Backman Elementary 4th Grade 2012-2013 Classroom Disclosure ...

Backman Elementary 4 th Grade2012-2013Classroom Disclosure DocumentMs. Bauserman, #216801.578.8100, ext. 216katie.bauserman@slcschools.orgDear Parents,I am very excited to be your child’s fourth grade teacher this upcoming school year. I lookforward to getting to know each of my students. I am committed to seeing that each of my students hasa fun, learning, stimulating, and productive school year, where they feel valued and respected. I amdedicated to promoting growth in all my students in every academic area. We will be using multiplelearning strategies that will engage, challenge, and motivate the students daily.Class Description:Our goals this year are to learn and grow in academics and socially. The first rule in my classis: Follow directions the first time they’re given. This generally tends to eliminate a lot of confusion,and rebellion. The second and third rules deal with respecting oneself as well as others. The fourth ruleis: Be honest. The fifth rule is: Keep a low, distinguishable noise level in class.We are going to be learning new things in the subjects of Mathematics, English (includingreading and writing), Science, Computers and Technology, Art, Physical Education, Music, and SocialStudies. An exciting opportunity for our class this year is that we will be a Technology in theClassroom (ETC) class; there will be access to netbooks for every two students.Grade Level Goals and ObjectivesFourth grade is an exciting year in your child’s elementary experience. It is a challenging yearwith many opportunities to grow and excel. We will be following the Utah State Core Curriculum,which is an outline of standards and objectives which are essential for students at the elementary level.The curriculum includes ideas, concepts, strategies, and skills to provide a foundation on whichsubsequent learning may be built. The curriculum for each grade level can be accessed on line at theUtah State Office of Education’s website at: http://www.schools.utah.gov/curr/core.The goals for students in our classroom are: Students will be considered responsible for their behavior and their work. Students will be held responsible for following classroom and school rules at all times. Students will always put forth their best effort and do their very best work.

Backman Elementary has school wide rules that are mandated for all students and they are as follows; 1. Follow Directions the first time given. 2. Keep hands, feet6, and all other objects to self. 3. Do not swear, tease, yell, scream, argue, put down, bully or harass. 4. Be on time and be prepared.Instructional materials :Language Arts/Reading: Students will continue to develop language to effectively communicatethrough listening, speaking, writing, and presenting. They will continue to strengthen their fluency,vocabulary, and comprehension. They will keep readers’ and writers’ notebooks.English Language Development (ELD): Santillana-Spotlight on English: Santillana USA Publishers,2008.Our materials will include the Storytown: Harcourt Publishers, 2008 text and other student novels.Spelling: Students will practice spelling words correctly and using them in their everyday writing.They will be required to complete class assignments, homework assignments, and quizzes.Math: The instructional timeline for fourth grade focuses on three critical areas: 1) developingunderstanding and fluency with multi-digit multiplication and of dividing to find quotients involvingmulti-digit dividends; 2) developing an understanding of fraction equivalence, addition and subtractionof fractions with like denominators; 3) understanding that geometric figures can be analyzed andclassified based on their properties. Our math program uses the Math Expressions: Houghton MifflinPublishers, 2006 text.Science: Students will learn about Utah environments including: weather, water cycle, rocks, fossils,soils, plants, and animals. They will increase their science literacy as they gain an understanding of theconcepts of cycles through classification, data collection, and inquiry. The materials will be from thefourth grade Core Academy Handbook.Social Studies: In fourth grade students will learn about the present state of Utah. They will studyhistory, government, economics, culture, and geography to build their understanding of Utah's past andpresent as well as make inferences about Utah's future. Students will enlarge their world connectionsas they trace the global travels of people from many diverse cultures. The Utah Adventure, GibbsSmith, 2005.Additional Course RequirementsStudents are expected to attend school regularly, be on time, and come prepared to learn. They will beexpected to complete 20-30 minutes of homework daily, excluding weekends and holidays. They willbe expected to read at home daily and to keep a double/entry journal that will be collected weekly.They will keep readers’ notebooks, math journals, and writers’ notebooks.

Students will have an active role in establishing classroom behavior expectations. They will practicethe behavior expectations for the school. Students need to be respectful of their teacher, theirclassmates, the building, and materials.Instructional Practices:In my class I will be using various types of instruction and activities such as: cooperativelearning strategies, inquiry, math talk communities, literature circles and guided reading groups.Salt Lake School District requires English Language Development (ELD) daily for all students.During this instructional period students across the grade level will be separated into groups based ontheir abilities, and may be taught by either myself or one of the other fourth grade teachers. Self-starters: Students will be asked to complete what are referred to as self-start assignmentsfirst thing in the morning when they get to school. The assignments will be designed to assessstudents’ independent practice of skills being learned in class. In-class Assignments: Students will be expected to complete lesson-based assignmentsthroughout the course of the day. Most assignments will be completed in their class journals, orin workbooks or through worksheets. Homework: Homework will be assigned to students each night for skill reinforcementpractice. All homework will need to be completed for the following school day (unlessotherwise indicated.) It will include Spelling, Math review, Science observations, and aminimum of 30 minutes of reading six days a week. Attendance: Please call or write a note to the school when you know your child will be absentor if they get sick. You student will be held responsible for follow-up on missed class-work andhomework.District Academic Performance Standards:3-Exceptional Performance; performs consistently at or above grade level.2-At standard; achieves grade level standards with minimal support.1-Approaching standard; demonstrates increasing knowledge of grade level standards with additionalsupport.P-Progressing; below grade standards but progressing at an acceptable rate.N-Need for improvement; performing below grade level standards, potential, or expectations.Grading Procedures:

Clear standards and expectations are established for all students at each grade level. To be ongrade level, students are expected to be able to demonstrate knowledge for the information that hasbeen taught with minimal support from the teacher.My grading data points will include the following:-Readers’ notebooks-Writers’ notebooks-Math Journals-Science journals-Class Assignments-Homework-Tests-School-wide assessments; DIBELS, UCUTIPS benchmarksI expect students to complete their daily homework which will always be due the followingday. I also expect students to at least read for 30 minutes each night, including weekends. Students areallowed by district Policy 5-4 to make-up work for excused absences (i.e. illness, extracurricularactivities, religious observance, family activities.) Students will be allowed a couple of days to a weekfor late assignments with an excused absence, after one week no late assignments will be accepted.I have an open-door policy, so parents are always welcome to contact me or come into classand view students work if there are any concerns about the student’s progress. Parents should look forweekly tests in spelling and times tables to be brought home from students each Friday. Gradedhomework will also be returned along with selected class work and assignments.Behavior ExpectationsI am committed to teaching and believe that all children can learn; therefore, I will not toleratebehaviors that interfere or disrupt these goals. I have implemented a classroom management systemwhich emphasizes positive reinforcement as well as consequences for acceptable and unacceptablechoices. As a class, we have come up with the following behavior expectations for our student.Should a student choose not to follow these behavior expectations, the following disciplinary actionplan applies:1 st - Verbal Reminder2 nd -Warning; sign card3 rd -5 minutes of recess will be altered in the classroom; sign discipline card.4 th -Go to buddy room and write letter home detailing misbehavior and how they will improve.5 th -Parent/teacher conference (phone or in person)6 th -Referral to principalThe rewards for students who choose to comply with the behavior expectations will include thefollowing: praise, positive notes home, small prizes, art parties, free read, and class parties.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------SignaturesParents/guardians please sign this disclosure document and return the signed portion to me as quicklyas possible.Parent’ssignature_______________________________________________________________Student’sname______________________________________________________________