Pioneer Elementary School

Important Dates to Remember Page is being updated; please check back later

Please feel free to contact me to schedule any additional conferences if you feel there is a need for us to meet.

Snack

Students are welcome to bring 1-2 healthy snacks to eat in class.  We eat these snacks while we are working so they should be fuss free and portable.  Sugary snacks will not be allowed and students will go without a snack that day. Students may also have a water bottle throughout the day.  Please only fill these with water.

Birthdays

Pioneer Elementary Birthday Celebration Policy

Due to the high number of students with severe food allergies and special dietary concerns, and Pioneer’s emphasis on health and wellness, birthday celebrations may no longer include food. Please save birthday cakes and cupcakes for your home celebration.


We realize many parents like to do something special in school for their child’s birthday. We’d like to suggest you consider donating a small gift to your child’s classroom. This donation from your child might be an educational game, a book for the class library, a ball to be used on the playground, or a pencil for each student in the room.  Classroom teachers also have a variety of activities for birthday celebrations designed to make birthday children feel special.

All birthdays will be announced daily and each birthday child will have their picture displayed on our lobby TV.  In addition, children will receive a birthday gift from the office.

Please do not send birthday party invitations to school for distribution unless all students from the class are included. It is very upsetting to the students who do not receive an invitation.

We appreciate your cooperation!

Assignment Books

Your child will bring home his/her assignment book Monday - Thursday evenings with the homework and other important news listed.  

Late Work-Sick Days

Students have two days for each day missed to complete all late work. Students will have a “Sorry We Missed You” form, which lists all assignments done for that day.  When students miss the given due date, they will be given the opportunity to complete their work during recess and/or at home. Please remind your child to bring home his/her materials each night.  Due to the continuous student driven learning, it is very difficult to determine exactly what will be missed during a vacation. Students who miss school because of a vacation will need to make up work when they return to school.  Parents and students are responsible for all make-up work to be completed within the time allowed.

LITERACY

Flexible Reading Groups

Your child will be placed in a group that best fits his/her needs at this time.  My goal is to have all fourth graders reading at a fourth grade level, challenge those meeting the criteria, and support those who need extra time and help.  

Independent Reading

Each day your child will read silently during Independent Reading.  Each student needs to have a novel to read at his/her desk during this time. The proper reading material is required. Reading material may be brought in from home, the Pioneer library, or the student may read a book from the classroom.  

Reading at Home

It is our goal to help kids enjoy reading, so they need to be doing so in a relaxing and enjoyable environment.  Each evening we ask that the students read for at least 20 minutes. They should record their time in their assignment notebook for you to initial.

Writing

Our writing curriculum is called Write From the Beginning.  Students will be involved with the writing process on a daily basis.  Students will write independently, write with me, and observe as I model the writing process.  This writing to, with, and by students is an important piece of our writing program. 4th Grade Writing Samples

MATH

Curriculum

We are beginning a new math program this year called Envision.  More information about this curriculum and how you can access the book online will be sent in the first few weeks of school.

Math Facts

Continuing to learn math facts will be another component of the math program.  Addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division facts will be an integral part of fourth grade.  The more practice the students have at home, the better prepared they will be in class. Knowing multiplication facts is a huge part of being successful in all of fourth grade math.

Science & Social Studies

Throughout the year we will be learning about science and social studies units.  All three fourth grade teachers will be dividing up the science and social studies units and teaching them to all 3 classes.

Social Studies

Colorado History  
 Science

Magnetism & Electricity

Grading

*A score of 4-EXCEEDS indicates a high level of achievement; it communicates

that a student has a strong understanding of the content/concepts/skills taught

during the semester and can demonstrate understanding independently and with

very few errors.

*A score of 3-MEETS indicates that a student demonstrates an understanding of

content/concepts/skills most of the time and with limited support. Student makes

few major errors or omissions when demonstrating concepts/skills.

*A score of 2-APPROACHING indicates that a student requires moderate support

to demonstrate an understanding of concepts/skills. Demonstrated understanding of

concept/skills is inconsistent or infrequent indicating a partial understanding of

the content/concepts/skills. Errors or omissions in work are more frequent.

understanding of the concepts and skills taught during the semester. Student

requires considerable support to demonstrate learning of concepts and skills and

makes frequent major errors when demonstrating understanding.

Any homework or class assignment may be redone for a higher grade.