Q: HOW WILL DEPARTMENTALIZING AFFECT MY CHILD?
A: Most children will have 2 teachers, as they have in years past. The difference is that the math teacher will also teach science and literacy teachers will teach social studies. Departmentalizing will help to prepare your child for 5th grade (and middle school) when he/she will have many teachers.
Q: HOW WILL HOMEWORK BE HANDLED? WILL IT INCREASE?
A: You should expect nightly reading and math homework (assigned by your child's teacher in each subject). There may be occasional at-home research projects. The homework shouldn't increase too much from 3rd grade.
Q: WILL MY CHILD HAVE A HOMEROOM TEACHER?
A: Yes. Just like last year, your child will start their day with their homeroom teacher. Homeroom classes will have the following activities/classes as a group: literacy, social studies, lunch, specials, recess, special events, and health.
Q: HOW WILL TEACHER COMMUNICATE WITH PARENTS?
A: Your homeroom teacher will send a weekly email. In this, you will get an overview of what your child is learning and school-wide announcements.
Q: HOW WILL I COMMUNICATE INFORMATION ABOUT MY CHILD?
A: Information regarding transportation changes, special events, absences, recess, lunch, etc. can be emailed to the homeroom teacher. We strongly advise you send in hand-written notes if there's a change in transportation for the day, as we may not be able to check our email during the school day. Social and emotional information should be shared with all teachers. Academic concerns should be communicated to the teacher who teaches the subject that you have concerns about.
Q: WHY DEPARTMENTALIZE?
A: Departmentalizing helps to "foster a more authentic and purposeful learning environment" where teachers can become an expert in one or two subjects as opposed to six subjects. This will allow teachers to specialize and integrate the content at a deeper level. Departmentalizing also allows teachers to better support and individualize your child's instruction.
Q: WHAT DOES THE DAILY SCHEDULE LOOK LIKE?
A: The bulk of the day is broken up into two 2-hour blocks, Block 1 and Block 2. If your child has a literacy homeroom teacher, they will have literacy and social studies for Block 1 and then switch for math and science for Block 2. If your child has a math homeroom teacher, they will have math and science for Block 1 and then switch for literacy and social studies for Block 2.
Q: HOW WILL BIRTHDAY'S BE CELEBRATED?
A: As school policy states, your child can celebrate his/her birthday during lunch in the cafeteria with the homeroom class.
Q: WHO DO I CONTACT REGARDING TRANSPORTATION CHANGES?
A: Please contract your homeroom teacher.
A: Most children will have 2 teachers, as they have in years past. The difference is that the math teacher will also teach science and literacy teachers will teach social studies. Departmentalizing will help to prepare your child for 5th grade (and middle school) when he/she will have many teachers.
Q: HOW WILL HOMEWORK BE HANDLED? WILL IT INCREASE?
A: You should expect nightly reading and math homework (assigned by your child's teacher in each subject). There may be occasional at-home research projects. The homework shouldn't increase too much from 3rd grade.
Q: WILL MY CHILD HAVE A HOMEROOM TEACHER?
A: Yes. Just like last year, your child will start their day with their homeroom teacher. Homeroom classes will have the following activities/classes as a group: literacy, social studies, lunch, specials, recess, special events, and health.
Q: HOW WILL TEACHER COMMUNICATE WITH PARENTS?
A: Your homeroom teacher will send a weekly email. In this, you will get an overview of what your child is learning and school-wide announcements.
Q: HOW WILL I COMMUNICATE INFORMATION ABOUT MY CHILD?
A: Information regarding transportation changes, special events, absences, recess, lunch, etc. can be emailed to the homeroom teacher. We strongly advise you send in hand-written notes if there's a change in transportation for the day, as we may not be able to check our email during the school day. Social and emotional information should be shared with all teachers. Academic concerns should be communicated to the teacher who teaches the subject that you have concerns about.
Q: WHY DEPARTMENTALIZE?
A: Departmentalizing helps to "foster a more authentic and purposeful learning environment" where teachers can become an expert in one or two subjects as opposed to six subjects. This will allow teachers to specialize and integrate the content at a deeper level. Departmentalizing also allows teachers to better support and individualize your child's instruction.
Q: WHAT DOES THE DAILY SCHEDULE LOOK LIKE?
A: The bulk of the day is broken up into two 2-hour blocks, Block 1 and Block 2. If your child has a literacy homeroom teacher, they will have literacy and social studies for Block 1 and then switch for math and science for Block 2. If your child has a math homeroom teacher, they will have math and science for Block 1 and then switch for literacy and social studies for Block 2.
Q: HOW WILL BIRTHDAY'S BE CELEBRATED?
A: As school policy states, your child can celebrate his/her birthday during lunch in the cafeteria with the homeroom class.
Q: WHO DO I CONTACT REGARDING TRANSPORTATION CHANGES?
A: Please contract your homeroom teacher.