WELCOME TO 4TH GRADE!

•   Typical Schedule

•     Grading Scale:       The York County grading scale is:

•    Cheating Policy:       If a student is caught cheating, he/she will receive a grade of “zero”

and a “Behavior Alert” will be sent home.  This includes any talking during

testing.

•     Standards of Learning (SOL) – 4^th Grade will take SOL tests in May on Math, Reading, and

  Virginia History.  Check out the Virginia DOE website:

http://www.pen.k12.va.us/go/Sols/home.shtml

•     Science:                    (1st and 4th Quarters)

                                       We will cover the scientific process, energy, weather, electricity, earth systems, plants and animals, and Virginia’s natural resources and ecosystems.

•     Social Studies:         (2nd and 3rd Quarters)

                                       We will learn about Virginia’s history and geography.  The Colonial period, the American Revolution, the Civil War and Reconstruction Period, segregation, and biographies of prominent Virginians will be covered.  Economics, national, state, and local governments, and the Civil Rights Movement are included as part of the social studies curriculum.

                                       We will be using The Virginia Experience as a supplemental resource to enhance our study of Virginia history and to prepare the students for the SOL test in May.

•     Reading:                    We will be using the reading series: Seeing is Believing:Reading by Scott Foresman.  Students will have workbooks that correspond with their texts that include practice on comprehension skills, vocabulary, and various phonics lessons.  We ask that you read the story of the week with your child.  (This is usually assigned as homework on Tuesdays.)

Family Times:           A weekly newsletter summarizing the story, spelling words, vocabulary words, grammar and reading skills will be sent home each week on Monday.  Please read this sheet and try some of the suggested activities each week, as well as to help your child study spelling and vocabulary words.  The reading selection test will be given on Thursdays.

Literature Groups:       The students will be reading novels in literature groups 3 days a week.  They will be grouped with students from other classes and rotate between all the 4^th grade teachers.  Each rotation will last 3 weeks, and the students will be tested on vocabulary and comprehension skills for each book.

                                       Accelerated Reader (AR) has started.

                                       There will be a Reading SOL test in May.

•     Spelling:                   There will be 20 words each week. The words will be listed on the weekly Family Times newsletter, and the words are also listed on the web page <http://yorkcountyschools.org/gbes/>.  Spelling assessments will be on Fridays.

•     LAW:                        LAW (Language and Writing) is part of our morning work.  Students will correct grammatical mistakes and work on grammar skills Monday through Thursday, which will be reviewed in class.  These same skills will be assessed on Fridays.

•     Writing:                    We will be doing a variety of writing activities throughout the year (e.g., fairy/folk tales, newspaper articles, poetry, friendly and business letters, stories, etc.).  The writing process will be emphasized.  In November students will begin  “paragraphs of the week” which will coincide with social studies topics.

•     Math:                        All of 4th grade will be switching for math.  We used assessments from this year, and last year’s grades and teachers’ comments to place students.  There will be small group instruction in all classes, and student progress will be regularly assessed.  Mathematics by Scott Foresman-Addison Wesley will be the book used in all classes.  Students will also use a workbook.

                                       Please help your child all year with his/her math facts.

                                       There will be a Math SOL test in May.

•     Homework:                If a student forgets his/her homework, an “Incomplete Homework” stamp will be stamped in the student’s agenda for a parent’s signature.  If the student receives more than 3 per quarter it will be reflected on the student’s report card.

•     DARE:                       The York County Sheriff’s Department will be conducting DARE (Drug Awareness and Resistance Education) lessons beginning in December.

•     Agenda:                    Each student has been given an agenda in which to write homework assignments.  Each student is expected to bring it every day to class.  Please check it for notes from the clinic and the school.

•     Amoco:                     Please volunteer once a month to help teach selected science experiments.  The experiments will be on the second Thursday of the month, (Oct. 13, Nov. 10, Jan. 12, Feb. 9, and Mar. 9).

•     Field Trips:              We will be chartering buses for a field trip to Richmond and Henricus Historical Citie, on April 28.  Stay tuned for more information.

·         Knowledge Bowl:       Your chance to participate in living history!  All of fourth grade will be involved in a Virginia Knowledge Bowl on May 12.  We will need parents to help make this a successful day. More information will be coming in the near future.

·         Communication:      Weekly folders will be sent home on Tuesdays.

Emails:             bbabcock@ycsd.york.va.us

cbauer@ycsd.york.va.us

            mhays@ycsd.york.va.us

            cmacpherson@ycsd.york.va.us

                        aosypian@ycsd.york.va.us