Conferences: November conferences are just around the corner. Forms will be sent home in the next few days listing your scheduled conference day/time. Please send these forms back to school with your child ASAP. If you have a conflict and cannot make your scheduled time, please send your form back with alternate days/times that you are available. All conferences will be held in our classroom(Rm. 14) on November 17th, 18th, and 19th. These conferences are scheduled to last for approximately 20 minutes, so please be on time. Please remember that these days are half days for the students. I look forward to seeing you all then.
Tests/Quizzes: Over the next 2 weeks students will be preparing for a science test, vocabulary quiz, and math test. Time will be spent in the classroom reviewing for each test/quiz, although students should be preparing at home as well. Each test/quiz will be written on the homework board days in advance as a reminder to students to study a little each night. As fourth graders it is important to learn study skills and be prepared for any upcoming assessments. Please encourage these behaviors at home.
Book Orders: November book orders will be sent home today, Monday, November 2nd. If you wish to purchase any books, please send your order to school by Friday, November 6th. Payments should be made in the form of a check and payable to Scholastic.
New Math Program: This year we are beginning a new math program called Growing with Math. This program is designed in a spiral, so that skills/content areas are covered multiple times over the course of the year. Therefore, students will experience various levels of understanding from exposure, to practice, and finally mastery. Due to this spiraling nature of the program, students will be constantly assessed on a variety of skills/content in class and on their homework. If you find that your child is struggling on homework, please remain calm and remember that the skills/content will be “hit” many more times this year.
Other Important Info...
SLAMS: SLAMS is a key word for us this year. It helps us write quality open ended responses in all subject areas. Each letter stands for an important element in any written response.
S: complete sentences L: line length = answer length (or 5 sentences) A: answer the questions M: mechanics S: support
Homework: Students are to complete 20 minutes of reading, a reading journal activity (Tuesday and Thursday only), and a math assignment each night. Any missing assignment will be recorded in that student's homework planner and is expected to be turned in the next day. A Homework Alert will also be sent home for a parent signature. These homework assignments are a reinforcement of the skills we are practicing in class. It is very important that everyone is responsible for getting their homework done and handed in on time.
Vocabulary: Students will be receiving vocabulary lists bi-weekly. Vocabulary words are chosen by the students from their SIR books and are submitted every other Friday. Approximately 10 words will be chosen from the submitted words for students to define and work with on the days they are not assigned reading journals (Mondays and Wednesdays). We will also be working with these words in the classroom. After two weeks of study, students will be quizzed on the spelling and definitions of each word. Part of their nightly homework during the 2nd week of practice will be to study for the quiz on Friday.
