| Miss Berndl's Class On this page, I will attempt
to write up the "rationale" for why things are the way they are in the
FabFour classroom. I also explain how I think certain things should be. Everything is done for a reason and most things are done
because they have proven to me that they work. After teaching for more than 25
years, I am sold on doing things that work. The art of teaching is that the
underpinnings are not always visible to the eye. The proof is in the pudding. If
kids learn, then it works. Of course not all things work for all students all
the time. What I hope for is that how the class is structured helps most and
doesn't harm any. This part of the site may be under construction for a very
long time because I plan to get "TUIT" when I can ;) E2B2
How can I tell What's Going On in the classroom?
Not every student is forthcoming about what goes on every day at school. If
you want to get a feel for your child's day to day school experience, do the
following:
- Look at the Agenda every day. Ask what things mean. If your child
doesn't know, have your child call a homework buddy. You'll get a good idea
of workload, topics covered and activities from what is written every day.
If the Agenda does not come home every day then there is a problem.
- If you see a line _________ beside an item, don't sign if you
haven't seen what you were supposed to see. This line is most commonly
used in sentences that begin with Show or Give. Remember ONCE
is an accident; TWICE is a coincidence and THREE TIMES is a sign of
potential problems or could be a conspiracy.
- Read your child's Home Journal weekly. It should come home every
Wednesday or Thursday from September to May. In it your child can tell you
about school, life or whatever you two want to talk about. This is a private
journal that is only read by you, your child and the teacher. Write a
letter back every week and ask 1 or 2 questions. Your letter doesn't
have to be long. It shows that you care.
- Come & see us. Either volunteer, come on Field Trips, visit after
school or just drop by and chat some time.
What will be taught in Grade 4 this year?
Check out Long Range Plans for
an overview of grade 4.
Test taking is a skill. Throughout the year students will be taught test
taking strategies. Becoming comfortable with taking tests is an important life
skill. Notice is given for most tests. Students are expected to study for them
and/or finished assigned work before these tests. Some tests are given without
notice - these are the tests for which students can't study. They are given to
see where your child is at. Sometimes quizzes are given to see what was just
learned and in some subjects pre-tests are given to see what the existing
knowledge and skill levels are. Tests are only one way in which your child is
evaluated. Of course not all students will be happy about all of their test
results.
Source: It's all yours, Snoopy by Charles M.
Schulz
Why is the Agenda such a big deal?
The Agenda is the most important learning tool your child has. It is the
lifeline that establishes communication between home & school. Ask to see it
every night. If you are not seeing it every night chances are that something is
wrong.
- Why do I have to sign every line on one day? Can't I just sign once to
say that I saw the Agenda?
- Every time there is a line, your child needs to show you something,
tell you something or give you something. It is possible that one of
those items was forgotten at school and not done. By making you sign
every item, it is possible to keep track of everything that is
outstanding without having to re-write the item for the net day.
- Why do you circle the line I didn't sign in red?
- This makes it easy to see what was missed. Students want to keep their
agendas free of red circles and this motivates them to get items signed
regularly.
- I get tired of signing my name in so many places. Can't I just initial
the lines?
- Yes you can. Most parents initial the lines.
- My child showed me the item and I forgot to sign. Do you have to circle
the line? Can't my child just tell you that I forgot?
- Every morning I check the Agendas. That means I check about 50 or 60
items every day before the school day starts. There is no harm in not
having a line initialed. It just gets a red circle. Students get used to
what that red circle means. It happens for many good reasons. However,
if there is a pattern of "forgetting, then the red circles make the
pattern easily apparent.
- It seems a bit harsh when you boldly circle multiple times when
something hasn't been signed for several days.
- True - and it works. It is a way to underscore a reminder - similar to
typing in bold or IN CAPS AND BOLD when you try to get
someone's attention in writing. It does get students' attention and the
matter usually gets done - which is the whole point of monitoring the
Agenda.
- Do kids ever try to forge their parents' signature?
- Unfortunately it does happen though with my method of tracking very
rarely. If parent signature were required on the test itself, then you
as a parent would not be able to monitor what was presented because the
test could get "lost". By having all signatures in the Agenda,
there is a permanent record of what was written. Despite that, I have
seen students forge their parents initials on a few occasions. This can
only happen if a parent does not look closely at the agenda every day.
