4th Grade Student Handbook

• 4th Grade Student Handbook
• Calendar of Events
• Classroom Rules
• Curriculum Objectives
• Daily Schedule

 

PROGRESS REPORT:

Student grades will be posted online.  I usually try to update the posted grades at least once a week.  Long-term projects, which take longer to grade, may not be posted right away. Please review your child’s academic progress frequently.  If you do not know how to access the information, please contact the school office.

 

PHONE CALLS:

Occasionally a phone call to inform parents of outstanding efforts by their child will be placed.  Phone calls may also be made to ask for parent assistance with an educational or behavioral concern.

 

TEACHER WEB PAGE:

            I maintain a teacher page on the district website.  I include important information about upcoming tests and projects, curricular objectives, etc.  I would love for you to use this page to stay informed about our class.  If you have suggestions for ways I can improve the information I include, please feel free to contact me.

Web address:

www.lonejackc6.net, click on Elementary School>Teacher Pages>Watterson, Louita

 

CLASSROOM BEHAVIORAL EXPECTATIONS

1) Student actions must not disrupt the learning of themselves or others.

2) Student actions must be safe for everyone.

3) If a problem is created by the student, the student is responsible for solving it without

            causing further problems.  If assistance is needed to solve a problem, I will help

            where possible.

CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT & DISCIPLINE

 

At the beginning of the school year, the students and I will discuss appropriate school behaviors.  These behaviors will be consistent with the classroom behavioral expectations listed previously. 

I use the “Love and Logic” philosophy as the basis of my discipline techniques.  Each student and situation will be considered individually when there are discipline concerns.  The Lone Jack Elementary School handbook policies will be followed.

Students have opportunities to earn tickets.  Tickets may be earned for a variety of positive behaviors and academic efforts.  Occasionally, they will have the opportunity to trade the tickets for select items/coupons/etc.

 

 

 

 

CLASSROOM PROCEDURES

 

 

 

Restroom/ Drink/ Sharpening Pencil/ Getting a tissue/ Turn in assignments/ Etc.:

Students are normally permitted to take care of these needs when necessary without teacher permission.  During class instruction time the student does need to ask permission.

 

 

Recess:

There will be one recess on most school days.  Students are expected to follow basic safety, classroom, and school rules.  If it is raining, snowing, too hot, or too cold, recess will be in the classroom or in the gymnasium.  If the weather allows, we will be outside.  Please dress appropriately.  If you will need a jacket/coat/gloves/etc. be sure to wear it.  Students are not able to return to the classroom to get coats after we are outside at recess.

 

     Toys:

            Toys (anything not specifically used for class work) must remain in student backpacks except at recess.  Electronic devices (including lasers, cell phones, mp3 players, electronic games, etc.) should not be brought to school.  Confiscated toys and devices will be kept in the office until parents come pick them up. 

 

 

    ASSIGNMENTS  AND

   HOMEWORK

Class Assignments and Homework:

            Daily assignments will be made in most subject areas.  It is important for students to have opportunities to develop and practice the skills we are learning each day.  Adequate class time will be provided to complete most class assignments.  This allows students to develop skills and concepts under the direction of the teacher.  If the student has shown that they are working independently and need more time to complete the assignment, they will usually be allowed more working time (the assignment may need to be taken home).  Some class assignments are collected at the end of the class time.  These may be completed later or graded as is.  During dismissal time, the students write daily assignments in their Student Planner.  A homework assignment will be given every evening.  Homework assignments are meant as a review of learned skills and concepts.  Weekly Reading Logs are counted as homework.

 

Late Work:

Work which is not completed during the regular class time or a homework lesson assigned by the teacher must be turned in to the classroom teacher upon his/her request.  Most of the time, I will expect assignments to be turned in by 8:25 a.m. the next school day.  Late work includes work that is left at home or on the bus.

 

Consequences for Late Work:

If a student turns in an assignment late, but during the school day it is due, he/she will receive a maximum of 80% of the possible grade.  If the assignment is turned in during the school day after it was due, he/she will receive a maximun of 70% of the possible grade.  For assignments which are turned in after that time, the student will receive a maximun of 60% of the possible grade.  Students are expected to complete and turn in assignments on time.  If an assignment is late, students (or their parents) may choose for the assignment to be completed during recess time.  These assignments will be scored based on the listed consequences.

 

Absent Work:

Class work missed due to excused absences may be made up.  Please allow me sufficient time to collect and organize the work.  For each day missed, the student has the same amount of time to make up work (i.e., 2 days absent, 2 days to make up work).  This may need to be adjusted at the end of a grading period.

 

Grading Scale:

Most student work will be recorded for a grade.  The following grading scale will be utilized.

