Work that comes home this year will include projects, drill in a special areas, unfinished classroom assignments, independent reading, and discussing or sharing ideas from class. A major part of homework at this level is developing the responsibility of returning completed work and materials on time. For example, every week spelling words should come home to be studied and reviewed for the week’s lessons and test.
It is imperative to set aside 30-45 minutes or more each evening to read, study spelling words, math facts, social studies and science facts for quizzes, or to complete unfinished work. This study time should be enforced even when the student has no work from school to finish at home.
TAKE HOME FOLDER
Your child will be provided a take-home folder that should go home each night, and come back to school each day. Please make sure that your child is emptying his/her folder each night. Graded papers, and all other mail, should be taken out and left at home. Keeping folders organized daily will help avoid losing important papers and homework. Hopefully by the end of the first quarter, students will be doing tasks like this automatically, with only occasional checks by the parent or teacher. * Please DO NOT remove items from your child’s backpack or folder, as this will impede your child’s development of responsibility. Reminders and encouragement will be most beneficial to your child’s success.
This folder has see-through sleeve on the front and the back. In the front sleeve will be a page with important goals for the week and for the quarter. This can be used as a way of communicating with you about how well your child is meeting expectations with goals for reading, math and classroom behavior.
GRADING
A various times your child may receive either a percentage grade or a standards based grade. The keys below list possible scores for each.
Percentage Key: Standards Key:
A = 92% - 100% 1 - Meets standard consistently
B = 82% - 91% 2 - Demonstrates satisfactory achievement of standard
C = 72% - 81% 3 - Demonstrates partial achievement of standard
D = 62% - 71% 4 - Not meeting standard
F = 61% or below
BEHAVIOR
The fourth level teachers also feel that good behavior is important to a positive learning atmosphere. Our rules are simple. Students must follow the school and classroom rules, respect the feelings of others, and contribute in a positive way to the classroom learning environment.
EAGLES
All of the teachers at this level use an “Eagle” ticket system for reminding disruptive students that their behavior is unacceptable. If a student fails to respond to this system, then a conference with the parents and/or principal may be necessary. We sincerely hope that you will work with us and support our efforts.
ACCELERATED READER (AR):
Without question, there is no skill which has greater impact on your child’s success in school than reading. Research tells us that home reading in addition to the reading they do at school is essential to your child’s academic growth.
To encourage students to read more at home this year, they will be reading Accelerated Reader (AR) books from our library or from home. AR books from our library are marked with a star on the side of them and constitute the majority of our library’s books. After students have read an AR book, they have the opportunity to take a short quiz over the book on the computer (usually 10 questions). When complete, the student usually receives a printed result called a TOPS report. This printed result tells if they passed, how many questions they answered correctly, and how many points they have earned. The number of points they earn for the test is based on the difficulty and length of the book, as well as how many questions they answered correctly.
Each child will have quarterly AR reading goals. These goals will be individually set based upon each child’s reading level. This reading level will be determined using a computer assessment tool called a STAR test. To help your child remember their goal, it will be written on the insert in their take home folder which is given at the start of each quarter.
MATH STARS PROGRAM
Each grade level sets 4 math goals to be reached throughout the year. Once students reach a goal, a star is hung in the classroom, and after all 4 stars are earned, students receive an award from Mr. Rhodes. Students will use a computer program called Math Facts in Flash to assess mastery. The fourth grade has set our 4 goals for facts. For each goal, students are expected to complete 40 out of 40 math facts correctly in less than 2 minutes. Addition and subtraction are expected to be mastered 1st quarter, multiplication by 2nd quarter, and division by the end of 3rd quarter. After these facts are mastered students may be challenged to learn other facts such as 11’s and 12’s, squares of numbers, and fraction to decimal conversions.
Great math fact practice website: http://tinyurl.com/3rdfacts
REWARDS
Students who respond and work with us toward a positive learning atmosphere are rewarded in numerous ways. This is often done individually with praise, stickers, or positive notes. Total group rewards would be activities such as Battleball, extra recess, or perhaps a video. But, we strongly feel that the best possible reward for acceptable behavior is providing each student with learning experiences, individual help, and an atmosphere that allows all children to do their best.
SPELLING
At the end of this handbook are all of the spelling lists for the entire year. Spelling tests days will vary depending on the teacher and the week but are usually on Thursdays or Fridays. Students will take a Spelling pretest at the beginning of the week. Please use the lists included in this handbook or your child’s pretest to review their spelling words weekly.
You can also visit the link below to access a website that has been set up with all of our lists for the entire year. It is a simple and fun way for your child to take practice spelling at home.
http://www.spellingcity.com/spransky/
SNACKS
Due to our late lunch (12:55), we encourage children to bring a HEALTHY snack each day. Protein-rich snacks, such as peanut butter crackers or string cheese, are highly recommended to support learning. Crackers, low-sugar cereal bars, or a non-messy piece of fruit are also great snacks. Children will not be allowed to eat chips, cookies, or other sugary treats during snack time. For your convenience, you may send in a box of crackers, cereal bars, etc., to be kept in your child's locker.
OHIO ACHIEVEMENT ASSESSMENTS (OAA's)
This year your child will take the Ohio Reading and Math Achievement tests. The best place to get additional information on these tests is from the Ohio Department of Education website. Here you can even download previous tests to see what will be expected of your child.
http://portal.success-ode-state-oh-us.info/
The exact dates for the spring tests have not yet been set, but are generally taken in late April or early May. Throughout the year we refer to our effort rubrics while completing assignment and tests. The rubrics for Reading, Writing, and Math are designed to help your child achieve his or her personal best.
4th LEVEL BATTLEBALL REWARD SYSTEM
The 4th level classes use the following reward system for all students who get their homework done on time and for positive behavior. Once a week we play a game called Battleball in the gym. It is always one of the most anticipated activities of the week.
- Each student may earn up to 2 tickets per day - one for responsibility (such as turning in a homework assignment on time or returning library books.) Another is earned for positive behavior.
- In a normal week, a student may earn up to 10 tickets.
- A student will need 8 or more tickets at the end of a normal week to play in both Battleball games. 7 tickets will allow the student to play in one of the games.
- If the student has earned less than 7 tickets, they must instead go to study hall during Battleball, which is monitored by the fourth level teachers.
- This positive reward is also dependent on the student having completed all of their work for the week such as meeting reading goals or completing outstanding assignments.
- This Battleball game is not a recess, but is a positive reward for the completion of homework and good behavior.
- This plan has proven to be very effective, motivating, and fun for all of the students.
