Hutchison and Rogers' Coyotes
2023 - 2024
Important Dates
August 31 - APEX Fun Run (During PACK)
September 4 - Labor Day - No School
September 11 - Austin Field Trip Parent Meeting
September 13 - Wylie Way Day
4th Grade Expectations
The following letter reviewing our 4th Grade expectations came home this week. We want to ensure that we are all on the same page regarding how behavior and grades are handled and that there are no surprises regarding either one. We truly want this to be a great year, and we want to see our students be as successful as possible. Please make sure to read this letter, review it with your child, and return it to your homeroom teacher.
Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns. We appreciate your support.
Mrs. Hutchison's Math and Science Class
We had a great second full week of learning. We learned how to represent decimals with models and money, as well as how to represent decimals in expanded notation. In science, we completed a fun experiment involving measuring the mass of chewing gum! Did you know that the mass of gum decreases as you chew it due to the sugar dissolving?
Students have completed all of their Beginning of Year MAP assessments, and this has given us some great data on how we can best serve your kiddos. Once we have completed all make up testing, we will send home a full report with your child's scores.
Next Friday, September 1st, students will take a Unit 1 Common Formative Assessment. This will cover all of our learning targets from Unit 1. This is not a district assessment. Unit 1 will be formally tested with Unit 2 in a few weeks. This will be our first time taking an assessment online this year (all assessments, including STAAR will be online this year), and we will begin setting up our expectations for how to show work while testing online.
We are looking forward to another great week together. Have a great weekend!
What We Are Learning:
Math: Unit 1 - Place Value of Whole and Decimal Numbers
We will be covering several different learning targets this week. Students will learn how to compare and order whole numbers up to 1,000,000,000 and how to compare and order decimals. They will also learn how to plot decimals on a number line. Students will take a CFA over Unit 1 on Friday.
Science: Unit 1 - Physical Properties of Matter
We will continue learning about the physical properties of matter.
Mrs. Rogers' Reading, Writing, and Social Studies Class
Reading:
We will continue to examine how our characters change over time, determining if the character struggles with an internal or external conflict. We will continue to plot map our fictional stories. We will be adding theme to our skills bank for this week. Students analyze how our character resolves their problem and then determines the lesson we the reader, are supposed to learn from them.
Language Arts:
We are working on subject verb agreement, and this is usually a difficult skill for fourth grade writers. Spelling lists went home today to all students. Please make sure your child is studying, especially the homophones. I average 3 spelling tests together and then enter that grade. This way if your child is not as successful on one test, they have 2 other chances to bring the grade up.
Social Studies:
We will be wrapping up our study of regions of Texas. We will also examine the current settlement patterns in Texas, as well as how the physical geography impacts economic activities in each region. For example, if you live in the Coastal Plains region, fishing is part of the economic culture of that region.
Can you also let parents know that the Coyote store needs a restock and any donations are greatly appreciated.
UnHomework - Our Class Homework System
Our classes will be participating in UnHomework this year. UnHomework is a friendly homework alternative that offers the following:
•Student Choice - UnHomework is not taken for a grade or mandatory. Students are not required to complete it, but are highly encouraged to.
•Incentives - Students are not punished for not doing homework; in fact, they earn chances for rewards by choosing to do the work.
•Saved Time - Choices offered are brief, review activities that will cover content that students have learned in class. This is an extra opportunity to practice these skills.
A packet of Un-Homework will come home every Monday, and it will be due on Fridays. Parents will sign the raffle tickets on the bottom of the UnHomework cover page agreeing that the student completed an assignment of their choice. We will have our Learning Lotto drawings each Friday during Coyote Time.
Green Go Home Folder and Behavior Chart
Students will bring home a Green Go Home Folder every day. Inside of the folder, you will see a blue behavior chart. This is how we will communicate your student's daily behavior. If we have an issue, a teacher will sign the box for that day notifying you of the issue. If there are no issues, you will see a green dot or smiley face. Please initial the box each night, so that we know you have seen how your student's day was.
We will also use this folder to hold their homework (which will not begin for a few weeks!) and other important papers.
Thursday Folders
Students will bring home a Thursday Folder every Thursday. We will send graded school work and important papers from the school home in this folder each week. Please look through the papers each week.
Daily Schedule
7:00 - Building Opens
7:20 - The bell rings and students are dismissed to class.
7:30 - Tardy Bell Rings and Announcements
7:30 - 9:45 - Block 1
9:45 - 12:00 - Block 2
12:00 - 12:30 - Recess
12:30 - 1:00 - Lunch
1:00 - 1:40 - Coyote Time (Intervention and Extension)
1:40 - 2:35 - PACK
2:45 - Dismissal
Snack and Water Bottles
Because we have the late lunch, we do allow students to bring a dry, healthy snack to eat. Our snack time will be at 9:45. Please also send students with a refillable water bottle.
Jacket
The classrooms can get very cold, so we suggest sending a light jacket or hoodie to keep at school to wear during the day.
Extra School Supplies
In addition to the supplies listed on the 4th grade supply list, students will need a pair of headphones that plug in and a pencil pouch or box to carry their supplies in from class to class.
Coyote Cash Store
Students will have the opportunity to earn Coyote Cash as a positive reward. We will have a store on Fridays where they can spend their money on coupons, small prizes, and treats. We have an Amazon Wish List with prizes for us to use in our store, and any donations would be greatly appreciated!
Join Our Class Facebook Group
We will post important information and pictures of our days in this private Facebook group.