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Room 24

Welcome to fourth grade.  I am Gail Sarbiewski, a fourth grade teacher at Palos East School.  I enjoy teaching fourth graders because these students are at a very special time in their lives.

Grade 4 is...

"Grade four is a year of change, a year when children begin to assume many new responsibilities.  On the most basic level, we expect them to come to school each day with all the necessary equipment--pencils, erasers, books, and sneakers--and we begin to try to wean children away from excuses, like the mother who doesn’t pack physical education gear or who throws homework away.

 Fourth grade is the year of real, honest-to-goodness homework.  We lead the children slowly and carefully into the world of independent study until it becomes a part of their daily routine.

 Fourth grade is the year when content-area study becomes both broader and more concentrated.  The curriculum demands that students delve deeper than hands-on activities and short readings.  The approach becomes more academic as we introduce specialized vocabulary, critical thinking, multi-leveled questions, and daily discussions.  There is a new emphasis on remembering facts and concepts and finding systems of logic among them.  Report writing becomes more scholarly through the use of such references as atlases and almanacs.  Perhaps most important, this is the year when we begin to make big intellectual demands of children and expect them to become serious students."

                                                        by Marcia Blake

                                                        from… Coming to Know

 I look forward to working with you to help your child meet these challenges of fourth grade.  Working together we can ensure that your child has the best experience fourth grade can offer.

Assignment Notebook

This year’s expectations will include more independent work, better organization of materials, and increased responsibility for school assignments.  In order to help our class achieve these goals, each child is expected to have an expandable folder and an assignment notebook.  All assignments and test dates are written on the assignment board hanging in our classroom.  Each child has the responsibility to copy the information on the assignment board daily and to take home necessary books or materials needed to complete the assignments.

Late Assignments

The children will receive homework each night. Homework is due the following day.  Late assignment slips will be given for any homework assignment not turned in on time.  this slip should be signed by a parent and returned with the completed assignment the following day.
 

Reading Logs

Each fourth grade student is responsible to read 20 minutes nightly for a minimum of five nights a week.  The reading can include assigned class reading or material your child chooses.  I will pass out the Reading Logs on Friday.  They should be returned to class the following Monday.

Home folders

Your child's work will be sent home nightly.  Please review any graded papers with your child.  Also look for important notes and assignments which need to be corrected.  If your child is bring home a REDO assignment, please help them correct the assignment and sign the form.  Please review, sign and return all tests which your child brings home.

Snacks

Included in our morning schedule will be a brief snack period.  A healthy snack is suggested such as fruit, cheese and crackers, pretzels or vegetables.  Birthday treats are welcome.  We have 23 children in our class.  If your child celebrates a summer birthday, feel free to send in a birthday treat on their 1/2 birthday!

Book Report

Every month the children will explore a different genre and have a book project.  The project and requirements will be sent home at the beginning of the month.  This is a great way for the children to be exposed to a variety of books and to enhance reading for meaning as well as enjoyment.

Specials Schedule

Monday          Art

Tuesday          PE

Wednesday     PE, Media (every other week)

Thursday        Music

Friday             PE

I look forward to providing your child with the best possible fourth grade experience.  Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns. 

My email address is gsarbiewski@palos118.org.

Back to Fourth Grade home page

Last updated: September, 2007

Web page designed by :

Mrs. Gail Sarbiewski, Fourth Grade Teacher

Maintained by Deb Balayti and Marcy Basch