HOMEWORK & ASSIGNMENT NOTEBOOK:
Fourth graders will start the year having nightly math fact homework Monday-Thursday. Math fact fluency is ESSENTIAL in 4th grade - any and all practice throughout the year will support their fluency with classroom content. Weekly phonics word lists will be glued into the assignment notebook for spelling practice. Friday assessment *may* include some words from that list. We also expect each student to be reading 15-20 minutes a night. Students can read aloud, read to self, listen to audio books, or take turns reading with someone at home.
Friday Letters: Each Friday students will write a friendly letter to someone at home & share their learning from the week. Please write back to your child & return the notebook on Monday morning.
Assignment Notebook: This is a great organization tool for students, and an opportunity to communicate testing dates, homework, and upcoming events.
NIGHTLY READING
In fourth grade we expect students to read at home each night. Students should read for 15 minutes every evening as additional homework. Students may choose from a variety of reading materials such as novels, newspapers, magazines, etc. Reading may also include reading aloud with or to a younger/older sibling, parent, grandparent, etc. Together go to the library and choose a title you all would like to read together and discuss the book.
Reading is extremely important. When they read, students see examples of good writing, practice their fluency skills, strengthen comprehension in reading, and learn more words that can be transferred to their written and oral communication. It is important that you encourage this at home! Again, please feel free to talk with me about reading at home with your child!
SNACK
Each day we have milk and snack in the classroom. Students may choose from white (1% or Fat Free) or chocolate milk or have no milk each day. Please encourage your student to finish milk if they take milk. Students may bring a water bottle to school and have water throughout the day as well. Your child may also have a snack during this time however they must bring this from home, it will not be provided.
My first expectation is that snacks are healthy choices. The School District of Fort Atkinson follows a nutritional policy that expects and encourages the eating of healthy foods in school. Healthy foods include fruit, vegetables, cheese, beef jerky sticks, yogurts, whole grain bars or chips, fruit roll ups, plain popcorn, dried fruits, trail mixes, etc. Cakes, cookies, candy, and potato chips should be left at home. Studies show that healthy foods give students the energy they need to last throughout the day, while sugary snacks do not give the same type of energy and students are more likely to end up hungry again sooner. Please visit http://www.cspinet.org/nutritionpolicy/healthy_school_snacks.html for ideas on healthy snacks!
My second expectation is that students do not share snacks. Students should know that they can bring a snack to school if they choose and that the snack is theirs to eat. While I appreciate student’s willingness to share, there are often many food allergies they are unaware of. The second reason is that there are times when feelings are hurt when a snack is not shared with everyone. This alleviates this problem. If a parent chooses to send a snack to school for the whole class, that is their choice and will be appreciated! ☺
ODDS & ENDS:
Students will NOT be bringing devices home this year to charge at night - they will be stored & charged in the classroom. More information to come!
Unless the windchill is below zero, students will be expected to go outside daily. Please remind your child to bring weather appropriate gear each day.
Your child is welcome to bring a water bottle to school daily - please no soda, juice, or sports drinks.
Our primary form of communication is through Dojo. Occasionally, we will send group emails.