Helums Headlines

The following is the information in our 4th grade handbook. We use this at Curriculum Night at the beginning of the school year to give parents general information about what to expect in 4th grade.

Weekly Folders
Each week graded papers and all school related information will be sent home on Wednesday. Review the papers with your child, discuss work habits, sign the report, and return the folder the next day. Feel free to add comments or questions. Watch for notes on papers that indicate accomplishments, incomplete work, or difficulty with a concept. Work will not be regraded. If you have a question about the paper, please send it and a note the next day. Folders will not be sent home on short holidays.

Correspondence
A classroom newsletter will be e-mailed weekly. Please read this carefully for upcoming events and skills on which the students will be working. A class web page will be available to find out important information on line by going through the Harvest website. Parent notes and emails will be answered as soon as possible. Easy questions will be answered that day and more complicated questions will be answered by the next day. Our days are very busy making it is difficult to check papers, plan events, get information from the office, etc. Email is the easiest way to get in touch with the teacher. It is often difficult to get a telephone line.

Room Parents
We want and need your help. If you would like to plan parties, chaperone field trips, work with students, or prepare materials, please let the teacher know.

Lunch
Please monitor your child’s lunch account frequently. School wide cafeteria procedures will be in place. Everyone will spend the first 10 minutes silently. This will allow students plenty of time to eat before visiting with their friends. Students must get extras and everything that they need before they sit down. Students will not be allowed to get up from their tables until it is time to leave. All trash and lunch trays will be thrown away at the end of lunch. Students can purchase ice cream on Fridays.

Conferences
We will begin conferences in September and October. This will allow enough time for us to learn about your child. If you would like to meet sooner, please send a note or email. Conferences need to be scheduled. Quick questions may be answered in the mornings or afternoons after school, unless we are on duty or students are present. Please do not be offended if we cannot talk at that time. Lengthy discussion needs to be schedule at a convenient time. Conferences will be scheduled during our daily planning time.

Attendance
Classroom instruction begins at 7:30 each morning. Students are tardy after 7:45. If you drop your child off after 7:45, you will need to come into the office and sign him/her in.
If your child misses a day of school, please send a note within three days of the absence. If a note is not sent it will be unexcused.

Homework
Homework is not given as busy work. It is important to practice, improve skills, and review concepts. All homework is discussed when it is assigned and usually time is given to begin it during class . Assignments are written on the board and it is the student’s responsibility to copy the homework into his/her homework notebook. Homework planners are provided to students. Homework will not be written down for them. Please send a note for any extenuating circumstances.

Late Work
Adequate time is given to complete work. We want students to complete their work. We want to give credit in the grade book. If work is late, a card will be pulled. Our goal is that students will work within reasonable time limits, complete assignments, and follow directions. It is the student’s responsibility to turn all work in on time.

Make- Up Work
Students are responsible for getting and completing work after an absence. Make-up work will be written down and worksheets will be available. All make-up work should be completed and returned to the teacher within the week.

Grading
Grades are not recorded for practice work or new lessons. Language and spelling grades are combined into one grade on the report card (Madison County policy). A minimum of nine daily grades will be given per nine weeks. A minimum of 2 tests in each subject will be given during the nine weeks. Some subjects may have more grades than other subjects. For example math, reading, and language arts may have more grades than science and AL History.

Grades are calculated as follows:
Tests 50% Daily 50%
Behavior does not affect grades. However, inattention, talking, playing, and misbehavior often lead to incomplete or incorrect work. Work habits are discussed with the student.
Extra credit will not be given in any subject.

See Madison County Board Policy concerning:
BBSST information
Promotion/Retention

Student’s Responsibilities
The following is a list of some of the student’s responsibilities in fourth grade:
*Bring proper materials daily
(Binders, pencils, paper, etc.)
*Turn in work on time
*Keep up with assignments
*Writing homework in planner each day
*Taking books needed home
*Reaching AR goal each 9 nine weeks
*Giving weekly folders and any information to parents

Academics
Reading Textbook: Scott Foresman Reading Street
This textbook is designed to help readers develop a love of reading and meet students’ individual needs. Reading grade is comprised of weekly selection test, workbook pages, fluency (Fresh Reads), connected practice activities, application of weekly skills, comprehension based assignments, and AR percentage of goal, and AR Average.

