How things work in 306...
looks a little different
but I teach the LPS curriculum. The following information tells you how it works in my room and what to expect .
My number one rule is respect yourself, others and property.
Spelling
These links will take you to the spelling communique with lists for each reading theme in Belmont grade 4 :
Spelling homework will need to be done on Tuesdays Wednesdays, and Thursdays.Students who do not pass are given an extra study assignment on Monday for the next test.Theme communiques are sent home with your child. Post tests over words we have been studying that week are done on Fridays. At the end of each theme, we will take a standardized test over 100 words for that unit. Students are expected to create their own study list to use during the review week. Parents can expect to see graded tests sent home on Monday (as well the score noted on the weekly assignment sheet). Pre-tests are also completed on Friday. While these are not graded, students should use this as a way to see which words they already know. Homework assignments are included on the back of each lists.
Here are strategies used in grade four to help build a better speller:
Focus on the problem part.
Write the whole word, find the spot in the word which will cause a problem and then write that part.
Write the word several times each.
Use sound reconition to identify letters
Divide into syllables. Using a dictionary helps.
Write the base word and identify the suffix or prefix
Break apart compound words
CVVC Patterning. Recognizing each letter as either a vowel or a consonant.
Use word families
Write Synonyms
Write Antonyms
Classify the words
Pair homophones and homographs
Write the definition
Group according to vowel sounds
Use memory tricks
Create words that rhyme with each spelling word. These can be made up words.
Create a quote "park your shark"
Tell where you would see it in the real world
Write an analogy
Use the word in a sentence
Grades are determined by a rubric provided by the district.
A student must get
85% - 94% OFTEN on the regular 30 word list in order to score 3.
I use the mode to determine report card spelling grade.
Independent reading
Students in grade 4 are expected to read every school night for 30 minutes or 150 minutes per week. This does not have to be aloud, or with anyone, although these are best. We are using a school-wide program for documenting personal reading. The sheets are to be marked by the student Mon - Thurs. and turned in on Fridays. The minutes are tabulated and recorded for school-wide data gathering. If you have questions about this new log, please contact Lynn Wallasky at Belmont.
Handwriting
The students in my room are immersed in cursive, and will become proficent in reading it, as well as using it to write. We start off reviewing letter by letter, and stroke by stroke. Every child should be practicing their signature whenever possible. Students began cursive last year, and should be using it whenever possible. In keeping with the Lincoln Public Schools policy, we use the Zaner-Blouser Method.
Math
Students are expected to memorize basic multiplication and dividion facts. Flash cards are sent home at the start of the year. On worksheets, we usually do evens on even dates and odds on odd dates. Math is taught kinesthetically so children are always prepared to answer "What did you learn today?". Parents can expect their child to complete a worksheet, or practice basic facts every night Monday to Thursday. Did your child forget their worksheet? No problem. You can click here to go to the Math program and download missing sheets.
Houghton-Mifflin for grade four.
You will need to use the back button to return here.
Writing
Students are encouraged to gather personal stories, which we call "pocket stories". These are personal narratives each child can pull out of their memory and tell or write about wihout warning. I have provided a worksheet with hint boxes in the green homewrok folder. I will hand those out at open house or send them home on the first day of school Aug 20. If you can't fill every box, don't worry, we will add more as the year goes on.
Social Studies and Science
| Subject | Topic | Dates |
| Social Studies | Nebraska History |
|
| Science | Prairie and Grasslands |
|
| Social Studies | Regions of the USA |
|
| Science | Space |
|
| Science | Ecosystems |
|
| Science | Electricity |
I use a kinesthetic approach. It means students live the history or pretend to be scientists making notes.
Field trips :
Heritage school is a fieldtrip to a one-room schoolhouse. Children were encouraged to dress in costume for the 1860's of Nebraska. Lunches were carried in large tin pails
( we provide cleaned out vegetable cans that work nicely).
We will be going the week of Sept 8-12. Notes will be sent indicating our specific day.
COMMING SOON: More info on our all day Field trip to the Spring Creek Audoban Prairie.
Health is taught by the Physical education teachers.
Specials/Labs are additional curriculum classes which are taught by teachers specializing in those areas. They are Art, Music, PE, Creative Expression and Computer. Fourth grade gets one day of each giving us a six day specials rotation. Ask your child what day we are on and you should hear A B C D E F.
HOMEWORK POLICY
Students are given clear explanations of what is due when and how to do it. This is a life skill. In fourth grade, all teachers agree missing homework results in a 1/2 hour after school. Please help your child become responsible by insuring he or she is held accountable.We try not to assign homework on weekends or test dates. Your child should be able to show you what they learned. If your child insists the work is too hard, then have the child write the note explaining what they were able to do and where it became too hard. This will help me reteach, or clarify. Doing the wrong homework or doing it wrong is better than saying, " I can't" and doing nothing. If you are sure there should be homework, make up an assignment. The extra practice can't hurt. Usually it helps remind the child what actually needs to be done.
If your child is absent on the day of the assignment, LPS policy insures we will give your child one day to complete. If you child returns on a day when homework is due, and the assignment was given prior to the absence, students are expected to bring it with them the day they return.
POLICY FOR ITEMS FROM HOME
Items brought from home usually disrupt learning at some point - either when they are shown around or when they disappear. Since I cannot guarentee their safety, I am not comfortable keeping confiscated items till the end of the year. If I must take an item from a child, I will consider it a gift. I will write a thank you note. A parent may personally collect the item within 24 hours. By handling nusiance items in this manner, I eliminate any responsibility for its safety the rest of the year, and release the child from worring about it as well. Every student in my class has heard this and affrmed they know how to keep their things from coming to school as an unintended gift.
Last Up-dated Aug 17, 2008