WELCOME to FOURTH GRADE Parent Night

1. Mrs. Brown – Math Mrs. Iselt - Reading browna@lexingtonisd.netiseltr@lexingtonisd.net Mrs. Anderson – Writing Mrs. Jackson - Science andersons@lexingtonisd.netjacksond@lexingtonisd.net WELCOME to FOURTH GRADE Parent Night

2. ACCELERATED READER REMIND 101

3. AR • From our website: www.lexingtonisd.net Choose Parents - Choose Renaissance Home Connect The username will be your student's lastname_firstname, then your student's AR Password. Your student will know their AR password. • Weekly and yearly goals have been set • AR is required in the fourth grade. Your child should be reading every night for 20 minutes. They are expected to make his/her assigned points every week. • If points are not made for the week your child will go to study hall for Fun Friday and read. Fun Friday is used as a reward for those students that have excelled for the week. • If your child is reading a chapter book then he/she should have a chapter log with either assigned chapters or pages that you sign each night . • All students need to make 80%on AR Comprehension Tests to be successful.

4. Fourth Grade Teacher Websites • browna@weebly.com • andersons@weebly.com

5. Absences Official Attendance-Taking Time The district must submit attendance of its students to Texas Education Agency (TEA) reflecting attendance at a specific time each day. Official attendance is taken every day at 9:00 AM. A student absent for any portion of the day, including the official attendance-taking time, should follow the procedures below. Parent’s Note after an Absence - When a student must be absent from school, the student—upon returning to school—must bring a note, signed and dated by the parent that describes the reason for the absence. A note signed by the student, even with the parent’s permission, will not be accepted unless the student is 18 or older. Please note that, unless the absence is for a statutorily allowed reason under compulsory attendance laws, the district is not required to excuse any absence. Doctor’s Note after an Absence for Illness Upon return to school, a student absent for more than 3 consecutive days because of a personal illness should bring a statement from a doctor or health clinic verifying the illness or condition that caused the student’s extended absence from school. Otherwise, the student’s absence may be considered unexcused and, if so, would be considered to be in violation of compulsory attendance laws. [See FEC (LOCAL).] Should the student develop a questionable pattern of absences, the principal or attendance committee may require a statement from a doctor or health clinic verifying the illness or condition that caused the student’s absences from school.

6. Tardies and Leaving School Early • ABSENCES/ATTENDANCE Regular school attendance is essential for a student to make the most of his or her education—to benefit from teacher-led and school activities, to build each day’s learning on the previous day’s, and to grow as an individual. Absences from class, tardies, and leaving school early may result in serious disruption of a student’s mastery of the instructional materials; therefore, the student and parent should make every effort to avoid unnecessary absences. Two state laws, one dealing with compulsory attendance, the other with attendance for course credit, are of special interest to students and parents.

7. EAGLE Time • Every day from 3:00-3:30 • Interventions, extra practice, UIL practice, enrichment, GT • Please, if you can avoid it, do not pick up your student early.

8. LES Parking Lots • West (gravel) parking lot-PTO is working on a walkway from lot to sidewalk • Back parking lot • Front teacher parking lot • Please do not park in the circle drive

9. Fourth Grade Grading Procedures GRADING GUIDELINES In grades Pre-K–5, achievement is reported to parents as: • Numerical grades or objective reports. • Students must pass their academic work with a 70 average in order to be promoted to the next grade. • Parents and teachers need to work together to help the children achieve academic success and to solve any possible academic problems. • Promotion, retention, and placement are as follows: 1 through 5 grades will receive numerical grades in all subjects. • Students receiving an N or U in any subject in conduct will not be allowed on the Honor Roll. • There will be a minimum of at least the following per Nine Weeks: 5 tests in Math at least 16 daily grades in Math 5 tests in Reading at least 16 daily grades in Reading 5 tests in Spelling at least 8 daily grades in Spelling 5 tests in Language at least 10 daily grades in Language Third through Fifth grades will give at least 3 test grades in Social Studies and Science. E, S, N, or U will be given instead of number grades in the following classes: Computer, PE, Music, and Fine Arts. The criteria for grade determination shall be: • All assigned work will be graded or reviewed. • All taught material will be based on Texas Knowledge Skills (TEKS) and local performance criteria. • Teachers will have freedom of teaching techniques, projects, checklists, daily work, teacher observation, and tests, (daily, weekly, unit, nine weeks, etc.) • Grades will be determined by the formula of 60% daily and 40% tests.

