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Welcome To 4th Grade! Dear 4th Grade Parents/Guardians, I’m looking forward to teaching your child this year. I hope you had a great summer and are ready for school to start again! This is my fourth year of teaching 4th grade at the Fond du Lac Ojibwe School. Previously, I taught in the computer lab. My husband and I live in Duluth. We have two daughters in college and our son is in high school. We also have a Golden Lab, Stanley. My hobbies include reading, gardening, and walking our dog. This will be my second year of participating in an online Master’s of Education program to learn more about Differentiated Instruction. I look forward to implementing the knowledge and skills from my class to best meet your child’s learning needs. I believe a working partnership between school and home is very important to a child’s learning success. By working together, we can make this a great year. Throughout the year you will receive information on your child’s learning and skill development progress. This will be done through weekly work sent home on Fridays, mid quarter reports and parent/teacher conferences. The Infinite Campus Parent Portal can be accessed by parents and students to monitor progress. Please be sure you’ve completed the form for this. Check with Vicki Oberstar if you have questions. Fourth graders will receive a planner to be used as a communication tool throughout the week. It is the student’s responsibility to bring their planner to school each day. When you sign your child’s planner it helps me know your child is sharing their school news with you. I also encourage you to call anytime with questions. SUBJECT AREAS Mathematics- We will be using the Pearson’s Scott Foresman/Addison Wesley Mathematics program. It has been developed to align with the Minnesota Standards and includes lessons in Number & Operation, Algebra, Geometry & Measurement, and Data Analysis and Probability, and problem solving. Fourth graders should show mastery in addition, subtraction and demonstrate fluency in multiplication and division facts by the end of their fourth grade year. Social Studies- Fourth graders will study regions of the United States. Culture and arts will also be integrated throughout the year. Projects will be incorporated into the curriculum. Science- We will study life sciences, earth sciences and physical sciences. Fourth graders will help with recycling in our school and at the RBC with Shannon Judd, Environmental Educator. Computer- Students will also have access to computers in the classroom as well as time in the computer lab. Our classroom will be equipped with a SmartBoard used to bring interactive lessons into the classroom. Circle- Mary Ann Blacketter and Jerry Ojibway will facilitate a 30 minute weekly discussion circle. Library- Students will have an opportunity to visit the library throughout the school year. Ojibwe Language-Thirty minutes daily instruction with Dawn LaPrairie. Physical Education- One hour each week with Stacie Marsolek. Art- Students will have one hour of art instruction with Karen Savage-Blue. GRADES AND GRADING A traditional grading system will be used: Assessments- DIBELS reading fluency checks
will be done throughout the year. AIMS web assessments will be conducted
throughout the year to measure fluency in computation for math facts. A Few Extras- Students have 25 minutes of recess each day. Please remind your child to dress appropriately for the weather. I often do not check my messages until the end of the day. Messages that need to get to me before the end of the day should go through the office at 878-7261. Please call bus changes into the office by noon to Rita 878-7242. Homework will be assigned throughout the year and any incomplete class work will become homework. Please remind your child to return their homework promptly for credit. Spelling words and math facts should be studied weekly. Most importantly students are expected to read daily as homework each day. Fourth graders should be responsible for remembering their planners and assignments. Please help your child grow into this responsibility. Students will be rewarded with punches on their stars throughout the year and will receive incentives for their efforts. I value your interest, participation and encouragement in your child’s learning growth and appreciate your efforts! Please review this information with your child. We will be reviewing it in class as well. If you have any questions, please feel free to call me at 878-7206, room number 1155. The class webpage can be currently be found under education at www.fdlrez.com. I’m looking forward to a great year of learning together in fourth grade. Enclosed is a parent information sheet and classroom expectations. Thank you! Mrs. Carol Smith |