There is no such thing as "I no longer need my Agenda."
The amount of time a student spends on homework varies greatly. It depends
on how fast a student is able to work, and how effectively the student uses
school time. There are 5 basics types of homework a student will have. They
are:
- Reading novels - Every student is expected to read about 3 hours
a week. This is about 1/2 an hour a day. By reading regularly at home and
at school, a student will easily be able to read 20 novels in the school
year.
- Routine Weekly Assignments - Certain work happens every week.
Students have the skill to complete this work at home. The hardest part
for the student is establishing routines, self-discipline and remembering
to bring the completed work to school. Routine assignments include:
- finishing MMM from the week before for Monday;
- completing the Spelling Assignment for Thursday;
- studying the weekly Spelling Test for Thursday;
- completing the Problem Solving pages in the duo-tang for
Monday;
- completing the weekly SSQ for Wednesday
- updating the Reading Log and completing the Novel
Summaries for the beginning of each month;
- giving the Home Journal to parents every week and
bringing it back the following Wednesday
- Special Projects - Certain projects are completed primarily at
home. They include memorization of drama poems, practicing for
presentations, practicing a Speech (January), building a Junk Art
Sculpture (March) and preparing for the IRP = Independent Research Project
which is presented in late May.
- Finishing Work started in school - This usually involves math,
science and social studies.
- Catching Up - This happens when a student is absent from class or
when the student is significantly slower than the class and needs extra
time to complete the work.
Yes honesty is an issue. Unfortunately a number of students every
year have been caught being dishonest repeatedly.
Honesty is the most important character trait a student can develop. Many
assignments are marked by students themselves at the oral direction of the
teacher. At all times, a "marking pen" (something other than what
the assignment / test was written in) is used to maintain the appearance of
honesty. Students however do from time to time feel tempted to cheat. When it
is caught, this is treated as a serious offence. Although it is not that
uncommon for students to try to cheat once when they are allowed the
"freedom" to mark their own work, it is very serious if a student
repeatedly is dishonest. This is a major problem in our schools today - at all
levels - and also in our society. We need to remain ever vigilant on this
matter.
All children need their parents on their side and actively involved in
their lives. Ask what's going on at school. Use the entries in the Agenda to
start a conversation about school. Use the Home Journal to start a dialogue
with your child. Education works best when there are 3 parties involved - the
student, the parent and the teacher. Meetings with all 3 are the best so that
everyone is on the same page - no surprises.
How much Reading and what kind?
Reading is the most important activity a student an do. In most cases,
difficulty with writing and in understanding new subject material is as a
result of not reading at grade level. In grade 4, the reading of novels is the
focus of reading.
- My child does not like to read. Isn't 20 novels too much to ask? All
children who put the required time in are able to read 20 novels at their
level. Reluctant readers are often reluctant because they have not yet
found the genre or type of novel that appeals to them. Finding out
personal preferences and learning how to find a good book are key goals
for grade 4.
- My child reads lots of magazines and science books. Why does he have
to read novels? Can't he just read what he wants to read? Being able
to read and having an interest in reading non-fiction is great and should
not be discouraged. However novels have something else to offer. By
reading novels, students need to focus on character and plot development,
remember details and understand cause and effect. Novels are similar to
history and prepare students for the study of history - they tell a story
of people and give understanding of why certain things happen. Novels also
help students understand human nature.
What will the kids be Writing?
Much writing happens in grade 4. Although a little creative writing does
occur, other types of writing are emphasized such as note taking, reflecting,
letter writing, reporting, summarizing, transcribing and publishing of
personal work.
Much emphasis is put on handwriting. This is the stage where fine motor
skills are still being developed. Printing should be effortless, fluent, neat
and of the appropriate size. Cursive writing is introduced in grade 3 but in
grade 4 the breakthrough is made where cursive writing should become a fluent
form of writing - equaling the speed of printing. A very fluent cursive writer
can write much more quickly in cursive than in printing. Lettering, through
art, is touched upon and in terms 2 & 3, keyboarding skills are practiced.
