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TH
4
GRADE
CURRICULUM
NIGHT
Mrs. Wood
Our Mission Statement
Building upon the foundation of the Core Knowledge
Sequence, Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy: A
Challenge Foundation Academy partners with families to
educate students in grades K-12 in the trivium of grammar,
logic, and rhetoric, thus graduating thoughtful, articulate
young adults who are prepared for college and for a lifetime
of citizenship and active intellectual inquiry.
Our School’s Mission
◦ Thomas Jefferson Classical Grammar School-A Challenge
Foundation is a college preparatory school.
◦ Our aim is to broaden your child’s learning experiences to
include many topics that are not currently taught in most public
schools.
◦ As a result of our challenging curriculum this may entail more
homework, and extra study time at home as compared to what
you have been used to.
◦ Also, your child is now in the process of getting closer to the
middle school age where organization is key to their success.
◦ While this may take extra time and effort from all of us, we are
confident that the rewards will far outweigh the hard work it will
require!
Schedule
◦ Arrival to the Classroom 7:45 – 8:05
◦ Start the Day at 8:05
◦ Morning Work
◦ Grammar
◦ Snack – 9:20
◦ Core Knowledge Science and Social Studies
◦ Language Arts
◦ Lunch – 11:30
◦ Recess – 12:00
◦ Specials – 12:40
◦ Singapore Math
◦ Dismissal – 2:50
North Carolina Studies Weekly
◦ This school year we will be using the NC Studies Weekly in class
with students to learn more about our state. This newspaper will
be used for homework activities as well as class grades (weekly
quiz) and activities.
◦ Students will need to read this with you throughout the week.
Highlight important information for use on the assessment. The
crossword and question activities need to be completed.
◦ Students need to pay $6 for their copy since this will be consumed
by the student (some weeks ask you to cut things out for special
activities).
◦ Website available: www.estudiesweekly.com
◦ If you write a check, please make out a check for $6 to TJCA.
Spelling
◦ We use words from different content areas of Core
Knowledge units, also from novels we are currently reading,
and certain spelling rules.
◦ Pretest and Test in class
◦ Spelling Words will be available on my teacher website.
◦ Extra practice will need to be completed at home
◦ HOMEWORK: Complete a practice test at home given to
you by an adult and make sure it is checked over. Parents
please sign your child’s practice test.
Grammar
◦ The Grammar review and test, both come from
the lessons in that particular unit and will be
graded.
◦ Games and extra practice can be found at:
www.grammarworkshop.com
Core Knowledge
◦ What Your 4th Grader Needs to Know
◦ Core provides students with rich content covering various topics
in science and social studies.
◦ It allows teachers to work across the curriculum and to be
creative.
◦ If you and your child are new to Thomas Jefferson, we
recommend buying What Your Third Grader Needs To Know.
Science Topics
◦ Electricity and Magnetism
◦ Meteorology
◦ Circulatory System
◦ Respiratory System
◦ Geology
◦ Health with food and body
◦ Animal Adaptations
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Open Book Handouts/Quizzes
Social Studies
◦ Using Maps and World Mountains
◦ Europe in the Middle Ages
◦ Spread of Islam
◦ Early and Medieval African Kingdoms
◦ China: Dynasties & Kingdoms
◦ American Revolution
◦ Making a Constitutional Government
◦ Early Presidents and Politics
◦ Early American Reformers
◦ American Symbols and Figures
Language Arts
◦ This year we will be incorporating Core Knowledge content into
our Language Arts studies which encompasses reading and
writing.
◦ We will be reading from Kids Discover, StoryWorks, Pearson’s
History and Geography, along with novels and poetry.
StoryWorks Magazine
◦ Preview of StoryWorks Magazine
◦ Covers all genres
◦ Interesting stories with current events
◦ Tests are all open book
◦ Include PowerPoints to build background information prior to
reading
◦ Upper level vocabulary is taught and used
◦ The magazine is grade level appropriate and somewhat
challenging
◦ Builds a love of reading for pleasure and interest
Kids Discover
◦ This is a magazine that includes nonfiction texts focusing Core
Knowledge content.
