Course Syllabus

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1s9goS2cndpIp1oYqdHiuCYLij-I63TyPo6BKrMtvp88/edit

Welcome to Fourth Grade!

Syllabus 2021-2022

My name is Ms. Collins, and I am so excited to get to know you! I’m really looking forward to our year together. In the paragraphs that follow you will find important information about the year. Please contact me if you have any further questions.

Newsletters/Friday email

Every Friday I will send an email with highlights of the week, information regarding our studies, and important reminders.

Google Classroom

I will also be using Google Classroom for periodic electronic lessons (teaching videos) and student work. This platform will be used if we need to move to Distant Learning. Students will use their school google e-mail address (6 digit number @mystma.org) and password.

Snacks/Recess/Lunch

We will take a mid-morning break each day for students to get drinks, use the bathroom, wash hands and eat a snack while taking a break from their masks. Please send a healthy, non-messy snack to school with your child each day. Examples of healthy snacks include: apples, bananas, raisins, carrot sticks, fruit snacks, etc. We are encouraging kids to bring a water bottle to school each day, so they do not have to come in contact with the drinking fountain. Please make sure the water bottle does not leak, and is marked with your child's name. Students go outside for recess before lunch. Recess is from 12:00-12:25 and lunch is from 12:30-1:00. We are not allowing visitors for lunch this year due to COVID-19. Thank you for understanding that we want to keep our building as safe as possible for the students.

Planners

Students are expected to keep an assignment notebook, or planner which will be brought home daily for a parent signature. I will assist students in completing the planner each morning. The planner gives you a glance at your child’s school day and helps children learn responsibility. It is a school policy for teachers to check for parent signatures on a daily basis, so please help your child with this element of responsibility. The planner is also a great place for you to write a note to me! In order for you to tell the difference between what we did in class and what an assignment is, your child should circle anything that is homework for them. If your child completes their assignments during the day, he/she will have a check mark next to it. That way you can tell if your child has finished their work prior to leaving school.

Take Home Folder

Papers from that day or finished work that needs to be completed will be in this folder. Please keep this in your child’s binder which will need to come to school every day. We will not have Friday Folders this year, so all important things will come home via the Take Home folder.

Language Arts

Students are asked to read at home each night. Book completion is one of our goals and students will continue to use Accelerated Reader as they have in previous years. They will be testing on their book once it is completed.

Science/Health

Foss Kits will be used to teach science. The Foss Kits are a hands-on method for teaching students our science topics. The kits cover the following topics: Water, Magnetism and Electricity, Germs,and Cells.

Social Studies

This year we will be using the Social Studies curriculum from Scott Foresman. The focus of the 4th grade social studies curriculum is the five regions of the United States, which states make them up, their resources and how their economy is affected by their climate. The year will begin with an overview of the regions, then learning about each one separately along with map quizzes and lastly end the year with a unit on economics.

Math

We are using the Everyday Mathematics curriculum. Most students will stay with me for this subject. This is the same math program used in 1st - 3rd grade. Our first unit focuses on Geometry. As the year progresses the students will be tested on their basic math facts for addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Their goal is to achieve 90% or better on a 100 problem basic fact test in 5 minutes or less. Once they pass at 90% or better twice for that operation, they move onto the next operation. At this time, your child should be reviewing basic addition facts at home so they are prepared for our timed addition tests. They will have an opportunity once each week to pass the facts test. (Fact check Friday)

Each math unit takes approximately 2-3 weeks to teach and test accordingly. Each unit has 2-3 unannounced quizzes related to the recent skills being taught. The students will always have a couple of days’ notice before the unit tests. We will have at least 1 day of a review packet and a question and answer time.

Grading

Our fourth grade grading scale is as follows:

A 94-100 B 83-86 C 73-76 D 63-66

A- 90-93 B- 80-82 C- 70-72 D- 60-62

B+ 87-89 C+ 77-79 D+ 67-69 NM 59 and below (Not Mastered)

*Writing, Health, Art, Music, and PE will be graded with an S (Secure) or N (Needs Improvement)

Your child’s grades will be weighted in the following way:

Reading 85% comprehension, 15% word work

Math 50% tests, 40% quizzes, 10% daily work

Science 40% tests, 50% daily work, 10% responsibility

Social 60% tests, 40% daily work

Writing and Health no weights

Book orders

Book orders will be sent home each month throughout the year and are optional. Please consider ordering materials for your child as many quality items can be found at very reasonable prices. Your purchase also helps me order books for our classroom library!

Specialists

Fieldstone is on a 6-day rotation. Students will attend Music, Phy Ed, Media, and Art. Please see the schedule sticker in the front of your child’s planner to learn days and times. Your child MUST have tennis shoes for gym days! Library books should be returned on Media days.

Ms. Collins Digital Day Schedule

Day 1: Phy Ed

Day 2: Music

Day 3: Phy Ed

Day 4: Music

Day 5: Art & Phy Ed

Day 6: Media

Birthdays

We will not be allowing birthday treats this year to share with the class. Instead, students can bring a few small special items from home to show and share about with the class. Special items should not just be toys, they should have special meaning to them such as pictures or items from a trip, etc. Students may also bring a special book to read to the class, or I can read the book for them. If your child has a summer birthday, we will celebrate on their ½ birthday.

Contact information

Please contact me at any time with concerns or questions. The best ways to reach me are via email and writing a note in your child’s planner. The planner contains space at the bottom of each page for notes. I usually check phone messages before and after school (not during the day). If an emergency arises please call the school office (763-497-0904) and they can relay the message.

Email: laurieb@mystma.org Phone: 763-497-0904 x7218#

Sincerely,

Laurie Bernstein-Collins