4th Grade Curriculum

1. 4th Grade Curriculum

2. Welcome Meet your 4th grade teachers: Mrs. Angie Tranka – Writing/Science Mr. Bryan Crowson – Reading Mrs. Caroline McDonald – Math Social Studies will be taught by the Homeroom teacher.

3. Communication Email – angelita.tranka@allenisd.org bryan.crowson@allenisd.org caroline.kao@allenisd.org Agendas – student will record important dates and homework Behavior Folder - please initial and discuss any behavior marks with your child Thursday Folders – please remove papers and sign them prior to returning Newsletters – will be e-mailed every Thursday

4. Parent Conferences A Sign-Up Genius will be emailed in the fall and spring to sign up for conferences. Please email any other time you would like to schedule a conference. Teachers will also contact you as needed.

5. STAAR Testing There are three STAAR tests for 4th graders – Writing – April 9th Math – May 13th Reading – May 14th Comprehensive Science Assessment- May 13 - 24

6. IMPACT IMPACT is our school-wide intervention/enrichment program to help students in small groups progress in their academics.

7. Grading Policy Homework and Class Work – 60% Tests and Projects – 40% District Policy can be found on the Allen ISD website.

8. Reading The more children read, the better they become at reading! Please help your child find time to read every night. Units of Study: -fiction and nonfiction analysis -text structure -drama and poetry -critical reading -strategies good readers use

9. Writing • Our focus for writing this year will be on taking our Narrative and Expository essays through the writing process. • Students will be developing drafts, revising, editing and publishing their essays. • Grammar, punctuation, spelling and capitalization will be important aspects of our revising and editing process.

10. Writing…what can YOU do? • Encourage your child to keep a journal to write about their day, things that interest them, etc. •  Write with your child. Show them how you use writing in your job and daily life.  •  While writing with your child, stop to check for correct conventions (complete sentences, spelling, punctuation, etc.)

11. Math Units

12. Math . . . what YOU can do - The best way to help at home is to include your child in conversations about real life experiences when it comes to numbers of any sort. - While at the grocery store, ask your child to estimate the total of the bill, when you get to the register see how close they were! - Have your child estimate the amount of change you will get when paying with cash. - When ordering food at a restaurant, have your child add up the total amount of each meal! - While you have time in the car quiz them on their basic multiplication facts!

13. Science We will be integrating science topics as much as possible with writing. Most of our units will include hands on scientific experiments using the Scientific Process. Units of Study: -Properties of Matter -Matter & Energy -Force & Motion -Mixtures/Solutions -Water Cycle -Properties of Soil -Weathering, Erosion & Deposition -Natural Resources -Inherited Traits & Learned Behavior -Weather -Food Chains/Food Webs -Life Cycles -Shadows/Seasons/Moons/Tides -Adaptations

14. Social Studies • We will be studying Texas History in social studies. • We will be covering everything from the early Texans to the 20th century.

15. Free powerpoint template: www.brainybetty.com Work Habits • Please have your child check their agenda and homework folder nightly for required assignments and due dates. • Students are responsible for their assignments • Encourage your child to return their assignments On Time. Late work will have points deducted according to AISD grading regulations.

16. Free powerpoint template: www.brainybetty.com Thank you! • We look forward to working as a team to make 4th grade a successful year for your child. • Please email or call anytime you have feedback, questions, or concerns.