◦ We will be discussing the following topics through Kids Discover:
◦ Tornadoes (Meteorology)
◦ Islands (Geology)
◦ Kings and Queens (Europe and the Middle Ages)
◦ African Kingdoms (Ancient Africa)
Lunch/Snack
◦ Please refrain from dropping off lunch daily during lunch time.
◦ The front office will not allow students to call requesting lunch for
that day. Students need to come prepared for lunch.
◦ Snacks should include food that is quick and not messy.
◦ Please send appropriate food with your child for lunch and snack.
◦ No Soda or Candy!
◦ $3.00 a meal
◦ Please keep up with your child’s account. Review the Parent
Handbook regarding the lunch policy.
Birthdays
◦ The first Friday of every month we will celebrate the birthdays of
the month.
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Friday, September 6th (August and September Birthdays)
Friday, October
Friday, November
Friday, December
Friday, January
Friday, February
Friday, March
Friday, April
Friday, May (May, June, and July Birthdays)
◦ If you would like to bring something in for your child’s birthday, let
me know!
Singapore Math
◦ New math curriculum
◦ Singapore Math takes a slightly different mathematical approach
than what you may be used to.
◦ Word problems are solved using model drawing. This helps
students visualize what a word problem is saying so they can
understand the meaning and thus how to solve the problem.
◦ Students will have mental math exercises which teaches them to
calculate in the heads without using paper and pencil.
◦ Importance of knowing multiplication facts
◦ Students will have timed speed drills with addition, subtraction,
multiplication, and division facts.
Attendance and Tardies
◦ If a student has consistent tardies,
a parent-teacher conference will
be scheduled.
◦ Students missing over 20 days
(excused or unexcused) will
receive an automatic fail for the
school year.
◦ We will be picking up students from
the gym by 7:50.
◦ We will begin instruction at 8:05, so
punctuality is very important.
Students who are consistently here
obviously gain the best advantage in
performance over their fellow students.
Students having great attendance will
gain more knowledge and are able to
understand the subject matter being
taught since they were present for the
entire lesson. When your child is not at
school, we have to rush through lessons
and the student is overwhelmed with
make up work. Please make every
effort to give your child a successful
year!
Early Check-Out
During the afternoon, we will be covering Singapore Math. This will be a difficult
subject to make-up. If your child needs to miss part of the day, please contact
me to make arrangements for make-up work.
Homework Pad
◦ Homework planners cost $5.00
◦ Students are required to write their homework each day.
◦ Parents can find the homework on my website.
◦ The Homework Pad will be used to communicate homework,
notes, and behavior issues. The Planner must be signed nightly!
◦ Reference Information
Projects
◦ Projects will come home with directions and information for you to
read over carefully. We also provide a rubric which will show you
everything we will be looking for as we grade the project.
Definitely look this over before beginning the project and
afterwards to make sure everything is correct.
◦ We try to give you over a week (sometimes longer if it is a more
time consuming project) to complete the project.
◦ *** Please make sure the student is completing the project with
you as a guide.
◦ Since we give you plenty of notice and reminders (both in the
homework pad and newsletters) we will not accept late projects.
◦ Please make certain we teach our students good habits, and not
wait until the night before the due date to complete it.
Absences and Late Work
◦ Students have 1 day per day absent to make up work without
being penalized.
◦ Points will be deducted from all late work. (Not due to an
absence.)
◦ All missing assignments will have to be made up. Due to lack of
time throughout the day, recess will be used as time for students
to complete make up work.
