VCES - Skinner

Welcome to 4th grade!

I teach ELA and Social Studies. My podmate, Miss McNary, teaches Math and Science.

I look forward to a fabulous year in 4th grade!

Important Information:

You may purchase an agenda and ID ($7) for your student through Skyward. A friendly reminder to complete your child's emergency contact form online as well. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me via email.

My email is landrea.skinner@tvcs.org

Important Dates: Mark your calendars!

Open House: Thursday, August 20th 6:00-7:30
FAST PM1 Reading: Wednesday, August 26th
Fall Picture Day: Thursday, August 27th (uniforms)
FAST PM1 Math: Thursday, September 3rd
Labor Day- NO SCHOOL: Monday, September 7th
Founders' Day: Friday, September 11th at 5:30-8:00pm
Elementary Book Fair: Thursday, October 1st - Friday, October 9th
Completion of the 1st 9 Weeks: Thursday, October 8th
Teacher Professional Day (NO SCHOOL): Monday, October 12th
Fall Picture Retakes: Wednesday, October 21st
Buffalo HERD Basket Auction: Saturday, October 24th
Holiday Picture Day: Tuesday, November 3rd
Fall Break: Monday, November 23rd - Friday, November 27th
Winter Break: Monday, December 21st - Friday, January 1st
Teacher Professional Day (NO SCHOOL): Monday, January 4th
Report Cards: Friday, January 8th
MLK Day (NO SCHOOL): Monday, January 18th
Spring Picture Day: Wednesday, February 10th
President's Day (NO SCHOOL): Monday, February 15th
4th Grade Parent Night: TBD
4th Grade St. Augustine Field Trip: TBD
Teacher Professional Day (NO SCHOOL): Friday, March 19th
Spring Break (NO SCHOOL): March 22nd - March 26th
Teacher Professional Day (NO SCHOOL): Friday, April 23rd
4th Grade Musical: TBD
Social Studies EOY: TBD
Science EOY: TBD
FAST PM3 ELA: TBD
FAST PM3 Math: TBD
4th Grade EOY Awards Ceremony- Mrs. Skinner's Homeroom TBD
Last Day of School: Friday, May 21st

THINGS YOU CAN DO TO HELP YOUR CHILD BE SUCCESSFUL

At home reading:

Read every day for at least 20 minutes (books that are "just right for them" - not too hard or too easy)
Practice summarizing what you read
Look for key details and main ideas
Answer practice questions after reading
Learn new vocabulary words each week

Schedule:

Snack: We will have snack daily around 9:30. Students will bring in their own snack. Please be sure to send in a healthy snack (no candy). Please also bring a water bottle (NO GLASS WATER BOTTLES).

Specials Schedule: 8:05-9:00

Monday- Art, Tuesday- Music, Wednesday- Spanish, Thursday- Computer Science Lab, Friday- STEM Lab

Monday: Media Center 10:00-10:20

Schedule:

7:35-8:00 Morning Work

8:05-9:00 Specials

9:00-10:30 ELA Block (Skinner Homeroom)

10:35-11:05 PE

11:08-11:33 Lunch

11:35-12:05 ELA/SS (Skinner HR)

12:05-12:35 Team Time

12:35-2:30 ELA/SS (McNary Homeroom)

2:30 Pack Up

2:35 Dismissal

My teacher connection page is organized by subject.

Each area will have a description of the focus we are learning.

Students write their homework responsibilities in their agendas every Monday.

Binders: The following sleeves are located in student binders.

Word Application Sleeve: Current word application study guide and practice sheets. Students should use these resources to study for word application tests. These resources should remain in binder. Students complete the practice page in class. This page should only be completed at home if they are absent.

Social Studies: Vocabulary study guides (already completed) and unit study guides after we complete them.

Homework:

Reading:

Students should read each evening 15-20 minutes any book of their choice. It is important to have discussions about what they are reading. These discussions allow you the opportunity to connect with your student through literature and to ensure they are understanding what they are reading.

Spelling/Vocabulary Words (word application):

Each week students are encouraged to practice their spelling and vocabulary words to ensure they understand them. On Fridays we take our word app test which supports the word application work your student as been completing daily during the ELA block.

ELA:

Word Application: Week of 8/17-8-21 NO WORD APPLICATION this week

Reading:

We are currently establishing reading/writing routines, setting ELA/Writing notebooks, and writing folders.

Writing: All essays will be typed on the computer. The FAST does NOT allow spell check. We will begin early working on the computers.

Currently we are working on analyzing prompts.

Main Idea = topic + point

Essays will be 4 paragraphs including:

1 - introduction paragraph (Hook, CMI, Points #1 and #2)

2 - Main Idea #1 with supporting elaboration and evidence

3 - Main Idea #2 with supporting elaboration and evidence

4 - concluding paragraph (We restate the CMI by switching it up and giving a piece of advice for our conclusions.)

Homework: Students should study word application and read for 15-20 minutes each evening. Word application study guides and practice sheets from class are located in student binders.

Social Studies:

Unit 1: Historical Thinking, Interpreting Maps, and Weather/Climate

You may reach me through email: landrea.skinner@tvcs.org or phone: (352)259-6820.