Meet the 4 th Grade Team

1. Welcome Families to the 4th grade. We are excited to be working with you and your children this year and look forward to a successful year.

2. Meet the 4th Grade Team • Sophia Navarro – Language Arts and Social Studies • snavarro@ems-isd.net • Pamela English – Reading and Science • penglish@ems-isd.net • LaRae Witsaman – Math • lwitsaman@ems-isd.net

3. Our Schedule 7:40AM - 8:00AM DEAR Time 8:00AM - 8:50AM Begin 1st Rotation-Mrs. Navarro (Social Studies and Language Arts) 8:50AM - 9:40AM Block 9:40AM - 10:20AM Finish 1st Rotation 10:20AM - 11:50AM 2nd Rotation Mrs. Witsaman (Math) 11:50AM - 12:00PM Go Noodle 12:00-12:20PM Recess 12:20PM - 12:50PM Lunch  12:45-12:55PM Rti/EnrichmentHomeroom 12:50PM - 2:20PM 3rd Rotation- Ms. English (Reading and Science) 2:20PM - 2:40PM RtI/Enrichment 2:40PM Dismissal

4. Meet the 4th Grade Team • Emily Bennett – Language Arts, Reading, Social Studies • emilybennett@ems-isd.net • Steve Skidmore – Math and Science • sskidmore@ems-isd.net

5. Student Expectations - Rules Each class has a citizenship “book” which accompanies the class through the rotation of classes every day. Each teacher records citizenship transgressions in the book as needed. Severe problems will be sent to Mr. McLain or Mrs. Shipp immediately. The rules for fourth grade are: • Follow all directions • Keep hands, feet, objects, and mouth to yourself. • Bring all materials to class daily. • No interruptions of teaching or learning. The Book

6. Student Expectations - Consequences We have high expectations for the behavior of our students. Our positive approaches strongly encourage good citizenship necessary for academic success. However, when a child chooses not to follow the rules he/she can expect the following consequences: · 1st Verbal Warning · 2nd time: Name signed in the book, miss half of recess and behavior sheet · 3rd time: Name signed in the book, miss all recess and behavior sheet · 4th time: Name signed in the book and no recess/ Contact parent, principal visit and behavior sheet The Book

7. Student Expectations - CHAMPS CHAMP’s is a district wide management system used as an instructional structure in which students are responsible, motivated, and highly engaged in the specific task at hand. Conversation – Can students converse during this activity? About what? With whom? For how long? Help – How do students get your attention for help? How do students get questions answered? What should they do while they wait for you? Activity – What is the expected end product of this activity? What is the task or objective? Movement – for what reasons can students get out of their seats during an activity? Do they need permission to do so? Participation – What behavior shows that students are participating or not participating? Success – All students successful!!!!

8. Student Expectations - Citizenship • Students will receive a citizenship grade on their report card each nine weeks based on the number of times they were signed in the discipline book. • E = 0-4 marks • S = 5-7 marks • N = 8-10 marks • U = 11 or more marks

9. Curriculum At EME, we follow the state mandated curriculum. The TEKS or Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills are a set of standards that we have to follow in each subject area . They cover the subject matter and objectives we will be teaching for the year and become more rigorous each year. There is also a new accountability system and more rigorous STAAR testing which requires us to sharpen our instructional focus. For more information see the TEA website at: http://www.tea.state.tx.us/

10. Communication 4th grade will communicate with you in the following ways this year: • Emails home • Newsletters home • Our website page • Notes home in the homeroom folder • Remind 101 • Our conference time is from 8:50-9:40AM. • Email addresses: • Sophia Navarro – snavarro@ems-isd.net • Pamela English – penglish@ems-isd.net • LaRae Witsaman – lwitsaman@ems-isd.net • Emily Bennett – emilybennett@ems-isd.net • Steve Skidmore – sskidmore@ems-isd.net • Our school webpage: • http://www.emsisd.com/Domain/364 • School phone: 817-236-7191 • If you have any questions or concerns, please call or email us. We are happy to answer any questions.

