th 4 Grade Parent Orientation Mrs Yesland ELA

th 4 Grade Parent Orientation Mrs. Yesland- ELA Mrs. Long-Science Mrs. Koikkal-Math (sub: Mrs. Skelton) Mrs. Cessna- ELA/SS Mrs. Hughley- ELA/SS Mr. De. Loach M/Sci Ms. Timme- M/Sci

Classroom Expectations: Each class has compiled a Social Contract for each subject. We will abide by our Social Contract, and this helps us to manage ourselves and form better relationships!

If you do not meet an expectation: ● ● Conversation/Warning Sign Planner Call home/email parents Office Referral ~Consequences will be issued based on severity of infraction.

Rewards Daily: Weekly: Praise Marlin Tickets Positive Notes Some vary with teacher Marlin Ticket Store Other treats as situations allow

Teacher Websites ● Teacher websites are a great resource for information about what’s going on in class. ● All websites have our schedules, academic skills being taught, an about me page, contact information, and conference hours ● You also may see instructional videos, helpful links, classroom handouts, Twitter feeds with pictures or videos of classroom activities, student login instructions, and other items as the year progresses. . ● If you still have questions, please email us! We will get back to you within 24 hours ● How to find our websites? Alvin ISD

BYOD ● The Alvin ISD BYOD program allows students bringing their own technology devices to school for educational purposes. If your child chooses to not bring a device, he/she will still be able to participate in all classroom activities. We have a technology rich campus! ● Examples of allowed devices: i. Pad/i. Pod touch, Kindles, Android tablets, cell phones, laptops ● Conduct for devices will be handled as with any related nondevice behavior (ex: off-task, inappropriate, etc. . ) ● Students will be responsible for their own device and MAY NOT loan or share their device with others.

BYOD cont’d ● Examples of classroom uses of BYOD: ○ Google Apps- drive and sites ○ Edmodo, Socrative (responses), Today’s Meet, others ○ Research and presentations ○ Reading, in lieu of physical books ● Students bring electronic communication devices to school at their own risk, just like any other personal item. The district will not be held responsible if an electronic device or other item is lost, stolen, or misplaced, including those that have been confiscated.

Planners/Tuesday Folders ● Please check and sign planners DAILY. ● All important papers will be sent home, on Tuesday, in Tuesday folders. ● The students must have their planners DAILY. ○ This will be our primary form of communication for behavior. ○ Please encourage your child to bring us his/her planner if you have written a note in the planner, or feel free to email us or send a separate note.

Graded Work/TEAMS ➔ District-based program that allows parents to stay informed about grades, attendance and student discipline ➔ Sign-up through the district website; you will need your child’s Student ID# http: //www. alvinisd. net/parents ➔ Late work and make-up work will be accepted as per district policy: ◆ -10 points (1 st day late), -20 points (2 nd day), -30 points (3 rd day), ZERO (4 th day)

English/Language Arts (ELA) Academic Expectations Homework ➔ Spelling/Word Study: Students will have weekly spelling homework. Spelling is due each Friday. ➔ Reading: Students have a weekly reading log, on which they record their reading. Please initial the log. We will be checking it weekly, and it will be turned in at the end of each week. *Please note: Homework will be adapted as the year {and student skills} progress

Social Studies Academic Expectations Texas History ➔ Often integrated with reading - focus on non-fiction ➔ Various research projects and presentations will take place throughout the year. ➔ Assignments will primarily be completed in class. ➔ Grades will often be based on participation, completion of assignments, and understanding of material covered as measured by project rubrics or other assessments.

