Teacher Policies

We recognize that 4th grade is a huge change and step up from 3rd grade. Students move from the goal in the early grades of learning to read to a more challenging goal of reading to learn.  Fourth graders are expected to use all of the reading skills they have previously achieved to make sense of much more challenging non-fiction material such as what they find in Science and Social Studies and even Math textbooks.  They also move from having Science and Social Studies classes once or twice a week, to having each class every day.  This means an increase in tests and homework.  Students must become more organized in 4th grade.  It is a major goal to help students in grow in organization this year, so that they can carry that skill into 5th grade and beyond.

In 4th grade, students become busier with extra-curricular activities both inside and outside of school.  They can join band and Student Voices.  Many are on teams or involved in music or dance lessons, as well as Scouts or Y programs.  It is all great fun, and all good, but it makes their lives busier than ever, and therefore makes it harder to keep up with all they are asked to do in our classes.  Prioritizing is not easy for 4th graders.  Some need a great deal of help from their parents to keep school at the top of their to-do list.

Fourth grade students will be assigned homework as needed for practice and reinforcement of skills as well as for the completion of special projects.  Students are responsible to turn homework in on time.  There is a grade penalty for late work.  Naturally, absent students are given time to make up work missed when they were out of school.  Similarly, parent notes are taken into consideration about late work.  Teachers are not likely to excuse work that is late or not done due to parties, games, and other events that are optional or could be planned around, or work that is not done because students did not bring home the materials needed.  Missing and late work affects both progress and grades.  Students can receive Interim Notices for the first time in 4th grade.  Interims are a mid-trimester notice of poor progress in any subject.

We follow the school handbook in the area of discipline and rules.  We give students stickers for following all school rules as well as the minor rules of 4th grade, such as having all materials needed, bringing all necessary items across the hall, getting parent signatures on tests and papers, and so on.  Stickers earned can be used for prizes or privileges.

Our greatest goal is for students to treat each other with kindness and respect.  Asking “What Would Jesus Do” is an easy way to make proper choices about behavior, inclusion and kindness issues.

Fourth graders have little buddies for the first time.  We meet with our kindergarten buddies about once each month.  It is great fun for big and little buddies alike!  We have 8th grade “spiritual buddies” - meaning that we pray for them as a group, and possibly make cards or some other small memento for them.  Eighth graders are so busy that we cannot meet with them on any regular basis.
           

Parents can help their 4th grader by:

• Modeling active participation in weekly liturgy, daily prayer, and service
• Showing an interest in homework and school activities
• Providing a quiet place and sufficient uninterrupted time to do school work
• Encouraging good nutrition, rest and exercise
• Staying in touch with us through telephone or e-mail messages
• Avoiding vacations on student attendance days 

We truly thank parents for entrusting their precious children to us.  We promise to remember how special they are, to treat them with respect, and to do our best to help them have a wonderful and memorable 4th grade year.