Mrs. Wollenweber's Class

Home  Homework  Calendar  School Supply List 

Our Classroom Newsletter August 2008

 Click to email me  

Welcome to 4th Grade!!

It's Going to be a Great Year!!

Classroom Schedule

Please click on the following link to view our classroom schedule.  Please keep in mind that this schedule may be edited during the 1st quarter.  I will send home any updates.

2008 Supply List

o   2 marble composition notebooks

o   1 red pocket folders with brads (paper please)

o   1 white pocket folder with brads (paper please)

o   1 purple pocket folder with brads (paper please)

o   2 decorated folders

o   1 pack of notebook paper – wide ruled

o   Crayons

o   1 pack of pencils

o   Erasers

o   Soft pencil case (no pencil boxes please)

o   1 pack blue or black erasable pens

o   1 red pen, 1 blue pen, 1 green pen

o   1 box Ziploc bags (boys: large, girls: small)

o   2 boxes of tissues

o   1 bottle of hand sanitizer (boys)

o   1 container of baby wipes (girls)

Please provide a compact umbrella to keep in your classroom the entire school year-please put your child's name on the umbrella please.

Also if you are able students need

o   1 pair of scissors

o   1 ruler with metric and standard forms of measurement

o   1 pack of dry-erase markers

o   1 pack of alphabet index cards for their vocabulary boxes

o   1red pen and  1  green pen for revising

o   1 old sock to erase dry-erase boards

Welcome Back!

     Welcome back to school!  It is so exciting to begin a new school year!  How lucky I am to have your child in my class!  I am looking forward to an outstanding year. Throughout this year we will create many wonderful experiences together, and your child will greatly benefit from your involvement and encouragement.

     Our class will have a very exciting and educational year ahead.  Just look at what is in store for us:

     Mathematics:  Topics of study will include: Time; Data and Graphs; Number Sense and Numeration; Whole Number Computation; Geometry; Measurement; Fractions; Multiplication; Decimals; Patterns and Relationships.  Homework will be given Monday through Thursday.

     Science:  Topics to be studied include: Natural Resources, Rocks and Minerals, Animal Adaptations, Chemical and Physical Changes and our drug unit—Here’s Looking at You.

     Reading:  Your child will be reading children’s books from several genres.  Many reading skills will be taught, including comprehension skills, such as finding the main idea, following the sequence of events and understanding characters’ feelings; vocabulary skills, and dictionary skills.  We will read, discuss and complete activities related to the books we read.  The intent is to deepen your child’s appreciation, understanding and enjoyment of literature. 

     Spelling:  Your child will have a spelling test each week.  A pretest will be given on Monday and a final test on Friday.  Homework will be given Monday through Thursday.

     Social Studies:  We will do an in-depth study about the Great State of Maryland!  Units of study include The Geography of Maryland; Colonial Maryland; Industrialization of Maryland; and Maryland Government.

     Writing:  Topics of study will be, writing to persuade, writing to inform and writing to express personal ideas using creative writing, multiple paragraph formation and letter writing. We emphasize the importance of the writing process, details and extension of ideas in their writing, as well as good language choice.

    Handwriting:  Students will practice their cursive writing skills weekly as we extend the handwriting skills learned in third grade. All written work is expected to be neat and reflect the student’s BEST handwriting skills.  If work is not a student’s best work, I will ask the student to rewrite their work.

     Homework:  Homework is assigned on a regular basis to accomplish the following outcomes:

·         Reinforce concepts and skills that have been previously taught.

·         Expand on current subject matter with individual growth.

·         Enables the teacher to monitor and check the child’s progress or need for improvement.

·         Instills a greater sense of responsibility and initiative.

·         Helps to develop organizational skills.

     Specials:

Week A:              

Week B:              

     Snacks:   Since our lunchtime is the last of the day, I am asking that parents provide students with a daily healthy snack.  Snacks should be quick and easy for the children to eat.  I request that students bring only dry foods, such as pretzels, crackers, granola bars, Z-bars or other protein bars, etc.  Fruit type snacks typically leave sticky fingers and desks.  We have a water cooler in the portable so a daily drink will not be necessary.  Please do not send in cookies, tasty cakes, or candy unless it's a birthday celebration.  We have a student with severe food allergies so please be mindful of an peanut oils or products containing peanuts.

