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Upcoming Events!
The Meadow Park sixth graders will be selling Valentine’s Day candy grams to send to your friends and teachers. They will be sold on February 2nd, 3rd, 6th and 7th before school (7:55-8:05 at the lunch tables) and at lunch. It’s a great treat for only $0.50. Remember to have your friends’ first and last names and teachers’ names so that the candy grams get delivered to the right person! This activity supports Meadow Park 6th graders.
4th GRADE
2011 - 2012
This is an overview of our program in the fourth grade. It is a handy reference for all year.
HOME TO SCHOOL COMMUNICATION
An effective program relies on strong communication between parents and the teacher. Report cards are given out three times per year and a progress report will be sent home between each report card as needed. You will be notified in advance concerning any field trips or special events. Samples of your child’s work will be sent home weekly. At the end of each week notices will be sent home indicating late or incomplete work. If there are any problems, or if you have any news to share please feel free to send a note. Goal setting conferences will be held in October.
ABSENCES
It is necessary for everyone to attend school as much as possible. Much of our fourth grade program is process oriented, so some assignments may be difficult to make up. Students will be required to make up all major assignments when absences do occur. Homework assignments are written on an enlarged planner page and posted in the classroom. Students should have the phone number of at least one other student they can call for homework when absent.
According to revised California State Law, we are now eligible for state funding only for the days your child attends school. Independent study contracts can only be written for absences of five or more consecutive days. Please ask for any independent study contracts as early as possible.
HOMEWORK
Meadow Park School follows the district guidelines for homework which states that 4th graders should have 45-60 minutes of homework each day. Every child works at various speeds and levels in different subjects. If your child is consistently falling outside these guidelines, special arrangements can be made. Please review your child’s homework planner and encourage your child to take the responsibility of completing homework independently. To ensure success for your child, a special area and regularly scheduled time for homework is helpful. Immediate feedback from you regarding their work is important.
GRADING / ASSESSMENT
There are several ways in which work will be evaluated: percentage, check grade, subjective comments and rubric scales. The students will also be involved in correcting some of their own work. Immediate feedback of errors is provided and proofreading skills are developed through the process of self-correction. Tests and major assignments are reviewed by the teacher.
SOCIAL STUDIES
Our focus of study is on the state of California. The textbook, Our California, allows us to explore the geography and history of our state. Instruction focuses on teaching our students how to read and learn new information from textbooks, reference materials, notes, and graphic organizers. We are in the process of scheduling field trips that correlate with our study of California.
MATHEMATICS
Our math curriculum follows the California State Framework guidelines and standards. We are currently implementing, Math Expressions, by Houghton-Mifflin. In addition to comprehensively covering all of the state standards, this series emphasizes logic, problem solving, vocabulary and what is referred to as “math talk.” The students are encouraged and expected to explain their thinking, and to look at a variety of ways to solve the same problem. Working together in collaborative groups and using manipulative is also a large component of the program.
LANGUAGE ARTS
The 4th grade program integrates the skills of listening, speaking, reading, writing and thinking. In addition to using a variety of materials from the McGraw-Hill Language Arts series, we will be reading the following novels in class:
Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume
Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell
By the Great Horn Spoon by Sid Fleishman
SCIENCE
District science specialists and classroom teachers provide instruction in the upper grades. Students will attend two 60 minute laboratory sessions with a science specialist each week. The classroom teacher will provide instruction using the science textbook.
TECHNOLOGY
Computers are a tool for learning. We visit the Computer Lab each week for instruction in keyboarding, Power Point, and internet researching. The IUSD internet access is protected from visiting inappropriate websites. In addition, we have a Mini-Lab in the 4th grade hallway which we use for word processing, and tutorials. Each 4th grade classroom is connected to the internet thanks to our hard-working group of parents from the Technology Foundation.
ART/MUSIC
Our talented art specialist will provide eight special lessons for our class this year in addition to classroom art activities. We are very fortunate to have our generous PTA funding our school-wide art program this year. In music, students have chosen to study either vocal arts or a string instrument. Music classes meet on Mondays and Wednesdays... You can see the impressive work of each music specialist when you attend the school music concerts.
Supply List for the 2011-12 School Year
4th Grade Supply List 2011-12
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