My name is Lariely Garcia and I will be your child’s fourth grade teacher in English and Spanish this year. Though I was born in the
Though this will be my first year at
The fourth grade,however, is very challenging. Students will be asked to analyze, interpret, and understand concepts and information in a much more in depth manner. They are also required to take state exams in
However, I believe it is also essential that you and I work together to provide your child with the support he or she needs to reach their goals. I will be sending weekly reports that detail both your child’s behavior and academic accomplishments for the week, as well as a list of ways to help them in any areas they may be struggling with. I am also available before school as early as 7.30am during which time both you and your child are welcomed to come by and discuss any questions or concerns as well as receive any additional help.
In order to best work together I find it essential that we begin to know each other outside the constraints of a school environment as well. I will be hosting class family trips or events to which you are welcomed to come with all members of your family. These trips will build off topics we address in class but will also serve as ways for students to explore the wealth of resources the city has to offer. More information regarding these gatherings will be sent home with your student.
Thank you and I look forward to a thrilling year,
Ms. Garcia
Fourth Grade Materials List
To ensure that you are ready for the school year and have the needed supplies, below is a complete supply lis tof items that each student will need to begin our school year for our classroom. Please send all materials with your child by Monday, September 14th. Each item/box must be labeled with your child’s name.
· 1 -Three Inch 3 Ring Binder
· 1-Package of Tab Dividers, Multicolor 8-Tab Pack
· 1-Package of College Ruled Paper Filler (You will need more throughout the year)
· 3-Marble/ 1 Subject Notebook
· 4-Two Pocket Folders
· 1-2Packages of White Ruled Index Cards 200 count, 3”x 5”
· 1-Four Pack of Dry Erase Markers
· 1-USB Memory Stick, no less than 1 GB
· 1-Package of Colored Pencils- Box of 24
· 1-Package of Standard Markers
· 1-Elmer’s Glue bottle
· 1-Children’s Scissor
· 1-Pencil Box (buy two, they break, but make sure to buy the kind that stack)
· 1-Package of #2 Pencils
· 1-Package of Pens – Black and or Blue ink ONLY
· 1-Package of Assorted Highlighters
· 1-Pocket Sized Calculator, should be able to fit in pencil box
· 1-Roll of Paper Towels
· 1-Box of Tissues
· 1-Antibacterial Liquid Hand Soap – pump
· Girls: 1- container of Clorox/Lysol wipes
· Boys: 1- box of gallon-sized zip-lock bags
It is also recommended to have basic supplies at home such as pencils, crayons, markers,scissors, glue, construction paper, and craft supplies for homework and projects. Students tend to always run out of pencils during class, so make sure that you have a large supply of pencils at home for your child to bring the next day.
A Few Important Expectations
Lateness/Absences: In order to achieve all of the goals that our class has for this year, your child must be at school on time each day. We walk upstairs at 8:00 every morning, so he or she should arrive some time before that to be ready in line. If your child arrives considerably late or misses a day of school due to an emergency or sickness, he/she must bring in a note signed by you explaining the lateness/absence.
Homework/Night reading: Your child will have homework assigned weekly in a packet. I ask that you help guide your child to complete their homework every day with his/her best effort. Homework is an important opportunity for your child to practice the skills that we are working on in class and is necessary for them to be successful this year. Your child must also read for at least 30 minutes every night. In that same homework packet, they will have a sheet to mark down the number of minutes they have read. This sheet must be signed by you every night and returned to school the following day. When your child finishes a book, they must mark down the titles on a sheet (also in the homework packet). There is an attached letter and rubric that explains your role in your child’s nightly homework more thoroughly. Homework is given as a review of what was covered in class. Your child should be able to complete all homework on his own in both languages.
Notebooks & Binders: Students’ notebooks and binders are a valuable tool that can aid his/her learning.Students’ notebooks and binders will be checked throughout the year for organization. Tallies may be given for notebook disorganization and detention may be assigned for continued disorganization.
Grading/ Report Cards: Daily assignments, i.e. classwork and homework, are DUE the next day. I have a ZAP (Zeros Always Prohibited)policy in my class, so your child will also be responsible for making up any missed work. In addition, for purposes of communication, any test and/or quiz with a grade below a C- (70%) will require a parent’s signature to be returned the next day. Quizzes, tests, worksheets, workbook pages, projects,and reports in BOTH languages determine report card grades for all subjects. Progress reports are sent at the end of the week or as needed.
Behavior: As mentioned earlier, I will be holding students to high expectations of behavior. Our classroom has a comprehensive system of rules,rewards, and consequences that the students and I will describe in detail during our first days of school. While I anticipate a community of respectful and responsible students, after a gradual system of warnings and in-school consequences, students who choose to continue breaking our classroom rules will require parent/guardian contact. Detention is assigned for repeated inappropriate behaviors. I will send home a behavior report, as needed, which will detail the student’s behavior. I ask that you discuss the matter with your child and have him/her return the bottom of the form signed the next day.
Uniforms: Students must wear their full uniform every day. Uniforms allow our classroom to focus on learning, rather than on who has the coolest new outfit(and conversely, who does not). Students who do not wear their uniforms will receive a consequence and a note will be sent home.
Money: On occasion it will be necessary for your child to bring money to school. Always send money in a sealed envelope with the following information written on it:
· Student’s first and last name
· The amount of money
· The purpose for the money (book money, field trip, fund raiser, etc).
· Teacher/Class name
With many students to keep track of and several reasons to collect money, this helps me out tremendously and reduces the likelihood of errors. Also, if the envelope is left on the bus or dropped in the hallway,this information will help the money to be returned to our classroom.
Contract of support between teacher and parents: I will be working very hard to ensure the success of your student, but I need your help! Students will have to connect what they have learned to the world,and so we will be taking various trips during the school day; you are always welcome to accompany us for extra support. Furthermore, for some projects, I will require that the children go to the library or other similar place outside of school, for which I will need your help. To team up to support your child, we should always communicate any question or concern. In order for me to be your child’s best teacher, please fill out the Parent/Guardian survey enclosed in this packet and send it back with your child on the first day of school.
Classroom Visits: If you wish to speak to me in person or visit the classroom, please contact either myself or the school in advance to schedule an appointment at your desired time. Please avoid “drop in” conferences so that we can keep the flow of our classroom structured for our students.
Contact Information
As many plans as I have for leading your child on his/her own path to success, I know that such success would not be possible without your help. I am truly excited to meet you and develop further ideas of how we can work together to encourage achievement, hard work,and a love of learning. I will be in contact with you when we have both successes and struggles in the classroom,and I hope that you will feel free to contact me with any of your thoughts or concerns. Please remember that my door is always open to you!
There are a variety of ways to get in touch with me:
o Send a note in to school with your child
o Call the school and leave a message for me (718) 401-9216
o Email meat lariely.garcia926@gmail.com
Please keep this information for future reference. I hope to speak with you soon to get to know each other better and discuss any thoughts or questions about this year. I am so excited to work with you and your child towards great successes this year!
Sincerely,
Lariely Garcia