Dear Green Mountaineers and Families,

Your student is now a fourth-grader! Before you know it they’ll be taking Driver’s Ed and getting ready for prom. However, let’s not get ahead of ourselves, and instead enjoy their fourth-grade year; a year that bridges the lower elementary and, what in some school systems, are the middle school years.

Aiming to maintain continuity from last year while also preparing them for 5^th and 6^th grade, your student will receive Language Arts and Math instruction from different teachers. Nick Lodge will be the fourth-grade math teacher and Mary Jean Smith will instruct in language arts.  This core disciplines are taken in the morning and separated by snack.

As of press time we still have the grant that supplies all students with fresh fruit and vegetables for snack each day at no cost to families (if students choose to take it). Snacks from home can also be brought if so desired.

The curriculum in both areas is Common Core based, as we transition students to the national standards and expectations that the Common Core sets out.

We should address the old chestnut of homework; love it or hate it, philosophically agree or disagree with it, homework is part of the landscape and we should prepare the students for the demands of the upper grades. To this end, homework in both subjects will assigned each Friday in both subjects. The homework can then be expected along with the Jaguar Journal for the weekend. It will be due back the following Friday. The intent of this is to allow students to manage their time. With fall soccer and other commitments we realize that some evenings families are stretched extremely thin. Weekly assignments allow students to budget their time. In addition, by knowing that homework is expected on Fridays it saves the daily grind of asking “Did you get homework today?” or “Where is it?” You’ll always know when your student is responsible for bringing it home, as well as affording plenty of days for them to do it (or get a new copy if it somehow vanishes between the classroom and the kitchen table). Despite possible contrary demands from your fourth-grader, homework is written for the student and not the parent. It is aimed for the student to practice skills and acquired knowledge. While your help is always welcome and appreciated, your student also has a stretch of days to see their teacher for addition clarification or assistance. They are also welcome to work on homework during recess with one of us.  To cut to the chase, we want to support you and your student with homework and not send home stress and power-struggles on a weekly basis.

In terms of “grading”, homework counts as 10% of their final grade. Formative assessments, such as quizzes, are 40% and summative assessments, such as tests and performance tasks, are 50%.

 In parting, we look forward to working with your student and please, please, please feel free to call or e-mail us.

Many Thanks

Nick Lodge                              Mary Jean Smith