What to Expect this Year . . CLASSROOM ROUTINES
1. Assignment notebook: Each student will keep their notebook up-to-date on a daily basis. Your child may need a little encouragement from you to actually ‘look’ at the assignment notebook at home when completing work. Please sign the assignment notebook on a daily basis if possible.
2. Writing: Your child will be writing a lot this year and you will be impressed with the growth in his/her writing abilities as the year progresses. I ask the students to write about their own experiences. Sometimes the simplest experience, such as climbing a tree, can become a great piece of writing. Help your child to recognize potential writing ideas. I’m sure you can remember those simple moments such as a puppy dog kiss, catching that big fish, riding your bike for the first time, trips to grandma’s . . . Hundreds of ideas are all around your child!
3. Math: Completing daily assignments is critical to your child’s success in math. Feel free to help your child with math homework. If you are helping, they are learning and that is what counts. It is important & required that your child’s math work is neat, aligned correctly, and shows their work. HOMEWORK: What your child calls homework is 'written practice' in the textbook. As the name says, it is practice so that learned skills remain sharp and new ones become learned. I encourage you to help your child with the written practice as much as they need. Encourage them to check their answers with a calculator and fix missed problems. It is PRACTICE. It is important that your child practice correctly. Talk over missed items with your child and help them pinpoint why they missed those items before turning in the assignment. This is where they will learn to fix little errors they continue to make. Students must show their work on problems that require calculations beyond simple mental math. Labels are required on all story problems. (If the question or problem is in word form, add a label.) Students will receive points for completing their homework (written practice). If all the problems are completed, done in the manner that was required, and is as neat as possible for each individual student, then completion points will be given. If the paper is sloppy, has excessive errors based on each individual student's capabilities, or has no work shown on the page, then no credit or only partial credit will be given. It is my hope that these points will only help your child's grade, not hurt it. It is credit for working hard even if errors are made on the assignments.
Math Tests: A test follows every 5 lessons. For example, after lesson 10 there is a test. After lesson 15, there is a test and so on. Tests may contain any skills in prior lessons but will not include skills from the last 5 lessons prior to the test. For example, if we have completed Lesson 15, the test will only be over skills from Lessons 1-10.
FORGOT YOUR BOOK? Log on to our science website to have access to both the student math and science textbooks.
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4. Science: Science will consist of a variety of activities including traditional textbook reading and answering questions, hands-on activities, and computer activities. We have a wonderful online component with our science series that we will utilize often. You will also be able to access the student textbooks for both science and math through the online program.
5. Social Studies: Social Studies in 4th grade focuses on learning about Indiana: our people, places, and government. I am going to challenge your child to learn ‘how to learn.’ It is a growing process and may prove to be frustrating to the students at times. Encourage your child to ‘think through’ things at home, instead of expecting an immediate answer. It takes time, but they will all get there eventually and be ready to tackle the demands of 5th grade successfully!
I am going to challenge your child to learn ‘how to learn.’ It is a growing process and may prove to be frustrating to the students at times. Encourage your child to ‘think through’ things at home, instead of expecting an immediate answer. It takes time, but they will all get there eventually and be ready to tackle the demands of 5th grade successfully!