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Dear 4th Grade Parents,
Welcome to 4th grade! I’m looking forward to a great year with each of
your children! We have an exciting year planned.
I know that the beginning of each year brings an adjustment period as
students, teachers, and parents get used to new routines and
expectations. If at any time, you have questions or concerns, please
feel free to contact me. In addition, if you have positive things to
share, I enjoy those too! I’m excited to work together to make this a
successful year for your child!
Christy Cryer
My Teaching
Philosophies
Literacy is a crucial part of a child’s education.
- I believe that reading and writing are the cornerstones of
education. All other subjects, including mathematics, rely on the
ability to read and understand information. Consistent reading
increases vocabulary, spelling ability, confidence, comprehension, and
general knowledge. One
of my goals for the year is to help all of my students discover that,
with
the right book, reading can be an enjoyable experience. My philosophy
of
reading and writing depends on the belief that the more someone
practices
and has fun with something, the more proficient they will become.
School is a place to learn life skills as well as
academics. The life skills are just as important as the content subject
areas.
- Character is a large component in becoming a successful
person in today’s society. How someone treats others and approaches the
obstacles they face says a great deal about what kind of person they
are. Good habits are as easy to build, and as difficult to break, as
bad ones.
Every child is a learner. Every child is a teacher.
- It is important to know that all children can and will
learn. It is equally important to know that all children have many
things to offer the world. Children often teach each other and adults
things that may not otherwise be realized. It is also important to note
that people have many different ways of learning and may learn at a
different pace. That is part of what makes our classroom a
learning community.
Bridging the gap between past knowledge and new
experiences is essential to learning.
- In order to truly understand new concepts, they must fit
in with what we already know. In order for children to make sense of
all
that is taught, it is crucial that we find links to what they already
know.
Children live up to high expectations. (They also
live down to low expectations)
- I believe that it is important to expect great things from
every student in my class. I’ve been surprised many times by a student
who has accomplished something that I wasn’t sure he/she could do. I
believe
that it is important to give students the support necessary to achieve
their
goals and push them to do their personal best and to approach things
with
a CAN-DO attitude.
Every child deserves to feel important and successful.
- Every child has personal strengths and weaknesses. I
believe that it is important to highlight a person’s strengths and then
use those strengths to help improve upon the weaknesses. I value every
child in my classroom and look forward to all that I know I will learn
from them throughout the year.
SUPPLIES
•Accordian Folder with 6 or more pockets
•6 pencils
•2 red marking pens
•eraser
•colored pencils
•highlighter
•large pack of wide-lined 3 ring paper
•2 black or blue pens (no gel pens please)
•3 spiral notebooks
•2 large boxes of kleenex
•$1 for Assignment Notebook
•24 count box of crayons
• 2 glue sticks
*A bottle of hand sanitizer for the class would also be appreciated
I don’t mind if students use mechanical pencils.
(After all, I prefer to use them
myself.) I do ask that students have at least one
regular pencil at school in case
mechanical ones break or run out of lead. I see
pencils as tools for learning, so if
mechanical pencils become play things, the student
will be asked to take them
home and use a regular pencil instead.
BREAKFAST CLUB
I have an incentive program in my room that will start in October. Each week a student goes with NO late assignments and NO
red cards, they earn a pancake. When a student has accumulated 4
pancakes, they are invited to the next Breakfast Club. Breakfast Club
will be on Tuesday or
Thursday mornings at 8:05 AM. I provide a pancake breakfast, and the
group
can talk, listen to the radio, or just relax a little bit before the
day
officially starts. Invitations will be handed out on Monday or Tuesday.
(Students
who don’t like pancakes may bring a different breakfast food of their
own)
4th Grade Color Code
Most papers in each subject will be copied on that
particular color to help aid in organization.
White = Math
Green = Reading/Language Arts
Blue = Spelling
Pink = Social Studies
Yellow = Science
Weekly Assignments in Mrs. Cryer’s Room
•Spelling tests on Fridays
•Weekly Journal Entries
•Handwriting Practice
•Students have at least
20 minutes designated as work time on Spelling and/or Handwriting on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.
Recurring Assignments
Math:
• Multiplication
Fact tests
• Math Homework
Assignment - Most Days
Social Studies:
•Vocabulary
Cards – Quizzes are matching and students generally have
at
least 1 week to study.
•Region
Map Quizzes – Students will need to be able to label the states on
a blank map of
the
region being studied
•Regional Projects as a culmination of each region we study
Reading/Language:
•Reading to an
adult
•Journaling
•Personal
Reading Goals
•Daily writing
and reading
•Monthly Book Projects
4th Grade Testing Dates:
State Writing - End of January
Math ELO -March 26-28
Reading ELO - April 16-18
JOBS
Our classroom is a community, and in a community, everyone has
responsibilities. Each student in this class has a job. Approximately
once a month, students will fill out job applications for the job they
would like to have. While some jobs are more visible than others, each
one is important in keeping our classroom working smoothly.
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