Parent Information Packet

Ms. Johnsons Fourth Grade Class

2016-2017
Email:
johnsond@bcreek.org
Website:
www.johnsond.weebly.com

Dear Parents/Guardians,
Welcome to 4th grade at Pine River Elementary School! I look forward to joining your familys team as I work
with you and your child over the course of the next school year.
I hope that you find this packet helpful. This information is also available on our classrooms website at
www.johnsond.weebly.com. I encourage you to read it and discuss the information with your child. Please
consider returning the About Your Child and Calling All Volunteers sheets located on the last
two pages of this packet. Thank you so much!

Absences
Please inform the office of all absences so that they may be verified in our records. You may send a note, call
Mrs. Krueger (pronounced Kree-ger) in the office at 631-5121, or email her at kruegera@bcreek.org.
Absent students will receive an information sheet listing the classroom work that was missed. If you would like
the work sent home with someone, or if you would like to pick it up, then please email me or leave a message in
the office. A one-hour notice is appreciated.
A.M. Drop-Offs
Students should not be dropped off to the school prior to 8:35 because there is little supervision until that time.
Students are not to enter the classroom until 8:40. This helps to avoid a noise level that can be distracting to
early morning meetings, telephone calls, and teacher work time.
Birthday Treats
Each child is welcome to bring a treat to share with the class for his/her birthday. Summer birthdays may be
celebrated when your child is Person of the Week or toward the end of the school year. Parents are encouraged to
send in a few extra treats as accidental spills sometimes occur. Also, if possible, please send napkins with your
childs treat. If you would like to drop off treats, please leave them in the office anytime between 8:35-10:00
AM. Thank you.
Classroom Website (www.johnsond.weebly.com)
Our website contains a blog of classroom happenings along with information such as our current newsletters,
our classroom handbook, and our schedule. Also, you can find links to the districts calendar, breakfast and
lunch menus, online grading site, book ordering, parent tips, and educational websites for students. More
information will be added as the year progresses.
Communication
Feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns. Youre welcome to send a note, email me, or leave a
message with the office personnel or on my voicemail at 631-5121. Please note that I may not respond until
after the children are dismissed at the end of the day.

Curriculum
In 2010, Michigans State Board of Education adopted the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for the areas
of English language arts and mathematics. The CCSS are designed to guide instruction in order to prepare all
students to be career and college ready by the end of high school. They are (1) research and evidence-based,
(2) aligned with college and work expectations, (3) rigorous, and (4) internationally benchmarked. In November
of 2015, Michigan adopted new science standards that were derived from the Next Generation Science
Standards. Also in 2015, Michigan updated their social studies Grade Level Content Expectations (GLCEs).
You can read more about the standards under the Student Assessment tab at www.michigan.gov/mde or on our
classrooms website under the Parents tab.
Discipline
Our school has one rule: Treat all people and things with respect. Students who choose not to follow the rule go
through the Responsible Thinking Process, as outlined in the student handbook. This positive approach teaches
children to take responsibility for their behaviors. If you have any questions, please feel free to email our
Responsible Thinking Classroom (RTC) coordinator, Mrs. VanNorman, at vannormanb@bcreek.org.
Dropping Off Materials
All visitors are required to go to the office immediately upon entering the school. Please leave materials with the
office personnel.
Grading
Letter grades will be given in the following subjects: reading, math, science, social studies, spelling, and
writing/English. Not all class work and assignments will be entered into the online grade book, known as
Skyward.
Parents are encouraged to view their childs grades each week. You may access Skyward from our districts
website: www.bcreek.org or our classrooms website under the Parents tab. If you did not register with Skyward
last year, you can find the directions on our classrooms website under the Parents tab.
Holiday Parties
We will have classroom parties for Halloween, Christmas, and Valentines Day. Parents are welcome and
encouraged to attend. Party sign-up sheets were available at open house. Thank you to those of you who signed
up to donate food, supplies, and/or your time to help. Our room parent(s) will contact volunteers prior to the
parties. Need a reminder of what you signed up for? The party information can be viewed under the FAQs tab
on our classroom website.

