August News
Mrs. Sullivan’s 4th Grade 2015-2016
Welcome to Fourth Grade! I am so eager and excited to get to know this class. This packet should help you get to know some of the specifics of our Fourth Grade program before Back to School Night
onWed., Aug. 26th
6:00-7:00 p.m.
CONDUCT:
During the first few days of school students engaged in many activities that enabled them to set appropriate rules for the class. In general, students live up to what is expected of them. Filling a class with high expectations, positive feedback, structure, and lots of exciting activities builds a community where children do what’s right because they want to! Feeling responsible for good choices is the strongest reward. High expectations lead to
high results.
We are building our class community based on mutual respect, self-discipline, organization and responsibility to others and ourselves. The 4th Grade Behavior /Work Habits Expectations will be reviewed in class with all students prior to being sent home for your review and signature.
HOMEWORK:
Red Oak fourth graders are assigned approximately 45 - 50 minutes of homework Monday - Thursday. Students will copy their assignments from my website into theirassignment books on a daily basis. Homework
is always due the following day unless otherwise specified. Thank you for helping your child be held accountable for his/her own organization and homework.
A wonderful tradition of Oak Park Elementary Schools is to donate a special book or rainy-day game to the class in honor of your child’s birthday. This is a “treat” the class can enjoy all year. The game or book may come wrapped and will be opened in front of the class, after we sing “Happy Birthday”. If your child would like to add his/her picture on the inside cover with a brief dedication, that would make the present even more special. The book will then be added to our class library. In keeping with the OPUSD’s wellness policy – food treats may not be served to celebrate birthdays.
Birthdays that occur during a school vacation time can be celebratedonthe half-birthday. Of course this is an optional activity.
VOLUNTEERS:
At the bottom of the Classroom Directory form, was a section asking for Room Parent volunteers. Please complete and return ASAP, if interested. I will be taking sign ups for volunteers to help in the classroom on Back to School Night. Having you volunteer enables me to run a more enriched and efficient program, and serves as a positive experience for all. I will be asking for school volunteers (for clerical work, copying, filing, etc.), science preparation volunteers, at-home volunteers, and reading group volunteers (to read with a small group weekly.)
BOOKORDERS:
Students love to order and receive new books from the book company catalogues that will be sent home. Please remember, book orders need to be paid with separate checks written to the book company or order and pay online.
Thank you in advance for ordering books. I use the credit I receive from the companies, to purchase new books for our class library.
DIFFERENTIATED INSTRUCTION:
Oak Park is a trend setting educational environment that is focusing on students’ individual needs and growth. Enrichment and extra practice opportunities will be provided for all students. Based on classroom performance and assessments, some students will be required to do the enrichment activities, while others will be required to do the extra practice. These assignments are specifically designed to further your child’s learning and success in mastering the California Common Core Standards for 4th Grade. We are currently accessing all 4th graders and making fluid groups for math and language arts. Your child may be traveling to another 4th grade classroom for these subjects.
LANGUAGE ARTS:
We will start the year with a fun, fast passed novel that studies the unique relationship that develops between an elementary age boy and his grandfather, when grandpa moves in and takes over the boy’s bedroom. After, The War With Grandpa, we will head into
the first theme in our reading anthology “Journeys”. Here the students will read exciting short stories and develop corresponding skills. Students will also be engaged in reading novels and informational text over the course of the school year. Many fun writing projects will develop the multi-paragraph essay skills necessary for the fourth graders. In addition, students will be reading from their Social Studies and Science textbooks. Finally, the district asks that fourth grade students independently read at least 100 minutes a week, in addition to their homework time.
SPELLING:
Our spelling program will emphasize phonics, grammar, and dictionary skills. We are very excited that we are providing a very challenging and personalized approach to spelling.
MATH:
Our GO Math curriculum starts with an expansion of place value through the millions, along with a review of multi-digit addition and subtraction and basic math facts (multiplication and division facts through 10). Our goal is a balance of hands-on exploration for newly introduced concepts and problem solving, coupled with memorized basic facts to ease the process of solving more difficult equations. Please view the online links to our math curriculum on my webpage for at-home support.
SOCIAL STUDIES:
California here we come! Starting with the four regions of California, students will learn the geographical features of the desert, mountains, valleys and coast.
In early September, we will make landform maps with salt and flour. Very sticky fun!
SCIENCE:
Ourscience curriculum is fantastic. It is filled with hands-on authentic learning experiences for our students. The textbook is well written with a lot of great pictures to reinforce the Next Generation Science Standards and concepts experienced during the investigations. “Environments” is our first unit of study.
Students will observe plants and animals inclassroomcreated ecosystems. They will learn how plants grow and reproduce, and how plants and animals depend on each other for survival.
MESSAGES: Feel free to send in a note with your child or e-mail me at . Urgent messages can be left with the office. These are the best ways to reach me. I will get back to you as soon as possible. Please remember, I am not able to respond to phone or e-mail messages during the time I am teaching. Thank you!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Pennie Sullivan
Red Oak Elementary School