Welcome to 4 th Grade Curriculum Night !

Welcome to 4th Grade Curriculum Night! Please sign in on the appropriate teacher’s sign-in page and sign up for a conference time for Monday, October 10th.Thanks!

Teacher Contact Information Kristina Knox 469-633-3033 knoxk@friscoisd.org Laura Barr 469-633-3034 barrl@friscoisd.org Kiana Cornell 469-633-3032 cornelld@friscoisd.org Ashley Dobbs 469-633-3037 dobbsa@friscoisd.org Jackie Bradley 469-633-3035 bradleyj@friscoisd.org Hema Swaminathan 469-633-3036 swaminah@friscoisd.org http://teachersites.schoolworld.com/webpages/4_Sparks

Daily Schedule 7:50 - 8:30 Assembly, Warm-Up, Class Meeting, Tutoring 8:35 - 9:20Specials 9:20 - 12:20 Academic Time(Snack Time 10:15) 12:20 - 12:50 Recess 12:55 - 1 :25 Lunch 1:25- 1:35 DEAR Time 1:35 - 2 :45Academic Time 2:45 – 2:50 Planners, Pack-up, Dismissal Each class’ schedule is a little different but follows this basic outline.

SNACK • Due to our lunch time being so late in the day, the students will be given time around 10:15 to eat a snack. • We strongly suggest that these be HEALTHY snacks such as granola bars, fruit, fruit cups, etc. Include utensils if necessary. • Students are allowed to bring water bottles to keep in the classroom. They may only be filled with water.

TEKS Introduction • The curriculum that we teach is based on the TEKS, or Texas Essential Knowledge & Skills. • We have given you a handout of the introduction to the TEKS. This handout gives an overview of what the students will be learning in each content area. You can go to the Texas Education Agency website to look at the specific objectives that are taught for each subject. • www.tea.state.tx.us

SCIENCE CURRICULUM Science Investigation & Reasoning:Lab Safety, Scientific Tools, Process Skills, & Scientific Method, RUBIES Problem Solving Strategy (will be taught all year) Earth & Space: Properties of Soil, Slow Changes to the Earth’s Surface, Natural Resources and Conservation, Weather, Water Cycle, Shadows, Tides, Seasons, Moon phases Matter & Energy: Physical Properties of Matter, Changes in Matter, Mixtures & Solutions Force, Motion & Energy: Forms of Energy, Electrical Circuits, Conductors & Insulators, Electromagnets, Force Organisms & Environments: Producers vs. Consumers, Food Webs, Plant & Animal Adaptations, Inherited Traits of Plants & Animals, Life Cycles, Owls of Texas *Homework: Science homework will be assigned on Wednesdays.

Reading Instruction will be conducted in Readers’ Workshop which includes: • Mini-Lessons • Guided Reading Groups • Individual Student Conferences • Independent Reading & Response • Language Arts Centers READING CURRICULUM HOMEWORK: Reading Logs are assigned each Friday and are due the following Friday. Guided Reading homework will be assigned after initial reading assessments are complete.

SOCIAL STUDIES CURRICULUM *Social Studies curriculum will be integrated into the Readers’ Workshop. TEXAS HISTORY Map Skills Texas Landforms & Regions Native Americans in Texas European & Spanish settlement Texas Revolution Republic of Texas Civil War Cattle & Oil Railroads & Urbanization Texas Government Today Influential People in Texas

Writers’ Workshop • Writing will be taught in a Writers’ Workshop format. Students will be able to write pieces assigned by teachers and on self selected topics as well. • Mini-lessons during Writers’ Workshop will cover: • Writing Process Six Traits • Grammar Spelling • Writing and Grammar comprise 75% of the Language Arts grade. • Homework: Students will have a writing assignment to complete on Monday nights. WRITING CURRICULUM

Follows the Frisco ISD curriculum. • Additional spelling words are individualized based on students needs - determined by weekly Monday pretest. • Challenge lists will be administered to students with 1 or less wrong on the pretest. • Students will complete activities in language centers to practice their words. • Homework: Students will need to study for their weekly spelling tests on Friday. • Spelling makes up 25% of the Language Arts grade. SPELLING CURRICULUM

MATH CURRICULUM First Nine-Week Period: Whole #s, Place Value, Addition and Subtraction, Multiplication, Division Second Nine-Week Period: Division, Fractions & Decimals Third Nine-Week Period: Decimals, Probability & Statistics, Measurement Fourth Nine-Week Period: Geometry, TAKS Review, Board Game Project Problem Solving Strategies will be taught & reinforced throughout the year. Homework: Math homework will be assigned on - Tuesdays: Vocabulary & Fact Practice Thursdays: Skill Reinforcement *Math Logs are assigned each Friday and are due the following Friday.

