4th Grade Back to School Night Sarah Anderson, Teresa Martinez, Jean Mercy, Sierra Wren, and Rae Regan AUGUST 30, 2018 Specials (Art, Music, Technology, and Physical Education) Teachers Introduction of Specials teachers and content Curriculum Grading 50% Participation and
50% Skills, Projects, and Assessments Enrichment opportunities Extracurricular opportunities PTO Information Discipline Policy Overview & Kickboard In our school we strive to be people of character. We use the American Academy Manners and the teaching of the Core Virtues to accomplish this goal. Parents are strongly encouraged to reinforce these character-based rules at home. Our goal with discipline is to
promote a classroom atmosphere that is conducive to learning and encourages mutual respect. We use a grade-level disciplinary program as well as a buildingwide discipline policy. 4th Grade Curriculum Overview: Math We use the Saxon Math curriculum at American Academy. This program is a spiral program. This means, instead of a concept being taught just once, students practice a concept many times at varying intervals throughout the year. This gives the student the time and practice needed to master a math concept. Directions on how to access the book will be on our website.
Grading: Lesson Practice (homework) 20% Assessments 80% 4th Grade Curriculum Overview: Hake & Spalding Hake Grammar: Hake Grammar is a spiraling program that allows the students to practice grammar rules throughout each week. Students will have homework if they do not complete the practice in class. Directions on how to access the book will be on our website. The Spalding Method is a phonics-based program that integrates
reading, and spelling. Spelling: Students will practice phonograms and weekly spelling words. Reading: This method teaches students to better self-monitor their reading and comprehension while learning about the different text structures. 4th Grade Curriculum Overview: Reading Core Knowledge Novels: Students will be reading a variety of classic novels including Robinson Crusoe, Robin Hood, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, and Treasure Island. As students read these novels, they will learn new vocabulary and extend their use of comprehension strategies. Additional Novel: Where the Mountain Meets the Moon this is a wonderful story to finish the year that teaches the kids about fables
and ties in the China unit they are studying in History. We do not send home nightly reading logs. We do ask that you spend time with your child reading a book they enjoy. We will communicate their Lexile level after MAP testing. 4th Grade Curriculum Overview: Writing With Step Up to Writing, students will learn and practice the following writing skills and many more: Summaries (within reading and writing as well as during Science and History classes) Narratives with the use of dialogue Essays
Research report All writing will be completed in class; assignments will only come home if your student has fallen behind in class. 4th Grade Curriculum Overview: Literacy Grading Writing 35% Grammar 15% Reading 35% Spelling & Vocabulary 15% Assignments will have a weight of 1 Quizzes will have a weight of 2
Assessments will have a weight of 3 or 4 4th Grade Curriculum Overview: Science We use the Next Gen Science Standards, Core Knowledge Science, as well as American Academys STEM program in Science. The following subjects are covered in 4th grade: Waves and their application technologies for information transfer
Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes Energy Earth STEM Units Little Bits: September 10th September 21st EV3: April 3rd April 12th 4th Grade Curriculum Overview: History We use the Core Knowledge curriculum for history and geography. The following subjects are covered in 4th grade:
Map Skills Major Mountains and Mountain Ranges Middle Ages in Europe Islam Early and Medieval African Kingdoms
Chinese Dynasties American Revolution Colorado History Economics Grading: Classwork/Homework 40% Tests 60% Grading & Late Work Policy Vacations: No work will be given prior to vacations. Students must meet with their teachers to request any missed work. Students will be extended the grace period of 5 days
to finish all missed work. Infinite Campus (IC) is the best resource for seeing what was assigned on the days missed. Late work: 10% deduction for one day 50% deduction for 2 days After two days no credit is given Grading Scale: Per the Parent/Student Handbook, the following grading scale will be used: A+ 100-99 B 89-84 C- 73-72 A 98-94 B- 83-82 D+ 71-70
A- 93-92 C+ 81-80 D 69-65 B+ 91-90 C 79-74 F Below 65 Student Responsibilities Students will learn to advocate for themselves and take responsibility for their learning. We expect students to: Check Infinite Campus, under Assignments- homework will not be posted on the website Ask teachers for assignments when absent Ask teachers for clarification on grades Email teachers with questions
Conferences & Field Trips We have conferences three times a year. Please check the school calendar for dates. We will send a sign up out about a week before conferences. Please be aware of when the conference sign up closes. Our last conferences in May will be student-led this year! We currently have one field trip planned for this year: Young Ameritowne in March. More information regarding chaperones, permission slips, and payments will be sent out prior to the field trip
Contact Information Sarah Anderson: [email protected] Teresa Martinez: [email protected] Jean Mercy: [email protected] Sierra Wren: [email protected] Rae Regan: [email protected] Please make sure you are sending emails to our American Academy email addresses and NOT our district email addresses. Those sent to district email may or may not be forwarded. If you send an email directly from Infinite Campus (IC) it will go to our district email address. There is a 48 hour work hour response time.
Thank you for coming! We are looking forward to partnering with you to make this a great year! Please do not hesitate to contact us with any celebrations, concerns, or questions.
