Deretchin Parent Information Night!

1. Deretchin Parent Information Night! Welcome to 4th Grade *Ms. Leppert & Ms. Bretches *Mrs. Mattingly & Mrs. Benner *Mrs. Wolfe & Mrs. Bray *Mrs. Whaley & Mrs. White

2. Student Information If you do not wish for your child's photo or information to be in the yearbook, on school websites, in the newspaper, in the Deretchin directory, etc., we must have a hand written note from the parent indicating that by October 1st. If students are excluded from one item, they will be excluded from all.

3. Attendance * If your child arrives: *Between 8:06 – 9:00 they will be marked as tardy. *After 9:01 they will be marked as absent. * If your child arrives to school after a doctor's visit, a parent needs to bring the child in with a doctor's note and ask for HCP (Health Care Provider) form to complete. * Your child will be given one day for every day he/she was out to make up any assignments that were missed. It is CISD policy not to send make-up work home ahead of time.

4. Birthdays • New school policy: Birthday treats (cookies and cupcakes) will need to be purchased and not homemade. A label identifying the ingredients will also need to be provided. All treats will be served in class at the end of the day. Please pre-cut cakes or cookie cakes. You may leave the treats at the drop off table or your child may bring them with him or her that morning. **Birthdays are very special, so please continue to send in treats :) • Invitations given out at school must be given out to the whole class, or all boys, or girls. • We cannot give out class lists, but we can provide you with an updated count of students in the class.

5. Class Expectations • Stay on task • Follow directions • Respect the rights and property of others • Behave in the halls, cafeteria, bus room, etc. • Show respect towards teachers, staff, and volunteers • Talk at appropriate times • Conduct ourselves in a safe and orderly manner

6. Conduct Sheet All fourth graders will start with an “S” and are able to earn an “E” in conduct each week. We have set the criteria so everyone can understand and refer to the conduct record if there is a question on how an “E” may be earned. We expect the children to go above and beyond. Some examples would be: *exceptional work *work turned in on time *offering to help a classmate or teacher *showing marked empathy and compassion for others *class participation

7. Daily Consequences • 1st offense- students will be given a warning • 2nd offense- students will receive a conduct mark • 3rd offense- five minutes off recess • 4th offense- parent contact • 5th offense- principal office E= Excellent- zero S= Satisfactory- 1-3 NI= Needs Improvement 4-5 U= Unsatisfactory – 6 or more Your child's conduct grade will be based on meeting the expectations for conduct and study habits.

8. Homework • Read 30 minutes every night and get Reading Log signed! • Practice math facts 15 minutes every night and get Math Log signed! • Please refer to your child's student planner and the teachers' websites for specific homework assignments. Homework Policy: Homework is due the very next day after it is assigned. We do not accept late homework assignments...students must bring assigned homework with them to school in the morning. One homework grade is assigned per week. If the homework is turned in with the appropriate work shown, the grade will be a 100. If the homework assignment is not turned in, the grade will be a 0 for the week. Thank you for your understanding!

9. Homework Schedule Monday- Language Arts Tuesday- Math Wednesday- Math Thursday- Math Friday- Math and Reading Log Due * Read 30 minutes and practice math facts for 15 minutes nightly.

10. Grades • All work given in class is designed to assess the students' knowledge of skills. Students are expected to complete work independently in order to provide us with the best feedback possible for their understanding, • No make-up work will be given in advance. • Progress reports will go home with every child halfway through the grading period. • Five points will be deducted for missing names on all work. • Our philosophy is that every child can be a successful learner in our room. The best learning environment is one where mistakes can be made, then discussed, and logic is drawn from that experience.

11. Grading Policies Major = 50% Daily = 45% Homework= 5% • Parent Access Center – (PAC) Please register for an account through the Conroe ISD website using your child's 6 digit ID number

12. Parent Communication • Please visit teacher websites for current information. • School newsletter is online. • School information, graded papers, notes and conduct sheets will go home on Tuesday. • Email is probably the fastest way for us to communicate with you. Please remember our email system is NOT confidential. Please schedule a conference if it is a sensitive issue.

13. Daily Schedule 8:00 – 10:15 Block 1 10:15- 10:40 Block 2 10:40-11:10 Lunch 11:10-11:25 Recess 11:25-12:00 Block 2 continued 12:00- 12:45- D3 12:45-1:30- Fine Arts/ PE 1:30- 3:00- Block 2 3:00 Dismissal

14. Class Content • We will cover all the subjects and topics that the state requires students to learn during 4th grade. • The state's standards and objectives can be found at the following address: http://www.tea.state.tx.us/teks

15. Reading • Literature-based instruction given in a whole-group setting, in flexible literature circles, and individual strategy session. • Monitoring our thinking as readers to make connections to ourselves, other texts, and the world around us. • Written reflections/high-level thinking skills. • Daily read-aloud/Reading Log • Genre Study/30 Book Challenge • Parent Readers on Fridays!

16. Language Arts • Writing grades are derived using rubrics from the Writer's Workshop model. • Writer's Workshop includes whole-class instructions using a mini-lesson, independent writing time and share time. • Grammar skills will be taught within the writing lessons, as students are asked to apply what they learn. • Children will be writing from several different genres this year, including fiction, personal narrative, expository, poetry, and informational.

17. Word Study • High frequency words (Word Wall) • Words with affixes (Nifty Thrifty Fifty): prefixes and suffixes • Interactive activities: Making Big Words, Brand Name Phonics, Word Riddles • No more memorized lists! • Word study is incorporated into the daily writing grade. Word study should not comprise any more than 1/10 of this grade. This is approximate and not intended for the assignment to be “weighted” at 10%.

18. Math *Place Value *Money *Rounding *Estimation *Time *Charts & Graphs *Measurement *Multiple step *Geometry word problems *Multiplication *Fractions *Probability *Division

19. Math Review * Worked over a two week period * Week 1- Monday-Thursday- work on topics taught in previous grades or earlier in the year. * Friday-Problem Solving- Poster Method * Week 2- Monday-Thursday- Same as first week. * Friday-Math Review Test-Assessment covers the topics worked on in math review.

20. Science * Scientific Method * Matter * Animal Characteristics and Adaptations * Ecosystems * Soil Properties * Plants * Phases of the Moon * Weathering, Erosion, and Deposition * Weather

21. Social Studies-Texas History • Texas Regions • Native Americans • Explorers • Texas Republic • Expansion • Government • Map & Globe Skills • Early Texans • Texas Revolution • Economics • Cultural Awareness

22. PTO * Check out Deretchin's PTO website where you can learn more about our awesome PTO and become part of its efforts. http://www.deretchinpto.org/