Welcome to Mrs. Mallen’s 4th
Grade!!
4th Grade Students are
GRAND!!!
Dear Parents and Students:
I look forward to a wonderful school year with plenty of
opportunities for new learning. I wanted to let you know a few things that
should help us get set for a great year!!
Responsibility/ Homework
Our school is going to a new school-wide system called
PBIS. It is a program that rewards good
behavior. I expect that in our school of myself and I expect it of your child.
My number one rule in our class is to treat each other the way you wish to be
treated. If we respect this rule, we should have no problems. As a teacher, if
I see an area that your child needs to work on, we will work together to form a
plan of improvement for your child. Responsibility is a major area that we work
on in 4th grade. The students will be expected to complete the
assigned work. I will give your child plenty of time to work on the assignment
and I will be here to help them with any questions they may have. However, it
is their responsibility to use the time given. If they are not finished with
the assignment in the allotted time, they will work on it during recess in the
hope that they will finish it and then go out to recess and not have to take it
home. However, if they don’t finish it in that amount of time, they will take
it home for homework. Hopefully this will not happen very often. It is an
expectation that they will return the work the following day. Should they not
return it, they will complete it at recess time. I do feel, that the most
important homework the student can do each night, is to read. My expectation is
that they should read at least 15 minutes a night. I ask that this become their
nightly homework. They will be bringing home some RC (Reading Counts) books to
read each night. When the book is finished, they will be given 3 opportunities
to pass a 10 point quiz over the book. This is a great way to work on
comprehension skills and to learn the lifetime leisure skill of reading. I will
be sending home a Monday Memo each Monday. (More about the memo is below.) That
will inform you of what we are doing each week. It will also tell you of when
their RC book is to be finished. We are starting the year with Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing. I will
read a chapter of the book each day and their assignment is to read a chapter
each night at home.
Schedule/Class List
I have not attached a copy of our schedule. At this point,
with so many changes coming up, I haven’t a firm schedule made. I will send
home a schedule once I have firmed it up. I have attached a class list should
you need one.
Monday Memo/Lesson Planners
I send home a Monday Memo virtually each Monday. It shows
you what we will be working on that week. It will show if there are any tests
to be studying for and when those will be, etc… Hopefully that will be a good
communication tool for us. I always include my phone number and my email
address to which you should feel free to use at any time. The students will
also be filling out their lesson planners. This is their first time with them
so we do most of it together each day. At the end of the day, they will circle
anything they didn’t complete and need to work on for homework. I ask that the
parents sign the planner each day. By signing the planner you are telling me
that your child read for 15 minutes the previous night and completed any
homework they brought home. Your child will receive a star for each day signed.
If the planner isn’t signed, that tells me they didn’t get a chance to read for
their 15 minutes, so I will have them read for 15 minutes during recess time. This
is done to start the students out with correctly using a lesson planner and the
importance of showing their parents each day and confirms my feelings on the
importance of reading each night.
Book Orders
I typically send home 3 book orders once a month. I will
tell your child when they are due. Please don’t feel obligated to buy anything
but it is just an opportunity for you should you wish. I find that having three
orders to choose from gives you more choices and the ability to look for the
best price!
Birthday Treats
Many parents ask about birthday treats. We love them!!
Never feel you have to send any, but we would love to recognize your child’s
birthday! The official rule of what you
can and cannot bring is in the school handbook.
Math Facts
It is so very important that the students memorize their
multiplication facts. We will be doing timed tests, practice sheets, etc… on
their facts virtually every day the first semester. The goal is to be able to
complete a 100 point 5 minute timed test with at least 90% accuracy by
semester’s end. We will be working on multiplying and dividing 2 and 3 digit
numbers by that point, so it is to their benefit and makes math so much easier
for them, if they know those facts. I appreciate your help in working with them
for possibly 5 minutes each night!!
I am really excited about this year and look
forward to an awesome year!!
Sincerely,
Chris Mallen
Phone: 444-3093 (Home) 444-4300 ext. 336
Email: chris.mallen@belmond-klemme.k12.ia.us
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