- My child's printing is much neater than his cursive. Why does he have
to switch? Studies have shown that the majority of students are able
to write more quickly using cursive that printing.
A very important life skill to learn is to be able to stand up in front of
ones peers and to speak. Fear of speaking to a group is a common adult fear.
Students can become comfortable with presenting to peers when speaking
formally to classmates happens regularly. The trick is to make the content not
stressful until the student has become comfortable speaking. During the year,
students will be required to stand up in front of the class about once a week
to speak for between 1 and 5 minutes. Students will be participating in Talk
About, drama presentations, presentations in science & social studies,
formal speech and IRP.
My kids don't seem to understand. Are they Listening?
Students need to learn to focus and to be polite listeners. Students need
to be able to listen to multi-step instructions and then be able to remember
them. Listening can be taught by repeatedly doing activities that require focused
listening. Listening comprehension activities are done in class. If your child has difficulty in this area, consider having them
listen to "talking books" in order to expand their attention span to
the spoken word. For more details, check out the section on how to improve
Auditory Memory through at home
drills.
Will there be Research projects?
Very few written report will be required in grade 4 as research skills are
being taught. The reason for this is that if there is a written product
required, then students are more tempted to copy down the words (plagiarize)
without understanding them.
The point of research is to teach students to find resources that they can
understand. For this reason, books remain the best source of information
because so many are written at the Junior level. The Internet is not a good
place to get information since most of it is written above the Junior reading
level.
Parents should not find the books for students or photocopy materials for
inclusion in reports. Understanding, not product is what is important.
For a list of projects, check out
Projects.
Why shouldn't Projects be memorized?
Students should be able to speak about what they have learned when doing a
project. For this reason, most projects have an oral reporting component at
the end (as opposed to a written report). Students will be taught different
ways to show information - IPDs - Information Presentation Devices such as
charts, diagrams, collages, models etc.
Most projects will require that the student have 1) a cue card 2) a book
with at least one image/photo tagged to show to the class and 3) an artifact
of some kind.
When students memorize a script, for the listener it is often not as
interesting a presentation. It is also harder to tell if the student actually
knows what they are talking about. The energy that goes into memorizing
something would be better spent on learning about the topic. Usually in grade
4 students are unable to memorize large amount of technical information and so
try to read their notes. In these cases, many of the notes are directly copied
out from texts. For this reason, students must use a cue card written out in
point form notes. Students get credit for their ability to answer questions at
the end of their presentations.
Why is Posture important?
Poor posture is a major problem in the classroom. Good posture is required.
Most students with poor or slow handwriting assume incorrect writing postures.
The head should only be supported by the neck during most work activities.
Lying on desks and slouching are discouraged. Poor posture is often combined
with poor mental alertness.
Clothing worn to school should be appropriate for the activity as well as
the weather. Students need to learn to check the weather forecast in the
mornings and to dress accordingly. Cold and wet weather is predictable and a
part of the four seasons we have here in Canada. We need to embrace this
variety of weather. Teach your child to check out The Weather station on
Channel 22 daily.
Why do I have to teach my child to tie their shoe
laces?
Shoe laces need to be done up for safety reasons. Check that your child
knows how to do this. Velcro has made shoe lace tying a lost art form. Tying
shoe laces may not have been taught at school. Loose
shoes also encourage students to shuffle about and don't promote vigorous game
playing at recess. High platforms or "mature" shoes for little girls
mean that they stand around even more during recess rather than playing.
Students should dress like the children that they are. Teen wear is being
marketed to young girls. Short skirts and excessively baggy clothing interfere
with play on the playground/ Students should be dressed in such a way that
they can sit on the floor for learning activities that may occur in class.
Straps need to be at least 2 fingers wide. The midriff (or belly) may not
be exposed. This is particularly difficult to ensure since many tops are made
short and young students have a bit of a belly that protrudes. It is better to
be conservative.
What do students have to wear for gym?
Loose, comfortable shorts or track pants, a T-shirt for gym class and indoor running shoes
with non-marking soles that can be done up tightly are required for phys. ed.
classes. These should be kept in a cloth bag. The student needs to change into
& out of these clothes for gym. Students without the proper clothing for gym
will be asked to read silently on the stage during the gym class.