A             94-100%               C             74-76%

A-           90-93%                 C-            70-73%

B+           87-89%                 D+          67-69%

B             84-86%                 D             64-66%

B-            80-83%                 D-           60-63%

C+           77-79%                 F              0-59%

CURRICULUM OBJECTIVES

We work on many new skills during fourth grade.  Here are some of the general concepts:

COMMUNICATION ARTS	MATHEMATICS	SOCIAL STUDIES
& phonics & spelling strategies & words and affixes & compound words/root      words and word families & reading strategies,      including: context clues,      prediction, cause/effect,      summarize, author’s      purpose, draw           conclusions, make      generalizations, compare      and contrast & literary elements,      including: character,      setting, plot, sequence of      events, narrator,              problem/solution & synonyms and antonyms & grammar skills & sentence structure & paragraph structure & listening skills & fact/opinion & main idea/details & writing process & parts of speech & literature genres,      including: fiction,      nonfiction, tall tales,      fables, legends, myths,      biography, historical      fiction & story writing & dictionary skills & reference sources & research skills & report writing & oral presentation & poetry	► addition ► subtraction ► problem solving ► estimation ► money ► measurement ► multiplication facts ► division facts ► number concepts ► place value ► comparing and ordering ► elapsed time ► charts and graphs ► probability, with fractions ► spatial geometry ► geometry and motion ► large number      multiplication ► large number division ► fractions ► decimals	l Native Americans l Missouri geography l European exploration of      America and Missouri l Colonial America l Famous Americans and      Missourians l map skills l civic responsibilities l French settlement of MO l government l Missouri statehood l American Revolution l American settlement of      MO l Louisiana Purchase l Missouri Compromise l Lewis and Clark      Expedition l Pioneer Life in Missouri l transportation changes l fur trade l Santa Fe Trail l Oregon Trail l California Gold Rush l Pony Express l European immigration to      America and Missouri l growth of cities and      industries l slavery l Missouri as a border state l Civil War l economics l research skills in Social      Studies

 

 

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

Book Reports / Reading Counts Quizzes:

There will be some required book report projects for reading class.  For independent reading, book report forms may be used for any book not included on the Reading Counts program.  Reading Counts (computerized reading program) quizzes, if passed, will be counted as a book report.  For a student to qualify for the Missouri Reading Circle Award, they must report on a minimum of 16 books before the end of the school year.  The students will take a reading test at the beginning of the school year to determine current reading levels.  This test will be repeated throughout the year to monitor the level of student reading development.

 

Classroom Library Books:

Students are encouraged to use the classroom library.  Books may be checked out for independent reading.  Students are asked to care for the books and return them in good shape for continued student use.  Most classroom library books are owned by Ms. Watterson.  Lost or destroyed books will require a replacement cost.

 

Weekly Reading Log:

Each Monday a Weekly Reading Log will be taken home.  Students are required to complete at least 2 hours (120 minutes) of at-home reading each week.  This log needs to be completed, signed by a parent, and returned on the following Monday.  Students may choose to read all of the minutes during one reading session, read a couple of times during the week, read a little bit each day, etc.  Please choose what works best for your family.  Reading Logs will be counted as scored assignments for Reading.  Students are welcome to read fiction books, nonfiction books, comics, magazines, newspapers, etc.

 

Birthdays:

Most students enjoy sharing a treat with the other students on their birthday.  Please be sure to include a treat for each student in the class.  Individual food items are the easiest to serve in the classroom (such as cupcakes, cookies, ice cream bars, etc.).  If the student has a birthday during the summer months, please feel free to choose another day during the school year to celebrate their birthday.  Treats may need to be shared at lunch time, so please send the treats in before 11:25 a.m.

 

Absences:

Unfortunately, absences are many times unavoidable.  Please let the office know early in the morning, if there is not advance notice, so that attendance may be counted.  Class work missed due to excused absences may be made up and recorded.  Please allow me sufficient time to collect and organize the work.

 

 

 

 

Medication:

Students are not permitted to bring to school, have at school, or take at school any medication without a doctor's prescription.  Parents must bring any medications, with a doctor’s prescription, to the school.  Non-medicated cough drops may be brought to school and left with the nurse/nurse’s aide, or with the teacher.

 

Grades:

            I will do my best to keep grades posted online in a timely manner.  I usually set aside one day each week to update the files.  Long-term projects, which take longer to grade, may not be posted right away.

 

Field Trips:

The Fourth Grade will plan to take two class field trips.  We usually try to go to Fort Osage in Sibley and to the Steamboat Arabia Museum in Kansas City.  We will need parent chaperones on each trip.  Permission slips and information will be sent home for each trip. Appropriate student behavior is expected while on field trips.  

 

Testing:

In the spring, students will take the Missouri Assessment Program tests (MAP’s).  Fourth grade students in Missouri take tests for the subjects of Math and Communication Arts.  Students will also take a variety of skills assessments throughout the school year.

 

Missouri History Unit:

A study of Missouri history and geography will occur throughout the school year.  Students will work on this extensive project during class time, however, some project work will need to be completed at home.  Each student will use a 3-ring binder (listed on the school supply list) to organize this unit.  These projects are the major portion of the Social Studies curriculum for Fourth Grade.

 

Instructional Video Use in Classroom:

Occasionally instructional videos will be used in the classroom as a part of a unit of study.  Each video is applicable to instruction. 

 

 

Cooperative Projects/Activities:

Often, classroom learning activities will involve working in a cooperative group.  All students are expected to participate in the cooperative group to which they are assigned.  This is a learning atmosphere to help students acquire skills which will continue to be useful as they grow and work with many different people.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOGETHER

STUDENT, PARENTS, TEACHER

WE WILL WORK FOR

 

GREATER STUDENT

SUCCESS!

 

 

 

 

 

Ms. Louita Watterson                                      

School Address:

     600 North Bynum Road

     Lone Jack, MO 64070

     (816) 697-2811

E-mail: lwatterson1@lonejackc6.net