Dear Parents and Students,

     Welcome back to a new adventurous and promising school year!  I am very excited to have your child in my class and I know that we will have a great year together!

     I will be teaching fourth grade language arts which consists primarily of reading, writing and spelling.  We will be covering various reading genres this year.  Each month I will introduce and we will explore a new "Genre of the Month."  Students will be exploring these genres through whole group readings, small group guided readings as well as their own independent classroom and home readings.  Students will also be focusing on their writing skills.  We will be learning about the 6-traits of writing through direct instruction and independent practice.  We will be developing and enhancing our writing mechanics while we explore and produce various types of writings such as narrative writing, expository writing, persuasive writing, and report writing.  Finally, students will receive five new core spelling words weekly along with activities that reinforce spelling skills and any new concepts taught.  Students will not be provided with a weekly spelling list but will have a spelling practice page that they may bring home weekly.   

     Students will be expected to maintain a language arts binder.  It will be expected to be in class daily to be used as a tool to organize materials as well as a way for students to monitor their progress all year.  Students will also be expected to use an agenda book to record their assignments every day.  Assignments will be posted in my classroom daily for student reference.  If there happens to be no assignment given then students are expected to write no assignment or none in that day's assignment space.  The agenda is also a great communication tool for teachers and parents please check your child's agenda daily.

     On the first day of school I will be sending home important school forms that explain school procedures, routines and policies.  These will need to be read by parents and students.  Many forms will need to be completed, signed and returned promply back to school.  Please be sure to check your child's backpack for these forms.  Please also note the slight increase in school lunches.  Prices are as follows:  lunch = $2.25,  breakfast = $1.25, milk = $ .50  and reduced lunch tickets will stay the same.