I would like to take this opportunity to welcome you to my class! I am looking forward to working with your child and I know this will be a wonderful school year! To help us have a great start to the year, there are a few items to review in this packet. The items in this packet give an overview of homework procedures and policies, behavior expectations, and rewards for appropriate behavior.
Again, I am so glad that your child is in my class. Please complete, sign, and return the last page of this packet. I also recommend reading through the assignment notebook with your child.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me!
Sincerely,
4 th Grade Team
Mrs. Nancy Homan nancy_homan@nobl.k12.in.us
Miss. Brittney Mulligan brittney_mulligan@nobl.k12.in.us
Mrs. Kimberly Schrank Kimberly_schrank@nobl.k12.in.us

Mrs. Emily Hoppel Emily_hoppel@nobl.k12.in.us
Miss Sarah Nading sarah_nading@nobl.k12.in.us
8:35 - 9:40: Writing
9:40 – 10:25: Specials
10:30-11:40: Math
11:40-12:10: RTI Interventions
12:10-1:05: Recess and Lunch
1:10-2:40: Literacy Block
2:40-3:20: Science/Social Studies/PBL
*Teacher will notify you of any changes
Please try to keep any doctor’s appointments to non-academic times of the day!
 The language arts program will follow a balanced literacy approach with a combination of guidelines set up in The Fountas and Pinnell Continuum of
Literacy Learning and The Daily Five by Gail Boushey and Joan Moser. The Daily
5 is a structure for setting up a language arts program that includes student choice, individualized instruction, and a combination of small and large group instruction. Reading units of study for the 4 th grade will emphasize fiction reading, non-fiction reading, book clubs, and common literary themes.
 Students will be learning and exploring the writing process and skills through the
4 th Grade Units of Study by Lucy Calkins. Throughout the year we will learn various genres including realistic fiction, persuasive/opinion, historical research and writing about fiction. Students will learn to become more proficient in the craft of writing through mini lessons, conferencing, and revising. Vocabulary will be incorporated throughout the year.
 Will be based off of the Indiana College and Career Academic Standards.

 Topics will include Algebra, Geometry, Measurement, Data Analysis, and
Numbers and Operations.
 Everyday Math Curriculum will include Common Core process standards and looks different from our traditional math program. It will allow multiple ways to solve problems and students will use many hand-on activities.
 Everyday Math has a website www.everydaymathonline.com
 Students will receive a login once math classes begin.
 Will be based off of the 4
21 th grade Social Studies Indiana Academic standards and st Century Learning Skills.
 Primarily projects and activities will be used to allow students to use higher level thinking strategies (Blooms Taxonomy).
 Main concepts will cover Indiana’s history from Native Americans through the Civil
War.
 Will be based off of the 4
Century Learning Skills. th grade Science Indiana Academic standards and 21 st
 Projects and activities will allow students to use higher level thinking strategies
(Blooms Taxonomy).
 Science standards will cover land changes and natural resources, heat and electricity, force and motion, and life science topics.
 Here at Promise Road Elementary, we will teach using the project based learning model. This is an approach to teaching where students explore real-world problems and challenges, while at the same developing skills from other subject areas and achieving mastery of cross-curricular common core standards.
 Students will work in collaborative groups during the process of completing their projects. They will utilize their organizational and research skills, develop communication with peers and adults, and understand real world scenarios.
 Evaluations will not only be based on the product, but mostly the process, using mini assessments, such as quizzes, written response, etc., along the way, and how well students collaborated, used critical thinking, creativity, and how well they communicated their ideas to the class.

