Welcome Parents!

1. Welcome Parents! I am so glad you could make it! Feel free to take a minute to write a note to your child, read the important notes on your desk, and browse the volunteer opportunities by the round table. We’ll begin shortly.

2. A Little Bit About Mrs. Cook! • Married for 10 years • 1 daughter, Shelby  • 2 cats –Baby and K.C. (Kitty Cat) • 1 dog –Limus • Born and raised in Chicago area until 1998 • 9th year teaching 4th grade at Bridge Point! • Graduate of Texas State University May 2004 Suma Cum Laude • Experiences: Dell Computer, Austin Community College, Substitute Teacher, After School Counselor, Gymnastics Coach, Pre-School Teacher, Free Lance Tutor, 4/5 Grade Korean Summer School Teacher

3. My Teaching Philosophy • I strongly believe in positive discipline. I am always looking to catch your child doing something good! • Personal Connections- It is very important for me to connect with your child. I do this through learning about who they are, where they come from, and their individual needs. • “Family Meetings”- we will work on working in a team environment! • What will you do for my child? I teach to your child’s needs!!!!

4. Expectationsfor a 4th Grader • Come to School Prepared. • Follow directions.Be in the right place, at the right time, doing the right thing! • Respect the rights and property of others. • Use time wisely to do your best work. • Key words: Independence, Responsibility, and Self Discipline!!

5. Behavior • Social Contract • Rewards: Alamo Bucks-students can ‘purchase’ rewards. • Consequences: • 1. Verbal warning • 2.Loss of Alamo Buck • 3. Email/call home • 4. Sent to office

6. Homework • Homework may consist of unfinished daily work, math practice, vocabulary, spelling, reading, book reports/projects, etc.

7. Make-Up Work • For every day your child was absent, 2 days will be given to complete any and all make-up work. Please note that it is the students responsibility to inquire about missed work. (I’m pretty flexible) • I will be sending e-mails posted as a courtesy to inform you your child was not present in our classroom when attendance was posted. Please give me advanced notice when possible.

8. Grades • Grades are based on a combination of tests, participation, class work, home work, group work, and projects. • For all content areas, the average grade on tests count as a double daily grade and the average grade for daily work counts as a single entry. All projects/book reports count as a test. Writing is scored holistically and will not be included in the numerical grade. • Failing Grades: These I call ‘CR’ papers for correct and return. All papers 69% or lower may be returned corrected and signed by a parent or tutor for a passing grade of 70%.

9. Language Arts Heavy emphasis on writing – The 6 Traits, Writer’s Journal, and Author’s Craft • Reading –Novels, Short Stories, Genre Studies, and Poetry • Skills: Cause and Effect, Summarizing, Inferences, Main Idea, etc. • Grammar, Analogies, Vocabulary Building, Spelling Patterns • Reading Logs are due ONCE a month! • STARR –State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness • Writing STARR April 1 and April 2 • 2 Essays will be required. One is expository and the other is a personal narrative. • Math STAAR April 22 • Reading STARR April 23

10. Bluebonnet Books • Bluebonnet books are now optional. • Students who participate are asked to a report to Mrs. Coolman all books read by January. Reports are oral or written. • I suggest that students keep a journal and write a few sentences summarizing what they read. • Reading Logs are due ONCE a Month! I require an average of 60 mins per week.

11. EverydayMath • Our math program is a structured, rigorous, and proven program that helps students learn mathematical reasoning and develop strong math skills. Skills Covered: • Continued Multiplication and Division Facts and with higher values including decimals • Fractions, Decimals, Percents, Probability • Weight, Volume, Capacity • Geometry, Angles, Area, Perimeter • Algebraic Reasoning and more!

12. With all the different levels in the room, we will be doing a variety of activities to meet everyone's needs. Math Journals: Students are expect to show me that they can do the work and do it well. Project Time: Student choose from a variety of projects that are designed to have the student take their learning to the next level. They will show understanding, apply their knowledge, analyze information, evaluate their work, and create imaginative designs.

13. Students have available different levels of activities. Games: We will use a variety of games that can also be adjusted to student academic levels. • Creative Problem Solving Activities: Students are provided a variety of problem solving activities that are guaranteed to be Cranium Crackers! They include: • Math Olympiad • Pattern Solving • Logic Problems • Hands on Equations: Algebraic Linear Equations

14. Focused Instructional Time During this time students that qualify will receive special services. (G/T, Speech, OT/PT, Behavior Support, RTI/ESL, Dyslexia, etc. ) The fourth grade PLC teams will use the evidence of student needs to determine the best use of this time each day. I will be posting information on what we are doing in FIT on my weekly letter. At the end of a FIT session, your child will take home a FIT Ticket describing the skills he/she worked on along with any work they did in the class.

15. Social Studies • Fourth Grade Social Studies curriculum focuses on Texas History and Geography. • Students will learn of the many cultures that make up our state’s population, natives that inhabited the Texas territory, the state’s symbols and the struggle for independence from Mexico. The emphasis is Texas history then and now.

16. Science • The content area of science is taught using a hands-on approach. • Units of study include: • Physical Properties of Matter • Water and Weather • Mixtures and Solutions • Energy, Force, Motion • The Sun, Earth, and Moon System • Weathering, Erosion, Soil • Natural Resources • Organisms and Environments

17. Organization • Each student has folders in their desks to hold class notes and work in progress. This may be brought home sometimes, but mostly stays at school. • Red homework folder: Comes home daily. • Assignment notebooks: Not this year! Please check our website for homework assignments. • Thursday Folders- graded work and any parent notes for you to keep! • School Fusion: Please check weekly if not daily!! Letters, calendars, website links, parent math letters, and more!

18. Schedule • 7:50-8:00 Morning Assembly • 8:00-8:45 FIT • 8:45-10:15 Math • 10:15-10:50 Science/SS • 10:50-11:40 Specials • 11:40-12:05 Science/SS • 12:05-12:35 Fitness/Recess • 12:35-1:00 Lunch • 1:00-2:40 Language Arts • 2:46 Dismissal

19. Snacks and More! • Snack - Lunch is late! It is important for your child to bring a snack each day. We are really hungry by lunch time! • Allergies – Please connect with the teacher when planning events that involve food. We are Gluten Free this year! • Sweater- I encourage students to bring a sweater to class. It gets a little chilly sometimes! • Water Bottle: I encourage a water bottle for their desks! • Birthday – We will no longer celebrate student birthday’s in the cafeteria or classroom.

20. Communication • School Fusion! • Feel free to contact me at any time with any joys or concerns. • I am best reached by email during the day and will respond ASAP. • Please call the office if there is an emergency or a change in the students transportation home. • lcook@eanesisd.net

21. Extras • Please sign up for the volunteer opportunities if interested. • Write a note to your child to leave at his/her desk.

22. Thanks for coming!! • Any Questions????