2013-2014

Roaring With Pride:

I RESPECT myself

I am RELENTLESS

I work towards my GOALS

I RESPECT others

I COLLABORATE with others

I am AUTHENTIC

Technology

• Grade Speed- How you can see your student’s grades on line.

• Web link for Parent Connection www.kleinisd.net/default.aspx?name=sis.parent

• Technology used in our classroom- computers, starboard, and e instruction.

• Web based tools- kidbiz 3000, learning.com, odyssey, stemscopes, reflex math, and Istation.

• Lemm website- http://classroom.kleinisd.net/webs/lemm/home.htm

PRIDES

This year our classes have been assigned prides to be part of. This promotes “No Place for Hate” and builds character. Prides work together to receive points. We get points for: caring, trustworthiness, responsibility, respect, and citizenship.

Ask your student about what tribe they are part of and how they may earn points.

Fun Friday• Every other Friday the students earn the privilege

of participating in Fun Friday.• The students have three opportunities to redirect

their behavior in our classroom. Students are expected to have all work and homework completed. If they fulfill this-they are allowed to participate.

• The students work very hard and really enjoy their Fun Fridays.

Awards Ceremony

Every 9 weeks the whole Fourth grade gathers together to

celebrate our successes. Each teacher presents her class with

their awards. Once students have received their award they are sent

to the office for a “Happy visit”.

Grading Guidelines

Determination of Report Card Grade Reading

Language/Compositio

nMath Science Social Studies

Circle Grade: 2 3 4 5

 

           

Minimum Number of Major Grades 3 3 3 3 3

(each nine weeks)          

Minimum Number of Minor Grades 8 5 9 6 6

(each nine weeks)          

Percent (%) Major Grades 50% 50% 50% 50% 50%

Percent (%) Minor Grades 40% 40% 40% 40% 40%

Percent (%) Homework 10% 10% 10% 10% 10%

Grading Guidelines

List Examples of Major Grades

Summative AssessmentCompositions:

Summative Assessments Summative Assessment Summative Assessment

Thinking Maps Full length or short story Unit Tests Common Assessment Projects

Projects (class or home) Thinking Maps Unit Review Projects Chapter Tests

Observations (Writing/Planning) Common Assessment Labs Common Assessment

Book assessments Editing   Observation (Lab) Group Work

Common Assessments Worksheets on skills   Thinking Maps  

  Writer's Notebook      

  Summative Assessment      

  Common Assessments      

         

         

          

List Examples of Minor Grades

CommonRubricBenchmarksSummative progject

Formative Assessment Formative Assessment Formative Assessment Formative Assessment

Thinking Maps Thinking Maps Thinking Maps Thinking Maps Thinking Maps

Observations Observations Observations Observations Observations

Projects Editing Skills Quizzes Projects Projects

Quizzes Writer's Notebook Skill Practice Labs Chapter Questions

Daily Practice Grammar Practice Group work Skill Practice Group Work

Response Journal Spelling Tests (cum)   Chapter Questions  

  Quizzes      

         

         

         

• Students are permitted an opportunity to redo an assignment/quiz/minor grade that is below a 70. The student will receive the higher of the two grades.

• A student may retake a major test or redo a major project for which the student received a grade below 70. This will take place before or after school. The student will receive the higher of the two grades.

Important Upcoming dates

Wunderlich Farm Field Trip-

Thursday, September 26th. Please

Sign up to volunteer to join us.

Parent Conference day-

October 14, 2013

Wunderlich Farm

Our students will have the opportunity to experience the history of Klein by visiting the Wunderlich Farm.

Please sign up to volunteer to join us.

Our adventure takes place-September 26th.

Weekly Folder•Please review all papers with your student Tuesday.

•Sign weekly.

•Return folder to school on

Wednesday.

General procedures• Bell rings at 8:00.• Excessive tardies will reduce students’ general conduct. • Students should wear tennis shoes on PE days. Girls

should wear shorts under skirts.• Counselor is Mrs. T.P.• Students should know their address and phone number• Lunch account – envelope• Jackets are sometimes needed• Lemm students are college bound students

E- Instruction

What is E- instruction?

How is it used?

MathProblem Solving

Digital Textbook

Station Rotation

Inquiry Based Lessons

ScienceLab (Inquiry) Based with questioning

Math and Science Focus

http://www.kleinisd.net/

Our Fourth grade motto:

I CAN MANAGE MYSELF.

Each student is encouraged to manage themselves. They are such an important part of their learning.

D.I.R.T. F.T

• D.- DOING • i.-IT• R.-RIGHT • T.-THE• F.-FIRST• T.-TIME

When students are observed doing something right the first time they are rewarded with a D.I.R.T. F.T. This goes into a basket and once a week we pull 3 names and those students get to go to the

treasure box.

Thinking Maps

Thinking maps are used in every subject. The maps

allow the students to organize their thoughts or

various pieces of information.

What goes on in ELA/S.S class.

ELA Focus

• Thinking maps• Quality Questioning• Interactive reading and writing notebooks• Interactive reading and writing toolboxes• Conferencing• Rubrics • Collaborative learning groups• Reader’s and Writer’s workshop

Social Studies

TEXASYESTERDAY, TODAY,

AND TOMORROW

Schedule:

The daily schedule is altered on Tuesday due to PLC

PLC- Tuesday-2:00-3:00

Library on Wednesday every other week

8:00 arrive8:05 switch8:10-Block one10:10- switch back 10:15-11:00- specials11:00-12:00- Pride12:00-1:00-lunch/recess1:05-3:05- Block two

What you can expect.

Homework-Agenda book.-Encourages responsibility-3 parts-ask your students.-The agenda book is to keep parents aware of assignments and test.-Homework is given to reinforce skills and the practice of the skills.

-Various creative reading and writing home assignments will be assigned.-Homework choice boards will start this week.

Students must have an independent reading book of their choice at all times in our class. This is not an option, but an expectation.

• FYI: Research on reading effectiveness shows that children who read 30 minutes a day/5 days a week, can dramatically increase their reading and writing skills within a short period of time. Moreover, if a learning partner (mother, father, grandparents, etc…) works with a child once a week for 30 minutes, additional gains are made in reading, writing, and higher order thinking skills

Homework choice boards

Choice boards will go home on Friday and will need to return the following Friday. Students will complete four activity choices and turn them in the following Friday with their signed choice board.

Fourth Grade Philosophy

Each student has the ability to learn, grow, and become a relentless, lifetime learner.

We are committed to working with our students to:Set goalsCollaboratively work towards our goalsReach our goals

Visiting

-If you would like to have a conference, please contact us for an appointment.

-Please sign-in at the office.

-Get a “visitor” badge to wear.

If you have any questions or

concerns, please do not hesitate to call

or email. Communication is key to all of our

students’ success.