Greetings Families,
This is a bit overdue, but I want to say thank you for all of the many generous gifts that were given to me before the winter break. I am so thankful for the gift you have given me by allowing me to be your child’s teacher. Every day that I am granted the opportunity to share in your child’s life reminds me of how blessed I am. In addition to your benevolence toward me, your increased charity toward me filled my heart with joy. I hope that your break was filled with wonderful times for your family and that special life long memories were made. I look forward to hearing your child’s stories tomorrow when we are reunited.
New Homework Policy
As we start the second semester, there is one new routine of which I want to make you aware. From the beginning of the year, I expressed how important recess was to me and how I didn’t want to take it away from students because of its importance. I have done my best to not administer whole class punishments unless absolutely necessary. The one exception to this rule has been homework. Students who failed to do their homework were required to miss recess. However, after some further considerations, the fourth grade team has decided to end this consequence.
The reasons for ending this consequence are research, repeat offenders, and a more logical natural consequence. First, research shows that physical activity is extremely important for young students and taking recess away can be harmful. Students at the grammar level have bodies that need to move around and taking that away from them can cause them to become less productive in class and can lead to poorer behavior. The intention was good, as I thought it was valuable for them to do their homework because of the academic benefit it offers. However, by taking away recess, I might very well be hindering their learning throughout the rest of the day. Thus, the first reasons is probably a good enough reason itself, but there are other reasons for the change.
The second reason for the change in the missing homework routine is that those students who had to miss recess to complete their homework were often the same students day after day. Over time, it seemed like those students learned to devalue recess. Furthermore, some students would have numerous assignments missing and would only have time to complete one or two of them. Thus, missing recess to do homework was only minimally valuable since they couldn’t do all of the night’s homework in fifteen minutes. Furthermore, the work was poorly done because it was rushed, which resulted in students practicing poor work skills. As to the child’s grade, because the work was already late and poorly done, their grade wasn’t being helped all that much by their staying in to do it. Thus, the same students weren’t getting what they needed out of doing their homework and they were often learning bad habits by rushing.
Lastly, the consequence of missing recesses wasn’t exactly natural or severe enough. First, the most natural consequences of not doing homework are poorer grades on test and poorer grades on report cards. Homework is there to reinforce what is being learned in class and students who don’t do it will usually struggle at learning the concepts. Therefore, when it comes time to assess their learning, students who don’t do their homework will more likely have poor grades. Second, missing a fifteen-minute recess isn’t really much of a consequence. That is why there were repeat offenders. They didn’t really care about missing recess. The reality is, there aren’t many consequences that I can give that really impact a child. This is good. I’m a their teacher. You are the parent. Severe consequences should lie in your control. What I ask is that you administer consequences if your child repeatedly neglects to complete his or her homework. I am happy to discuss this with you if your child happens to be a regular offender.
With this change comes Ms. Maguire’s and my responsibility. When students fail to complete a homework assignment, we will send you an email to notify you. A student may turn in their homework assignment the next day and only 20% will be taken off of their grade. Nothing will be accepted after that. Students may choose to do their homework during recess if they like, but you will still be notified nonetheless.
If you have any questions about this change, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I, along with my team, believe this will be a beneficial change and hope that it promotes more personal responsibility, more parental oversight, and greater student achievement.
Quarter 3, Week 1 Lessons
Language Arts: Spalding phonics continues. In grammar, students will continue the classifying and diagramming of sentences, and embark upon a three-paragraph essay. In Literature, students will begin the reading of Prince Caspian. Please have them bring their books in as soon as possible.
History: This week, students begin studying the history of Arizona, starting with its geography and ancient peoples, then exploring how it became a state toward the end of the week.
Science: Students will kickoff the new semester with a study of geology. They will begin their study by learning that the earth is composed of different layers. They will end the week studying about why tectonic plates move and the three types of boundaries. There will be a quiz on Thursday covering the four main layers of the earth: inner core, outer core, mantle, and crust. There will be a quiz on Tuesday, January 17, over everything they learned during the first week of quarter 3. There will be a quiz on Thursday, January 19, on what they learned during the chemistry unit.
Math: The semester starts with a study of angles. The content taught the first week is largely a review of what was learned last year. Students will be tested on Wednesday over Unit 4 Chapter 1 and Friday over Unit 4 Chapter 2.
Upcoming Dates
- January 11, 2017 – Math Test – Unit 4 Chapter 1 – Angles
- January 12, 2017 – Science Quiz – Geology – Four Layers of the Earth
- January 13, 2017 – Math Test – Unit 4 Chapter 2 – Angles
- January 13, 2017 – History Quiz – Arizona
- January 13, 2017 – Spalding Test
- January 16, 2017 – MLK/Civil Rights Day – No School
- January 17, 2017 – Science Quiz – Geology
- January 18, 2017 – Math Test – Unit 4 Chapter 3 & 5 – Perpendicular and Parallel Lines, Quadrilaterals
- January 19, 2017 – Science Quiz – Chemistry Review Quiz
- January 19, 2017 – History Project – Europe Project Due
- January 20, 2017 – Greek and Latin Roots Quiz
- January 20, 2017 – Spalding Test
- January 20, 2017 – Math Test – Unit 4 Chapters 6 & 7 – Triangles and Circles
- January 23, 2017 – Science Quiz – Electricity Review Quiz
- January 24, 2017 – MAP Testing
- January 26, 2017 – Science Quiz – Electricity Review Quiz
- January 26, 2017 – Math Test – Unit 5 Chapters 1 & 2 – Area and Perimeter
- January 27, 2017 – Spalding Test
- January 27, 2017 – Grammar Test
- January 30, 2017 – Science Quiz – Life Science Review Quiz
- February 2, 2017 – Science Quiz – Life Science Review Quiz
- February 2, 2017 – Math Test – Unit 6 Chapter 1 – Decimals
- February 3, 2017 – Spalding Test
- February 6, 2017 – Science Quiz – Geology
- February 8, 2017 – Bring in Book: Carry On, Mr. Bowditch
- February 9, 2017 – Science Quiz – Life Science Review Quiz
- February 9, 2017 – Grammar Quiz
- February 10, 2017 – Half Day
- February 10, 2017 – Spalding Test
- February 13, 2017 – Science Quiz – Meteorology Review Quiz
- February 14, 2017 – Great Hearts Day
- February 16, 2017 – Picture Day
- February 16, 2017 – Science Quiz – Meteorology Review Quiz
- February 16, 2017 – Math Test – Unit 6 Chapter 2 – Decimals
- February 17, 2017 – Spalding Test
- February 20, 2017 – President’s Day
- February 24, 2017 – Math Test – Unit 6 Chapter 3 – Decimals
- February 24, 2017 – Spalding Test
- February 25, 2017 – Fun Run & Family Picnic
- February 28, 2017 – Math Test – Unit 6 Cumulative – Decimals
- March 3, 2017 – Spalding Test
- March 6, 2017 – Math Test – Unit 7 Chapter 1 – Adding and Subtracting Decimals
- March 10, 2017 – Math Test – Unit 7 Chapters 2 & 3 – Multiplying and Dividing Decimals
- March 10, 2017 – Spalding Test
- March 13-20, 2017 – Spring Break