Class info

Expectations and Assignments

Expectations (Rules)

Students should arrive each day prepared for class, with assignments completed and the appropriate books and supplies.

Students are expected to be respectful, responsible, and use common sense regarding safety.  I expect students to use the appropriate hand signals, which are posted in our classroom, if they need something during class, and they are expected to be quiet and attentive during instruction and work times. I regularly give students opportunities for partner and small group work; they have plenty of time to talk with and work together with their peers on academic topics and explorations in class!

Assignments

Each day, we review our assignments and homework with students, and they copy the information into their planners. A whiteboard homework board is also available in my classroom with the day's information. We will not have many online assignments.

*Please see the note on absences below.*

Personal Reading

Students are expected to read at least 30 minutes daily. I do not require reading logs, as I believe this encourages dishonesty. (Please take a look at the note below regarding reading.) STAR Reading Tests are evidence of reading; students who read at home have higher reading scores and comprehension abilities. It is evident when a student reads at home and when he or she does not read at home.

You can check the reading levels of books, if you wish, on www.arbookfind.com.  I recommend students in 4th grade read books that are between BL 3.8 and 6.0, depending on the child's reading ability.

Tech Awareness & Protecting Your Child's Innocence

If you, as parents, wish to learn about the content of books, movies, shows, games, or apps, I encourage you to look into https://www.commonsensemedia.org/.

Regarding reading

While it is entirely impossible for you as a parent, or me as a teacher, to literally get into a child's head and force him or her to read better, there are activities we can do to improve his or her reading abilities and comprehension skills. 

1 - Read aloud with your child. Yes, he or she is in fourth grade, but sitting down together and reading a book or article aloud will improve not only fluency but comprehension as well. (I have this same suggestion for older students as well, even middle school!)

How does this work? First, have your child choose a book or article -- it should be something he or she is interested in reading, and it doesn't have to be a long book. It should, however, be a book or article that is at or slightly above your child's reading level (see www.arbookfind.com to check book levels).

Next, you read aloud for a bit (1/2 a page, a few paragraphs), then your child reads aloud. You can stop as needed to ask questions, clarify the meaning of words (ask him or her first!), and address pronunciation. Your reading will model fluency for your child.  

When?! We're so busy! Instead of doing "your own thing" in different rooms, spend time together; reading aloud doesn't have to be an hour -- unless you're both super-interested in the book or article! I can guarantee you won't ever regret sitting for a few minutes several times a week with your child. 

Here is an interesting article; yes, it is referring to younger children, but it is still a good read: "Commentary: Teaching Your Child to Read Is the Gateway to All Learning."  

2 - I don't require reading logs, but I do ask students to read each evening (see above, Personal Reading).

READING IS IN THE NEWS!
It can make you more well-rounded, knowledgeable, & successful in life

I do not require students to keep track of reading or fill out reading logs, as I believe logs encourage dishonesty; however, I do encourage students to read at least 20-60 minutes a day outside of school. If a student has time to play video games or play around online, he or she also has time to read a book (and do homework).  

Reading is like any other skill: you must practice to get better at it!  Even though fourth-grade students are at a stage in which they are "reading to learn," they are also still learning to read: they must practice this skill to continue to improve. Teachers can tell, based on STAR Reading scores and other assessments and assignments, if your child is not reading at home often, or at all.

It is a well-known fact that the more you read, the more successful you are in life. While making money isn't necessary for true happiness, and it certainly isn't going to be what gets you to Heaven, it can allow a person to contribute more to society, the world, and the aid of others. Don't believe me? Read these articles!

• From CEO World: Cultivate the Habit of Reading to Excel as an Extraordinary Achiever and Leader by Professor M.S. Rao, Ph.D.Professor M.S. Rao, Ph.D. 

• From Business Insider: 9 of the most successful people share their reading habits by Chris Weller 

• From Inc.com: Most CEOs Read A Book A Week. This Is How You Can Too (According To This Renowned Brain Coach) by Brian D. Evans

• From Michigan Daily: The power of reading by Mackenzie Kilano, September 19, 2023

While we're on the topic, here's another article to which, sadly, I can relate; perhaps you might also: The death of reading is threatening the soul, by Philip Yancey in the Washington Post, July 21, 2017 [PDF Linked here, since the site requires a subscription].

Something to consider regarding absences