Welcome and Introduction
Welcome to fourth grade! My name is Amy Beckett and I have been teaching third and fourth grade since 2000. I am looking forward to a great year working with you and your child. This is a long letter and I thank you for taking the time to read it. There is a great deal of information for me to communicate to you, and it may seem overwhelming at first. That is probably how your child will be feeling for the first week, too! Don’t worry. It will all be smoothed out in no time.
My first priority for your child is their safety. Mask wearing is recommended, but not required. I will provide several opportunities throughout the day to get outside for movement and fresh air. Hand washing and sanitizer will be done many times throughout the day. My other priority is to help children become more independent and enthusiastic learners in a supportive and kind classroom community. I have high expectations for all of my students and I will email you or call home if there is an academic or behavior issue.
Thank you in advance for your patience and understanding as we face any challenges during this upcoming school year together. Know that I will make sure your child feels safe, cared for, and excited to learn in this school environment.
Curriculum
1. Word Study - Brighton uses the Wordsmith spelling program, which, in fourth grade, emphasizes the learning of root words, prefixes, suffixes, and homophones. Students will complete spelling activities related to each unit’s root word in their Wordsmith journal, as well as homework. This program is more than rote memorization of spelling words. It is a challenging program that will increase your child’s vocabulary. At the end of each unit, students will be given a spelling test to see how well they are learning the root words with their prefixes and suffixes. Keep in mind that each unit can take longer than a typical school week, so tests may not fall on a Friday. This spelling program can only be successful with the help of families. Thank you in advance for your support.
2. Reading Workshop – I am a big believer in the power of books. Our classroom library is extensive and offers something for everyone. There will be a variety of daily reading experiences in the classroom. We will use the Lucy Calkins reading workshop approach. Your child will participate in book partnerships, independent reading, poetry workshop, and read alouds. Some of the reading comprehension strategies we will work on include retelling, asking questions, predicting, visualizing, determining important information, making inferences, making connections, and synthesizing information. Other areas we will focus on include reading with fluency and expression, determining common themes in reading, and monitoring our inner conversations while we read.
3. Writing Workshop - We will do a great deal of writing in all areas of the curriculum. We will use the Lucy Calkins writing workshop approach. I will guide the writing process and provide instruction through mini-lessons and conferences. I will also model the writing process, which includes prewriting, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing. We will write narrative pieces, opinion pieces, and a research piece. Poetry will also be written throughout the year. There will also be opportunities for independent writing in a writer’s notebook. Grammar and proofreading will also be practiced throughout the year.
4. Math - The district uses the Everyday Math program, which builds upon a number of areas covered in third grade, such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, decimals, place value, measurement, and geometry. This program emphasizes problem solving and activities that promote higher level thinking skills. Each unit comes with a newsletter describing what your child will learn. The newsletter will also include help with math homework, so please keep this newsletter handy. Third graders learn their multiplication facts and much is forgotten over the summer! It is essential that you begin reviewing facts up to 10x10 each night. This will help your child be more successful in math, since so much of fourth grade math includes multiplication.
5. Science - Our science curriculum has your child working in small cooperative groups, includes hands-on activities, uses individual science notebooks, and requires a great deal of higher-level thinking. Some of the topics we will focus on include energy, plant and animal structures, and the planet Earth.
6. Social Studies - Throughout the year your child will learn about the five major regions of the United States, maps and globes, and the United States government. Many of our reading and writing experiences will focus on what we are learning in social studies.
Homework
Your child will have a homework folder that needs to be checked each night. They will be responsible for writing the due dates for the homework at the top of the homework sheet. Please return homework in the folder so we can send home the next night’s homework. Besides including updates about upcoming quizzes and tests, the homework folder will include the following:
1. The Everyday Math program has a homework component, however, your child will not always bring home math homework. When they do, it will need to be turned in the following day, because it will be part of that day’s math instruction. Your child will have access to all of the Everyday Math materials through the ConnectED website. It is a great resource for printing off missing homework, playing games, studying for tests, and if you have a question about the homework.
2. Brighton’s spelling program, Wordsmith, includes student-created flashcards that will need to be studied. Students are responsible for learning the spelling and definition of each word.
3. Enjoy reading at least twenty minutes a day for five days a week (your choice of which days). This time commitment will greatly improve your child's success in reading.
