Grade 4-1 Information
Teacher: Joanne Sprange
Planners
Students’ planners are to be brought to school each day and taken home each evening. They should contain a list of homework assignments, reminders for permission slips, various requests and information about school activities. Thank you to those parents who sign the planners. I only ask for signatures by parents of students who have difficulty remembering assignments. I will let you know if this is necessary in your child’s situation. Please use the planners as a means of communication between home and school. I will use them in the same way. It is each student’s responsibility to indicate to me first thing in the morning that a note has been sent by his/her parent. This will help me to respond in a timely manner.
Homework
Students who use their class time effectively should not have many homework assignments. However, I always encourage students to read each evening, to practice basic facts in Math and to review for tests regularly.
Optional Challenges
Throughout the year, students will be given optional enrichment challenges. These are indicated in planners with parentheses. Students may choose to try these challenges and may enlist help from home to complete them.
ELA
Spelling Tests
The students have a Spelling test every Friday. They will be given a pre-test on Monday and will record words that they need to study in their planners at that time. They will work on the words during the week and then they will bring home a complete list of the words every Thursday for study purposes.
Optional Reading Enrichment
Students have the opportunity to participate in an optional reading enrichment activity in which they read their choice of books, report on them using book report outlines and then make their way “across Canada” earning kilometers with each page read.
Public Speaking
Public speaking is an important part of our ELA program in 4-1. The students will begin with simple oral tasks in front of the class. This will develop into a full program of speech preparation and presentation. Optional opportunities will be available for students to speak in other situations outside of our classroom. I would appreciate support from parents if your child chooses to practice at home. An encouraging audience helps build confidence.
Math
Number Operations
Students will be learning to apply a variety of strategies to addition, subtraction, multiplication and division questions. These strategies are very different from the algorithms that have been taught in the past. They will often be asked to employ more than one strategy for each question. These new procedures are designed to help students have better number sense and stronger mental math skills. They will also facilitate a better understanding of place value. The students will be encouraged to teach these strategies to their parents.
Math Problems
Students will be given daily Math problems. Some of these problems will be worked through at school and some will be assigned as homework. The most important reminder for your child is to show his/her work. If they are unable to arrive at a solution, they will not be penalized (as long as they record their attempts). Students are asked to share these problems with their parents. Parents should feel free to share their personal strategies. Students will be encouraged at school to explain any strategies they have learned at home and to explore a variety of other strategies for each question. The daily problems will serve as sample questions for the Math problem-solving tests given every five or six weeks.
French
The Manitoba Basic French Program begins in Grade 4. The program has a large emphasis on oral skills and learning new vocabulary based on a variety of themes. Written work is limited to copying and illustrating words and phrases learned in class. Students will be encouraged to share French expressions and songs with their families.
Lunches
Due to safety concerns, the students of 4-1 have no access to a microwave. Please remember to follow school guidelines regarding lunch items to avoid sending because of allergies.
Home/School Contact
If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to call me at the school. The best times are 8:00 - 8:30 and 1:15-1:45.
Thank you,
Joanne Sprange
482-4521