Transcript Ratchet Year - Boerne Independent School District

Welcome to
Fourth Grade
Moving into 4th Grade
concrete thinking
abstract thinking
skill acquisition
skill application
learning to read
reading to learn
“Ratchet Year”
Increased academic challenge
More emphasis is placed on:
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problem solving
making inferences
cause and effect
justifying
communicating in formal language
effective writing skills
multi-step questions
Increased student responsibility
Students are expected to:
•work more independently
•write down assignments as directed
•complete and turn in work without specific,
personal invitations
•ask about make-up work
•take responsibility for their actions
Steps to Success
Follow directions:
• Listen to and follow classroom instructions.
• Read carefully and follow directions.
• Students can no longer just do what it “looks like” they
should do. Directions may change several times within a
paper.
• Provide answers to all parts of questions.
Use Time Wisely:
Time on Task: Focus on the task at hand
• Limit trips to bathroom/water fountain/nurse to what
is necessary
•Control talking and story-telling
•Have necessary supplies
Work ethic:
Students should:
• Answer in complete sentences, using correct
punctuation.
• Spell words correctly when copying from a worksheet or
book.
• Always show work and label correctly.
• Produce thoughtful, quality work in a timely manner.
• Check work before turning in.
• Ask questions when they don’t understand.
Students who have managed to skate by with A’s with
minimal effort and product will probably find a significant
drop in grades if they continue this practice.
Correct and Returns/Tests
• Homework: No Correct and Returns
• Daily Work: 2 Correct and Returns per 9 weeks per
subject (for a grade up to a 70)
• Tests: 1 Corrected per 9 weeks per subject (for a
grade up to a 70)
– Spelling tests cannot be corrected for a higher
grade.
• No district tests will go home with students
– test corrections will be completed at school
Learn how to study:
• Should parents help students study? YES!
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Strategies and skills – Learning what works for them
Take textbooks, journals, handouts home to study
Go back into the text and use resources
Cannot just memorize and regurgitate
• Organization – Colored folders and binders help organize
materials
Assignment and Responsibility Folder
(Red Folder)
• Front pocket is for school work that
needs to be returned to school.
• Please put any notes, checks, etc. that
need to be returned to school in the
front pocket.
• Back pocket is for graded work, PTO
fliers, and other items of information.
Please remove these papers and go over
the newsletter and your child’s graded
work with them as needed.
Assignment and
Responsibility
Folder
Assignment and Responsibility Folder
(Red Folder)
Students record
assignments and
upcoming tests on
the front of the
page.
HW due
The back of each sheet
is for teacher/parent
communication
regarding behavior,
missing homework, etc.
Please initial any
comments daily.
Sign on Monday at the
bottom of the page for
the previous week to let
us know you have seen
the newsletter and
graded work. Please
sign only one week at a
time.
Expectations for Our Learning Environment:
We hold high standards for a safe, positive, productive
learning environment. We believe every student has the
right to an atmosphere that promotes optimal learning.
We expect students to respect the rights of others and
work quietly without distracting those around them and
follow classroom rules and teacher’s instructions.
Ultimately, this leads to more classroom freedom, not less.
Student folders will be signed for inappropriate behavior
and may result in the loss of some recess time. In addition,
a student who receives 10 or more marks in their folder
during a quarter will not be allowed to participate in the
end of 9 weeks special activity.
About Homework . . . :
• Math and Reading packets given on Monday, due
Thursday
• Spelling lists given on Monday, test Friday
• Unfinished class work may be assigned as homework
• Other homework may be assigned from time to time
• Work is due at the beginning of the day – 10 points
per day is deducted for late work and folders will be
signed each day the work is not turned in
•Shouldn’t be more than 30 – 60 minutes including
reading – if your child habitually has more homework
than that, we need to find out why
•Yes, parents may help and check; that’s not cheating.
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Reading and 30 Book Challenge
•At home, students need to read a minimum of 20
minutes a day, Monday thru Thursday. This will be
part of their daily homework.
•30 Book Challenge - This challenge is to inspire
and encourage our children to read. Research
shows that children who read are life long
learners.
Historical Fiction
Study Aids…
•Spelling – www.spellingcity.com/suzannecoco
•Social Studies – www.quizlet.com/suzannecoco
Scholastic Book Orders
https://clubs2.scholastic.com/
Class Activation Code: LRBLK
Attendance:
School hours are 7:40 – 2:45. Students should be in the classroom by 7:40
when the tardy bell rings. This gives them the opportunity to settle in for
the day and reduces stress.
Regular attendance is very important. We understand there are times
when your child will have to miss school for medical appointments. Please
try to schedule at the very end of the day if possible.
Students must have a note when they return to class in order for their
absence to be excused.
While we don’t want students to miss class, we also don’t want them to
come when they are ill for the sake of their health and the health of
others.
Communication
Please download this app to receive timely information
on the District and Campus level.
Parent Portal
Grades
Lunch Money
Now
Communication
• Newsletter, spelling list, schedule, and other information are available on our
BISD website (www.boerne-isd.net)
• Graded work goes home in red folder on Mondays.
•Email and phone numbers are on our website
• Email – Our conference time is from 9:25 to 10:10 a.m. If you email after that
time, please know we may not be able to read it until after school. If you
send information about a change in transportation, we will respond when we
read the email. Please call if you don’t get a response.
• It is helpful to put student name and message topic in subject line:
Eric, transportation change today
• Phone – If you need to talk with us about your child, please feel free to
call us after school or send an email and we will call you when we can
talk.
•Student Use of Classroom Phone – should be limited to emergencies,
changes in school-related activity schedules, and unusual
circumstances. Please try to communicate to your child how they are
getting home before they come to school.
Other Notes….
• Textbooks need to be covered – If you buy book socks, the jumbo size is
needed for our books. Students are issued 2 textbooks.
• Reminder – Cell phones and other electronic devices may not be used at
school. If your child has a cell phone, it should be turned off and kept in
their backpack during school hours.
• Toys are not allowed at school.
• Snacks –Snack time is around 10:10 a.m. We recommend that your child
bring a healthy snack that can be eaten while they work.
• Birthdays - We cannot have birthday parties, but students may provide
cookies or cupcakes at the end of the day (2:30pm). If you send a cookie
cake, please make sure it is cut in the appropriate number of pieces.
Napkins are appreciated. 
• PTO – We encourage you to join the PTO. They provide wonderful
support for our school.
Other Notes…
• Conferences – If you need to schedule a conference with us,
please let us know. We will contact you if we have concerns.
Lunch with your child 
• Due to the large number of students, parents who would like
to eat lunch with their student will eat at the classroom lunch
table with all the students.
• Parents may bring lunch for their own child but are not
allowed to bring lunch for other students.
March 30th & 31st – Writing STAAR
- Passages to Revise and Edit – Multiple Choice
- Expository Composition
- Personal Narrative Composition
April 21 – Math STAAR
April 22 – Reading STAAR
Field Trips:
•September 17 – Kendall County Agricultural Awareness Day
• Date TBD – Mission San Jose
Each homeroom will need a parent to provide small bottles of
water and a parent to take our lunches to the field trip and return
ice chests to the school after the trip.
Welcome to
Fourth Grade