Homework Expectations
Most nights, students in fourth grade should spend thirty to forty minutes involved in work related to school. Written work usually involves the completion of assignments which were explained and begun in class. It is rare that an assignment is given in fourth grade as homework which has not been started in school. Written assignments should be done in cursive unless otherwise specified by the teacher. Grades for late work will reflect ten points off the initial score for each day that the assignment is late. A late homework slip will be sent home for a parent signature. The homework slip is to be brought back the next day.
In addition to completing written assignments, students may use the evening study time to review spelling words, practice cursive penmanship, study for a test, review multiplication facts, or read for recreational reading.

Classroom Expectations
Children should come to school with the proper supplies and completed homework. The students are expected to follow class rules and participate in class activities.

Academic Strategies
All students in the fourth grade will be using the reading series called Scholastic. All teachers will be utilizing six basal readers, as well as novels included in the series.
Social Studies and Science are currently areas of specialization for the fourth grade faculty. Students are taught one of these subjects by their homeroom teachers and then they switch to another team teacher for the other subject.

Curriculum Topics
Among the activities in the fourth grade is a three day environment awareness program. The program will take place at the Springbrook Nature Center this spring. Volunteers will be needed for each class at that time. In Science we are starting an exciting series by McGraw Hill. Regions of the country, as well as states and capitals, will be studied in Social Studies. Basic multiplication and division are two of the areas of emphasis in Math. In Language, sentence construction and parts of speech will be emphasized.

Suggestions for Parents
We ask that all parents try to monitor the assignment notebooks as well as the completed written work each day. Math facts may be practiced by students who need additional help. Most children benefit from a review of weekly spelling words on Wednesday evenings as our Spelling tests in fourth grade are always on Thursdays. Cursive handwriting is also an area which may be practiced at home. Children love to read with their parents and enjoy when parents read to them.
Please try to establish reasonable bedtimes for your children and enforce them on a consistent basis. Breakfast is an important meal, and many children benefit from a nutritious snack, which is sent to school. It is important that students use the bathroom immediately before they depart for school; this will allow us to maximize teaching time as we currently have some students requesting four bathroom breaks each day.