10. LES Dress Code and Grooming Using these general guidelines and the specific guidelines listed below, school administrators have the final decision in determining and enforcing student dress and grooming standards at school and at all school-related activities. Students are not to wear clothing that is tight, loose, revealing, sagging, or short. • Examples of unacceptable clothing according to this guideline include, but are not limited to, jogging shorts, spandex shorts, biker shorts or tights, mini-skirts, tank tops, tops with spaghetti straps, sleeveless apparel that is revealing, strapless/low cut/backless apparel, deliberately cut or torn garments that show skin, or midriff tops. (Midriff tops are those that reveal bare skin on the mid-section of the body while standing or sitting.) • Students are prohibited from wearing garments that sag below the waistline. Pants or shorts must be fitted at the waist and in the crotch, not oversized or baggy. Pant legs should be no wider than the length of the shoe. Students are encouraged to wear belts with garments designed to be worn with belts. • All garments including shorts, skirts, and dresses must be an appropriate and modest length - at least mid-thigh or longer. • Students cannot wear garments with visual or written messages that are likely to cause a disruption to the school environment. Examples of such prohibited visual or written messages include, but are not limited to, drugs, alcohol, tobacco, weapons, violence, vulgar or obscene language or images, sarcastic and disrespectful messages, and/or insults to race, religion, gender, or ethnicity. • A student is prohibited from wearing any form of dress or accessory identifying him or her with a gang or cult or symbolizing the beliefs of such a group. • Shoes should not detract from or interfere with the learning environment or present a safety or health hazard, for example, high heel shoes. Heelys or shoes with wheels will - 26 - not be allowed nor will rubber flip flops or shower shoes for safety reasons. Tennis shoes or closed toed shoes are preferred. (Tennis shoes are required for PE.) • No type of head covering is to be worn inside the school buildings. Exceptions would be a cap or hat that is part of a uniform worn at a school activity or a head covering worn for religious or medical purposes. Examples of prohibited head covering according to the guidelines include, but are not limited to skull/wave caps, scarves, hairnets, visors, head/sweatbands and bandanas. • Sunglasses shall not be worn in any school building or be visible during the school day. • Students must wear appropriate underclothing. Clothing, which allows undergarments to be seen, is not allowed. Noisy, distracting, and/or excessive jewelry or accessories, including wallet chains, rubber bands as bracelets, medallions or pendants are prohibited. • Rope chains or large metal chains may not be worn either around the neck or the body; as a watch chain; or as a belt. Earrings in pierced ears are allowed, but all other body piercing jewelry is strictly prohibited. Permanent or temporary tattoos, writing, or drawing on the skin will not be permitted. Body tattoos must be covered at all times. • The student's hairstyle and makeup must not detract from or interfere with the learning and school environment. Hair must be kept well groomed, neat, and clean at all times. • Hair shall not interfere with the student’s vision. Hair must be a natural color as determined by the campus administrator. • Male hair length may extend to, but not past, the bottom of the collar of a sports shirt or to the neckline of a t-shirt when combed down. Lines or symbols cut in hair, Mohawks or similar haircuts will not be allowed. Hair shall not go below the eyebrow. Sideburns shall not extend below the earlobe. The face must be clean-shaven. No mustaches, goatees, or muttonchops will be allowed. • Backpacks should not detract from or interfere with the learning environment or present a safety or health hazard. • Students participating in school-related activities, such as • extracurricular or UIL activities or other special functions, may have a • different dress or grooming code required by the sponsor, coach, or • administration. • Dress and Grooming Violations • Students who come to school in violation of the district and/or campus dress code will • have the option of correcting the violation or being placed in in-school suspension until • the infraction is corrected for the remainder of the day. School officials may use other • appropriate consequences as designated in the Code of Conduct. Students may be • required to change into appropriate clothing if available at the nurse’s office or parents • may be asked to bring appropriate attire to school to assist in correcting the violation. - 27 - • Students who have a question about the appropriateness of an item should discuss the • specific issue with the appropriate staff member before wearing the item. • Compliance with these guidelines is expected every day including the first day at that • campus. Students who are new to the campus, or students with extenuating • circumstances, will be expected to be in compliance after a reasonable grace period. The • students are expected to follow the appropriate district dress and grooming guidelines as • well as any specific group guidelines. Exceptions will be permitted for bona fide religious • reasons. • E

11. Morning Procedures * Arrive by 8:00am * Breakfast served 7:30-7:55 * Students may take AR tests in the classroom or in the computer lab. * In the classroom, students are expected to: -unpack -make their lunch choice -have breakfast in cafeteria if needed -sharpen pencils -take a restroom/water break -visit the library -take AR tests -read AR books

12. MATH Curriculum ◆We have new textbooks in math this year, as well as new TEKS. The Go Math textbook is consumable. It can be written in and we will tear out pages for homework. Homework ◆Homework is given on Monday and due on Friday. Weekly Multiplication Fluency Tests ◆Test will be on Thursdays. ◆Students will be given 100 multiplication problems to do in 5 minutes. ◆Please make sure your child studies every week.

13. READING • Novels, Journeys textbook selections, other resources, use TCMPC (formerly CScope), teaching videos and Powerpoint lessons • STAAR Reading Preparation • Read 20 minutes nightly • Homework weekly • Accelerated Reader • Reader Responses in reading journal • Student expectations are high, more rigorous content, text analysis, respond in complete sentences, etc. • Vocabulary exposure and study

14. WRITING & SPELLING Spelling tests administered weekly. Please see student planners and my website for weekly lists. http://schoolmarmalade.weebly.com/ Texas Essential Knowledge & Skills (TEKS) used as a framework for instruction. http://lead4ward.com/docs/resources/snapshots/elar/teks_snapshot_elar_gr_04.pdf Writing personal narratives will be the focus of the year. TEKS will be generalized to their writing.

15. SCIENCE http://lead4ward.com/docs/resources/snapshots/science/teks_snapshot_science_gr_04.pdf Science TEKS preparing children for 5th grade STAAR. Please have children in class as much as possible. We do loads of hands on experiments with discussions. When children are absent, they miss a lot of information.