4th Grade Info
April 29-May 3, 2024
Our emails are below.
Please feel free to email us with any questions or concerns.
melanie.grant@gcisd.net
holly.martin@gcisd.net
cynthia.rutter@gcisd.net
kimberly.steele@gcisd.net
CLICK HERE to join the 4th Grade Facebook Page!
4th Grade Team
At O. C. Taylor, we LOVE you. We think you're children are GGGRRRRREAT! 💙🧡
It's getting warmer outside! Your child has probably grown since last summer and their clothes might be a bit tight or too short. Please help your child make wise choices when getting dressed for school.
Shorts
should be "finger-tip" length or longer
Shirts
shirts with straps should be at least three fingers wide
they should meet or go beyond the waist of the pants
there should not be big cutouts in the back of the shirt
they should not hang off the shoulders
if the armholes are wide, please wear a shirt underneath
🔌 💻 Parents, please remind your student to charge their Chromebook every night.
All 3rd and 4th grade students are invited to audition for the GCISD Elementary Honor Choir. Please open this Audition Information Letter for more information and contact Mrs. Vencill with any questions.
Curriculum
Math - In math we will continue with our financial literacy unit by learning how to calculate profit and how to solve problems involving a budget. Ask your child to explain what a budget is and how it is useful.
Math Homework :
None this week
Science - In Science this week, the students will continue exploring with open and closed circuits. Students will explore on their own, then have a discussion about what is needed to make the lightbulb turn on (close the circuit). We will also explore with other items such as a switch, buzzer, and propeller. Ask your child to share their favorite closed circuit creation.
Reading- Students will learn about a man called Harris Burdick who leaves a set of drawings from a series of stories he has written with the publisher with the promise of returning with the stories the next day, and then disappears, never to be heard from again. Students will get to write their own piece based on the picture and one leading sentence!
📆Upcoming Events
April 29 - May 1 - Sky Ranch Field Trip
May 2- Game on & Egg Drop
May 3- Run Club & Wear a hat or bring a stuffed animal fo $1.00 (5th grade continuation)
May 6- Teacher appreciation week
May 7-GCISD Walk a mile
May 8- Walk, bike, & roll to school
May 10- Field Day
May 16- 5th grade Rocks 6:30PM
May 22- Spirit Rally & Senior Clap out 2PM
May 23- LAST DAY OF SCHOOL! EARLY RELEASE!***
🧮Math STAARHomework
Math Homework :
None this week
📖Reading Homework
We want the students to read for at least 20 minutes or more every night. This is the only reading homework we require!
BOOK CLUB BOOK- please make sure you check in with where your student should have read to. IT is mostly read at home!
Letter of Intent for 2024-2025 School Year: In preparation for the 2024-2025 school year, we need to know if your child plans to attend O. C. Taylor or not. This helps us as we begin to consider student enrollment in each grade level, staffing, and class placements for next year. Please complete a separate form for each child who currently attends O. C. Taylor.
All 3rd and 4th grade students are invited to audition for the GCISD Elementary Honor Choir. Please open this Audition Information Letter for more information and contact Mrs. Vencill with any questions.
✏️4th Grade Wish List
As needs arise in our classrooms, we will put them here. We really appreciate your support for us and our students.
Grant - glue sticks, liquid glue
Martin - None at this time
Rutter -Thank you for all who have given this year!!
Steele - none at this time
REPEATED ITEMS
📘Book Club
Please keep book in Zip Lock baggie!
The Dates for the Meetings are:
May 3
Their group is relying on them to get to the page required on the date listed on the bookmark. I have some students who are not reading their book club at home. They will not be able to reach their page goal unless they read at night. They all have a book and a bookmark that tells them what page to read and when. If they lose their bookmark, I've asked them to let me know so I can get them a new one. They also have a gallon-sized baggie to keep the book safe. On these dates, we will have book discussions and every member of the book club is relying on their group to get to that page.
Please let Mrs. Martin or Mrs. Rutter know if you have any questions or concerns about the books your child is reading.
📚Library
If you cannot locate an overdue book, please reach out to Ms. Quinn for the replacement cost.
ALL Library books are DUE
Friday, May 3rd
We will go to the library every other Friday. Please make sure your child sends their library books to school on our library days. They will always be encouraged to check out a good quality chapter book which Mrs. Martin and Mrs. Rutter can help them find. We will also occasionally have them check out additional books that we want them to read. They are allowed to check out 3 books.
📙2500 Page Book Challenge
Your child is invited to read 2500 pages this year! They will keep track of the books and pages they read in their reading composition book. If they read at home, you can write down the pages and send them to school. I'll help your child get credit for all the reading at home. All reading at school counts as well! We will keep track on a punch card they keep at school. When they finish 2500 pages, they will pick a BIG prize. There are various ideas we discussed! If this is not something your child would like to do, I will not pressure them to read 2500 pages. If they are reading for at least 20 minutes a night, it will amaze you at how many pages they can read!
I have several other reading challenges they can complete after the 2500-page challenge.
REMEMBER, ALL READING COUNTS!
🎧Headphones
Please have your child bring a pair of headphones with them daily. Students use headphones frequently to complete various activities and assessments.
Snacks
We invite your child to bring a healthy snack to school each day. The snack needs to be something that is not messy and does not require silverware. We are going to be eating and working at the same time. Any snack that contains candy is not considered healthy. A few suggestions are: goldfish, cheerios, pretzels, grapes, raisins, carrots, etc. Your child’s snack must also be NUT-FREE.
Lunch
Lunch for fourth grade is from 11:40-12:10. Don’t forget to set up a lunch account for your child in the cafeteria. We will use our "Forget Me Not" system again this year. If a student forgets his/ her lunch, parents may bring it to school before lunchtime. Please leave it on the shelf in the lobby (labeled with the student's name). Teachers will remind students to check the shelf before lunch.
Replacement Recorders
Please click this link to purchase a replacement recorder if needed. When you click the link, select MUSIC, then OCT Recorders (on the left-hand side).
Student Absences
If your student is absent for any reason, please email the following people:
your child's teacher
copy: paola.cervantes@gcisd.net and elissa.faught@gcisd.net
Arrival
Students report directly to the classroom starting at 7:25. The tardy bell is at 7:40 a.m..
Ride Changes
If you find your child must go home a different way than planned, please notify the office by a phone call by at least 2:00 p.m. Teachers and our front office staff do not always have access to email or are busy teaching or helping others. A phone call is required. Sometimes we have only one person in the front office, so we want to provide ample time to be able to meet your needs. When making ride changes, picking up students for appointments and absences, please email both Gene Guinane (gene.guinane@gcisd.net) and Paola Cervantes (paola.cervantes@gcisd.net) in case one of us is out of the office.
Pick up Reminder
Students should be promptly picked up after school at 3:00. We appreciate your efforts to be on time to pick up your child. Finally, when dropping off or picking up your child, please pull your car all the way down to the end of the line. Duty personnel will send your child down to your car. This keeps the traffic flowing. Don’t forget your School Safe ID Number. Thank you for your help in keeping our students safe.
Communication
Please feel free to contact your homeroom teacher if you have any concerns or questions. We are happy to meet in person, call or email. We want to help immediately with any issues that arise.