Welcome to Parent Orientation!

1. Welcome to Parent Orientation! While we are waiting for others to arrive, please complete the index card with the following information: Your child’s name on the top line, parents’ names underneath Please provide your first and second preferred form of contact: for example, 1) email, 2) home phone, then 3) cell number If and when your child is absent, let me know how you would like to have schoolwork sent home: for example, sister Jackie in 6th grade, Mrs. Becker’s class OR leave in the main office and I’ll pick it up If you can and wish to volunteer in the classroom, please note when you are available.

2. Mrs. McKee’s Fourth Grade Class Welcome, parents!

3. Welcome to Fourth Grade! • I will introduce you to fourth grade and to our classroom. • If you have any questions during my presentation, please ask throughout.

4. All About Me • My background • I grew up mostly in Ohio and spent my childhood summers in Chatauqua, NY. • I have a BA in Theater and Music and my first career was in those fields. • I later got my MS in Elementary Education N-6 from Nazareth College. Then I got certification in Special Education K-12 through SUNY Geneseo. • I am Nationally Board Certified (NBPT) in Language Arts (Early Adolescence) • My experience • I taught elementary Special Education for 4 years before coming to Victor. • I taught sixth grade for 12 years in Victor. This is my second year teaching 4th grade.

5. Classroom Community • Our classroom is a community. In our community, we have rules to help us get along with each other. • Our class rules are: • Respect Others • Respect Yourself • Respect Property

6. Tardiness • Students enter the building at 9:00 and official attendance is 9:15 • If students are not in the classroom by 9:15, students need to sign in at the Health Office before coming to class. • If you know your child will be absent or tardy, e-mail or call the Health Office and leave a voice mail message @ 924-3252 X3460 • You still must send in a note explaining your child’s absence when your child returns to school.

7. Class Subjects • The academic subjects we teach in fourth grade are: • English Language Arts (reading, writing, spelling, grammar, listening, speaking, handwriting practice) • Math • Science • Social Studies

8. English Language Arts • Reading – Students will be expected to do independent reading at home for a minimum of 20 minutes per night (for a minimum of 100 minutes or 1 hour and forty per week). Please supervise the reading, make sure the reading log is filled out, signed, and returned every Monday. Thank you!

9. Math • Most students will stay with their homeroom teachers for math. • All math classes will teach the SAME curriculum. Only students who get services or scored over 700 will change classrooms for math.

10. Science • Animals/Crayfish • Electricity and Magnetism • Plants • Digestive System

11. Social Studies • Native Americans • Exploration • Colonial Life • Revolutionary War • New Nation/Homespun • Government • Industrial Growth and Expansion • Urbanization

12. Homework • Approximately 40 minutes of homework every night • Student Planner/Agenda: • the entire class copies down homework assignments into their agendas while I type them on my website (displayed on the smartboard). • an adult initials at the bottom of the page that the student has copied the assignments correctly (go to Mrs. McKee’s website at teacherweb.com to check for accuracy). • I request that a parent/guardian sign the planner each evening • Please e-mail me at mckeee@victorschools.org with any questions, concerns, or positive comments.

13. Field Trips • We have fun field trips planned for this year thanks to donations from parents! • Ganondagan • Genesee Country Museum

14. Let’s Have a Great Year!