11. Student Binder • Each student should have a binder. The binder is designed to help keep your child organized and provide communication between home and school. • Homeroom Folder - there is a pocket for homework, notes to parents, notes for teachers, and another pocket for assignments and papers to stay at home. • Class Dividers – there are pockets for each class in the binder. The assignments in these pockets need to stay in the binder. They are to be used for instructional purposes. • Pencil Bag – If possible, please make sure your student has a pencil bag to keep supplies inside of it. We did not have it on the school supply list, but would like for the students to have one.

12. School Supplies Please make sure your students have their pencils, stick glue, scissors and markers or colored pencils in their binder at all times!!!!

13. Absent and Make-Up Work • Absent: • If your child is going to be absent, please call the school and make the office aware. • Bring a note when returning to school. • Make-Up Work: • Student have time equal to the number of days absent plus one day to complete make-up work. • If you know your child will be absent and would like to pick up their work, please call during the morning hours and request that the work be prepared to send home. The assignments and books can be picked up in the office after 2:40pm or sent home with another child or sibling.

14. New School District Grading Policy • Daily Work: • * All daily work that is to be graded should be completed at school under teacher supervision. * If ample classroom time has been given • and additional time is needed for mastery, a teacher will make arrangements with the child for completion. * At teacher discretion, the work may be sent home to be completed. • If a student chooses to not complete a daily work assignment, the code of conduct will be applied to this behavior. • Grade Weights: • Grades shall be calculated using the following weights: • - 40% daily work and projects • - 60% summative assessments • Assignments Under 70: • Daily: Reteach/redo is only available for daily work at teacher discretion. • Tests, Formative/Summative Assessments and Projects: Students or parents need to notify the teacher three days within the grade posting to Family Access to retake assignment. • For more information, check the EMSISD website.

15. Housekeeping • Current Information on File – Please keep current home and work numbers and emergency contacts updated in the office. • School Hours – It is very important to have your student to school on time each day. Students are TARDY if they arrive after 7:40AM. School is dismissed at 2:40PM. • Early Dismissal – Please understand that you must sign your child out in the front office before your child leaves for an early dismissal. If at all possible notify teachers ahead of time for early dismissal. Please try to make all appointments after 3:00PM, learning occurs until dismissal. • Transportation Changes – If you have an afternoon transportation change, PLEASE CALL THE OFFICE and make them aware of the change. Teachers do not always have time to check their email or phones during the day. • Food Allergies – Please be aware we have many food allergies this year. • Birthdays – If you are going to celebrate your students birthday by bringing a snack, please follow the following guidelines: • - please bring pre-wrapped (nut free items) that can easily be distributed to students. • - if you are going to bring a cookie cake, please bring plates or napkins and already have the cake cut into enough pieces for each student in class.

16. School Programs • DEAR Time – Drop Everything and Read. The first twenty minutes of each day will be spent reading. It is a school- wide initiative where everyone on campus stops and reads. We would like to encourage a life long love of reading. • Post Office – Students and parents can write and send letters at our school. EME has an in-school post office system. Letters can be sent and delivered to your child. The post office box is in the foyer of our school. • Watch Dogs – We would like to start the Watch Dog program again at our school Dads interested in becoming a ‘watch dog’ and helping out in the classroom, please let the office know. • Volunteering in the Classroom – We love volunteers in the classroom. Please make sure you have a current background check on file and contact your child’s teacher for opportunities.

17. Wanted • REWARD • Build strong relationships • Spend time with your children • Be a role model • Actively participate in your child’s learning • Looking for Dads of great students to enrich the school learning environment • Looking for Dads that can dedicate time to EME • Looking for Dads that can mentor students If this is you,stop by the Watch D.O.G.S. table on your way out to join, or contact Mr. Hohman at ahohman@ems-isd.net.

