Willett School will promote the learning and growth of all students through effective partnerships with families, caregivers, community members, and organizations as measured by increase in community involvement.
How can you participate in your child’s education?
Parents/Families are an essential part of their child’s/children's education. Opportunities to participate may include:
v Attend parent-teacher conferences; parent group meetings and school related family activities.
v Attend workshops and curriculum nights to support learning at home.
v Review reports on your child’s/children's progress with your child and their teacher.
v Establish a regular routine for completing homework and a quiet place and time to study.
v Take time to talk to your child/children about school.
SPECIALS SCHEDULES
During this school year, our class will be participating in a variety of specials.
· A day- Gym
· B day- Technology
· C day- Art/Health
· D day– Music
· E day- Integrated Arts
ELA Curriculum
· Develop the comprehension strategies and skills to become independent readers.
· Recognize and interpret sensory details, descriptive language, and figurative language.
· Implement close reading strategies by attending to key features of informational text to identify details
and supporting evidence, to compare and contrast information, and to cite evidence to support the
author’s point of view, using facts and details within a response.
· Compare characters, events, settings, and ideas in stories and myths.
· Locate facts that answer questions and use evidence to support that answer.
· Create well organized and developed multi-paragraph writing piece with a clearly stated main idea,
and supporting details/facts (narrative, informational, and opinion).
· Conduct independent research projects on different aspects of a topic, using multiple sources of information (books, articles, media, Internet). Examples- researching a U.S. state, an occupation, a storm, an insect
· Use accurate capitalization, grammar, paragraphing, spelling, and punctuation in writing.
· Orally present on a focused topic with relevant, supporting details/ facts, and specific word choice.
· Read and understand the meaning of assigned vocabulary and successfully use it in writing.
· Participate in class discussions with agreed upon rules and/or present ideas for varying purposes to
different audiences. Examples: Reciprocal Reading Groups and Literature Circles
Math Curriculum
Operations and Algebraic Thinking
· Use the four operations with whole numbers to solve problems.
· Gain familiarity with factors and multiples.
· Generate and analyze patterns.
Example: Leah baked a batch of 46 brownies for a bake sale. If she places an equal amount of brownies into 6 containers, how many brownies will be left over?
Number and Operations in Base Ten
· Generalize place value understanding for multi-digit whole numbers.
· Use place value understanding and properties of operations to perform multi-digit arithmetic.
Examples: 357,275 + 91,483 = 136,291 - 46,780 = 67 x29= 269/3=
Number and Operations-Fractions
· Extend understanding of fractions equivalence and ordering.
· Build fractions from unit fractions by applying and extending previous understandings of operations on whole numbers.
· Understand decimal notation for fractions, and compare decimal fractions.
Examples: Compare the numbers 57.41 and 57.53
Order the numbers 7/13 and 11/13
Measurement and Data
· Solve problems involving measurement and conversion of measurements from a larger unit to a smaller unit.
· Represent and interpret data.
· Geometric measurement: understand concepts of angles and measure angles.
Examples: What time is it 3 hours and 45 minutes after 4:55p.m.?
Geometry
· Draw and identify lines and angles, and classify shapes by properties of their lines and angles.
Examples: Draw an angle that is about 75 degrees
Science Curriculum
Students learn about science through hands-on investigations, reading about science, and writing about their findings.
Units we will explore this year include The Human Machine, Energizing Everything and the Birth of Rocks.
Social Studies
· Use map and globe skills to determine absolute locations (latitude and longitude) of places studied.
· Interpret a map using information from its title, compass rose, scale, and legend.
· Identify and describe the five major concepts in studying geography (location, place, human interaction with the environment, movement, and regions).
· On a map of North America locate the current boundaries of the United States, New England, Middle
Atlantic Coast/ Appalachia, Southeast/ Gulf, South Central, Great Lakes, Plains, Southwest desert,
and Pacific States.
· Describe the climate, major physical features, and major natural resources in each region.
· Explore and describe the physical political and cultural regions of the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
· Describe and give examples of how the movement of goods, people and ideas from around the world to
the United States have influenced and shaped our culture today.
· Describe the diverse nature of the American people by identifying the distinctive contributions to the
American culture.
HOMEWORK
Our fourth graders will be using planners this year to track homework assignments. Each child will be expected to record assignments in his or her planner. Planners should be brought back and forth to school each day.
We encourage students to be responsible for understanding assignments and their due dates. We also strive to prepare students for fifth grade. They will have a similar format for homework assignments next year.
We are asking parents to sign the planner daily to show that you are aware of your child's assignments. It is expected that each child will take care of his or her planner as it will not be replaced.
It is expected that incomplete or missing homework assignments are completed during recess time the day the assignment was due. The fourth grade team will not accept excuse notes for missing assignments. If a child is sick, he or she is expected to make up missed class work and homework. Please talk to a teacher if your child’s homework is taking an inordinate amount of time. The average time allotment for grade four is 40 minutes.
BEHAVIOR
We encourage our fourth graders to follow the “Willett Way” every day.
· Positive and Productive- On task in class and participating appropriately
· Respectful and Responsible- Respect the feelings, bodies and belongings of others;
prepared to learn every day.
· Kind and Courteous- Using manners, kind words, helping others.
· Safe and Secure- Keeping our bodies to ourselves, making safe choices in school.
Students who have repeated difficulty in making positive choices will first be verbally warned. Further problems may result in the student taking a break and reflecting on his/her behavior and how he/she can appropriately rejoin their peers. Parents will be contacted regarding repeated problems with behavior and the resulting consequences.
In celebration of our positive choices, we will have an incentive jar where we add items to fill the jar as we receive positive feedback from specialists and staff. When the jar is filled, our classrooms will choose an activity for our celebration.
