Parent Information Night

1. Parent Information Night 2013-2014 Welcome to 4th Grade

2. Don’t forget to sign up with Remind101to receive text from your child’s homeroom teacher. Redmon: Text @redmons to 858-815-9114 Mitchell: Text @f68e9 to 817-601-7595 Worthen: Text @worthenh to 832-786-5254 Hammonds: Text @hammondsho to 469-478-2013 Curnow: Text @curn to 469-275-4979

3. Switching Classes and ScheduleCurnow-Redmon • 7:50 – 8:50 – Rotation 1 • 8:50 – 9:40 - MAPS • 9:45 – 10:15– Rotation 1 • 10:15 – 10:20 - Restroom • 10:20 – 11:20 – Language Arts • 11:20 – 11:50 – Rotation 2 • 11:50 – 12:20 – Recess • 12:20 – 12:50 – Lunch • 12:50 – 2:00 – Rotation 2 • 2:00 – 2:30 – RTI • 2:30 – 2:45 - Pack up/Dismissal

4. Mitchell-Hammonds-Worthen • 7:50 – 8:50 – Rotation 1 • 8:50 – 9:40 – MAPS • 9:45 – 10:45 – Language Arts • 10:45 – 10:50 - Restroom • 10:50 – 11:50 – Rotation 2 • 11:50 – 12:20 – Recess • 12:20 – 12:50 – Lunch • 12:55 – 1:55 – Rotation 3 • 2:00 – 2:30 – RTI • 2:35 – 2:45 Pack up/Dismissal

5. Math • Emphasis on the four main operations including adding and subtracting both whole numbers and decimals. • Fractions and Probability • Geometry • Graphing • An undercurrent of problem solving and critical thinking will accompany all units. THIS IS HUGE!!

6. 4th Grade Science Curriculum 1st 9 Weeks2nd 9 Weeks Lab Safety/Introduction Weather Physical Properties of Matter Patterns & Changes Mixtures & Solutions Properties of Soil Water Cycle Weathering & Erosion 3rd 9 Weeks4th 9 Weeks Renewable & Nonrenewable Energy Transfer of Organisms Resources Adaptations & Behaviors Conductors & Insulators Plant & Animal Life Cycles Electricity Force on Objects

7. Social Studies - Texas History - Early Explorers to current day - History Museum and Project Based Learning

8. Reading and Writing Workshop Reading and Language Arts go hand in hand. There are two overarching goals for students for the year. • Fourth graders read every day. A wide variety of genres and levels of complexity. • Reader’s Workshop • Reading Certificates • Fourth graders write every day. • Writer’s Workshop • Narrative and Expository • Words Their Way Spelling

9. Homework • School wide homework • Reading log • Math problem solving and spiral review • Please initial the reading log daily.

10. Extracurricular Activities • There are plenty of ways to get involved: • FAST • KGES • Safety Patrol • Student Council • Choir • Bank • Running Club

11. STAAR • Test Dates - Writing, April 1st and 2nd. - Math, April 22 - Reading, April 23rd

12. Attendance/Make Up Work • It is important to be at school every day. If possible try to schedule appointments outside of school hours. • Please send a note or call the office in the event that your students cannot attend. • Make up Work- For every day absent, the student will receive an additional day to complete make up work. • Make up work will be sent home in a “While you are out folder”.

13. Classroom Management • STAR Behavior • A set of common campus behavior expectations. These expectations are aligned with GCISD character education as well as college and career readiness standards. • They focus on building capacity in students to be productive citizens in our community.

14. STAR Folder • Parents will be informed daily of their child’s behavior on the calendar found in the STAR folder. Nine week conduct grades will mirror the behavior recorded on the calendar. • Daily disciplinary actions are located in the STAR folder. • Check and sign the STAR calendar daily! • Check and sign the planner daily!

15. Contact information • Conference time 8:50 – 9:40. If you would like to meet with us, please email or call to schedule a time 24 hours prior. This helps us to be better prepared to answer any questions that you may have for us. • Our fourth grade webpage can be found through the school website at http://www.gcisd-k12.org/schools/ges/ • Check out our classroom blogs weekly!!

16. Grading Policy • Grades online- Sign up in the front office -Encourage your students to look online with you. • Progress Reports and Report Cards -Reports will be given out on the third week only if a student is failing or has had a significant drop in their grade in a subject area. -All students will receive a report on the sixth week. -All report cards go home on the ninth week. Conduct Grade: Reflects from STAR Behavior Calendar

17. Further Important Information • FAST News- Sign up for district updates at www.gcisd-k12.org. • Cell Phones- All cell phones must be turned off and out of sight if they are brought to school. If you need to contact your student, please leave a message through the front office. This goes for other electrical devices as well.

18. Further Important Information • Snacks- Please prepare snacks that are considered healthy for your student throughout the year. Snacks such as cupcakes, cookies, chips are things that can be placed in lunches, but are not considered healthy snacks. • Lunch Visitation- This year a separate table will be available for parents visiting their students. Only your child can sit with you at the parent table. • Lunch Order Limits- You can go online and list provisions to your students’ allowable lunch choices.

19. Further Important Information • Birthdays: Nut free treats, preferably store bought- Please arrange with teacher • Visitor Sign-in (Raptor System) • Volunteering- Background checks are a must.

20. Camp • We will be going to Collin County Adventure Camp in May. More information to come!!