Welcome to Back to School Night!

1. Welcome to Back to School Night! Ms. Robinson Fourth Grade Teacher Room 317

2. Communication • Our ability to work together will assure your child’s success this year. • Homework Folder and Assignment Pad • Communication Folder • Parent/Teacher Conferences • Blog: http://sparobinson.wordpress.com • Best way to contact me is through email: jrobinson@stphilipsacademy.org

3. Daily Routines • Students should arrive between 8:10am -8:15am • Students should be dressed in their proper school uniforms • no sneakers or colorful sweaters and sweat shirts • On Gym days students should wear their gym uniform • sneakers should be blue or black • Dismissal is at 3:30pm • Parents must come in and sign the students out at the front desk

4. Homework • Homework is used to reinforce the materials studied and covered in class. It represents 20% to 25% of your child’s overall quarter grade for each subject. • Homework is posted with links by 4pm each day. Be sure to check the blog everyday to ensure your child is completing the correct assignments. • Daily Homework- 3-4 assignments each day from Wordly Wise, Math, Social Studies and/or Science, and Reading Comprehension. • Alternate homework assignments would be for Test Preparation or projects • Students should review their notes or reread the material prior to completing their homework • Online assignments- Reading Comprehension (not Test Prep), Social Studies, as well as some Math and Wordly Wise assignments.

5. Grading • Each quarter, grades will be based on your child’s class participation and class work, homework, quizzes and/or tests, and projects. • Progress Reports are sent home twice per month and/or you may log into the parent portal at www.stphilipsacademy.org to view grades. • All missing assignments should be submitted within 2 weeks of the progress report.

6. Grading System • Math • Homework 25% • Tests/Quizzes 50% • Class participation 25% • Science • Homework 25% • Tests/Quizzes 50% • Class Participation 25% • Social Studies • Quizzes 50% • Projects 10% • Homework 25% • Class Participation 15% • Language Arts • Writer’s Workshop 35% • Writer’s Published Pieces 10% • Reader’s Workshop 30% • Test/Quizzes 20% • Homework 15% • Class Participation 10%

7. Snacks • The goal of St. Philip’s Academy is to teach students healthy eating habits. • Unhealthy snacks will be sent home with a note. • Acceptable snacks: • Crackers Pretzels • Fruit Vegetables • Yogurt Pudding • Granola bars (no nuts)Cereal • Popcorn Rice Cakes • Applesauce 100 Calorie packs • String cheese Mini muffins • Raisins Trail mix (No nuts please)

8. Birthdays • Birthdays are exciting times in our lives, however birthdays will be celebrated once per month. • Monthly birthday celebrations will be held on the last Monday of each month. • Birthday treats are usually prepared by our lunch program. • Parents are welcome and may bring in fruit or veggies, but please contact me at least two days in advance.

9. Field Trips • There are several field trips which build on and supplement the material studied in class. • Permission slips and chaperone requests will be sent home at least two to four weeks in advance. • Chaperones are picked on a “first come first served” basis.

10. Opportunities for Involvement • Involvement in the life of your child is vitally important. • Ways that you can be involved: • Lunch and recess duty • Gardening • Assisting in the teaching kitchen • Assisting with special projects in the class • Field Trip Chaperone • Helping prep classroom materials • Monthly Birthday Celebrations

11. Supplies • Please provide the supplies below for the classroom’s use: • 2boxes of tissues • 2rolls of paper towels • 2boxes/containers of hand and/or baby wipes • 1 container of hand sanitizer • 1 box of ziplock bags; varied sizes • 1 pack of loose leaf paper

12. Curriculum Overview • The Fourth Grade Curriculum is designed to develop active, independent and responsible learners needed in Upper School. • The Curriculum encourages children to engage in active exploration of the world through: • Story • Literature • Art • Mathematical investigations • Science experiences • Trips • Discussion • Music • Ongoing questions

13. Language Arts • Vocabulary- • WordlyWise, Analogies, and Word Study • Writer’s Workshop- • effectively utilize the writing process for writing a Narrative, Character Analysis, Persuasive Essay, Biography, Poetry, and Folktale • Reader’s workshop- • individual and/or small group conferences which focus on story structure, character analysis, author style, point of view, passage of time, inference, synthesizing, and theme • Read Alouds- • focus on issues of character, how challenges are faced, choices are made, comprehension, and theme.

14. Math • Fractions and Fraction Conversions • Identify the whole for fractions • Identify fractional parts of a collection of objects • Identify fractional parts of regions • Give equivalencies between hundredths-fractions, decimals and percents. • Rename any fraction as a decimal or percent • Geometry: • line segments, lines, rays, angles • polygons, polyhedron, circles • perimeter, area and volume • Identify lines of symmetry, lines of reflection, reflected figures and figures with line symmetry. • Solve addition and subtraction facts. • Place value to hundred-millions. • Interpret tables and graphs including range, mode, median, minimum and maximum • Solve basic multiplication facts. • Solve multiplication and division number stories. • Long Division including interpreting remainders as a fraction. • Pre-Algebra: solving simple equations

15. Social Studies • History of New Jersey • Prehistoric era • The Role of American Indians • Early explorers • Trade • Colonial Life • Pre and Post Revolutionary War • Slavery • Civil War • Bill of Rights • Industrial Era • Immigration • Government • Economics • Geography • Cardinal and Intermediate Directions • Hemispheres and Regions • Scale of maps and globes • River Systems • Landforms • Latitude and Longitude • Climate Maps • Timing Zones • Trade routes

16. Science • Discovery Works- utilizes the Scientific Method • Erosion and its effect on landforms • Importance of Natural Resources • Describe, classify, and measure Matter • Magnetism and Electricity • EcoSPAces- Fruit Bowl • Gardening • Making healthy snacks • Reusing materials • Study the origin of strawberries, blueberries, watermelon, honey dew melon, and cantaloupe

17. Character Education • 9 Virtues • Friendship • Kindness • Respect • Self Control • Responsibility • Honesty • Courage • Loyalty • Open Mindedness • 4th grade theme is Self-control • Each month a different virtue will be studied in the Character Education weekly or through our reading. • Virtue Awards will be awarded each month