18. How Parents Can Help At Home… • Reading and Writing • - Istation • - http://www.tea.state.tx.us • - Read each evening with your child • - RAZ Kids • - Speeding to Read Program • - Book Bags and Reading Logs • Math • - Think Through Math • - http://www.tea.state.tx.us • - Practice multiplication facts

19. Upcoming Events • Howdy Dinner: Friday, September 12 at 6PM • Picture Day: Friday, September 12 • Scholastic Money Due: Friday, September 12

20. Dismissal System • This new system is being implemented in response to concerns about student safety as well as parent feedback asking for a better system. • As with any new system, we know that change is hard & will take a while for parents to get used to, so we ask for your patience as we implement the new system on Monday.  The first week may be a little crazy & confusing, but please hang in there as we attempt to improve the system & work out the kinks! • We are going to a drive through system where students will be picked up in the front loop or the back loop rather than you having to get out of your car as has been the practice.

21. Grades K, 1, and older siblings • Grades K & 1 & older siblings will pick up from the back loop which is closer to their classrooms. This will allow us to leverage that space which was designed to be a car-loop. • For our car riders you will be given a CARD/SIGN with your child’s name & homeroom teacher on it.  We ask that you have that displayed in the dash of your car so we can help identify which child will go where.  • Teachers in the back will be assisting kids getting in the cars & locating kids as parents drive up to get them. Turn LEFT on Westfork Trail to go RIGHT on Morris Dido. K-1 w/older siblings Parent Pick-Up enter here. The is a one lane drive-thru. • K-1st PARENT PICK-UP (teachers will load kids in car) Turn RIGHT on Westfork Trail to go LEFT on Boat Club Road. K-1 with older siblings in grades 2-5 Parent Pick-Up enter here. Follow Westfork Trail to the back of the school. Exit only.

22. Grades 2-5 • Grades 2-5 will be picked up from the front using the double-lanes. • For our car riders you will be given a CARD/SIGN with your child’s name & homeroom teacher on it.  We ask that you have that displayed in the dash of your car so we can help identify which child will go where.  • Teachers up front will be assisting kids getting in the cars & locating kids as parents drive up to get them. LANE B use this exit to turn RIGHT on Morris Dido. Utilize LANE B (closest to building) to turn RIGHT on Morris Dido. B Grades 2-5 PARENT PICK-UP (teachers will load kids in car) A B Utilize LANE A to turn LEFT on Boat Club Road. A Grades 2-5 Parent Pick-Up use main campus entrance and divide into 2 drive-thru lanes.

23. Dismissal System Information • In the rare occasion where you don’t have your car sign displayed on your dashboard, you will be asked to check your student out through the office for safety reasons. • Families that carpool need to communicate their schedules with the homeroom teacher to ensure that they understand dismissal routines.  Families picking up students in multiple grade levels will need to remember to pick up in conjunction with the YOUNGEST STUDENT’s designated location.  For example, if you pick up 2 fourth graders and a first grader, you would pick them all up in the BACK LOOP for K-1.

24. Bus Riders • Bus riders will still depart from where they are now.  Their process doesn’t change.

25. K-1 w/older siblings Parent Pick-Up enter here. The is a one lane drive-thru. K-1 with older siblings in grades 2-5 Parent Pick-Up enter here. Follow Westfork Trail to the back of the school. LANE B use this exit to turn RIGHT on Morris Dido. Turn LEFT on Westfork Trail to go RIGHT on Morris Dido. • K-1st PARENT PICK-UP (teachers will load kids in car) Grades 2-5 PARENT PICK-UP (teachers will load kids in car) B B A Turn RIGHT on Westfork Trail to go LEFT on Boat Club Road. A Utilize LANE B (closest to building) to turn RIGHT on Morris Dido. B A Utilize LANE A to turn LEFT on Boat Club Road. Grades 2-5 Parent Pick-Up use main campus entrance and divide into 2 drive-thru lanes. Exit only.