WELCOMEJESSICA DOBBSFOURTH GRADE

Gwinnett AKS Curriculum:• Language arts

• Math• Social studies• Science

Important information:• Schedules• Procedures• Reminders• communication

MAIN POINTS

MY PHILOSOPHY

• ALL children can succeed to the best of their ability

• Parents/Guardians AND teachers working together as a team is the best

way to ensure your child’s success in school

• COMMUNICATION is very important!!!

• ALL children are unique and special in their own way!!!!

• RESPECT from both teacher and student is vital to the learning

environment

• LEARNING CAN BE FUN!!!!

• READ, READ, READ!!!

Miss Dobbs’ Schedule

MAKE SURE TO REFER TO THE AKS PAMPHLET! It tells you in detail what we will be learning this year. All lessons and tests are based on the AKS.

Feel free to have your children bring home their textbooks at any time!Study guides will be posted on my website for major tests, primarily in

Science and Social Studies. I will post them at the beginning of each unit as much as possible, to give your children ample time for reviewing material. Students do need to remember that class notes and the textbook are also resources for study. If you can’t access a computer, please send a note with your child, and I will provide a paper copy.

Study Tips to review with your child will be printed in the weekly newsletters that go home each Friday. Please continue to review these throughout the year with your child.

STUDY TIPS

READER’S WORKSHOP:* Whole Group Lessons/Genre Studies/Critical Thinking Skills

* Journal Reponses based on Genre Wheel independent reading program* Guided Reading/Lit Circles/Book Clubs

* Focus on Text Evidence and close readingGRAMMAR SKILLSWRITER’S WORKSHOP:

* Genre Writing (Narrative, Expository, Opinion) * The Writing Process (About 2 class published pieces per 9 weeks, and 1 timed prompt per 9 weeks). Graded on the County Writiing Rubric (on the website)

* Content area writing (Science, Social Studies, Math)* Traits of Writing: Ideas, Voice, Sentence Fluency, Organization,

Conventions, Published Work * Document Based WritingSPELLING

* Word Study: Greek/Latin Roots * Content Vocabulary* Weekly Spelling units based on spelling patterns * Fry high frequency

words

LANGUAGE ARTS AKS

AKS: Emphasis on hands-on problem solving and relation to real word applications. Draw it, solve it, explain it!PLACE VALUE, ROUNDING, ESTIMATING INTO THE MILLIONSMULTIPLICATIONLONG DIVISIONGEOMETRYMEASUREMENTDECIMALS AND FRACTIONS

PROBLEM SOLVING – EXEMPLARS

MATH

• Map and Globe Skills• Native American Cultures• Exploration• Colonial Period• American Revolution• Westward Movement, Pioneers• Government• Economics

SOCIAL STUDIES

• WATER CYCLE/WEATHER• SOLAR SYSTEM• LIGHT AND SOUND• FORCE AND MOTION/GRAVITY• SIMPLE MACHINES• ECOSYSTEMS• HEALTH

SCIENCE

TESTS GIVEN IN 4TH GRADE:No CRCT

4TH Grade students will receive promotion based on classroom performance (classwork &

summative assessments) and interim testing.

TESTING/ADVANCEMENT REQUIREMENTS FOR 4TH GRADE

BEHAVIOR PLAN:A note will be written in the student’s “Pride Passport”

when he/she does not adhere to classroom/school procedures. This will come home to you that night for your

review and signature, and will be communicated in the weekly Friday Folder. This will determine your child’s

weekly conduct grade. For severe problems, students will be referred to administration. I DON’T ANTICIPATE THIS TO

BE A PROBLEM!!!

REWARDS:During the school day, I will give out Bulldog Bucks to those students who go “above and beyond” class expectations.

Bulldog Bucks will be used to shop in the class store on Fridays.

CLASS CONSTITUTION

Homework due the morning after it is assigned. If homework is not

completed, your child will take these assignments out to recess to complete.

Please sign your child’s agenda book each night.

If your child is going home differently than usual, I MUST have a note that

morning.

If your child is sick, please send in a note the following day. You may pick

up makeup work from school, or I can send it home with a sibling. Please

note that makeup work is due within 5 days of your child’s absence.

Please be aware that family trips are no longer considered excused absences unless it is a family

emergency.

Always make sure your child’s personal information is up to date. I

can’t send a student home with anyone other than the people listed on

the form provided to the office.

Feel free to send in treats for your child’s birthday. We will enjoy them

during our lunch time. I do ask that you let me know when

you will be sending in treats, and that they are already cut

into serving pieces.

Lunch is from 11:50 – 12:15 every day. Feel free to enjoy

lunch with your child!

IMPORTANT REMINDERS

Homework will generally consist of:

Reading 20 minutes – based on Genre Wheel Independent Reading program

Studying weekly spelling patterns and Greek/Latin roots. Suggested activities have been uploaded to Homework Now.

Spirals: Grammar & Math practice work Writing – Tuesdays and Thursdays for 15 minutes. This will begin in

September. Either a short writing assignment, or free writing. Science and Social Studies – Reading and defining vocabulary words when

assigned, studying for tests, completing unfinished work if necessary.

GWINNETT GRADING PERCENTAGES: * A = 90 – 100 * B = 80 – 89 * C = 74 – 79 * D = 70 – 73 * U = 69 or Less

HOMEWORK/GRADING

AGENDAS: Feel free to jot me a note, and I will read it in the morning.

PRIDE PASSPORTS: These will be sent home at night IF there is an issue that warrants your immediate attention.

FRIDAY FOLDERS: Will contain graded work, PTA information, and weekly behavior and academic log. Weekly newsletters will be posted on my website. If

you need a paper copy, please let me know.

COMMUNICATION

WEEBLY: This is the website we will be using this year. I will post homework, study aids, class news, and the class newsletter on this site. Go to: http://msdobbsclassroom.weebly.com/. I will make all attempts to update this site daily.

FACEBOOK: Feel free to follow our class on Facebook- Miss Dobbs’ Classroom

E-MAIL: Feel free to e – mail me at jessica_dobbs@gwinnett.k12.ga.us. You can also e – mail directly from the link on our class website. Please understand that I am not able to answer most e-mail until after 3:30 pm.

PHONE: You may call the school at (770) 985-0244, and leave a message. I will get back with you promptly, but probably not until after 3:30 pm!!!!

I also encourage everyone who has not already signed up for the Go Gwinnett Parent portal to do so. This site will allow you to check grades, attendance records, and test scores daily. I have forms available.

REMIND 101

ECLASS/IPASS

E-Class/I-Pass: Go to the Pharr Website: www.pharres.org On the RIGHT hand side, CLICK UNDER MY STUDENT AND

YOU WILL SEE “LEARNING Links”. Click on this to have access to E-Class and I-Pass,

as well as other available learning sites. For E-Class and I-Pass, Your child

will login using their student number and the login learn 2015.

SUMMER READING/MOCK READER’S RALLY

Friday, August 22rd during Specials