To help our classroom run smoothly and effectively, students will have individual responsibilities to help in the classroom. These will be assigned and rotated based on the teacher’s preference.
 There is a 4-day rotation for specials, daily 9:40-10:25am. Day 1 will always be on
Monday.
 Mrs. Homan’s class will be split between the four other classes during specials. She will provide you with each student’s rotation.
 Our schedule is:
Miss Mulligan Mrs. Schrank
Day 1: Technology
Day 2: Art
Day 3: Music
Day 1: P.E.
Day 2: Technology
Day 3: Art
Mrs. Hoppel
Day 1: Art
Day 2: Music
Day 3: P.E.
Miss Nading
Day 1: Music
Day 2: P.E.
Day 3: Technology
Day 4: P.E. Day 4: Music Day 4: Technology Day 4: Art
 Gym shoes are necessary for days that we have P.E. We will encourage students to write down what special we have the next day in their assignment notebook.
 There will be a designated library time each week.
 No parties!!! No treats will be permitted this year for birthday celebrations.
 We will be taking a minimum of two field trips that support our curriculum throughout the year.
 No water bottles allowed. Drinking fountains are in each classroom. However, if necessary for health reasons, your child is allowed to bring in water with a parent note.
Communication Folders will be sent home each day, and returned to school the following day. This folder has two sides, with one side labeled, “Bring Back” and the

other side labeled, “Keep at Home.” Any homework or forms to return to school will be found in the “Bring Back” side. Please put these papers back in the folder to be returned to school when completed. Graded work will be found in the “Keep at
Home” section of the folder. Please set aside a time each evening to go through all of your child’s papers.
 Students will use the assignment notebooks to keep track of their assignments. Your child will highlight/underline all assignments that still need to be finished for homework at the end of the day. ASSIGNMENT NOTEBOOKS ARE NOT TO
HAVE PAGES TORN OUT OF THEM!
 Students should have approximately 40 minutes per night of homework, which includes reading about 20 minutes. I want to know if it is taking your child a lot longer than one hour. Either the work is too difficult, or there are attention issues to discuss.
 Make-up work one day for every absent day.
 If your child is having problems with his/her homework, please have them do as much as possible and bring it back the following day with a parent note. We will go over any homework problems the following day, instructional time permitting.
 Your child may be expected to finish any late assignments during recess. If needed, working lunches may be given if there are many missing assignments. Please see our behavior policy on the next page.
 Standards based report cards will be used.
 Report card will be sent via email through the district.
Your child will help to create the classroom procedures and expectations that will fall under the categories of showing respect, responsibility and safety.
 Reminders/Redirection

 Loss of freedom level and/or restricted recess time
 Call home
 Discipline form and office
*** Depending on the severity of the infraction, the teacher may use her own discretion to determine the appropriate consequence. ***
Leadership levels are a privilege for each student to earn! Throughout the year, your child will continue to strive for a leadership level of 3 or 4 by demonstrating the 8 habits. All students will start on a Level 3 and will be rewarded with freedom throughout the school day.
Students will keep track of his or her own behavior and leadership level using a sheet or online tool. Each teacher will communicate with parents how this will be recorded.
Level 1
I need to focus on my leadership skills (student needs to work on improving several leadership habits).
Level 2
I need to reflect on a leadership habit (students has not supported a certain leadership habit).
Level 3
I am a leader (student has maintained expected leadership habits).
Level 4
I have found my voice and/or helped another to find their voice (students has guided a peer in becoming a leader and/or has demonstrated an exceptional leadership quality).
Habit 1
Be Proactive
I stay on task even when my teacher is working with others.
I arrive on time.
Habit 5
Seek to First to
Understand, Then to
Be Understood
In partner talk or group work, I listen to others without interrupting.
Habit 2
Begin with the End in
Mind
I set goals and work to accomplish them.
I have all needed materials
I choose partners wisely depending on our goals.
Habit 6
Synergize
I greet others with warm words and a smile.
Habit 3
Put First Things First
I follow the morning routine.
I fill out my assignment notebook.
I make a plan for classwork/homework.
I organize my working space.
Habit 7
Sharpen the Saw
I am a lifelong learner because it strengthens my mind.
Habit 4
Think Win-Win
I treat other the way I would like to be treated.
Habit 8
Find Your Voice, and
Inspire Others to Find
Theirs
I am using my leadership skills to inspire others to do the right thing.

th
1.
About how many minutes of homework will your child have each school night? a. 15 minutes b. 40 minutes c. 2 hours
2.
Water bottles or other drinks are not allowed in the classroom during academic class time. Circle true or false.
True False

3.
My child and I should look at my child’s take home folder each night and review/remove papers in the “Keep at Home” section. Circle true or false.
True False
Parent Signature: ___________________
Child Signature: ___________________