Classroom Management
◦ Individual Rewards:
◦ Froggy Francs
◦ Group Rewards:
◦ Compliment Points
◦ Individual Consequences:
◦ Behavior Clip Chart
Clip Chart Key
7 – Outstanding
6 – Great Choices
5 – Good Choices
4 – Ready to Learn
3 – Warning
2 – Consequence
1 – Parent Contact /Office
Communication
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Please make sure we have your current e-mail address.
Check your e-mail and my website frequently.
We send a weekly update so you know what to expect.
If you have a major concern, please call rather than e-mail.
◦ Sensitive matters
◦ Transportation
◦ Please keep in mind that we are all adults working together as a
team to ensure your child has a great year.
◦ If you need to talk with me, we will need to schedule a meeting
instead of impromptu meetings.
◦ Communication is a key factor in the success of your
student….emailing the teacher is also a quick connection!
◦ All important classroom dates, school events, and everything we will
be studying in class can be found on the weekly newsletter, my
website, and each student’s planner.
Weekly Work Folders
◦ Go over work to be returned to school that night & the other work
to be left at home at your convenience. This is critical to your
child’s success!
◦ The work sent back is kept to create a portfolio of each student’s
work for this year.
◦ Please make sure you sign the back of the Weekly Work Folder
next to the assigned date. This is the way I know you saw your
child’s work.
Teacher Webpage
◦ School Website
◦ www.tjca.teamcfa.org
◦ Homework
◦ Calendar
◦ Attachments
◦ Reminders
◦ Examples and Pictures
◦ Weekly Update
Uniforms
◦ Please be sure to read the Uniform Policy in the Parent Handbook.
◦ There is a write up slip for those students who do not follow the
Uniform Policy.
Volunteers
◦ Room Mom/Dad
◦ Volunteers for the following activities:
◦ Organizing the classroom library
◦ Creating math manipulatives
◦ Covering books with contact paper
◦ Laminating
◦ Copying
◦ Working with small groups
Contact me at ewood@tjca.org if you are interested.
Upcoming Events
◦ Parent Conferences
◦ Labor Day Holiday, Monday, September 2nd
◦ Early Release, September 20th
◦ Midterm grades for the nine weeks will come
home Wednesday, September 25th
◦ Check your email and the website for
upcoming dates of important school events
and tests each week!
Field Trips This Year
◦ Low-Income or assistance needed paperwork is available in the front
office from Mrs. Downs and this is kept confidential—this is only
available for day field trips, not overnight field trips.
◦ Scheduled Field Trips:
◦ Cowpens/Kings Mountain
◦ North Carolina Outer Banks
◦ We will have a meeting to discuss this in further detail in September. THIS IS AN
IMPORTANT MEETING.
Student Supply List
Subject Supplies
◦ A 3-ring view binder (the kind that has a clear pocket on the cover) that is 1 ½ inches
wide so that the student planner notebook will fit inside the binder – (no zipper binders
allowed)
◦ 5 tabbed pack of dividers with pockets for the Homework Notebook (the plastic type
holds up better)
◦ 2 one-subject spiral notebooks
◦ 1 three-subject larger, spiral notebook
◦ 2 composition notebooks – marbled black and white or another color
◦ $5 TJ student planner (able to be purchased from the forum during Orientation Night or
the beginning of school)
Other Supplies
◦ Loose-leaf paper (wide ruled) at least 2 packs
◦ Yellow highlighters
◦ Minimum of 5 glue sticks
◦ Pencil Box with pencils and extra erasers
◦ Thin Black Expo markers and an eraser or sock to use as an eraser
◦ Crayons and/or colored pencils
◦ Red pens for checking papers
Wish List Items
◦ Forks, spoons, and paper plates
◦ Packs of Page Protectors
◦ Clorox Wipes, Kleenex, and hand sanitizer
◦ Recess equipment (kick balls, soccer ball, basketballs, jump ropes, etc.)
also games for rainy days 
◦ Medium-Sized Dry Erase Board
◦ Vacuum
◦ Electric Pencil Sharpener
CONTACT
INFORMATION
Emily Wood
ewood@tjca.org