Mrs. Howell's Class Website

It is recommended that fourth grade students have approximately 40 minutes of homework per night.  In my class, most of this comes from completing the Reading and Math Log.  This is to be distributed monthly, completed daily, and checked weekly.

Reading:  Students should read each and every day for 30 minutes. The reading can be student choice and includes any kind of literature (cereal boxes, newspapers, comics, etc.). It is best to choose an AR book since we will be setting individual goals for AR points, but it doesn't always have to be an AR book. Parents should initial the reading log every night and the number of minutes read should be recorded.  There is some flexibility.  If a student cannot read due to emergencies or commitments on a certain night, they can make it up throughout the week.  Students can also read on the weekends, OF COURSE!  For full credit on the reading portion of the reading log, there must be 150 minutes by the end of the week for every 5 day school week, 30 minutes per night on weeks with student days off.

Math: Students are expected to practice basic math facts daily for 10-15 minutes. This includes addition, subtraction, multiplication and division facts; 0-9. Students may do this in a variety of ways. There is a website with a math facts game listed on this site under "useful websites." There are other internet and software practice tools available. Some are free.  You can find them with Google.  Simple flashcards can be used.  Students can ask a guardian, friend, or sibling to orally quiz them. Students can simply write the facts or fact families out on paper.  Any of these methods is perfectly acceptable.  Parents should write the number of minutes practiced each night and initial in the space provided on the log.  Our goal is for all students to be proficient with their math facts by the end of January.  (Though we will continue to focus on the facts until the end of the year for any students still not proficient.) Our method of assessing whether this goal has been reached is a quiz of mixed facts. Students should be able to correctly answer 100 mixed math facts in 5 minutes.

Spelling:  The Reading and Math Log will be distributed monthly and placed in the pronged section of the homework folders.  It also includes the weekly spelling words for the month.  Students will keep a spelling spiral with weekly spelling homework practice. 

The Reading and Math Log  is part of reading and math grades and should be done each week.  Late entries are not accepted except for absences.  Entries are only valid with Parent/Guardian initials.   

Additional Homework: There may be other homework in these and other subjects throughout the week.  It is my intention to make it flexible for students who have commitments outside of school such as sports and church, so I will send homework home in the homework folder at the beginning of the week when possible.  Based on student need, homework may be assigned on a daily basis and students will write it in their agenda.  Please write a note in your child's agenda or email me if there is anything I can do to help your child succeed in this area. 

Mrs. Howell’s

Fourth Grade Syllabus

for Success

2009-2010

 Goal:  The students will improve in all areas of academics and personal development.

 I: Objectives:  The students will learn and improve in areas of…

Language Arts/Writing

Grammar, writing process, imaginative and expressive writing, poetry, types of writing pieces: narrative and expository

Mathematics

Number sense, addition and subtraction, multiplication and division, measurement, fractions, decimals, geometry, algebra, problem solving

 Reading

Vocabulary, spelling, comprehension, story elements, appreciation

 Science/Health

Human body, nutrition and fitness, ecology, geology, paleontology

 Social Studies

Florida  history, Geography, various countries, current events, government

II: Classroom Procedures/Policies:

 Absences/Tardies

All children must have a written explanation of an absence to be excused.  Students are expected to makeup all work when they return.  All fourth graders need to arrive at school between 7:30AM-7:50AM.  Instruction in the morning is crucial, and teachers have to stop instruction to greet tardy students.  It is beneficial to bring your child to school on time.

Agenda Planners

Every child has an agenda planner to help keep the lines of communication open.    Students will record the color they earned and the teacher may make behavior notes as needed each day.  Students must have a title of a book that they are currently reading written for each day.  Students will also write weekly goals in their planner.     Additional homework will be written in the planner as well.  Please sign the agenda planner every night.

 Accelerated Reader

Students will participate in an Accelerated Reader program which motivates children to read.  AR allows the students to read books and take quizzes on the books.  The students are allowed to check out two books at a time from the Media Center and will receive points for the quizzes.  Students can also earn rewards.  There will be a charge for lost books.

Behavior Management System

Every behavior management system consists of rules/expectations, consequences, and rewards.  These are posted in the classroom and will  be sent home for your review.

