Fall 2013 Welcome to Fourth Grade!

This year the students will be expanding on many of the concepts they have learned in previous grades, as well as learning new information. This syllabus should assist you and your child with the expectations of Fourth Grade. Classroom Procedures Violet School is continuing its school wide program, for Shooting for the Stars. We will be using the Life Long Guidelines (Truthfulness, Trustworthiness, Active Listening, No Put Downs, and Personal Best) and the Life Skills (Caring, Common Sense, Cooperation, Courage, Curiosity, Effort, Flexibility, Friendship, Initiative, Integrity, Organization, Patience, Perseverance, Pride, Problem Solving, Resourcefulness, Responsibility, and Sense of Humor) as we develop responsible citizenship and our classroom procedures. An information sheet with the definitions for the Life Skills is included in your packet. Communication Each day the students complete their agenda. Please review this agenda with your child daily. It will help your child remember what he/she has done throughout the day as well as inform you of events in the near future. I also review every agenda each morning; therefore, if there is anything important you need to inform me of, this is the best place to write a note. However, email is the VERY BEST and preferred means of communication! As needed throughout the year, I will send updates about our classroom either via email (notify office and teacher of current email address if there is a change throughout the year) or hardcopy (if requested). Additionally, the 4th grade teachers will be using a weebly or blog to keep you current as well. I will have specific details for you shortly. Weekly Spelling Contracts are sent home on Fridays. They are due back completed on Friday the following week. Although I would be happy to meet with any parent to discuss problems or concerns, I would appreciate setting up an appointment time to be sure I can accommodate your schedule, as there may be a conflict with my other after school obligations. Please contact me at 285 8731 or e-mail me at tlecouffe-bens@lsps.org You can also keep up to date with our year at tlecouffe-bens.weebly.com

Special Classes Schedule This year our Special classes will be on a rotating schedule. There will be a Special Class every day at 9:00 please refer to chart to know which class to go to. Lunch/Recess 11:55am 12:40pm Yearlong Theme This year the focus of our yearlong theme is On the Road Again. Using a variety of resources, the fourth grade teachers have tried to integrate all the content areas making the connection among subject areas more meaningful. Organizing Concept: Relationships are natural connections between living and nonliving things in their community. Rationale: We impact nature in positive or negative ways. When we respect nature, each other, and ourselves, we become responsible citizens.

Component 1 - Interdependence The future depends on what happened in the past and what happens today. Being There Experience Clinton River Water Study and Metropolitan Beach Nature Center scheduled for Wednesday, October 2, 2013. There will be a fee for this out of school learning opportunity. Topics: Michigan Ecosystems Regions of the United States (geography) Natural Resources Goods and Services, Human Impact Michigan Government

Component 2 - Cause and Effect As resources, weather and populations change, so must the living things affected by the changes. Every action is followed by a reaction. Topics:

Energy (Heat and Electricity) Electrical Circuits States of Matter Fossils Migration Global Competition

Component 3 Systems Many small parts, together, are more effective than one large part on its own. Being There Experience To be scheduled Topics: Patterns of Objects in the Sky Auto Industry Textbooks Math HSP Math; Harcourt School Publishers Social Studies States and Regions; Houghton Mifflin Science Science, A Closer Look; Macmillan/McGraw-Hill Reading - Treasury of Literature - Emerald Forest; Harcourt Brace and a variety of short novels related to each components theme. Spelling/Vocabulary Our Spelling lists frequently come from the Science, Social Studies, and Reading units. Words that contain patterns and skills are also assigned. To determine the skill level of the each student, he/she will complete an inventory and be placed at the most appropriate level. On occasion a list may come from words that the students have frequently misspelled in their daily writing assignments. A list of word that most fourth grade students should know is included in this packet. Grading

We will be using two scales to document academic success. Students will be graded using a standard grading scale and a leveled scale. The standard scale is as follows: A AB+ B BC+ C CD+ D DE The leveled scale follows: Level 1 Advanced (Exceeds Expectations - 95%-100%) Level 2 Proficient (Meets Expectations - 70% - 94%) Level 3 Partially Proficient (Little or No Evidence of Skill - 60%-63%) Level 4 Not Proficient (59% and below) Homework and Homework Policy Most homework assignments will be to complete work not completed in class. These assignments are designed to reinforce or review the concepts they have learned in school. Periodically they may have special projects in some subject areas. The assignments are to be turned in the day after they are assigned or on the predetermined completion date. Assignments turned in late will receive a reduction in score. Spelling contract: most weeks the students will have a Spelling contract to complete. Usually the contract is given to the students on Friday and it is due the following Thursday. Part of the contract will need to be completed at home and part will be completed in school. Please help your child, as needed, to complete these homework assignments. 93 - 100 90 - 92 87 -89 83 - 86 80 - 82 77 - 79 73 - 76 70 - 72 67 - 69 63 - 66 60 - 62 59 and below

Learning Strategies We will be using the Scientific Process for many of our Science experiments.

Not only is this a procedure that the students will encounter throughout their educational career, it is also used on the Fifth Grade MEAP test. The Writing Process: brainstorming/pre-writing, rough drafting, revision, editing, and final drafting/publication will also be used throughout the year for many writing assignments. Many students have practiced several of the reading strategies that they will again be using this year. Information about the strategy, we are currently using will be included in the Friday note. Mini-Economy As part of the Social Studies Curriculum, the fourth grade students will be participating in a Mini-Economy throughout the school year. The students will earn, save, and spend money at our school store. As they participate in this activity, they will learn to make responsible decisions and be responsible for their own behavior. Some aspects of the program may change depending on the needs and interests of the students. It should be great fun! Guidelines for the economy are as follows: Earning Money1. Salary All students will earn $2.00 daily or weekly depending on the job. The jobs will rotate. If the student is absent, he/she will not be paid for that day. There are no paid illness days since we are new employees. 2. Bonus Bucks given for responsible behavior Costs 1. Property Tax - $20.00 per semester will be paid for the use of books, computers, games, recess equipment, puzzles, etc. 2. Rent - $2.00 per week will be paid for the use of the school, media center, playground, and gym. Fines1. Missing Assignments = $1.00 2. No name on paper or incorrect heading = $1.00 3. Late Library book = $1.00 4. Condemned messy desk = $1.00 5. Lunchroom problem, special class problem, bus violation = $1.00

Debt In the unlikely event that a student goes into debt because of taxes, rent, and fines, the Budget Director (classroom teacher) will withhold wages until the debt is repaid in full. Store The students will have the opportunity to purchase one or two items from the School Store. The store will be open once each semester. They may choose to save their money for more expensive items, if they wish. The items in our store will be fairly expensive. The students may have some hard choices to make. Your help is needed! Our school store can only be successful with your assistance. Please be willing to donate new (or very gently used) items for the students to purchase. A list of suggested items will be provided as the day for purchasing merchandise get closer. Behavior and Discipline Students are expected to follow the Lifelong Guidelines and Life Skills. Should any student display behavior or language that is not representative of a responsible citizen, he/she will be issued a Student Behavior Report. The plan will be filled out by the student, signed by the teacher and signed by the parent(s). Should the behavior persist, it will be necessary for the student, the teacher and the parent(s) to meet to resolve the problem. Your assistance and cooperation is greatly appreciated. Special Dismissal Occasionally students are required to be dismissed from school early due to special appointments, such as visits to the doctor or dentist. For the safety of the students, please sign your child out and pick your child up at the office. I look forward to a fun and productive year! Tiffany LeCouffe-Bens