How can you participate in your child’s education?
Parents/Families are an essential part of their child’s/children's education. Opportunities to participate may include:
v Attend parent-teacher conferences; parent group meetings and school related family activities.
v Attend workshops and curriculum nights to support learning at home.
v Review reports on your child’s/children's progress with your child and their teacher.
v Establish a regular routine for completing homework and a quiet place and time to study.
v Take time to talk to your child/children about school.
SPECIALS SCHEDULES
During this school year, our class will be participating in a variety of specials.
· A day- Gym
· B day- Technology
· C day- Art/Health
· D day– Music
· E day- Integrated Arts
ELA Curriculum
· Develop the comprehension strategies and skills to become independent readers.
· Recognize and interpret sensory details, descriptive language, and figurative language.
· Implement close reading strategies by attending to key features of informational text to identify details
and supporting evidence, to compare and contrast information, and to cite evidence to support the
author’s point of view, using facts and details within a response.
· Compare characters, events, settings, and ideas in stories and myths.
· Locate facts that answer questions and use evidence to support that answer.
· Create well organized and developed multi-paragraph writing piece with a clearly stated main idea,
and supporting details/facts (narrative, informational, and opinion).
· Conduct independent research projects on different aspects of a topic, using multiple sources of information (books, articles, media, Internet). Examples- researching a U.S. state, an occupation, a storm, an insect
· Use accurate capitalization, grammar, paragraphing, spelling, and punctuation in writing.
· Orally present on a focused topic with relevant, supporting details/ facts, and specific word choice.
· Read and understand the meaning of assigned vocabulary and successfully use it in writing.
· Participate in class discussions with agreed upon rules and/or present ideas for varying purposes to
different audiences. Examples: Reciprocal Reading Groups and Literature Circles
Math Curriculum
Operations and Algebraic Thinking
· Use the four operations with whole numbers to solve problems.
· Gain familiarity with factors and multiples.
· Generate and analyze patterns.
Example: Leah baked a batch of 46 brownies for a bake sale. If she places an equal amount of brownies into 6 containers, how many brownies will be left over?
Number and Operations in Base Ten
· Generalize place value understanding for multi-digit whole numbers.
· Use place value understanding and properties of operations to perform multi-digit arithmetic.
Examples: 357,275 + 91,483 = 136,291 - 46,780 = 67 x29= 269/3=
Number and Operations-Fractions
· Extend understanding of fractions equivalence and ordering.
· Build fractions from unit fractions by applying and extending previous understandings of operations on whole numbers.
· Understand decimal notation for fractions, and compare decimal fractions.
Examples: Compare the numbers 57.41 and 57.53
Order the numbers 7/13 and 11/13
Measurement and Data
· Solve problems involving measurement and conversion of measurements from a larger unit to a smaller unit.
· Represent and interpret data.
· Geometric measurement: understand concepts of angles and measure angles.
Examples: What time is it 3 hours and 45 minutes after 4:55p.m.?
Geometry
· Draw and identify lines and angles, and classify shapes by properties of their lines and angles.
Examples: Draw an angle that is about 75 degrees
Science Curriculum
Students learn about science through hands-on investigations, reading about science, and writing about their findings.
Units we will explore this year include The Human Machine, Energizing Everything and the Birth of Rocks.
Social Studies
· Use map and globe skills to determine absolute locations (latitude and longitude) of places studied.
· Interpret a map using information from its title, compass rose, scale, and legend.
· Identify and describe the five major concepts in studying geography (location, place, human interaction with the environment, movement, and regions).
· On a map of North America locate the current boundaries of the United States, New England, Middle
Atlantic Coast/ Appalachia, Southeast/ Gulf, South Central, Great Lakes, Plains, Southwest desert,
and Pacific States.
· Describe the climate, major physical features, and major natural resources in each region.
· Explore and describe the physical political and cultural regions of the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
· Describe and give examples of how the movement of goods, people and ideas from around the world to
the United States have influenced and shaped our culture today.
· Describe the diverse nature of the American people by identifying the distinctive contributions to the
American culture.
HOMEWORK
Our fourth graders will be using planners this year to track homework assignments. Each child will be expected to record assignments in his or her planner. Planners should be brought back and forth to school each day.
We encourage students to be responsible for understanding assignments and their due dates. We also strive to prepare students for fifth grade. They will have a similar format for homework assignments next year.
We are asking parents to sign the planner daily to show that you are aware of your child's assignments. It is expected that each child will take care of his or her planner as it will not be replaced.
It is expected that incomplete or missing homework assignments are completed during recess time the day the assignment was due. The fourth grade team will not accept excuse notes for missing assignments. If a child is sick, he or she is expected to make up missed class work and homework. Please talk to a teacher if your child’s homework is taking an inordinate amount of time. The average time allotment for grade four is 40 minutes.
BEHAVIOR
We encourage our fourth graders to follow the “Willett Way” every day.
· Positive and Productive- On task in class and participating appropriately
· Respectful and Responsible- Respect the feelings, bodies and belongings of others;
prepared to learn every day.
· Kind and Courteous- Using manners, kind words, helping others.
· Safe and Secure- Keeping our bodies to ourselves, making safe choices in school.
Students who have repeated difficulty in making positive choices will first be verbally warned. Further problems may result in the student taking a break and reflecting on his/her behavior and how he/she can appropriately rejoin their peers. Parents will be contacted regarding repeated problems with behavior and the resulting consequences.
In celebration of our positive choices, we will have an incentive jar where we add items to fill the jar as we receive positive feedback from specialists and staff. When the jar is filled, our classrooms will choose an activity for our celebration.