. if an emergency arises preventing homework from being completed, please send a note of explanation.

Conduct Grade/ Pride Folder:

Your child will start each 9 weeks with a 100 in conduct. One point will be deducted from the conduct grade if a rule is broken. Broken rules are recorded in his Pride Folder. Please sign the Pride Folder each time a rule is broken.

Conference Period:

I can be reached from 1:15-1:45 each day if you need to visit or meet with me. Please fell free to call me anytime to discuss how we can make your child's fourth grade year a successful one.

  Fourth Grade is traditionally a challenging school year for children.  Work not finished at school is now homework, and children must learn to organize and be responsible for their books and assignments.  Application of skills learned in the primary grades takes school work to a higher level of thinking, and new concepts are introduced everyday.

Reading           

    Reading skills are necessary in every area of the curriculum, even math.  The emphasis this year is "reading to learn", rather than "learning to read".  Students will read for pleasure, as well as for information. Students will learn to analyze what they read for greater understanding.   Encourage your child to read at least 15 minutes everyday.

English / Writing

   Students will write a lot in 4th grade.  Four kinds of writing will be reviewed and taught:  narrative, persuasive, informative, and classificatory.  Each kind of writing has a different purpose, and students will learn how to make that purpose clear.  Students will also learn how to plan, revise, and edit their writing.  Rules of grammar, punctuation, and spelling will be practiced and applied.  "Elaborate" will be a word that 4th graders will hear often; they will learn to add details and descriptions to make their writing more interesting and understandable.  We will have a "Speechless Day" when students will only be allowed to communicate in writing - for the entire school day!  Speechless Day is a fun experience which emphasizes that writing is communicating.

Spelling

    Students will have a list of 20 words to learn to spell every week.  The word list will  be tested on Fridays.  In addition, students will practice proofreading for spelling errors, using the same words from the tested list.

Math

   The focus for 4th grade math is problem solving, and a variety of problem solving strategies will be taught.  Students will need to memorize addition / subtraction facts and multiplication / division facts so that computation will be easier and faster when they have problems with large numbers.  Understanding units of measurement, and determining the area and perimeter of  polygons are important skills in 4th grade math.  Students will also learn about fractions, decimals, and geometry.

Social Studies

   Social Studies in 4th grade concentrates on the geography and history of Texas.  Students will learn how to "read" maps, tables, graphs, and diagrams, and they will learn how to use a variety of reference sources for information.  TIME for KIDS, a current events magazine for students, is a resource that is used weekly to help students understand and know more about "social studies" in the present!

Science

    Selected topics in life, earth, and physical science are studied in 4th grade.  Using the scientific method of inquiry, students will have an opportunity to investigate and understand many science concepts.  Learning the vocabulary of the science topics studied will be important for understanding the concepts and for communicating what they've learned.

    The TAKS Test in 4th grade includes 3 subject areas:  writing, reading, and math.  The writing test is given in February, and the math and reading tests are given in April.  Practice tests are given at intervals during the school year to diagnose strengths and weaknesses and to determine areas where extra practice is needed.

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