Science Expectations Science Year at a Glance Scientific Tools and Process Earth’s Resources Weather Constructive and Destructive Forces Patterns (Sun, Earth, & Moon systems) Soil Matter Plants & Animals Energy Ecosystems Forces Students are expected to come each day with their binder including their planner, and Science and Homework folders. They will require a pencil, sharpener, and red pen, as well. ●Grades ○ Students will earn grades based on the following district scale: ■ class work 80%, tests 15%, homework 5%

Science Expectations cont’d ● Make Up Work ○ Students can find their assignments in the Make Up Work file in our room. If a student has a question, he/she should see me. Make Up work is expected to be returned in the amount of days that the student was gone. ● Late Work ○ Late assignments will be accepted for a reduced amount of points. ■ -10 points (1 st day), -20 points (2 nd day), -30 points (3 rd day), No Credit (4 th day)

Math Academic Expectations ● Fourth Grade Math Year at a Glance: ○ place value ○ adding/subtracting ○ patterns/tables/ordered pairs ○ multiplication ○ division ○ fractions, decimals ○ geometry ○ graphing, measurement, and probability. ● As we progress through these units, we will continue to work on problem solving; using P. S. P. and the problem solving strategies. ● The purpose is to show the students the way we use math in everyday life.

Math Academic Expectations ● Everyday Items: The students know what is expected each day when they walk into their math classroom - Binder (including Planner) - Astros homework - Math Interactive Notebook (Spiral) - Pencil ● Daily Routine - Warm-up - Brace Map(P. S. P. ), Thinking Map, Multiplication Chart - Check Astros/Homework - Lesson/Game

Math Academic Expectations ● Grades - Make up work: It is the student’s responsibility to pick up his or her make up work from me when he or she is absent. -Late Work: Late assignments will be accepted for a reduced amount of points based on district policy -10 points 1 st day, -20 points 2 nd day, -30 points 3 rd day, ZERO 4 th day.

Math STAAR (May 9) ● The State of Texas Academic Assessments test is 48 questions long. The test is timed. ● Students will have four hours to complete the assessment. ● The majority of the test will be problem-solving questions that incorporate operations. Not too many questions will be straight computation problems. There will be many multi-step problems, as well. ● The state wants to have a precise tool to show where our students are. The scope is broad.

Reading STAAR (May 10) The Reading STAAR will take place on May 10. The Reading STAAR is a one day, four-hour test. Similar to the third grade Reading STAAR, but longer, more in-depth text, and paired passages. Preparation: We analyze many genres of both non-fiction and fiction texts throughout the year. District benchmarks/simulations will be given to expose the students to new format prior to actual test (October, January, and March).

Writing STAAR (March 29? ) The Writing test previously took place over two consecutive days, and each day students had four hours to complete that day’s portion of the test. However, TEA has announced that there will be changes in this year’s test. A likely change is that it will take place on only one day. As soon as the information is passed to schools, we will send an email home. Students will take a SIM (simulated) test for practice in January. Each day consists of:

STAAR Writing, cont. In the past: STAAR Compositions (one each day, the order varies): -students had 26 lines to write as well as extra paper to plan 1. Expository: Explains with reflection. *Example prompt: Write about a role model in your life and explain why this person is important to you. 2. Personal Narrative: A story about an event (small moment expanded with details) *Example prompt: Write about a time when you learned something new. More info: TEA website (tea. texas. gov)

Volunteering ● If you would like to lend us a hand; sign up with your student’s teacher to: ○ ○ ○ Make copies Assist with Tuesday folders Tutor (reading or math) Hall bulletin board Other classroom tasks as needed ○ Donate supplies ■ Please see the teacher’s webpage for specific items each teacher needs.

How to contact us: ● Email is the most efficient method of communication. ● kcessna@alvinisd. net (Mrs. Cessna) mdeloach@alvinisd. net (Mr. De. Loach) ● vhughley@alvinisd. net (Mrs. Hughley) ● jskaria@alvinisd. net (Mrs. Koikkal) ● llong@alvinisd. net (Mrs. Long) ● mtimme@alvinisd. net (Mrs. Timme) ● dyesland@alvinisd. net (Mrs. Yesland) ● ● Thank y ou Or, please call us during our conference for com so much ing! We looking are forwar period. great y d to a ear ● 9: 50 -10: 40 281 -245 -3232 !