Homework
Fourth grade homework averages 40 minutes a day, Monday through Thursday. (Homework is
rarely assigned on a Friday.) Struggling students may require more time. Heres a sample daily homework
routine for an average 4th grade student:
Reading (20+ minutes) Students should read 20+ minutes (without breaks) to build stamina.
Frequently asked questions:
Should my child read aloud or silently? It depends. If your child is reading below grade level, then its
recommended that your child read aloud to an adult.
How do I know if its a good fit book for my child? A just right text can be read aloud smoothly, with expression,
at an appropriate pace. If the reading sounds choppy, then its probably too difficult. More information
about finding just right books can be found under the FAQs tab on our classrooms website.
Fluency practice page - Time spent reading aloud the fluency practice page may count toward the
assigned 20+ minutes of reading.
Directions for fluency page:
1.
Child reads aloud passage for one minute
2.
Chart the number of correct words read (Goal: 114+ correct words per minute on the first try)
3.
Review mistakes
4.
Repeat (Aim for 8-10x/week)
5.
Return sheet to school
Math facts (5 minutes)
Online activities are available in the Students section of our classroom website.
Once we assess all multiplication facts using the 36-problem tests at the beginning of the year, well begin
the 100-problem facts tests. Well begin by taking the 100-problem tests in 5 minutes and then
work our way to the goal of 100 problems in 3 minutes. Practice pages will be sent home at
conferences; they will not have to be returned.
Spelling (5 minutes) - See www.spellingcity.com/Mrs_D_Johnson for lists, games, etc.
Complete schoolwork from the day & review for tests, if needed - (5-10 minutes) Class work
becomes homework if not finished by the end of the school day. Students should complete the work and
submit it first thing the next morning. If students do not have any schoolwork to complete or any upcoming
tests in which to review, then extra time could be spent reading, practicing math facts or spelling words, or
engaging in extension activities, such as those in the Students section on our classrooms website.
Here are some tips to help your child be successful with homework:
Establish a routine (Work in the same place at the same time each day.)
Provide good lighting and a quiet, distraction-free place to work
Supply pencils, erasers, paper, and a dictionary
Praise your child (Positive comments on accuracy, neatness, and working independently are beneficial to
all students.)
4

Homework Folder
The homework folder will be used for transporting homework, notes, and corrected papers to and from school.
It is your childs responsibility to submit homework and notes to the teacher. Students will be responsible for
bringing the folder back and forth EVERY day.
Late Homework Policy
Unfinished class work should be completed at home and then submitted at the beginning of the next school day.
If homework is not returned, then it will be completed in the classroom and/or the RTC during
breaks/recesses. Ten percent will be deducted from the late work, and it will be noted in the grade book.
Lunch & Milk Money
It is preferable for lunch/milk money to be collected on the first day of the week. You are welcome to pay a
month or more in advance. Please send money in an envelope labeled with your childs name, teachers name,
and the amount enclosed. Menus, prices, and online payment information can be accessed on our districts
website or under the FAQs tab on our classrooms website.
Math
Instruction will include independent paper/pencil activities, large- and small-group work, games, and mental
math talks. Here are some of the concepts that we will cover this year: add and subtract numbers through
millions, multiply with multiple digits & divide to find quotients with multi-digit dividends (answers), solve story
problems involving addition, subtraction, multiplication & division, add and subtract fractions with like
denominators, multiply fractions by whole numbers, understand how fractions can be written as decimals &
compare them, measure lines & angles; convert measurements from larger to smaller units, and analyze &
classify geometric figures based on properties (parallel sides, perpendicular sides, particular angle measures, and
symmetry). The goal of the instruction is two-fold: skill efficiency (rapid recall of math procedures) and
conceptual understanding (relationships among facts, procedures, and ideas).
Math Lab
This daily program provides math instruction and enrichment for all students to strengthen their understanding
of mathematical concepts and improve computational skills. Lessons are presented by grade-level teachers, the
math intervention specialist, Mrs. Snell and by volunteers. Many volunteers are needed to help anywhere from
once a month to a few days a week. Please email Mrs. Snell at snellc@bcreek.org if you'd like to help.
Michigan Statewide Summative Assessments
Fourth graders will be assessed in the areas of English language arts (reading, writing, listening & speaking),
math, and science using the Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress (M-STEP). More information can
be found at www.michigan.gov/mde under the Student Assessment tab.
Newsletters
Classroom newsletters will be emailed throughout the school year to the primary email address that you
provided to the district. In addition to sending them through email, the newsletters will be posted onto your
childs Skyward page as well as on our classrooms blog.

Person of the Week

Each week, one student will be chosen to be our Person of the Week. This will usually take place around the
students birthday, working in summer birthdays throughout the year. Prior to the students chosen week,
he/she will receive an All About Me poster. The poster may be completed using materials of his/her
choosing, such as pencils, crayons, markers, photographs, magazine clippings, etc.
On Monday, the students poster will be placed onto a special board. Throughout the week the student will be
responsible for being the line leader, running errands, passing papers, and other special jobs. During that week,
classmates will contribute handwritten compliments into a mini-book for the student. At the end of the week, the
student will read the poster to the class and answer questions. The poster will be returned to the child at the end
of the week.
Picking Up Your Child
If you plan to pick up your child either during the school day or after school, please inform the office. It is
preferred that you send a note. Otherwise, you may call Mrs. Krueger in the office at 631-5121 or email her at
kruegera@bcreek.org.
Please go to the office once you arrive. You will be required to sign out your child each time there is a pick-up
from school. Your child will be dismissed from the classroom and will meet you near the office. Please do not
pick up your child in the classroom or in the hallway outside of the classroom. This policy is to ensure the safety
of all students.
Planner
The planner is used to keep the lines of communication open between school and home. In order for the
communication to be effective, a parent/guardian and the teacher should sign the planner daily.
Parents/guardians are asked to check the planner daily for information such as special notes, dates to
remember, homework, etc. Discipline problems and late homework may be noted in the planner as well. The
parent/guardian signature informs the teacher that the parent/guardian has read the planner and the student
has completed the assignments. Your child will be responsible for bringing the planner to school EVERY day.
Reading Workshop
Reading instruction will take place in whole- and small-group formats as well as independently. Students will
have opportunities to read and respond to self-selected books and to teacher-selected texts. In addition to
reading workshop, students will be engaging in extensive reading and responding across all subject areas.
Recess/Break Time & Track
Our class will engage in physical activity on a daily basis during recess as well as other break times as our
schedule allows. Please help your child be prepared by wearing appropriate clothing and footwear. Students are
welcome to keep an extra pair of gym shoes in their lockers.
Students will go outside every day for recess unless it is raining, the temperature is 15 degrees or colder, and/or
the wind-chill is zero or below. Once the weather turns cold, the children should dress warmly with winter coats,
snow pants, hats, boots, and gloves. If you need assistance providing outdoor clothing, please contact me.

