2009-2010 Packet
Schedule
See here.
Class List
Bianca, Aftyn, Migel, Juan, Cody, Fabian, Kellen, Brandon, Cintya, Madison, Jasmine, Francisco, Lupe, Fernando, Spencer, Levi, Josely, Harish, Rocio, Mattie, Monce, Hannah, Fallon, Bailey, Cesar, Brandon, Ulysses
Accelerated Reader & Accelerated Math
Accelerated Reader (AR) and Accelerated Math (AM) are two school-wide programs that allow students to progress in each subject area at their own speed. During AR time, students select a book that is labeled at their own specific reading range. Each book in our classroom library is labeled. When students are finished reading their books, they will take a short quiz on the computer to determine how much of the book was understood. Each book has a point value determined by the book’s size. Small books are generally worth 0.5 points, whereas chapter books can range from 1.0 points to 5.0 points. In fourth grade, 0.5 points per day is required for an “A” grade. This is equivalent to one small book each day or 1-2 chapter books per week. AR constitutes 10% of a student’s total reading grade. We follow a general progression when selecting books, so as to practice with various types of reading: fiction, then non-fiction, and then a chapter book.
Reading Logs
Reading logs are sent home each Monday and are returned each Friday. Each weekly total should consist of at least 100 minutes. This averages to 25 minutes a day, excluding Friday and the weekends. Your child may divide up the 100 minutes however he/she chooses. Logs must be completed in their entirety and summaries must be written in complete sentences. The log has a place for a parent/guardian signature and the total number of minutes at the bottom. This will count as reading homework each week. A parent signature is required for credit.
Although Accelerated Reader books are not required during at-home reading, it is highly suggested that AR books are read if your student is not caught up in AR. When reading an AR book for an at-home reading log, a student is fulfilling two requirements at once: reading homework and AR.
During Accelerated Math, students complete pages of math work at their own level while showing all their work, bubble their answer onto a scan card, scan it, and immediately find out whether or not they have mastered a particular topic. If they have, they will be automatically moved onto the next subject. Gifted students, if they successfully master all fourth grade objectives, will be given the opportunity to continue into fifth grade math. Struggling students will be given the ability to work at their own speed, practicing each topic until fully mastered, so as to not skip ahead to even harder endeavors without basic math essentials.
Handwriting Packets
Handwriting packets are sent home weekly. They, like reading logs, are sent home Monday and due by Friday. If students would like to complete their handwriting packets before Friday, they are more than welcome to turn them in sooner.
Homework Folders & Planners
Each homework folder has two sides: “Return to School” (homework and papers to be returned to school) and “Keep at Home” (graded work and papers to come home and stay there). These folders are to be kept in good condition and should be well organized (i.e.: the “Keep at Home” side is emptied nightly and parents frequently review the folder).
Students fill in their planners each afternoon in class. These planners are to be viewed and initialed nightly by a parent/guardian if requested. This helps ensure a student’s healthy habit of nightly homework and organization. There is a plastic folder at the front of our planners that is convenient for holding notes, lunch money, etc. Please also keep in mind the reference materials in the back of the planner.
Howlers (Missing Assignment Slips)
Missing assignment slips, otherwise known as Howlers (think Harry Potter), are attached to any missing homework assignment. They are to be filled out by the student, signed by a parent, and returned the next day with the COMPLETED assignment. Completed assignments returned the next day with a Howler are still given full credit. There is no academic penalty. Howlers returned without the completed assignment, however, are given zero credit.
If your student brings home a Howler, please sit down and discuss with them the importance of staying on task and on time. Fourth grade is an incredible transition, both socially and academically. Howlers are used as a means of parent-teacher communication to ensure that students quickly form healthy homework habits. If your student is bringing home Howlers, more care must be taken to check your child’s planner and homework folder nightly. This is the easiest means of staying on track. Check off your child’s assignments after they have been completed and shown to you. An acceptable number of Howlers would be considered one missing assignment per month.
Homework Space
Having a steady, quiet homework space can make all the difference for a child. It encourages focusing on the task at hand and allows the time and space needed to do so. Suggested supplies for your child’s homework space are pencils, binder paper (to show all math work), colored pencils, and skinny markers. Generally speaking, your child will have the following homework nightly: 25 minutes of reading (and the completion of his/her reading log), handwriting packet, and two papers of subject work.
Miscellaneous Supplies
Any other supplies that are taken home (textbooks, composition notebooks, reading books, coloring supplies, etc.) must always be returned the next day. They will be used in class daily.
Progress Reports
Progress Reports are generally sent home every third Monday. They must be signed and returned the following day. These reports keep parents up-to-date on their student’s work and let me know if information is making its way home. Student papers are returned on an almost nightly basis (check the “Keep at Home” side of your student’s homework folder).
Absences
If your child is absent, he/she will have one extra day (for each absent day) to make up the work missed. It is important that your child miss as few school days as possible. Lessons taught in your child’s absence are much harder to comprehend in comparison to lessons taught in your child’s presence. If your child is absent, please make an effort to pick up your child’s work at the end of the day as opposed to waiting until the next morning. Thank you.
www.msyorksclass.com
Please visit the above web page for helpful homework links, note sheets, review practice, spelling lists, parent tips, school calendar, classroom newsletters, photos, CA Standards, book club ordering, educational computer games, VIP Club questions, and more!
Return often!
Study Island & BrainPop Jr.
Study Island and BrainPop Jr. are both subscription websites that help student learning at home. Study Island will focus specifically on language arts practice whereas BrainPop Jr. provides cartoon videos for a myriad of topics. In order to login to Study Island, a student must enter their username: firstinitiallastname@wilsonrams. Their password is their first name. For BrainPop Jr., the class username is “_______” and the password is “________”.
Contact Information
Ms. Laurie York, Teacher
409 Magnolia St.
Gridley, CA 95948
(530) 846-3675, ext. 236
lyork@gridley.k12.ca.us
Classroom Rules
1. Be respectful and responsible.
2. Be on task and do your best.
3. Participate and cooperate.
4. Keep a positive attitude.
5. Control yourself.
Positive Consequences
1. Pride in yourself.
2. Respect from your classmates.
3. Trust from your teacher.
Negative Consequences
1. Warning
2. Loss of Recess
3. Time Apart
4. Call Home
5. Office
