Welcome to 4 th Grade Baranoff Elementary Guidelines

Welcome to 4 th Grade! Baranoff Elementary

Guidelines & Expectations • Baranoff Guidelines: – – Be respectful. Be responsible. Be honest. Be self-disciplined. • Class Expectations: – Have fun and learn! – Always do your best. – Respect each other and adults. – Listen attentively and wait your turn to talk. – Be prepared for class. – Use materials appropriately. – Respect learning.

Rewards and Incentives • Baranoff continues to employ PBS (Positive Behavior Support) and SEL (Social Emotional Learning) as a school-wide behavior system. – This focuses on positive consequences (praise, rewards, etc. ) before negative consequences, as well as teaching social development. • Rewards: Marble Jar, Point Cards, Buffalo Pride Certificates, Team Points, stickers, dojo point, or teacher’s choice. • Students get rewarded for meeting Baranoff Guidelines for Success, Class Expectations, and Cafeteria Expectations. • Classes will have monthly reward days at the end of each month. Students with unfinished work or excessive discipline issues will attend a study hall.

• Grading Policy Grades may be based upon any combination of the following criteria: tests, performances, projects, class work, homework, class participation, and/or other measures appropriate to grade-level subject areas. • In grade 4, letter grades A, B, C, and F are used to reflect academic achievement in each subject area. Plus (+) and minus (-) may be used with A, B, and C. (see scale below) Developmental criteria 4, 3, 2, and 1 will be used to reflect performance in each skill in the personal development area. • Students may receive progress at the midpoint of the grading period when a student’s grade average in any subject is C- (70 - 73) or below. Progress reports may also be given to students whose behavior is interfering with their academic performance. Parents are asked to sign and return the progress report in a timely manner. • Graded work will be sent home weekly or biweekly. Questions or concerns regarding the grade on any assignment must be brought to the teacher’s attention no later than Tuesday of the following week. Homework/daily work is reinforcement of skills that will prepare them for assessments.

Absent/Late Work • • If your child is absent, they have 3 days to complete and turn in assignments given during their absence. After 3 days, the assignment becomes “late” and is subject to the late work policy. Late work will receive a deduction of 11 points for each day the assignment is past the due date. After 3 days, the assignment will not be accepted and will receive a grade of 50. It is important to note that most of the skills practiced in daily and homework assignments build on one another. If the work is not completed in a timely manner, the student may not be prepared for the next concept being introduced.

Personal Development • Developmental Criteria 4, 3, 2, and 1 will be used to reflect performance in each skill in the personal development area. A “ 4” is above and beyond and exceeds expectations. A “ 3” is on grade level with minimal infractions. A “ 2” is meeting minimal expectations with improvement needed. A “ 1” is below grade level and needs immediate improvement. • • • Follows directions in all areas of school Makes effective decisions at school Is responsible for schoolwork Is responsible for completing and returning homework Demonstrates ability to set and achieve goals Takes responsibility for own actions Respects self and others Manages emotions constructively Interacts cooperatively with adults Interacts cooperatively with peers Cooperates actively in structured physical activity

Behavior Policy • • • The 4 th Grade Behavior Policy is based on a system of infractions. The number of infractions a student receives per 9 -week period will directly affect the Personal Development grade on the report card. Rules/Expectations 1. Be Responsible---homework turned in on time, materials ready, following directions 2. Be Respectful---no bullying, listening and responding appropriately 3. Be Self-Disciplined---think positive, strive for success 4. Be Honest---always tell the WHOLE truth Infractions (no homework, not prepared, inappropriate conduct, etc. ) will be recorded. The number of infractions received is applied toward the overall 9 week period. • Teachers reserve the right to contact parents at any point as an additional intervention. In addition, teachers will be keeping a log any time a student is taken out of the classroom for a private discussion. These notes will be filed for documentation purposes.

4 th Grade Curriculum

AISD Curriculum Road Maps (CRMs) • All lessons are based on the TEKS (Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills) – TEKS serve as a guide for what we teach – The CRMs (Curriculum Road Maps) guide the timing for when we teach objective. • At Baranoff, we follow the CRMs loosely; there may be some differences in the CRM Yearly Overview and the timing we have, but we still cover everything outlined within the 9 -week period. • For specific information about curriculum in each content area, please refer to your parent information packet.

STAAR DATES: • Writing: March 30 & 31 st, 2015 • Math: April 21, 2014 • Reading: April 22, 2014 For more information, please go to the Texas Education Website: http: //www. tea. state. tx. us/

Other Fun Things… • Computer lab: – Students will learn computer basics. • Library Every other week students will go to the library for check out and a mini lesson provided by the librarian.

Proposed Field Trips • Aquarena Springs • Institute of Texan Cultures/ Alamo • Bob Bullock/ Thinkery (TBD) • Please look for dates and information to come home with your child.

Lunch Money • www. mylunchmoney. com • If you send in cash please make sure it’s in a sealed envelope with the following information: – Student name – Teacher name – Student’s lunch number

Thanks for Coming! • • Questions/Comments? Please be sure to sign in! Please fill out your t-shirt order form. Please check out our classroom website. *Note- if you plan on volunteering in any form this year, please make sure you have a background check done. See the office for details.