What to Expect in Fourth Grade

Welcome to Fourth Grade! As responsible learners ready to tackle another school year, I have THREE expectations for you:

ONE: BE PREPARED Being prepared for your school day means having the right attitude about learning. Remain positive with an "I can do it!" mindset and you will be successful as a learner. Being prepared also means making sure you get your work done, both in school and at home. Homework is a bigger part of fourth grade than it was in third grade, and your work gets more difficult if you don't prepare yourself. Think of school as your job. If you come to school every day prepared to give it your very best effort, you will get a raise and move onto the next grade. It's your promotion for your hard work. Being prepared is the number one rule for success!

TWO: BE ON TIME Attendance is very important for a successful school career. If you don't come to school, you won't learn all the valuable and important lessons and skills you will need as you get older and grow into teenagers and adults. My job as your teacher is to give you the best education possible, but I can only do that if you come to school every day. Students who come to school on time are better prepared as learners and thinkers than students who regularly come late to school, leave early for doctor's appointments, and miss school for days at a time. Keep in mind, however, that if you are truly sick, the responsible thing to do is stay home and rest so your body can heal itself faster. If you come to school when you are sick, it can cause two problems: First, you may get other students and teachers sick. Second, if you're not feeling well and you come to school anyway, your body and mind won't be able to focus as well on doing your job as a learner and it will take longer for you to feel better. So make an effort to come to school on time every day unless you are sick.

THREE: BE RESPECTFUL Our first quarter HOWL is respect, which means showing care and concern for others, yourself, and your school environment. Respect others by using quiet voices during learning time, not distracting others when they are trying to work, and giving others a chance to learn along with you. Respecting yourself means taking care of yourself and always being ready to give your best effort. Respecting your environment mean keeping your desk or table tidy and organized. It also means putting things where they belong when you are finished, keeping the classroom organized, throwing trash in the garbage can (or recycling), not destroying materials like erasers, pencils, books, etc, not drawing on tables or other furniture, and hanging up your coat and backpack instead of leaving them in a pile on the floor. When everyone shows respect toward others, themselves and our school environment, then we can all have a happy and successful school year!