Altamaha Elementary School PTO/Title I/Parent Night

1. Altamaha Elementary SchoolPTO/Title I/Parent Night

2. Altamaha Elementary School 2011-2012 CLASSROOM INFORMATION

3. WELCOME TO OUR CLASSROOM!

4. Kindergarten to Fifth Grade Curriculum • Based on Georgia Performance Standards • Grade Level Expectations in Reading and Math

5. Reading By the end of 4th grade, students will demonstrate mastery of many concepts and skills, including the following: • Identify elements of a story: plot, character & setting • Locate facts that answer questions • Use comprehension strategies: predict, visualize, question, reread, and summarize. • Identify and use knowledge of common textual features (e.g., paragraphs, topic sentences, concluding sentences, glossary). • Identify and uses knowledge of common organizational structures (e.g., chronological order, cause and effect). • Distinguish cause from effect in context. • Summarize main ideas and supporting details.

6. A.R. Expectations • The following is a tentative schedule for student A.R. points achievement: • First 8 weeks: 18 points • Second 8 weeks: 18 points • Third 8 weeks: 18 points • Fourth 8 weeks: 6 points • Total: 60 points • Students are also expected to maintain an 85 average.

7. Language Arts By the end of 4th grade, students will demonstrate mastery of many concepts and skills, including the following: • Simple and complete subjects and predicates • Subject-verb agreement • Parts of speech • Adjectives, verbs, nouns. adverbs, pronouns, and prepositions • Punctuation • End marks, commas, periods for abbreviations, etc. • Capitalization • Proper nouns, titles, proper adjective • Homophones (correct spelling) • Eliminating sentence fragments • Sentence structures • Simple, compound, imperative, declarative, exclamatory, interrogative, functional fragments

8. Language Arts By the end of 4th grade, students will demonstrate mastery of many concepts and skills, including the following: Writing • Use the 6 Writing Traits: Ideas, Organization, Voice, Word Choice, Sentence Fluency, and Conventions • Write for various audiences and purposes • Support opinions and solutions to problems • Use reference materials: Internet, atlas, encyclopedia, magazines, thesaurus, newspaper, dictionary, almanac, key words

9. MATH By the end of 4th grade, students will demonstrate mastery of many concepts and skills, including the following: Multiplication • Multiply two and three-digit numbers by one and two-digit numbers Division • Divide by one and two-digit numbers (including those with remainders) Fractions • Add and subtract fraction with like denominators • Know equivalencies of fractions • Use mixed numbers and improper fractions interchangeably Decimals • Add and subtract decimals • Multiply and divide decimals by whole numbers

10. SOCIAL STUDIES By the end of 4th grade, students will demonstrate mastery of many concepts and skills, including the following: Native Americans • Describe how Native Americans used their environment to obtain food, clothing, and shelter. • Locate where Native Americans settled North American Exploration • John Cabot, Vasco Núñez de Balboa, Juan Ponce de León, Christopher Columbus, Henry Hudson, and Jacques Cartier. American Revolution Westward Expansion • Louisiana Purchase • Louis & Clark Expedition Abolitionist and suffrage movements. • Harriet Tubman • Elizabeth Cady Stanton • Sojourner Truth

11. SCIENCE By the end of 4th grade, students will demonstrate mastery of many concepts and skills, including the following: • Stars and Solar System • Light • Mirrors, lenses, and prisms • Sound • Forces and Motion • Simple machines • Ecosystems • Water Cycle and Weather

12. School-Parent Compact(Title I Schools) • Mission Statement • The Appling County School System is committed to providing a quality education that promotes maximum individual achievement and social responsibility. • School Responsibilities • As an administrator, I will: • Provide a safe and orderly environment conducive to learning. • Provide an environment that allows for positive communication among the teacher, parents, and student. • Support teachers in providing high quality instruction. • Provide an open door policy for parents.

13. School-Parent Compact(Title I Schools) continued Teacher Responsibilities As a teacher, I will: • Believe that each child can learn. • Show respect for each student and his/her family. • Provide a safe, positive, caring environment, conducive to learning. • Help each child grow to his/her fullest potential. • Provide meaningful and appropriate homework activities. • Enforce rules fairly and consistently. • Demonstrate professional behavior and a positive attitude. • Seek ways to involve parents in school activities. • Come to class well prepared to teach. • Communicate regularly with families about students’ progress.