Please help your child to complete his or her homework as independently as possible. If there is a question about the homework, please have your child ask me at school. Students will be held accountable for missing or late homework. Please help your child to plan his or her time accordingly. Thank you for your support.
Planners
Every morning your child will fill in his or her planner with what we will be learning that day in each subject. They will also write in any homework and test reminders. Please ask your child to see this planner each day. It will need to be initialed by you and returned daily. Your initials tell me that you have talked with your child about what they did in school that day and that you are aware of upcoming homework and test dates. If I want to communicate with you, I will put a personal message directly in the planner. Please feel free to do the same, but remind your child to make me aware of your message.
Friday Folders
Every Friday your child will bring home a Friday folder with any school related notes from the office. I will also include in the folder your child's corrected work. The folders are to be returned the following Monday. Some assignments will not go home due to the fact that the children use journals, which stay in the classroom. They also complete many in-class projects, which will be kept on display for a period of time.
Birthdays
Due to the pandemic and large number of allergies in our school, edible birthday treats will not be part of our classroom. Instead, your child is welcome to donate a paperback book to the “Birthday Book Bin” in our classroom library, and of course this is voluntary. A special donation sticker will be put inside and signed by your child.
School Supplies/Donations
For each child, I will have notebooks, folders, paper, extra pencils, erasers, and pens. If you can donate the following school supplies, it would be very helpful.
The best way to get in touch with me is through email. My email address is [email protected]. If you have any questions, please feel free to write me a note in your child's planner. You may also contact me at school. The phone number is (810) 299-3950 and my voicemail number is 64020. Please check out our classroom website at http://amyjbecketthilton.weebly.com/
The next couple of weeks are crucial to our class as we will be learning and practicing all of the behavioral, organizational, and academic procedures we will use all year. In our classroom I emphasize the concepts of community and working in a safe, challenging, and enjoyable environment. I look forward to a great school year working together to help your child succeed.
Sincerely,
Amy J. Beckett
Welcome to fourth grade! My name is Amy Beckett and I have been teaching third and fourth grade since 2000. I am looking forward to a great year working with you and your child. This is a long letter and I thank you for taking the time to read it. There is a great deal of information for me to communicate to you, and it may seem overwhelming at first. That is probably how your child will be feeling for the first week, too! Don’t worry. It will all be smoothed out in no time.
My first priority for your child is their safety. Mask wearing is recommended, but not required. I will provide several opportunities throughout the day to get outside for movement and fresh air. Hand washing and sanitizer will be done many times throughout the day. My other priority is to help children become more independent and enthusiastic learners in a supportive and kind classroom community. I have high expectations for all of my students and I will email you or call home if there is an academic or behavior issue.
Thank you in advance for your patience and understanding as we face any challenges during this upcoming school year together. Know that I will make sure your child feels safe, cared for, and excited to learn in this school environment.
Curriculum
1. Word Study - Brighton uses the Wordsmith spelling program, which, in fourth grade, emphasizes the learning of root words, prefixes, suffixes, and homophones. Students will complete spelling activities related to each unit’s root word in their Wordsmith journal, as well as homework. This program is more than rote memorization of spelling words. It is a challenging program that will increase your child’s vocabulary. At the end of each unit, students will be given a spelling test to see how well they are learning the root words with their prefixes and suffixes. Keep in mind that each unit can take longer than a typical school week, so tests may not fall on a Friday. This spelling program can only be successful with the help of families. Thank you in advance for your support.
2. Reading Workshop – I am a big believer in the power of books. Our classroom library is extensive and offers something for everyone. There will be a variety of daily reading experiences in the classroom. We will use the Lucy Calkins reading workshop approach. Your child will participate in book partnerships, independent reading, poetry workshop, and read alouds. Some of the reading comprehension strategies we will work on include retelling, asking questions, predicting, visualizing, determining important information, making inferences, making connections, and synthesizing information. Other areas we will focus on include reading with fluency and expression, determining common themes in reading, and monitoring our inner conversations while we read.
3. Writing Workshop - We will do a great deal of writing in all areas of the curriculum. We will use the Lucy Calkins writing workshop approach. I will guide the writing process and provide instruction through mini-lessons and conferences. I will also model the writing process, which includes prewriting, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing. We will write narrative pieces, opinion pieces, and a research piece. Poetry will also be written throughout the year. There will also be opportunities for independent writing in a writer’s notebook. Grammar and proofreading will also be practiced throughout the year.