     Bathroom Breaks:  Students are scheduled for 2 bathroom breaks at this point.  Based on their needs, we will determine if it will be necessary for a 3rd break.   If students have to use the restroom between breaks, they will go with a buddy, using a key pass to gain entry to the school, using the bathroom in front of the kindergarten pod. 

Upcoming Events

September 16th-BTSN for 4th grade

September 24th-Picture Day

September 29th-Teacher Planning-Dismissal @ 1:00 p.m.

Classroom Learning Systems

It's a learning system in which students and the teacher are leaders of a system.  Teachers are leaders of the classroom and help students understand their role and their learning expectations.  Students are workers in the classroom system but also leaders of their own learning system.  This cascading leadership system is based on the Malcolm Baldride Quality Criteria and is designed to assure alignment from student learning expectations through school expectations to state and national requirements.

The teacher and students put into place processes and systems to guide the learning of the class and of individual students.  A classroom culture, which encourages students to communicate openly in a trusting and accepting classroom environment enables them to take responsibility for their learning.  Students manage their learning and chart their progress.  When things don't go right, they learn to plan for a rapid change.  This organized approach to teaching and learning focuses on the relationships among expectations, goals, and the results of student achievement.  This method of managing the classroom has led to increased student achievement, fewer disciplinary problems, and more involvement in learning by students.

What are Data Binders?

Data binders support students in becoming co-producers of their learning.  They help students organize processes for learning.  The notebook generally contains a student's mission, goals, and action plan to support classroom and personal learning.   

Data binders may contain:

individual mission statements, goals/objectives, and action plans

charts or graphs to self-monitor and document their progress

subject objectives to help with goal setting

formative assessments to document progress

PDSA cycle and quality tools to guide process thinking

opportunities for two-way communication with parents

Data notebooks empower students

Data notebooks or folders empower students to become accountable for their learning.  By writing goals/objectives based on actual course or subject objectives, students have control over their paceof learning.  Goals/objectives are also written by students to capture short-term gains to motivate themselves to achieve long-range goals.

Data notebooks provide feedback

As with classroom data centers, analyzing what is working or not working provides timely feedback to the student to correct the course of action, as needed.  The notebook also documents progress that can predict course grades, providing "no surprises" at the end of each school quarter or semester.

Data notebooks help students manage their learning

Data notebooks are constructed in a way for students to observe short-term gains, a powerful motivator to achieve long-term goals.  With tools to manage learning, students are provided with the means for self-empowerment and motivation.

Why is Classroom Culture Important?

A classroom culture of trust and acceptance is the foundation for establishing an environment in which students are empowered and comfortable with:

A providing feedback to continuously improve classroom teaching and learning

A learning from mistakes to enhance achievement

A aiming for "stretch" goals to maximize their potential

Acceptance and trust » Empowerment » Motivation » Realizing potential

Without acceptance and trust, students' energy may be diverted from learning to self-protection.  A trusting environment empowers students to become accountable for their own learning and their learning of others.  Learning accountability will prepare them for lifelong achievement and taking responsibility in the workplace.

In a classroom culture that supports students as co-producers of their learning, students:

A understand explicitly the expectations of the curriculum

A see the curriculum as a basis for developing their mission

A formulate goals that will help them realize their mission

A monitor their achievement towards their goals

A accept feedback in a positive and constructive manner

How can parents help?

A knowing their child's goals and following his or her progress

A making sure that their child can study and learn at home

A being in touch with their child's teacher to know how and what their child is learning and doing

A helping their child set short and long term goals and developing and monitoring action plans for  activities, projects, or chores

Information from Montgomery County Public Schools website

© 2006.  Mrs. Wollenweber's Class. All Rights Reserved. Site Development by Cherri Wollenweber.