Welcome to our world of homework!
Our favorite time!! I know that the kids have to work really hard in class
all day. Hopefully they will work at completing homework in 40 minutes.
Sometimes it will require more time based on each child. They are also
required to read 20 minutes every night and record it on their reading logs
with a parent signature.
I always try and give math homework every night for skill and drill practice
I alternate Science and Social Studies so homework varies.
See your child's planner for daily homework assignments.
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Each morning students complete a daily "self start" activity. They are
designed to get students into using their atlas and learning about the world
around them, thinking about relationships and vocabulary words, thinking
mathematically, and doing a little editing. No more Daily Geography for
homework. We correct them orally together about 20 minutes later. Students
mark the correct answers on their sheets and take them home to review because
EACH FRIDAY IS A QUIZ OVER THE SAME MATERIAL!
The quiz consists of all 8 of the week's daily geography
questions, all 8 analogies, 2 math questions (out of four) and 2 or
3sentences to edit (out of eight) and a paragraph to edit. Students are
encouraged to review the material for the Friday Quiz, which is the grade I
record from the week's practice.
I am having the kids write a poem a month and every month is different.
Please ask to see their poetry packet which is in their binder behind their
poetry tab. They have to either be typed or handwritten in their very
best writing and have either a graphic or illustration. We will publish
these at the end of the year and every child will have their own poetry
book. Please be asking your child how their poem is coming along and be sure
and read them. They love doing this and they have been really good!
They will have a book report every month also. It will be on a different
kind of book so your child has a balanced reading diet. I will give the
assignment out and it will be due in 3-4 weeks. The instructions will be on
the sheet that I give them. I am reminding them to make sure they are
following the directions on this sheet. Please check in with them
periodically on this. Also, I think a timeline would be helpful so as not
to wait until the last minute. Again, this is part of those good work and
study habits that we want them to develop.
This is an overview and I will not be posting this every month. It will
just say Poem due/book report due.
Thank You!
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Spelling Words and Tests
Our classroom uses the research based Sitton Spelling program. The Sitton
Spelling philosophy is that words aren't really "mastered" until they are
spelled correctly in everyday writing. Many students can memorize words for
a "Friday Test" but if there is no transfer to student writing, what's the
point? Fourth graders are responsible to learn "core words" 336-500 from
the list of 1200 words. Words are arranged on the list in the order of
frequency of use in everyday writing. In addition, words on the "NoExcuses"
(Priority Word List) are words that should have 100% mastery for fourth
graders.
I will teach spelling lessons and strategies such as spelling rules,
phonics, word patterns etc. Students will have classroom assignments to
practice their spelling skills in context. Visual skills are developed and
practiced such as proofreading. Each week for homework, students will work
on the words on their "personal list" that need to be learned. Students
will add words to this personal list as the words are spelled incorrectly in
their everyday work. Parents can help by becoming their child's personal
spelling editor and assisting with spelling. While the core word list may
look easy,remember that these words are also the words that might be
misspelled or used incorrectly in everyday written work.
How are students Assessed?
Students are assessed using their everyday writing. Random checks will be
made to classroom assignments. They could be graded for spelling - science,
social studies, language arts, math. .In addition, a "cloze story" test is
given in which students listen to a passage read by the teacher and fill in
the missing words in the story. These words come from the core word and
priority word lists. Sentence dictation tests are also given. The teacher
reads four sentences and the students write the sentences including using the
correct punctuation. Again, nearly every word in the sentence dictation
comes from the core word or "no excuses" priority word list.
Thursday Packets
Work from the week will come home for you to look at each week in
a Thursday Packet. This packet will also contain important papers from the
office. The kids receive a sticker everytime they bring their Thrsday folder
back the next day.
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It is most important to me that your child learn what is being taught.
Work which is acceptable (grades of 75% and above) can be
kept at home. Work(grades of 74% and below)needs to be corrected and turned
back in. Students may turn in and finish any incomplete work and correct
assignments that have received scores below 74% within one week. I
willaverage the two grades and this will be their grade.
Each morning students complete a daily "self start" activity. They are
designed to get students into using their atlas and learning about the world
around them, thinking about relationships and vocabulary words, thinking
mathematically, and doing a little editing. We correct them orally together
15-20 minutes later. Students mark the correct answers on their sheets and
take them home to review because each Friday is a quiz over the exact same
material. The quiz consists of all 8 of the week's geography questions, all
8 analogies, 2 math questions (out of four) and 2 or 3 sentences to edit (our
of eight) and a paragraph to edit. Students are encouraged to review the
material for the Friday quiz, which is the grade I record from the week's
practice.
The beauty of the internet is the vast amount of resources at our finger
tips. When I began teaching fourth grade I spent hours on the computer
looking at classrooms and teachers to model mine after. I came upon a
teacher in Redmond, Oregon who has been Teacher of the Year and Disney
Teacher of the Year. Her name is Mrs. Renz. I loved what I read and have
used several of her ideas in my own classroom.