Running shoes may not be slip-ons or loose. They need to give support. Shoe
laces must be tied.
What Food should kids bring to school?
Many students eat lunches at school that are not nutritious. There is no
reason that students should have carbonated beverages - such as pop -at
school. Snacks such as potato chips should only be given rarely as a treat.
Bringing fast food, such as MacDonalds, as a lunch should only happen rarely -
as a treat or because groceries have run out at home. Every adult should spend
time in the schools at lunch time to have their eyes opened about what happens
to food. Too many snacks are eaten and too much fruit and good food gets
thrown into the garbage. Sending bottled water to school with children also
seems like an expensive proposition. Every week at least 5 to 10 bottles of
water are abandoned in my classroom alone.
Most students in grade 4 are mature enough to be a part of making their own
lunch. Do not allow free choice however. Popularity is often swayed by
students who get excessive "junk" snacks that they can distribute to the rest
of the class. Just because there are those who eat "Lunchables" etc all the
time does not mean that your child cannot begin to bring in more healthy, less
packaged lunches.
Allergies are always an issue. Make sure that if your child has a serious
food allergy, that your child never eats food that is brought by others.
What do you do to develop Fine Motor Skills?
The development of fine motor skills is important at this age and requires
practice. For that reason students will be expected to write, colour, draw,
cut, glue, fold and rip accurately. Anything that gets the fingers nimble
helps including shuffling cards and learning a musical instrument.
Hand eye coordination is also important. For that reason many ball games
are good for kids.
Why does my child need 2 Homework Buddies?
Everyone needs someone in class to ask for help. By having Homework
Buddies, students are able to call someone when they are at home and need to
know something. This situation can arise due to absences, having forgotten
work at home or not understanding the instructions.
Every student has 2 homework buddies. These are the names of students that
can be called when a student forgets what to do or needs help. Homework
buddies don't have to go to each others house to do homework, though it is a
pleasant way to do major assignments. Sometimes friends don't make the best
buddies since friendship can distract from the learning.
Will moving seats have an impact on Friendships?
Friendship is important to everyone. Sitting beside one's best friend is
not always the best thing and certainly won't happen all year. Students are
moved around once a month. The get to request 3 group-mates, but requests
cannot always be fulfilled. This helps students to get to know everyone in the
class and become familiar with working with a variety of people.
It is true that if a student feels that they have no one in the class they
can call a friend, that difficulties do arise. Discuss this issue with your
child and bring it to my attention if you feel it is having a negative impact
on the his/her learning.
What School Supplies do we really need
to buy?
There is a list of school supplies that
every student is expected to have. Not everything a a child says they need to
have actually has been demanded of them. Check out this list before you go
shopping for school supplies at the beginning of the year.
The school supplies textbooks, math workbook, art supplies, notebooks and
specialized paper. There is a Tool Box in the class from which the
student can borrow writing material should there's be misplaced.
Students need to learn to keep their supplies in order so that class time
is not wasted in looking for proper materials. All items brought to school
should be labeled. Expensive items should be left at home. School desks are
too small to keep more that the standard school items in them. Personal items
need to stay at home. In grade 4, binders are not used because they are bulky
and take too long for students to get in and out of.
Do I have to have a Computer at home for my
grade 4?
Although a wonderful tool, computers are not necessary for students in
grade 4 to learn and develop skills. The Internet should not be available to
students without direct monitoring just like television shows should not be
freely accessible. Many things are inappropriate for young students.
The computer, or the playing of computer games, has decreased the amount of
time available in a child's life. Unrestricted access to computers and TV has
made many of our young people passive consumers of constant stimulation and
entertainment. There is a need for active, vigorous physical activity, time
for imaginative and creative play and reading. Young children are also
viewing things that are not age appropriate - especially if there are older
siblings in the home.
Some assignments will have suggested web sites for viewing. This is not
mandatory. Students are able to do all of their computer related work on
computers at school. Only curriculum related web sites are accessed - and then
only under the supervision of an adult. Students may only go to assigned URLs.
In Term 3, several assignments will need to be word processed. Students are
able to use Word (Office) at school. If they wish, they can type these
assignments at home & bring them in to school on a disk. I will help them save
their work to their school computer file.
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