I am so excited to begin this 2019-2020 school year journey with you all! Fourth grade is one of my very favorite grades to teach because students are able to tackle complex concepts and problems with maximum creativity and an eye for fun. Fourth graders notice things in their world and want to know more about them, they want to contribute to their communities, and they want to make a difference. I can't wait to explore, invent, and create with you!
This year we are really going to focus on having a Growth Mindset. I love learning about the brain, and the latest research shows that the brain is like a muscle. The more you work it, the more it can do. We're going to stretch and grow our brains like crazy this year. The only way to grow a brain is to challenge it- and believe it or not- your brain loves this! We will learn to try and fail repeatedly until we figure out how to do something. Which leads us to our other goal this year- grit. Sticking with a task even if it's hard or you're tired. Delaying comfort until your goal is achieved. Asserting one's will over one's whims. Both of these tasks are not easy, but I know we can do it! We will learn together.
Behavior I am a big advocate of students learning to monitor their own behavior. I will be putting this into practice this year by giving the students more of the responsibility for self-regulation. We will think about what types of character traits we want to develop and what types of behaviors emulate them. We are respectful, we are brave, we are ready, we are engaged. When a norm is broken, I will give the student a private reminder. I will then write the number of the norm that the student needs to work on. If they need more than 3 reminders or it is a significant incident, the student will write me a Decision Sheet. This allows the student to explain what happened and make a plan to rectify the situation. They will sign this and it will be sent home to you to sign as well. As I refine my practice this year, I will be sure to update you of any changes. Also, 5 RAMS stickers is a reward from me. Volunteers I love, love, love visitors! If you have a skill, hobby, interest or anything like that to share, please do! I try to connect as many real world experiences to the classroom as possible. Send me an email and we'll do something amazing. I also can always use a hand with 'everyday living' and classroom organization. Also laundry at my house...just kidding! Homework Ok, I want to say first and foremost, I get it. The days are packed, dinner doesn't make itself, and there are simply a thousand demands on our time. On top of that, these are kids who need time to grow and play and unwind just as much as we do. My goal is never drama or tears when it comes to homework; however, I do need to balance this with meaningful assignments that extend the curriculum. Your students are learning a second language and with that comes a bit of background work. Students can only get better at reading by reading- this is supported by a huge body of research and my own experience as a Reading Specialist. So I will promise to be as thoughtful as possible when assigning homework. Materials The supply list is posted on the school web site. Most materials will be shared, such as folders, tissues, paper, etc. There is no need to label those items. I fully understand that not everyone will be able to bring everything, so we share. Only label those supplies which should not be shared (we'll take care of that in class).