14. School-Parent Compact(Title I Schools) continued Parent/Guardian Responsibilities As a parent/guardian, I will: • See that my child attends school everyday and is on time. • Show respect and support for my child, the teachers, and the school. • Communicate with my child’s teachers on a regular basis. • Insist that all homework assignments be completed. • Read with my child and let my child read to me. • Talk with my child about his/her daily school experiences. • Regularly monitor my child’s progress (report cards, student planner, progress reports, weekly signed papers). • Participate at school in activities such as parent-teacher conferences, PTO meetings, Open House, and other special events.

15. School-Parent Compact(Title I Schools) continued Student Responsibilities As a student, I will: • Come to school everyday, prepared to do my best. • Show respect for myself, my classmates, my teachers, my school, and my community. • Let my teacher and my family know if I need help. • Obey all school and bus rules. • Read on my own and with my family every day. • Write down assignments, do my homework every day, and turn it in when it’s due.

16. Progress Reports and Report Cards Progress Reports • Issued about 4 weeks of each grading period. • The first Progress Report is scheduled to go home September 7th. Report Cards • Issued every 8 weeks at the end of each grading period • The first report cards should go home on October 17th.

17. Grades Three, Four, and Five Criteria for Promotion • Earn a yearly average of 70% or higher in Reading and in Math AND in grades 4 and 5 must earn a yearly average of 70% or higher in at least two of the following subjects: Language, Science, and Social Studies. • Be recommended for promotion by the classroom teacher. The teacher’s recommendation should be based on documentable data and might include sources such as: class performance, norm reference test results, Light’s Retention Scale Indicator, and work habits. • As part of fourth grade promotion/retention criteria, the Criterion-Referenced Competency Test results will be utilized to determine placement. • No fifth grade student shall be promoted to the sixth grade if the student does not achieve grade level on the Criterion-Referenced Competency Test in reading and mathematics and meet promotion standards and criteria established in this policy for the school that the student attends.

18. Assessments • Classroom Assessments • Benchmarks • Every eight weeks • Writing • CRCT

19. WHAT CAN YOU DO BEFORE A TEST? • Please make sure that your child: • Gets plenty of rest • Eats a well-balanced breakfast • Does not get upset or stressed

20. Be sure to check your child’s homework sheet. It contains important information for assignments and upcoming assessments. Ask questions when reading a story. Use flash cards with math, spelling, etc. HOW CAN YOU INCREASE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT?

21. RESOURCES FOR HELP • Teacher • Administrator • Discovery Place Parent Resource Center

22. ATTENDANCE POLICY • When a student is absent, he/she must provide a written excuse to the teacher within three days after returning to school. A student is tardy if he/she arrives at school or class after the tardy bell has rung, or 7:50 A.M. In order to be counted present, a student must be at school one-half day or until 11:30 A.M. If a student is tardy, the student will not be eligible for a superior perfect attendance certification. Early sign out will also be documented as a tardy.

23. Exemption Policy • It has been determined that students who meet certain criteria will be allowed to exempt half a day (sign out at 11:30 and be counted present for the full day) on the last day before Christmas Holidays begin and the last day of school. • Criteria for Exemption: • Completed all assignments and requirements • Have no fines • Earn recommendation from the teacher

24. HOW CAN YOU PARTICIPATE IN DECISIONS REGARDING YOUR CHILD? Consult with administrator Conference with teacher Be a parent volunteer School Council PTO Parental Involvement Committee

25. Extra Activities offered at Altamaha Elementary School • Spelling Bee • Poetry Contests • Art Poster Contests • Red Ribbon Week • Field Day • Science Projects

26. School Meetings • All parents/guardians are invited to attend the PTO meetings and become involved in your child’s education. • The next PTO meeting is scheduled for September 13, 2011 at 6:00 PM in the gym

27. Thank you!!! When we work together as a team, it helps your child to have a successful and rewarding school year.