AR EXPECTIONS
Students will also be required to read AR books and take tests on these books. AR is used as a tool to assess comprehension skills. AR is not a contest to see who can get the most points. It is not a way to get prizes; however, rewards are presented by our school librarian. It IS a way for all of us to meet our Alabama Reading standards in oral reading fluency and reading comprehension and prepare for ARMT. Everyone is reading at his or her level and growing and learning. Everyone wins!! We celebrate together when we reach our goals and when we grow in our STAR levels. ALL STUDENTS are expected to read at least 25 minutes or more at home each night, in addition to independent reading time at school. Students will have a point goal to reach each nine week based on his/her reading level and be expected to have 85% accuracy. The percentage of their goal will count as one daily grade and the accuracy will count as one test grade each nine weeks.

Language Arts Our program focuses on a reading and writing connections. Students will learn language mechanic skills and writing skills. Students will write descriptive, narrative, and expository five paragraph essays. Students will participate in school wide mock writing assessments in each of the writing modes.

Handwriting All assignments should be written in cursive unless instructed to use manuscript. We teach the Zaner Bloser style of writing.

Alabama History Textbook: Scott Foresman: Alabama
This book includes Alabama’s geography, history, government, and famous people. It also integrates the rest of the US History to give a complete understanding of Alabama.

Science Textbook: Harcourt Science This book covers physical, Earth, and life sciences. Students will have the opportunity to occasionally participate in hands-on lessons.

The fourth grade students will rotate with two weeks of Alabama History then two weeks of science.

Mathematics Textbook: Harcourt Math We will expand the student’s knowledge of addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, time, money, geometry, place value, graphing, fractions, decimals, measurement, and problem solving. It is imperative that all students know the basic facts in addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division upon entering 4th grade. Weekly math drills will be given. Students will take a math benchmark test at the end of every nine weeks over skills taught during that nine weeks.

Art and Music Students will attend a semester of art and a semester of music this year. Our classroom management plan applies in all classes.

Physical Education Students will have a structured PE each day.

Formal and Informal Testing:
Students will participate in the following assessments:
ARMT SAT10 DIBELS STAR Think Link
School-wide mock writing assessments each nine weeks
Math Benchmark assessments

Fourth Grade Supply List
2010-2011
SUPPLIES ARE NEEDED THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL
4---packs of 100 count wide ruled paper
24---#2 yellow pencils
24 count crayons
2—glue sticks—no liquid glue
Scissors
1 pack EXPO markers (fat width)
3—folders with pockets (red, blue, green)
1---5 subject 5 Star spiral notebook
1 small pencil box
1---1 ½ three ring binder with clear front pocket
4--- folders with holes to be inserted into binder
Composition notebook with graph (gridded) paper
Dictionary to be used at home and school
Multiplication and division cards to be used at home nightly
A HOMEWORK PLANNER WILL BE PROVIDED FOR YOUR CHILD. HE OR SHE WILL BE REQUIRED TO USE IT DAILY AND MUST KEEP UP WITH IT ALL YEAR.

PLEASE DO NOT PUT YOUR CHILD’S NAME ON ANY OF THE SUPPLIES. WE WILL LABEL THEM ACCORDING TO HOW THEY WILL BE USED.
WISH LIST
2— bottles of Germ-X 2—containers of Clorox wipes
3—boxes of Kleenex 2— rolls of paper towels
1— can of Lysol 1— can of Oust
2—packs of white copy paper
1—pack of colored copy paper
Construction paper

DUE TO A LACK OF SPACE PLEASE DO NOT BRING THE FOLLOWING ITEMS:
Large pencil boxes/ art boxes Trapper keepers
Rolling suitcase book bags Pencil sharpeners
ANYTHING THAT WILL DISTRACT STUDENTS FROM LEARNING IS NOT ALLOWED. THESE ITEMS WILL BE TAKEN UP AND WILL REQUIRE A PARENT TO PICK UP.