Mrs. King's Parsley Post

Dear Parents,

We welcome you and your child to an exciting year of learning! We have been very busy preparing many interesting units of study and are looking forward to working with you.

Your child will be introduced to a considerable amount of content this year. As a result of this, homework will be assigned daily to reinforce skills covered in class. It will be very important for you to work with your child at home and to establish a set routine that can be carried out daily. Your child will be responsible for the following:

1. Daily reading (including weekends) for at least 30 minutes. **Parents are responsible for initialing your child’s planner every night. Please make sure your child has read and has and understanding of his/her book by asking higher-order thinking questions (a list of questions is included in this packet). Your child may read a variety of materials (books, magazines, newspapers, recipes, etc.). Enjoy and have fun!

2. Math homework will vary depending on skills reviewed and covered that particular day/week. If your child is having difficulty with a specific concept, he/she might have a “little extra homework” in order to better enhance that skill. Math homework will consist of measurement activities, problem solving with explanations, writing, practice workbook pages, Keeping Skills Sharp, and so forth.

3. Daily spelling activities will be you and your child’s responsibility to complete. A list of activities will be sent home with your child for him/her to choose which activity he/she would like to complete each night. This homework will not be collected. Your child will receive the spelling list every Monday and will be expected to take the final test on Friday.

4. Writing activities will be assigned at various times throughout the year. They will include skill building, stories, and integration of content areas.

5. Various projects throughout the year will be assigned. These projects involve problem solving, book reports, Social Studies, Science, and Health.

Please assist your child with daily homework and with any projects assigned during the school year. It will be your child’s responsibility to have his/her homework copied each day before leaving school. Your child will have a planner where homework and behavior will be recorded each day. Please review your child’s planner on a daily basis and initial in both places (homework and behavior). In return, we will also check your child’s planner each day. Feel free to include questions or comments as we will do the same. This planner is a great communication tool between parent, child, and teacher.

Our goal is to assist each child in reaching his/her greatest potential. We will strive to work with your child in the most beneficial way. Please do not hesitate to call us before or after school and /or set up a conference to discuss your child’s performance. We look forward to a wonderful year!

Thank you in advance!

Mrs. King

Fourth Grade Curriculum Topics

Reading

1. realistic fiction

2. historical fiction

3. nonfiction

4. drama

5. poetry

6. biographies

7. folk tales

8. legends

9. tall tales

Math

1. numbers and operations

2. measurement

3. geometry

4. data analysis

5. probability

6. algebra

Science

1. animal adaptations

2. food chemistry

3. electric circuits

4. rocks/minerals

Social Studies

(North Carolina)

1. geography

2. ethnic groups

3. history

4. cultural groups

5. economic principles

6. technology

7. social/political institutions

Writing

1. narrative

2. informational

3. literature response

4. summarizing

5. expressive

6. poetry

Responding to Literature

The following questions may be used to guide you and your child through a discussion of literature that your child has read.

Characters

1. Who is the main character of the story? What characteristic does the narrator posses? How do you know?

2. Are there any characters that changed in some way from the beginning of the story to the end? Why did the character change?

3. Some characters play small but important roles in a story. Name such a character. Why is this character necessary for the story?

4. Think about the characters in the story. Are any of them the same type of character that you have encountered in other stories?

5. Is there any character that you know more about than any of the others? Who is this character, and what kind of person is he or she? How does the author reveal the character to you?

Story Elements

1. Where and when does the story taking place (setting)? How do you know? If the story took place somewhere else or in a different time, how would the story change?

2. What incident, problem, conflict, or situation does the author use to get the story started?

3. Who is the narrator of the story? How would the story change if someone else in the book or an outside narrator told the story?

4. Trace the main events of the story. Could you change their order or leave any of them out? Why or why not?

5. Think of a different ending to the story. How would the rest of the story have to be changed to fit the new ending?

6. What is the mood of the story?

7. How is this story similar to another story you may have read, listened to, or watched?

8. Did you notice any particular patterns in the form of this book? If you are reading this book in more than one sitting, are these natural points at which to break off your reading? If so, what are these?

9. Did the story end the way you expected it to? What clues did the author offer to prepare you to expect this ending? Did you recognize these clues as important to the story as you were first reading?

Author

1. What does the author do to create suspense to make you want to continue reading the story?

2. Is there anything that seems to make this particular author’s work unique and different? If so, what?

3. How does the author make the story seem possible or probable?

4. What questions would you ask if the author were here? Which would be the most important questions? How do you think the author would answer you?

Characteristics

· caring

· considerate

· thoughtful

· cheerful

· cooperative

· courageous

· persevere

· decisive

· enthusiastic

· forgiving

· friendly

· generous

· honest

· humble

· optimistic

· reliable

· sincere

· serious

· self-disciplined

· responsible

· sympathetic

· sensitive

· respectable

· distant

· secretive

· unfriendly

· unfocused

· unforgiving

· hostile

· selfish

· dishonest

· conceded

· jealous

· envious

· unkind

· lazy

· unappreciative

· immature

· unreliable

· stubborn

· dependent

· independent

· vain

· cruel

· uncooperative

Mood

(mood is the feeling perceived by the reader)

· fear

· surprise

· anger

· hatred

· jealousy

· joyful

· gloomy

· heartbreaking

· in high spirits

· blissful

· enraged

· outraged

· infuriated

· annoyed

· furious

· stunned

· dismayed

· horrified

· frightened

· fearful

· anxious

· enthralling

· idealistic

· content

Bloom’s Taxonomy

Concepts and Key Words

***Please challenge your child to form questions for each level based on a book or given topic

KNOWLEDGE:

Exhibit memory of previously-learned material by recalling facts, terms, basic

concepts, and answers.

Key Words:

who what why when find match label list name

show define recall tell

COMPREHENSION:

Demonstrate understanding of facts and ideas by organizing, comparing, translating, interpreting, giving descriptions, and stating main ideas.

Key Words:

compare rephrase interpret outline illustrate explain

infer demonstrate classify summarize

APPLICATION:

Solve problems in new situations by applying acquired knowledge, facts, techniques, and rules in a different way.

Key Words:

apply construct plan build model select choose

interview organize develop identify

ANALYSIS:

Examine and break information into parts by identifying motives or causes. Make inferences and find evidence to support generalizations.

Key Words:

analyze compare contrast inspect inference relationships distinction

categorize simplify classify examine discover survey conclusion

SYNTHESIS:

Compile information in a different way by combining elements in a new pattern or proposing alternative solutions.

Key Words:

build compile create estimate invent solve discuss theorize compose design predict solution elaborate construct imagine adapt

EVALUATION:

Present and defend opinions by making judgments about information, validity of ideas or quality of work based on a set of criteria.

Key Words:

criticize determine judge agree opinion support prove influence dispute justify interpret disprove perceive measure defend conclude explain assess deduct

Teach Me

“Teach me to like myself and I will grow to love others.

Teach me to be honest and sincere and I will always keep my integrity.

Teach me how to learn and I will enjoy the challenge of growing.

Teach me how to laugh and I will spread joy wherever I venture.

Teach me how to give without receiving and I will receive beyond measure.

Teach me to appreciate beauty and I will see a beautiful world.

Teach me the difference between right and wrong and let me hear the sweet sound of a gentle “please” and a sincere “thank you”.

Teach me to keep my actions in line with my values and I will not make excuses.

But most of all…

Teach me by example in all that you say and do and I will not become confused, and then, please stand behind me in whatever I choose to do and I will make you so proud. for I am a child and I need your help.”

Mrs. King's Parsley Post

Fourth Grade Survival Guide

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