 Expectations

Take care of yourself

Take care of each other

Take care of our school 

Rules based on expectations:

 Listen while others are talking.

Enter class prepared to learn.

Always follow directions.

Remain on Task.

Negotiate and solve problems peacefully.

Consequences

Colors are noted in the agenda for parents.  Minor infractions involve breaking one of the expectations.  Students will receive one color change each time and predetermined consequences according to plan posted in classroom.  Major infractions involve breaking the Code of Conduct.  Students will receive two or more color changes, depending on the seriousness of actions.  Each color change will result in corresponding consequences listed in classroom discipline plan.

Color Change Key

 a. Good Job (Blue)

b. Warning (Green)

c. Repeated infractions, level two consequence (Yellow)

d. Referral to Office/Phone call home (Red)

  Rewards

 a. Blue drop (recognition from office and chance to win a drawing)

b. Student of the Month

c. Positive Note/Phone Call

d. Friday treasure box

e. Red  tickets

When a student remains on blue all week for good behavior, he/she will get to choose from one of the following special privileges:

 a. Skip homework assignment Pass

b. Free Snack Pass

c. New pencil/eraser Pass

d. Treasure box pick

P.E.

Students have P.E. everyday and must dress appropriately.  Our time for P.E. is 10:55-11:25.  All 4^th graders must participate in P.E. unless they have a note. 

 Bathroom Breaks

Students have access to a class bathroom.  They may use it as needed during independent work time only.  In case of emergency, students may ask for permission during instruction.   Please send me a note if your child needs to use the restroom for an excessive amount due to medical conditions.

 Communication

Communication between the teacher, parent, and student is very important to ensure success in academics and personal development.  Please contact me at 853-6030, and I will return your call.  There will be opportunities where face to face conferences will be more beneficial than phone calls.  Therefore please remember to keep all appointments.  The quickest, most efficient way to communicate is by email:  renee.howell@polk-fl.net

 Daily Schedule 

 Homework

Fourth graders are responsible for writing their own homework assignments in their own agendas.  Also, a book title of a book currently being read should be recorded every day in the agenda.  Homework EVERY NIGHT is to complete the reading/math log but SOME days, students may have an additional assignment such as a math workbook page, writing assignment or a classwork assignment to correct and return.  Please sign your child's agenda and reading/math log every night. 

 Lunch

All parents are invited to meet their children in the cafeteria for lunch, just be sure to get a visitor's pass from the office.  Please make sure your child’s lunch is paid at the end of every week.  Your child will receive a  sandwich on an overdue account.

 Materials/Supplies

A supply list has been distributed to all the fourth graders.  Please make sure your child is prepared for school each day.  It will probably be necessary to buy notebook paper and pencils for the class as the year progresses as we begin running low on these items around Christmas and for the rest of the year.

 Technology

Students will participate in various learning activities that integrate the use of technology through computers, printers, e-mail, etc.   This includes AR testing, Odyssey, FCAT Explorer, reading tests and more.  We also now have a mobile computer lab consisting of a class set of laptops that we will use once a week.

 Visitation

Parents are always invited to visit by observing or helping in the classroom during the day.  However, please notify me at least 24 hours ahead of time to schedule a time to visit.  The momentum of instruction is very vital during the day, and an unplanned visit can distract the children.

 Volunteers

Volunteers for classroom events and field trips will be necessary throughout the school year.  Please let me know where you woul be willing to volunteer.   Beginning this year, there will be a fee of approximately $25 for the background check.  See polk-fl.net for details if you are not already an approved volunteer.   Thank You!

Behavior Chart

Here is a copy, without student names, of the class behavior chart that I keep on my clip board.  If your child has a star by the 3 smiley faces, that means they had no color changes.  (Equivalent to "blue" on the behavior scale in the syllabus.)  Otherwise, I will circle the smiley face corresponding to the color your child earned.

If there is a color change, I usually will just write a one or two letter code.  I am providing you a copy of the behavior chart so that you can see what the codes mean.  If a behavior becomes a problem, or is addressed repeatedly, I will make more specific notations in your child's agenda.