4. Math - The district uses the Everyday Math program, which builds upon a number of areas covered in third grade, such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, decimals, place value, measurement, and geometry. This program emphasizes problem solving and activities that promote higher level thinking skills. Each unit comes with a newsletter describing what your child will learn. The newsletter will also include help with math homework, so please keep this newsletter handy. Third graders learn their multiplication facts and much is forgotten over the summer! It is essential that you begin reviewing facts up to 10x10 each night. This will help your child be more successful in math, since so much of fourth grade math includes multiplication.
5. Science - Our science curriculum has your child working in small cooperative groups, includes hands-on activities, uses individual science notebooks, and requires a great deal of higher-level thinking. Some of the topics we will focus on include energy, plant and animal structures, and the planet Earth.
6. Social Studies - Throughout the year your child will learn about the five major regions of the United States, maps and globes, and the United States government. Many of our reading and writing experiences will focus on what we are learning in social studies.
Homework
Your child will have a homework folder that needs to be checked each night. They will be responsible for writing the due dates for the homework at the top of the homework sheet. Please return homework in the folder so we can send home the next night’s homework. Besides including updates about upcoming quizzes and tests, the homework folder will include the following:
1. The Everyday Math program has a homework component, however, your child will not always bring home math homework. When they do, it will need to be turned in the following day, because it will be part of that day’s math instruction. Your child will have access to all of the Everyday Math materials through the ConnectED website. It is a great resource for printing off missing homework, playing games, studying for tests, and if you have a question about the homework.
2. Brighton’s spelling program, Wordsmith, includes student-created flashcards that will need to be studied. Students are responsible for learning the spelling and definition of each word.
3. Enjoy reading at least twenty minutes a day for five days a week (your choice of which days). This time commitment will greatly improve your child's success in reading.
Please help your child to complete his or her homework as independently as possible. If there is a question about the homework, please have your child ask me at school. Students will be held accountable for missing or late homework. Please help your child to plan his or her time accordingly. Thank you for your support.
Planners
Every morning your child will fill in his or her planner with what we will be learning that day in each subject. They will also write in any homework and test reminders. Please ask your child to see this planner each day. It will need to be initialed by you and returned daily. Your initials tell me that you have talked with your child about what they did in school that day and that you are aware of upcoming homework and test dates. If I want to communicate with you, I will put a personal message directly in the planner. Please feel free to do the same, but remind your child to make me aware of your message.
Friday Folders
Every Friday your child will bring home a Friday folder with any school related notes from the office. I will also include in the folder your child's corrected work. The folders are to be returned the following Monday. Some assignments will not go home due to the fact that the children use journals, which stay in the classroom. They also complete many in-class projects, which will be kept on display for a period of time.
Birthdays
Due to the pandemic and large number of allergies in our school, edible birthday treats will not be part of our classroom. Instead, your child is welcome to donate a paperback book to the “Birthday Book Bin” in our classroom library, and of course this is voluntary. A special donation sticker will be put inside and signed by your child.
School Supplies/Donations
For each child, I will have notebooks, folders, paper, extra pencils, erasers, and pens. If you can donate the following school supplies, it would be very helpful.
- Colored pencils and regular pencils (no mechanical pencils)
- crayons
- scissors
- glue sticks
- 2 pads of Post-It notes (regular square size)
- a pencil sharpener with a top
- earbuds or headphones that can stay at school
- old sock to be used as an eraser for whiteboards
- small pencil box to hold supplies (very important)
- reusable water bottle labeled with your child’s name, which will go back and forth between home and school
The best way to get in touch with me is through email. My email address is [email protected]. If you have any questions, please feel free to write me a note in your child's planner. You may also contact me at school. The phone number is (810) 299-3950 and my voicemail number is 64020. Please check out our classroom website at http://amyjbecketthilton.weebly.com/
The next couple of weeks are crucial to our class as we will be learning and practicing all of the behavioral, organizational, and academic procedures we will use all year. In our classroom I emphasize the concepts of community and working in a safe, challenging, and enjoyable environment. I look forward to a great school year working together to help your child succeed.
Sincerely,
Amy J. Beckett