Science Units
The students will engage in several units throughout the year. The units include: heat & electricity, plants,
animals, food chains, environmental changes, fossils, sun, moon, Earths orbit around the sun (year), spin of
Earth (day & night), moon (motion & cycles), and seasons.
Snacks & Water Bottles
Your child is highly encouraged to bring his/her own healthy snack to be eaten in the morning every day. Some
ideas for healthy snacks include: fruit, vegetables, crackers, pretzels, trail mix, nuts, yogurt, bagels, half of a
sandwich, string cheese, beef jerky, etc. Unhealthy snack choices (i.e. chips, cookies, Poptarts, sugary cereal, and
snack cakes) are not allowed.
Each child may bring a bottle of water every day. Please make sure that it is CLEARLY labeled with your
childs name. Bottles should be taken home regularly for proper cleaning. Flavored water with artificial
sweeteners is not allowed.
Social Studies
Students will continue to learn about Michigan as well as begin to learn about the United States. Topics will
include: history, geography, government, economics, and citizenship.
Specials Classes
Our specials schedule, which is subject to change, is as follows:
Monday - Physical Education
Tuesday - Art
Wednesday - Physical Education
Thursday - Library Skills
Friday - Computer Skills
Please help your child be prepared on P.E. days with appropriate clothing and footwear. Each child is welcome
to keep an extra pair of shoes inside of his/her locker. If you need assistance providing shoes, please contact me.
Spelling
Spelling lists will be sent home with your child on Thursdays. Also, they will be posted online at
http://www.spellingcity.com/Mrs_D_Johnson/. Testing will take place on Thursdays. Students are encouraged
to practice their spelling words, a few at a time, throughout the week. Your child may enjoy practicing spelling
words on the Spelling City website or in a variety of other ways such as using a whiteboard, writing in sand on top
of a cookie sheet, creating puzzles or word searches, clapping while saying the letters aloud, etc.
Visitors Pass
All visitors are required to go to the office immediately upon entering the school to receive a visitors pass.
Writing Workshop & English
Students will have opportunities to self-select their own topics as well as respond to teacher-selected topics.
Genres that will be covered include: personal narratives, opinion/argument pieces, essay writing, informational
writing, and short research reports. Also, they will engage in extensive writing across all subject areas. English
instruction (grammar, sentence structure, punctuation, etc.) will take place as well.
7

About Your Child

Dear Parents/Guardians,
Feel free to share any of the following information with me so that I may get to know your child
more quickly. Or, youre welcome to email your comments to me (johnsond@bcreek.org). Thank you!
Childs Name:_________________________________________________________
Name(s) of Parent(s):____________________________________________________
1. Things I really enjoy about my child are
2. Special interests and/or outside activities my child enjoys are
3. Special family holidays or specific customs we have are
4. My childs feelings about reading, writing & math are
5. Types of books my child enjoys are
6. My childs feelings about coming to school are
7. Areas in which I would like to see my child improve are
8. Does your child wear glasses? If so, when? Should the glasses be removed for recess and/or P.E.?
9. Allergies (Food, medicine, environmental, etc.):
10. Medication:
11. Additional Comments (Please write on the back if additional space is needed.)

Calling All Volunteers!

Please mark all that apply:
Head Room Parent
The Head Room Parent will
1. Organize the Halloween, Christmas, and Valentines Day parties
2. Plan the menu and four activities for each party
3. Remind volunteers about the food/supplies donations
Volunteer
Provide extra hands for special projects (i.e. planting seeds, crafts, cooking, etc.)
Assist individuals and small groups with the following: (Check all that interest you)
Assist during writing workshop (listen to students read pieces & discuss)
Assist with language arts activities (reading, writing, spelling & grammar)
Assist in Math Lab (Opportunities range from once a month to a few days a week.)
Special Presenter (Parents/Guardians, Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, Etc)
Would you or someone you know like to
Read to us
Tell us about a travel experience
Share a special talent
Tell us about a career
Make a craft with us
Help us make a yummy recipe
Other
If yes, please explain: ______________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Other ideas/suggestions:
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Volunteer Contact Information:
Name of Student: _______________________________________________________
Name of Volunteer: _____________________________________________________
Relationship of Volunteer to Student: _____________________________________
Days & times available: _________________________________________________
Telephone and/or email: ________________________________________________

10