The Fantastic Fourth Grade’s

Everything you need to know to help your

child “Stay Super!”
 Quarterly Theme Overview

1st Quarter: Geology Rocks!

 Geographical landforms
 Using maps
 History of Patterson Park
 Rock types and formations
 Weathering and erosion
 State capitals

2nd Quarter: Going Governmental

 American flag
 Political parties
 Branches of government
 Forensic science

3rd Quarter: Traveling Through: Circulation, Respiration, and Immigration

 Circulatory system- parts and functions
 Respiratory system- parts, functions, and diseases
 Immigration to Baltimore and New York
 History of Ellis Island
 Statue of Liberty

4th Quarter: The Magical Middle Ages

 Social structure
 Invading tribes
 Important people and events
 Bubonic plague
 Medieval inventions
 Skill Focuses
Main Math Skills:
 Units of length and weight
 Time:
o Elapsed time
o Time to the minute
o Quarter time
 Perimeter and area
 Two- and three-dimensional figures
 Mean, median, and mode
 Multiplying a 2-digit number by a 2-digit number
 Long division
 Place value
 Estimating sums, differences, products, and quotients
 Understanding and comparing fractions
 Simplifying fractions
 Changing improper fractions to mixed numbers and changing mixed
numbers to improper fractions

Main Reading Skills:

 Using context clues
 Using reading strategies:
o Predicting
o Questioning
o Connecting
o Visualizing
o Inferring
o Generalizing
 Summarizing
 Using print features, graphic aids, and illustrations
 Identifying cause and effect
 Figurative language:
o Simile
o Metaphor
o Hyperbole
o Personification
o Onomatopoeia
 Elements of plays and poetry.
  Grading Policy
Reading/Language Arts: Science/Social Studies:
Tests/Essays: 40% Tests: 40%
Projects: 20% Projects/Labs: 20%
Spelling/Quizzes: 15% Quizzes: 15%
Homework: 15% Homework: 15%
Class Participation: 10% Class Participation: 10%

Math:
Tests: 40%

Projects: 20%

Quizzes/Fact Assessments: 15%

Homework: 15%

Class Participation: 10%

 We will be using an online gradebook this year which can be accessed

at www.engrade.com. This will allow you to view your child’s grades at
anytime. Each child is given a unique code that will allow you to view
only his or her grades. Your child’s code will be sent home at the
beginning of the school year. Please note that when you first visit the
website you will need to set up an account; contact your child’s
teacher if you have any difficulty with this.
 Agenda Books
Students will receive an agenda book on the first day of school. They are
expected to bring this to school every day. The agenda book is used to
record daily and long-term assignments, as well as serve as a
communication tool between teacher and parent. The agenda book is
marked daily with your child’s “Stay Super” status. A star indicates your
child “stayed super” and turned in all homework. A checkmark indicates your
child was “in danger” and will include a brief explanatory note. An X means
your child did not turn in all homework assignments and/or was “captured”.
This marking will also include a note and require a signature. Please be sure
to check your child’s agenda book daily.

Homework Policy
All fourth grade students are expected to turn in homework daily. Homework
helps reinforce what the students have learned that day in school and to
review necessary skills. Homework will be graded based on effort and
completion. Homework can be turned in one day late for ½ credit. Any
homework later than one day will not be accepted for credit. If a student is
absent, homework is expected to be completed upon the child’s return to
school.

Discipline Policy
The Fantastic Fourth Grade is using a grade-wide behavior incentive policy to
encourage our students to “Stay Super.” The behavior board in our rooms
display this three-level incentive program. Students begin the day with their
name on “Staying Super” (green). If a student displays inapporpriate
behavior or breaks a classroom rule, their name will be moved to “In
Danger” (yellow). This will be considered a warning to the student. If the
student continues to display innapropriate behavior, the child will be moved
to “Captured” (red). This could result in a phonecall home or trip to the
office, depending on the severity. Your child’s agenda book will be marked
daily based on their “Stay Super” status. Students who consisently “Stay
Super” will be recognized at quarterly theme-based celebrations.
 Superkid Field Trip Policy

Unless otherwise stated, the following criteria are mandatory for

participation in all field trips:

 No missing homework assignments the week of the field trip.

 No missing projects.
 Student must be present the day prior to a field trip.
 Permission slips must be submitted no less than 12 hours prior
to departure time. Phone permission and handwritten notes
will not be accepted.
 “Stay super” the entire week of a field trip.

Some of the field trips and special events the fantastic 4 th grade plan
to participate in this year:

 Luray Caverns
 Cold Stone Creamery
 FRESH
 Junior Achievement BizTown
 Cow Heart Dissections
 Walters Art Museum
 Baltimore Museum of Industry
 Middle Ages visiting program
 4th Grade Faire
 Fundraising
In an effort to keep field trip costs to a minimum, and to ensure as many
out-of-the-classroom learning opportunities for our students, the 4 th grade
team will be leading several fundraising events throughout the year.

Friday Breakfast Cart:

 Beginning the first week of October, the 4th grade will sponsor a
weekly breakfast cart providing coffee and light breakfast items for
PPPCS staff members. All money raised will go directly to 4th grade
field trip and activity funds. To make this a success we need your help.
If you are interested in helping with this endeavor, we ask that you
donate breakfast items such as bagels, muffins, donuts, etc. that can
be sold for the Friday Breakfast Cart. Each homeroom will rotate the
responsibility monthly. In addition to hopefully being a successful
fundraising effort, students will get to participate in an authentic,
hands-on, real-world math activity!

Seasonal Sweets:

 Similar to candygrams (see below), we will sell some sweet treats at

lunch time during the winter holiday season.

Candygrams:

 Each year the 4th grade sells candygrams for various holidays. We
hope to continue to do this type of fundraising this year. The money
raised for these events will go towards special events and materials,
particularly for our 4th Grade Faire in May.

Other Opportunities:

 If you have any other fundraising ideas that you would be interested in
organizing, please see your superkid’s homeroom teacher.

Notes