Welcome to

Open House!

Our Goals • To give your child the academic and

social skills they need to progress to fifth grade and beyond.

• To provide a supportive, challenging, and fun classroom environment.

• To help your child make new friends and discover new interests.

Class Subjects • Mrs. Robinson’s Class

• Math • Science

• Mrs. Barber’s Class • Reading/Language Arts • Social Studies

Planners • Planners are VERY important. Please

initial DAILY so that we may continue communication.

• Homework will be written in planners. • Students are to create their own

weekly goal. • Conduct will also be marked daily.

Math • Your students are currently learning

how to read and write numerals including decimals, interpreting bar graphs, and outcomes. Throughout the remainder of the year, your students will learn about subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, patterns and relationships. Problem solving will be addressed regularly.

• Please practice multiplication flash cards with your child every night.

Math • Your child will be able to practice

their math facts on: www.reflexmath.com

• STAAR testing April 21st.

Science Your child will learn about: • Laboratory Procedures • Properties of Matter • Energy, Forces, & Motion • Earth: Land & Forces • Earth Materials & Resources • Earth & Space • Life: Plants and Animals

Technology • Your child has access to: Explore Learning (Gizmos) Think Through Math Reflex Math Pearson I-station Write Source

Reading • We will be focusing on cognititive strategies,

comprehension, vocabulary, and comparing across texts.

• Children should read 20 min. daily to improve fluency & comprehension. Record 100 minutes per week on reading log.

• We will have vocabulary most weeks. Lists will be in their Vocab folders and on website.

• STAAR will require a deeper understanding of what students are reading. Test date is April 22nd.

Writing • We will be writing in our Writer’s

Notebooks frequently.

• We will be focusing on narrative (memory) and expository writing (topic/belief with support).

• Revising and editing are also key, so study spelling to help establish spelling patterns!

• Students will take the STAAR Writing test March 30th and 31st.

Spelling • They will be given a new set of spelling

words every Friday. The words will be in their planner and on my website.

• Need to do 2 activities/week from activity menu for homework in spelling spiral.

• Spelling homework is due on Thursdays.

Social Studies

• Your child will learn about: • Regions & Native Texans • Colonization & Texas

Independence • Texas Republic, Statehood

& Civil War • Reconstruction-21st century

Curriculum • Our curriculum is based on the

Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills or TEKS.

• The TEKS can be found at http://www.tea.state.tx.us/.

Music and P.E. • Mrs. Barber’s homeroom attends Music

on Wed. and Thurs. and attends P.E. Mon., Tues., Fri.

• Robinson’s homeroom attends P.E. on Mon., Tues., Wed. and Music on Thurs., Fri.

Library & Art • Both classes have library every other

Monday. Please encourage your child to keep their books in a safe place and bring them to school on library day.

• Art will be two weeks on, one week off on Thursday mornings.

Classroom Community • Our classroom is a community. In our

community, we have rules to help us get along with each other.

• When class rules are not followed, students will receive a conduct mark. An explanation of the codes is in the planner. Codes will be marked in the planner daily. Please check for conduct marks and initial.

• Tuesday folders go home Tuesdays (usually). We will indicate the number of conduct marks and note concerns about grades.

Homework

• Your child is responsible for copying down their homework assignment in their planner and having a parent or responsible adult sign the planner every night.

• Students are expected to practice their math facts and read for at least 20 minutes every night. This may not be in their planner.

Tardiness • School starts at 8:05 A.M. • If your child is not in the classroom by

the time announcements end, they need to get a tardy slip from the front office before coming to class.

• All subjects are 50% major grades and 50% minor grades.

• Major grades can include tests, projects, notebooks, and labs.

• Minor grades can include daily work, quizzes, and participation grades.

• No more than 10% of the total grade will come from homework.

What can I work on at home? • We get this question a lot! So here are

some suggestions: • Math facts, math facts, math facts! The sooner

they are second-nature, the better. • Read and ask your student about the book. Ask

deeper level questions like: “Why do you think the character said that?” “What does this tell you about them?”…

• Talk about important memories, so that they are easier to write about

What can I work on at home? • Ask your child lots of questions about what they

read. Read together and discuss. For hesitant readers, hook them by starting to read it to them! Bluebonnet Award winners are a great choice. Advanced readers may try Lonestar books.

• Have your student tell you stories about memories. Ask for more descriptions and details. Help them fill in the blanks in their memories with your own vivid descriptions.

• Explain thinking. “What makes you say that?”

Contact Information • Mrs. Barber

• cbarber1@kleinisd.net

• Mrs. Robinson • arobinson1@kleinisd.net

Main office number 832-375-7600. Leave messages with the office for a speedier reply. Voicemail is not checked often.

CLASSROOM NEEDS:

•Headphones or ear buds! •Post-its •Glue sticks •Dry erase markers

GT Referrals

The GT referral window for K-11 is August 25th- September 26th. If you would like to refer your child for Klein’s Gifted and Talented Program, please

stop by Blackshear to pick up a referral packet.

Referral packets are available in the front office.

If you have any questions, please call our counselor, Sherri Treadway at 832-375-7625 or our Associate Principal, Mary Ellen Sedlacek at 832-375-7612.

For more information you may also visit the Klein ISD website.

Click Departments>Advanced Academics>Gifted and Talented

Referral packets must be turned in

to the counselor or front office by Friday, September 24th.

Let’s Have a Great Year!