Welcome to Fourth Grade!

1. Welcome to Fourth Grade! • Fourth Grade provides a transition from the primary level to the intermediate level. • You might notice a marked increase in difficulty and responsibility expectations. • We expect each student to be responsible for their behavior, homework and learning. • We focus on consequences, not punishment. • Expectations are high.

2. Welcome to Prairie View

3. Prairie View Information • Please look at the class website for information on upcoming events. In the near future you’ll be able to check grades and assignments on-line. • http://www.conradschools.org

4. Your Child’s Homeroom Teacher • Mrs. Hofstad • Graduate of Sidney High School • BA- Education- ORU, Masters of Education- Leslie University • Trainer for Six Traits of Writing, Project Success, Performance Assessment & Rubric Design, Step Up to Writing • Empty Nester –Grandma • Hobbies- reading, quilting, scrapbooking, cooking • High School Golf Coach • Language Arts steering committee

5. Curriculum • Our curriculum has been developed in collaboration with other schools in the area through the Golden Triangle Curriculum Cooperative. The curriculum objectives have been matched with the State Standards.

6. Language Arts • Mrs. Hofstad -Writing: Six Traits of Writing, Grammar, DOL, Poetry, Stories, Project Success, Legends, skills lessons and more. • Mrs. SchleppScience or Social Studies • Independent Reading: Setting goals, class and personal, Parties, Parental involvement • Spelling: Words from all curricular areas, Phonetic emphasis, Dictionary Practice, different difficulty levels

7. Reading • Independent Reading: Students set individual goals for each trimester. We spend ½ hour per day on IR. Books they read at home count toward their goal also. • Reading:Students will be in a flexible grouping situation among all the classrooms and teachers. We’ll have 8 reading groups, each addressing the learning needs of the students. • Phonics: Skills lessons, incorporated into Spelling.

8. MAP Testing • Measure of academic progress • Individualized test taken on computer. We’ll be doing Reading, Math, Language • Helps us determine areas in our curriculum we need to emphasize more and what we can do to help each child with individually. Will help determine reading groups.

9. Math • Saxon Math Program • Ticket Out/ Ticket In (drill & practice) • I welcome volunteers for Individual assessments and other Math activities! • Please practice the facts at home with your child. Flash cards or timing sheets would be beneficial. • One of biggest hurdles is students’ lack of fact recall. Its very difficult to learn higher level concepts when you’re still using your fingers. • Graphing, addition of 3-4 digit numbers, subtraction with middle zeros, place value through hundred millions, multiplication, division, money, making change, organizing data, problem solving

10. Social Studies • Study of the Seven Continents • Montana History and Indian Studies • Use of almanacs, atlases, encyclopedias, and internet for research. • Daily Geography (Geographic Review of our World)

11. Science • We are fortunate to have a brand new curriculum • Life Science • Organization of Living Things • Ecosystems • Earth Sciences • Our Solid World • Space • Physical Science (5th grade) • Agriculture Month

12. MBI/ Olweus • MBI– Montana Behavioral Initiative • Prairie View ROCKS—Respect & Responsibility, Observation of Rules, Courtesy & Consideration, Kindness, Safety • Olweus Bullying Prevention Program

13. Olweus Bullying Circle

14. Specialty Classes • Library Class: Mrs. Larson, research, reports, computer skills • Library Check Out: Mrs. Larson • Physical Education: Mr. LaBarre • Music and Special Choir: Mrs. McRae • Explorations: Mrs. Lee • Title One: Mrs. Jensen • Resource: Mrs. Boehmler • Counseling: Mrs. Janzen

15. Grading Scale • A: 90-100 • B: 80-89 • C: 70-79 • D: 60-69 • F: 59 or below • Clear expectations are provided for activities so students know what they need to do to achieve the grade they want.

16. Schedule • PE: Tuesday and Thursday • Music: Monday and Tuesday • Library Class and Check out: Wednesday • Counseling: TBA • Public Library check out: (may use own card): Last Friday of the month • Independent Reading: ½ hour daily • Reading: 9:30-10:30 • Language: 10:30-11:25 • Math Class: 8:45, meeting: 2:15 • Afternoons:Social Studies, Science, • Art: Fridays, sometimes incorporated into other classes.

17. Due Dates and Expectations • Spelling packets handed out Monday. Due Thursday or Friday. • Spelling Test: Friday AM • Homework: Neatly done, on time • Consequences Chart, countdown • Corral (Good Behavior)

18. Homework Guidelines • Do the hardest homework first. • Take a break after 10 or 15 minutes. (3 or 4 minutes) • Have a healthy snack • Ask for help (don’t be afraid to ask!) • Don’t rush when doing homework. • Do homework in the same place every day. • Have a plan. Have a schedule. • Find the time, make the time. • No excuses. • If it’s too noisy, get earplugs. • No TV! • Duh jokes to ease the stress.

19. Snacks and Lunch • Students bring their own snacks. • Please send nutritious snacks. • Raise a finger rule for reading labels or the 10/10 rule • We have snack time daily. • Lunch 11:30-11:50 • Lunch Recess 11:50-12:15

20. Special Events • First People’s Buffalo Jump field trip (volunteers to help chaperone) • Agriculture Month: March • Agriculture Fair—end of March • Parties: Halloween, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Last Day of School • Birthdays • Independent Reading Party • Book Orders • Holiday special events

21. Homework Absences: Please come in to pick up any homework prior to planned absences. Please call the office if your child will be absent. If a student misses for illness, please stop in to get their work for that day. Expectations—homework in on time. 1 day late –5, 2 days –10, 3 days-15 if not in by Friday—0. Not turned in on time –checkmark, 3 checks, out of corral.

22. Homework Help • Homework help is offered Monday through Thursday from 3:20-4:20. • Please have arrangements to pick up your child by 4:20. • This program helps students finish homework with a teacher.

23. Parent Helpers • You are welcome to visit the school anytime. Please check in at the office. • I appreciate parent helpers for art projects, field trips, math individual assessments, class parties or any special skills or talents you’d like to share with the class.

24. Our class goal is to help each child become the best student they can be. Please work with us to help us achieve this goal.

25. Our Class