Math - page 92 and 93 in wb started in class
practice flash cards

Science - finish handout started in class

Reading - finish reading WILD HORSE in reading
books. Read for 10 minutes

Spelling - finish workbook pages
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I assign homework as a support for work being done in the classroom. Students are also assigned independent work to be completed on a weekly basis. They have the option of bringing some of this material home to work on or to utilize time in the classroom. We are attempting to teach the children about time management and accountability. Some students may take advantage of this option to work ahead and stay on top of things. There are some students, however, who will put off this work until the last minute. These students will find that they have “weekend homework” so that all work for that week will be completed when they get back to school the following Monday. Mrs. Stewart will be monitoring Indiana History cards, but I’ll be watching SRA’s and Handwriting. Each student is responsible for only one of these per week.

Because homework is given as a means for students to practice skills they are mastering, it will not be graded the same as papers completed in the classroom. Points will be given for completed work with most answers correct. Some papers can be corrected and returned for full credit / others will be corrected in class. Total homework points will be assessed and counted as one full grade on report cards and averaged in as such. If students always complete homework and turn it in on time, it will be a way for them to help boost their grades. If work is consistently late or incomplete, this could have a detrimental affect on student grades. One point will be taken from every late assignment unless there are extenuating circumstances. Students may also find themselves in “closed” recess if homework is not completed.

We will also be working on various reports over the year. Students will receive a scoring rubric for these assignments and they will be assessed separately from other homework.

I am also encouraging students to read at least 10 minutes every night. If they have reading as part of their homework assignment, this would be sufficient. If not, please help your children find something that may appeal to them; books, magazines, newspapers, statistics, comic books, etc., just so they are reading! The more they read, the easier it becomes.

We have new planners this year for most grades. There are 2 small boxes in each assignment area. The 1^st box is for students to check when the assignment is complete whether in class or at home. The second is for parents’ initials. I am asking that parents initial these boxes at least for the 1^st several weeks. If completion of homework is not an issue, it will not be necessary later in the year. If your child is having difficulty remembering homework, this could result in a yearlong process. Any notes for parents will be clipped or written in the planner. I hope this helps to facilitate the homework process.

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

8:15 – 8:30 Independent Work Time

8:30 – 9:00

Religion

8:30

Prayer Service,

Grades 3 & 4

8:30

Mass

8:30 – 9:00

Religion

8:30 – 9:10

P.E.

9:00 – 11:15

Language Arts

(Includes Reading, Writing, Spelling, Shurley)

9:00 – 11:15

Language Arts

(Includes Reading, Writing, Spelling, Shurley)

9:20 – 10:10

Art

_____________

10:10 – 11-15

Language Arts

9:00 – 11:15

Language Arts

(Includes Reading, Writing, Spelling, Shurley)

9:30 – 10:00

Library/Self-Selected Reading

9:10 – 9:40

Religion

_____________

9:40 – 11:15

Language Arts

11:15 – 11:40 Lunch

11-40 – 12:00 Recess

12:00 – 12:15 Read Aloud

12:15 – 1:00

Math

12:15 – 1:15

Math

12:15 – 1:15

Math

12:15 – 1:15

Math

12:15 – 1:00

Math

1:00 – 1:40

Indiana History

Room 5

1:15 – 1:45

Science

Room 6

1:15 – 1:45

Shurley and/or Spelling

1:15 – 1:45

Science

Room 6

1:15 – 1:45

Science

Room 6

1:50 –2:20

Music

1:45 – 2:15

Indiana History

Room 5

1:45 – 2:25

Science

Room 6

1:45 – 2:15

Indiana History

Room 5

1:45 – 2:15

Indiana History

Room 5

Welcome to another school year at St. Mary’s. We have a lot planned for the upcoming year and I hope everyone is coming to school anxious to learn and ready to work hard. I’d like to begin by telling a little about myself. My name is Kit Gomien. This is my second year teaching 4^th grade at St. Mary’s. As many of you already know, I spent the previous 4 years teaching 1^st grade. Prior to that, I worked in the nursing profession in various capacities. I am excited about this year and all of the changes in store for everyone.

There is a huge transition between 3^rd and 4^th grade with a lot of new experiences. This year we’ll be discovering Indiana; its rich culture and its heritage. We’ll be utilizing the skills we’ve already learned in reading to explore texts in a different way. I hope to challenge the students to think creatively and to look at reading from a different perspective. Math becomes more difficult as we build on skills already mastered to explore long division, fractions, geometry, time, and measurement in greater depth. Science becomes a bigger part of the 4^th grade curriculum as well. Because teachers are ever evolving and changing, the students will benefit from our mutual learning experiences. Expectations will be higher as students strive to attain higher level thinking skills. Homework becomes a big part of their learning experience, since mastery comes with practice. We will be working on individual and group projects over the course of the year as both kinds of learning are essential in developing the well-balanced learner. Students will also be responsible for daily independent work in the classroom.

As many of you have heard in the past, educating children involves a partnership between parents, teachers, and children. Please feel free to contact me at any time should the need arise. My classroom door is always open and messages can be left with our school secretary, to which I will respond as soon as possible. You can also contact me at home in the evenings, (812-689-3239) or by e-mail through our school web site, kgomien@stmarysgreensburg.com. If you have e-mail at home and would like to have me contact you through this medium, please send your address to school with your child. Since we now have internet access in all classrooms, it will facilitate this means of communication.

Lunch and recess schedules have been changed for 3^rd and 4^th grade. As a result, students will be going to recess immediately after lunch. Because of this, we are asking that students not bring in any toys to play with during recess as it will unduly clutter the cafeteria Parents may pay in advance for lunches for students and will be notified only when their balance becomes low.

Please look for the new medication policy that is being sent home this week. Teachers will no longer be dispensing medication in the classroom. This includes cough drops and over-the-counter medications, such as Tylenol. All medications will be dispensed from the office. Please review the policy carefully before sending medications to school.

Mrs. Stewart and I are going to be exploring a new method for presenting Social Studies and Science to both classes. Mrs. Stewart will be teaching Indiana History and I will be teaching Science. I hope to present some enjoyable Science activities to get the students engaged in the learning process. We have also adopted a new reading series that helps differentiate instruction according to the needs of the students. We ask for your patience as we work through some of the idiosyncrasies of the program.

I have posted a copy of our classroom schedule so that you will have some idea as to how your child’s week is set up. This schedule is subject to change as ‘teachable’ moments arise and changes are made at school.

FOURTH GRADE

Monday