Welcome to Fourth Grade!

1. Welcome to Fourth Grade! Mr. Willis’ Class

2. Here’s a little information about me! I was born and raised in Jackson, TN. I graduated from South Side High School in 2001. In the fall of 2001 I moved to Murfreesboro, TN attended Middle Tennessee State. I graduated in December 2005. My major is Interdisciplinary Studies K-6. I am highly qualified to teach any grade between K-6 according to the No Child Left Behind Law (NCLB). I student taught in 1st and 4th grades. This is my third year of teaching. I did two interim positions after graduation in the spring of 2006, 6 weeks in 1st grade and 8 weeks in kindergarten. I taught 1st grade from July 2006 through October 2007. I moved back to Jackson last October and worked at Malesus Elementary as a kindergarten teacher. This is my second year at Arlington as a 4th grade teacher. • Some of my hobbies include, drawing and painting, writing, creating, and making music. Look for some of those mentioned hobbies to be incorporated into this class. I love being around other people. My number one priority in life is pleasing God therefore one aspect of that is my regular attendance of church. • I love children. That’s why I’m here, to be a positive example and to help them succeed in there education. I am here to not only teach them academics but to help mold them into respectful, responsible citizens. Let’s work hard to understand each other and make this year a success for your child.

3. Scales First Grade Teachers • Louisa Edwards • Nettie Houston • Cassie Seabrook • Tekia Weddle • Richard Willis

4. Class Scedule • Arrival/ Prepare for the Day/Morning Work 7:15-7:45 • EyeTV Announcements 7:30-7:45 • Morning Meeting 7:45-8:00 • Literacy Block • Spelling/English/Phonics 8:00-8:30 • (1)Reading Group 8:30-8:50 • Prepare for/go to Special Area 8:50-9:00 • Special Area 9:00-9:40 • Day 1- Music • Day 2- Art • Day 3- Music • Day 4- Gym (tennis shoes) • Day 5- Library • Day 6- Gym • Restroom Break/Snack 9:40-10:00 • Literacy Block Cont’d. • Reading Groups 10:00-11:00 • Prepare for/ go to Lunch 11:00-11:20 • Lunch 11:20-11:50 • Restroom 11:50-12:00 • Outdoor Physical Activity Time 12:00-12:20 • Math 12:20-1:00 • Thematical Unit/Science/Social Studies 1:00-1:30 • Prepare to go home 1:30-1:45 • Afternoon Meeting 1:45-2:10 • Dismissal 2:10 • *Compass Learning- Every Monday 10:30-11:00 • *Guidance- Every Wednesday 9:45-10:15 • *Spanish- Every Thursday 8:00-8:30

5. Weekly Newsletter • A Newsletter will be sent home every Monday. I sometimes forget to send them home on Monday so they will go home on Tuesday.

6. Attendance • Please try to have your child at school each day. It is very hard to make up class work at home. Also, promptness is essential. School begins at 8:30, and students coming after 8:30 will need to get a late slip. We have a routine that we follow each morning, and it is hard to follow when students are late. *A note is required if your child is absent. The note should be brought to school the day the child returns after the absence. Please try to schedule all appointments in the afternoon or after school.

7. Backpack and Folder • Must be brought to school everyday!

8. Lost and Found • Please write your child’s name imside all of his/her coat, jackets, sweaters, gloves, and hats. • This is located in the front office.

9. Weekly Progress Report • This will be sent home each day to be checked and initialed by a parent and returned to school in the folder the following day. Please give your child praise or his/her behavior and discuss how to improve the behavior.

10. Fourth Grade Skills Expectations • You can find the First Grade Standards on the Tennessee Department of Education or Scales websites- www.state.tn.us/education. • Click - For Everyone, • Click Minimum Standards for Curriculum, click - Content Areas with State Assessment, Click each subject are under Subject/Grade (four areas: English/Language Arts, Math, Social Studies, Science)

11. Snack • Your child may bring a nutritious snack to school each day. Birthday treats (cupcakes/cookies) are welcomed. You may send them in with your child or drop them off in the office. Just let me know.

12. Safety • Please make sure that your child wears tennis shoes each day. Sandals or flip flops are not safe to run in on the playground nor safely walk in the hallways. Your child’s safety is always my utmost concern.

13. Book Orders • I order books once a month from Scholastics. Return the order form by the date on the back with your money. Make your checks payable to Scholastic.

14. Homework/ Scales Folder • Homework will be assigned each night. I do like the children to read or be read to every night. Children need to practice reading each night. (Clean out all papers brought home in the folder, except homework, and leave the papers at home.) The Scales folder should come back to school every day with the initialed behavior report. Please go over the work and help your child make any corrections.

15. Mr. Willis’ Behavior Plan • Students will learn citizenship, cooperation, getting along with others, and the importance of their role in the school community. Just like adults, each child has a job. That job now is to be the best 1st grade student possible. The expected job responsibilities (class rules) are as follows:

16. Behavior Plan • Please see the Behavior Contract under my forms.

17. Communication • Please write down all communication and any changes in afternoon transportation. (If your child is not feeling well in the morning, please write me a note.) • Check my website • Call the school 731-265-9874 • Email me: rvwillis@jmcss.org or mr_quarternote@yahoo.com

18. Other Information • If you have a concern regarding your child, please send me a note. Many times a child will misunderstand something that has happened at school. I also want to know if something has occurred at home that may be very upsetting to your child. • Please sign all necessary forms and return