Agenda Book: Communication between school and home is key to a successful school year. Each day your child will be responsible for filling out his/her agenda book using the schedule posted on
the board. At the beginning of each week, your child will fill in any upcoming events, i.e. quizzes, tests, project deadlines, programs, etc. Please refer to your child's agenda book for this information.
I also use the agenda book to monitor your child's behavior throughout the school
year. Please be sure to sign or initial your child's agenda book NIGHTLY! This will ensure
your knowledge of any changes in the weekly schedule, as well as, any changes in your child's
behavior. Failure, on your child's part, to show you the agenda book containing any comments
regarding behavior, will result in further consequences. As always, any behavior deemed severe,
will be handled by the administration and you will be notified immediately.
Your child can earn a stamp each day for good behavior and work habits. If a problem arises,
we will be utilizing the following codes:
Work Habit #1 Appropriate Dress
Work Habit #2 Attendance
Work Habit #3 Coming to School Prepared
Work Habit #4 Homework
Work Habit #5 Class Performance
Work Habit #6 Behavior
If a WH and number appear in your child's agenda book, you will be able to discuss the problem
with your child that evening.
Homework: Assigned on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday nights, homework will relate to what we have learned in the classroom for that day or what we are focusing on during the week/quarter.
Homework is due the following school day. If your child is sick, the homework is due the day
he/she arrives back to school. If a homework assignment is turned in late, due to any reason
other than illness, points will be taken off as follows:
Quarter 1: None
Quarter 2: 10 pts.
Quarter 3: 15 pts.
Quarter 4: 20 pts.
This policy also applies to late/incomplete homework.
Spelling Homework: Each week, your child will be required to complete enough activities to earn
50 points. Your child will receive a spelling contract and it is your child's choice which
activities he/she will complete each week. All Spelling work is due on Thursday. A copy of the
spelling contract will be placed in your child's binder, along with his/her agenda book.
Friday Folder: Every Friday your child will come home with a large manila folder filled with
school announcements and graded papers. Please take the time to sit down with your child and
review these papers. The Friday Folder is to come back to school on Monday to be filled up,
again, by Friday!!
Behavior: Positive behavior is encouraged and enforced in the classroom and throughout
the school, therefore, the use of a positive behavior system is administered in our classroom. Your child will receive two warnings before given a consequence. The consequences range from classroom privileges being taken away to a visit with Mrs. Russell. Since the agenda book is such a
useful communication tool, there usually are no surprises when it comes to behavior, positive or
negative. If your child's misbehavior becomes constant, a conference with myself and other
staff members and/or administration will be scheduled.
D.O.L. / D.O.M.: D.O.L. and D.O.M. are quick reviews of language arts and math. At the end of each week and are done on the Activboard, together in class. I give a D.O.L. and D.O.M. "Tune-Up"on Fridays. This is a quiz of what was studied throughout the week. You should see your child studying his/her D.O.L./D.O.M. workbooks EVERY Thursday for Friday's "Tune-Up!"
Reading: Sarasota County has adopted the reading series called "Story Town." Each week, I
introduce a new story by having the students read along with a taped version. Afterwards, we do
do various activities pertaining to vocabulary, comprehension, and grammar. Every Friday we have a comprehension quiz to see how well your child understands what has been read. This is GREAT FCAT practice! Novels are also included. For example we have completed, "Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing," by Judy Blume and "Frindle" by Andrew Clements. The
novels read are all Reading Counts and will count on your child's reading requirement. I received a grant to purchase various novels of many different genres below, on and above a Fourth Grade level that I plan to use in our classroom.
Reading for Concepts: Reading for Concepts is another great way to prepare your child for the
FCAT Reading portion of the test. The student reads a small passage, on his/her reading level,
and answers questions pertaining to the passage. The next morning, your child has the
opportunity to make any corrections and read another passage. Every student is given the
opportunity to receive a 100%, on Reading for Concepts, each week.
Writing: This is HUGE in Fourth Grade! We have already begun to write to Expository prompts.
and will begin Narrative in the second quarter. For more, in depth, information, please attend
our Fourth Grade Writing Night!
Math: Each new concept is introduced as a whole group. We practice the concept through
hands-on learning, as well as, exercises in the book. Math homework is a review of what we did
in class. Your child should bring home his/her math book to assist in completing homework. At
test time, we will review all of the concepts in the chapter before taking the chapter test.
Social Studies/Science: Fourth Grade is studying Florida History as part of the Florida State
Standards for Fourth Grade. A trip to Spanish Point is included in this curriculum!
Due to the recent budget cuts, we are unsure whether or not the countywide Science Fair will take place this year. Your child will be expected to complete a project, regardless. The project will contain a timeline, which, if followed, will make it less stressful on you and more fun for your child!
Thank you in advance for your cooperation! I know that keeping the lines of communication open
will help your child have a successful fourth grade year!!
H. Werbelow
P.S. - If you are feeling overwhelmed or have some questions, please check out the FAQ section
on this website. This may alleviate any anxiety and answer some of your questions not answered
in this letter.