Differentiated Learning • Flexible grouping is used in all subjects. • We provide challenges for all levels of learners. • Students are constantly given OPTIONS and OPPORTUNITIES to extend and enrich their learning by various activities that we offer: learning centers, writers’ workshops, readers’ workshop and technology programs. They should never say “I’m BORED!” • We emphasize and encourage children to proactively and independently make choices that will continue to challenge their learning.

HomeworkPlease refer to the Homework Schedule in your packet.Occasionally, this will change due to projects, short weeks, etc. The students will write any changes in their planners.(Some of the homework assignments this year will be electronic or online.) If homework is not turned in the day it is due, the student will go to study hall for part of recess to complete the assignment.. This schedule will begin the 2nd week of school.

A Step Up • Besides teaching students the academics that they should learn this year, one of our main goals is to prepare them for 5th grade and beyond. This means that we will be expecting the students to be more independent by : • being more responsible for themselves, their school work & homework, • being more organized, • practicing time management, • communicating between parents & teachers • Both the class work and homework will be different this year than what the students are used to from 3rd grade. This will also help get them ready for the upper grades.

Technology • Students will attend a 45 minute technology class a week. • Students will be exposed to student computer centers, a data projector, digital cameras, a document camera, United Streaming videos, video conferences, iPods, and iPads. • Students will be expected to complete a PowerPoint presentation as well as Word document compositions throughout this year.

Self Management CLASSROOM PROCEDURES Each student will be expected to follow Sparks policy: I will be RESPECTFUL. I will be RESPONSIBLE. I will be READY TO LEARN. Please refer to the Classroom Discipline Plan that was sent home. Students will take home a purple folder each Thursday indicating weekly progress in areas of responsibility and behavior. This is to be reviewed,signed by a parent, and returned on Friday.

Weekly Class Meeting • Focus on developing positive character traits • Nurturing a productive classroom community • Will cover health requirements such as life skills, nutrition, & hygiene • Varied structure by class needs

FISD Attendance Policy Entries on attendance record include absences, tardies, or leaving early. An absence will be considered “unexcused” until a written note from a parent or doctor is provided when the student returns to class. A student is considered tardy if they are not in the building by 7:50am. 5 entries on attendance record– phone call to parent from the classroom teacher to communicate concerns. • 8 entries on attendance record– Phone call from Assistant Principal to parent and letter mailed to parent and certified mail sent to parent. • 10 entries on attendance record -Letter mailed to parent and certified mail sent to parent. Failure to attend school and charges will be filed.

Medication • Students are not allowed to bring any medication with them to school. This includes cough drops. • Any medication that needs to be administered to a student needs to be given to Nurse Nichols by a parent. This includes Tylenol, Benadryl, cough drops, etc. • If your child has severe allergies requiring an Epi-pen, you must have a doctor’s note.

Birthday Treats • Birthday treats such as donuts, cake, cookie cakes, or cupcakes are welcome. • It is strongly suggested that they be store bought and include a label with ingredients listed to help students with food allergies. • You may drop them off in the office or send them in with the student that morning. • Please send plates, napkins, and a plastic knife (if necessary) as well.

Study Trips • Frisco Story Telling Festival- Friday, October 14th • Frisco Fire Safety Town – date TBD • One other possible study trip - TBD Requests for chaperones will be sent out closer to the date of each study trip.

Volunteers We welcome help in every shape and form. We can use assistance with: • bulletin boards • cutting out laminated items • weekly copies for instruction • assembly of interactive centers Chaperones will be needed for upcoming study trips. As stated before, requests will be sent out closer to the study trip date. Please be sure that you have filled out the Volunteer form online found on the FISD webpage in order to be eligible for volunteering.

Thank you for coming! Please place any questions you had this evening in the appropriate teacher’s bin.

Welcome to 4 th Grade Curriculum Night !