Happy January and a brand new year 2011!

It is a brand new year, welcome 2011.

Our school year in January comes with many changes too. It feels like a fresh start to fourth grade. I am looking forward to talking with the students about the changes to come for the rest of the fourth grade year. The following should help us all understand the new routine. Thank you for your support through all the changes as we learn and grow.

Your child will attend my classroom for instruction, except Reading and all specials. (art, music and pe) During the second hour of the day, your child will attend a reading class that will help focus on their skills and what is needed. A reading calendar for the month will be introduced to keep track of their 30 min. of reading.

I will teach all other academic subjects. Math homework will still remain M-TH. Spelling will be introduced, with quizzes on Thursday and Friday. Spelling homework will be M-Th too. Writing will be taught with the 6 traits of writing to help shape the student into a creative writer. Grammar and editing skills will also be a daily occurrence. I will pickup Arizona studies where Ms. Ronnie ended. I will start chapter 6 in the Arizona book. This will be the Spanish influence on Arizona. A review will always come before the test. Finally, Science will also continue from Ms. Gaff's instructions and we will move into an exciting subject, electricity. Again, a review will always come before a test. I will still do a book report a month and will always give your child a month's notice of the due date and what is required.

Everyday I will list the assignments on the white board and notate homework with a "HW". Your child will write the homework ONLY in their planner. This way you can stay informed. (Basically it will be Math and Spelling M-Th and 30 minutes of Reading M-F.) I will also list the goals for the day of what we need to accomplish each day so your child will understand why we need to learn the information.

Other information you may want to know...I hope to give a study hall period at the end of the day. This will help your child get started with homework and I can help.
At the end of the week on Friday, your child will be able to have a recess reward if they kept up with all the expectations. If not, your child will attend a study hall for missed work or behavior.

I hope to post grades on line for you this semester. However, with all the changes in the Amphi grading system, I need to see if this is possible.

As you can see, I have a very defined day and hope to get into a routine so we all know our expectations. Please contact me if their is a problem or how I can help.

Needed: Baby wipes for desk cleaning
Looking for a parent volunteer on Fridays

I hope all this information helps! Mrs. Wilson


Dates to Remember:

January 17...........Martin Luther King holiday
January 28...........Book report due