Welcome to Mrs.

Neals

4 Grade 2011-2012
th
Fordland Elementary
Contact info: mneal@fordland.k12.mo.us 767-2307 (to leave a message) Mrs. Neal on the web: www.mrsneal.net
Neal 2011-2012

Dear Parents, This week begins a brand new school year for all of us! I would like to welcome all the 4 th grade students. As always, the start of a school year holds promises of new discovery and learning, as well as the prospect of personal growth in all areas. I have put together this handbook of information to help you and your child become familiar with my expectations for the school year. I am looking forward to an exciting year with the 4th grade class. Thank you for your cooperation in getting this year off to a great start! Brain Books: The purpose of the Brain Books is to have a daily record of students learning. It is also a means of communication between teachers and parents. Your childs responsibility is to fill out the Brain Book and make sure it goes home and comes back to school each day. Your responsibility is to read it and sign it each day. I encourage you to use the Brain Book to ask questions about what your child is doing each day at school. Finally, my responsibility is to check the Brain Book for a signature each day. It is important that we all work together to make this a successful tool for communication. Friday Folders: Your child's work will be sent home once a week in their Friday Folder. Please look over this section every Friday, comment if you wish, and return it on Monday. Each week, a newsletter will be included in the Friday Folder that contains a summary of the weeks learning and a glance at what well be learning the following week. This is one of the best ways I can keep you informed of our plans and share our successes. Ill also upload the newsletters on our class website: www.mrsneal.net. School Work: Your child will have a limited amount of homework in my class. Many of the classroom activities and assignments are hands-on and interactive, therefore will be completed in class. However, if an assignment is not completed in class it must be finished at home. If you find that your child is bringing home large amounts of work, please contact me. Late Assignments: If a student fails to turn in an assignment on time, the student will use recess time to complete the assignment. If the assignment is still incomplete by the end of recess, they may lose points on the assignment. This decision will be made on an individual basis and will be communicated to you. Reading: In order for goals to be met, students need to be reading at home. Part of your childs reading grade will come from their nightly reading. Each child is expected to read at least 20 minutes per day, four-five nights a week outside of school. After each reading session, have your child complete one line of the reading log. Home Reading Logs will be sent home each Friday. These logs will be used to record your childs reading for the
Neal 2011-2012

upcoming week. On Mondays have your child turn in the log with their Friday Folder. The more your child reads -- the better reader he/she will become. A.R.: We use Accelerated Reader as an incentive program to encourage students to read books throughout the school year. Students read a book, and then take a test on it. Students will be given an A.R. goal based on their reading level, and they will have the semester (August-December; January-May) to achieve their goal. It is your childs responsibility to keep track of their A.R. points, which they may check at any time. Classroom Behavior: This year I will be using a teaching strategy known as Whole Brain Teaching. Whole Brain Teaching is wonderful in the fact that it gets students motivated and its completely intrinsic motivation. As the year progresses the levels of classroom management will increase. The building blocks for the classroom are the following three expectations: 1. Follow directions quickly. 2. Make smart choices. 3. Keep your dear teacher happy. Acuity: In the past we have used S.T.A.R. tests to check students levels at the beginning and end of the school year. This year we are excited to transition to a new program called Acuity. We believe Acuity will assist us, as teachers, in helping your child more accurately because it identifies areas of need right at the start of the school year. In addition to identifying where your child is at the beginning of the school year, we have benchmark tests at the end of each quarter measuring student growth. These tests will be cumulative over what has been learned. The tests take a natural progression with the year. This is the content your child will be tested over: Test Number Third Grade Content Fourth Grade Content 1 75% 25% 2 50% 50% 3 25% 75% *** 10% of the grade achieved on the benchmark test will be applied to your childs quarter grade**

Neal 2011-2012

Snack: Students who wish to have a snack may bring his/her own each day. They may also bring a bottle of water. No milk will be provided for snack. Please do not send any soda or candy for snack. Parties: Throughout the year we will have several parties. These parties will be schedule in advance and help would be greatly appreciated. If you are able to assist in any way, please let me know. Website: Throughout the school year I would like to display your childs achievements on my website, http://www.mrsneal.net. These achievements may include honor roll, attendance, multiplication goals, and many other successes. This is an excellent way for students to show relatives who live far away what they are doing in school. Also during the year, class photos will be taken to post on the website. Only the first names of students would be used, if any. I am asking that each child return this letter indicating whether your family would like to participate or not. Daily Schedule: Specials Schedule:

Recess:
Lunch

10:15-10:30 12:00-12:15
11:25-11:55

Monday: Tuesday: Wednesday: Thursday: Friday:

Music 1:00-1:30 P.E. 2:00-2:30/ Music 2:30-3:00 Art 2:00-3:00 P.E. 2:30-3:00 Library 1:00-1:30

Supply List 1 small art box 1 box of crayons (24 count) 1 rulers ( inches and centimeters) 2 glue sticks 1 pair of scissors 1 box of Number 2 pencils 2 colored pens 1 highlighter 2 packages of wide rules loose-leaf paper 1 box of tissues 2- one subject wide ruled notebooks 5 folders
Neal 2011-2012

o 2 of your choice o 3 solid colored with pockets and no brads Many of these items will have to be replenished when the need arises. We will inform you if/or when needed. Appreciated but not required items: Sticky notes (3 x 3 any color) 1 pkg. of EXPO dry erase markers 1 pkg. of construction paper I have great expectations for the upcoming year and am looking forward to having each and every child in my class. I will do my best to meet the needs of each child and provide them with the learning opportunities that will enable them to meet their educational needs. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me at the school at 417-7672307 or mneal@fordland.k12.mo.us. It is of utmost importance that the parents and I work together so that each student is successful. Sincerely,

Mrs. Neal

Neal 2011-2012

Please read, sign, and return the following: My child and I have reviewed our 4th grade handbook. I DO give my permission for my childs achievements and/or pictures to be used on a classroom website. I DO NOT give my permission for my childs achievements and/or pictures to be used on a classroom website. Students name: ___________________________________________ ____________________________________ Parent signature ___________________________ Date

ROOM PARENT VOLUNTEER Room Parents organize and host three parties a year, which usually consist of games, snacks and a craft (be as creative as you like). The parties are in October, December, and in February. Name of student: ___________________________________________ Name of parent/guardian : _____________________________________ Phone number: ___________________________________ Email: _________________________________________________ I am willing to be a Leader/Co-Leader (main person(s) who organizes room parties with help from other room parents). I am willing to help with the parties and/or donate items. (Circle one/both) Thanks for your help!

Neal 2011-2012