Mrs. Runyan
To learn more Mrs. Runyan, click here
 
 
 

Book Orders
This year, students will be able to order books from the Scholastic Book Club.   I will be sending out a monthly book club newsletter where your 
child can select books to purchase. I like to give them this opportunity,  however, as these books are both educational and inexpensive (most books are priced below retail). Students are not required to order books.

     If your child wishes to order books, I ask that you please follow the guidelines listed below. This makes it much simpler for me to order them 
without error. Thank you! 

Book Order Instructions:

****Please do NOT send cash! Only checks are accepted (no exceptions).

 ****Please make checks payable directly to the book club "Scholastic". Do NOT make checks out to me, nor to the school. 

****Please put order forms and checks in an envelope. Write the student's 
name on the outside of the envelope. 
 

Calendar
http://classroom.jc-schools.net/calendar/
Lunch is at  _________  everyday.
It lasts for 25 minutes.

On days we have P.E., please make sure your child is dressed appropriate. 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Assignments and Due Dates
Please check the assignment sheet given out each Monday.  This should be the first paper in your child's notebook.
 
 
 
 
 
 

Class Web Site 
I believe in providing excellent communication to parents and students in my class.  You will see that my classroom web site loaded with information for parents and children.  I will be updating our site daily, so you can be sure what you are reading is up-to-date information.  I am very proud of our site and its contents, so be sure to check it out!
  You will find parent announcements, homework assignments, spelling lists, a calendar of events, curriculum, helpful web sites to reinforce our fourth grade skills, photos of classroom projects and memories, classroom projects, “Piedmont Einsteins” challenges, parent conference schedules, our school supply list, our schedule, and much more!   Be sure to bookmark our site or add it to your favorites list for quick access. 
Address: http://classroom.jc-schools.net/runyanj
 
 
 
 

E-Mail Correspondence 
I check my e-mail daily.  It is the best and fastest way to get instant feedback to your questions or comments, and I encourage you to contact me this way.  My e-mail address is cloud-stepper@comcast.net.
 
 
 

"Compliments" Class Party
 
 
 
 
 
 

Homework 
Homework for 1st graders is assigned each night, and should take about 10-20 minutes  each night to complete.  Students will receive a homework sheet each Monday.  Students will take their homework & homework sheet home in their 3 ring binder, complete the homework, and get a parent signature on the record sheet by Wednesday.  Your child will have Math homework every night except Fridays, and the math will be completed in class.  Sometimes there are exceptions.  Each night, your child will also need to be reading.  Research says that children become better readers by reading lots of books at their ability level, so students will also read for at least 15 minutes each night.  A reading log is located in their folder.  Each night, you must sign/initial the sheet to indicate your child has read for at least 15 minutes.  At the end of 4 weeks, I will check their reading logs.  If every night is accounted for over the past 20 days, they will receive Runbucks.  Late work will not be accepted unless the child was absent. 
 
 
 

Web Sites for Students

Please check on each subject link for many resourceful websites.
 
 
 
 

Subjects Taught
Below are links to our different subjects' sites.  You will find many different web sites and a description of what we do in each subject.  Click on the subject for more information.
Math
Reading
English
Spelling
Social Studies
Science
 
 
 

Due Dates for Assignments
Classroom assignments are generally due the next school day after they are assigned.  Class time is always given to complete assignments.  Students may need to finish an assignment at home if it is not completed during the given class work time.  This is in addition to the normal assigned homework.
 
 
 
 

Beginning of the Year Letter
 
 
 
 
 
 

Report Cards
  Report cards will be brought home by students on these dates:
      Term 1: 
      Term 2: 
   Term 3: 

Progress Reports
Expect to see a computerized progress report come home once each term. 
These dates will be:
Progress Report 1: 
Progress Report 2: 
Progress Report 3: 
Progress Report 4: 

The purpose of this computerized report printout is to keep parents and students aware of schoolwork and progress.  Anything I have highlighted needs to be corrected or turned in within one week.  This helps the students stay caught up, and is very important.  Please sign the progress report so I know you have seen it and have your child return it in the folder the next school day.  Students receive Runbucks for a parent signature on their progress report if returned the following day. 
 
 
 
 

Folders
Work from each night will come home in the 3 ring binder.  It needs to remain in the folder until we take a test over that unit. 
 
 
 
 

Book Reports and Projects
  Project information will be posted on the website, as well as sent home with your child.  Some class time will be given to work on the project, but most of the time is to be worked on at home.  Project due dates are given several weeks in advance.
We may share our project with another class as a culminating event. 
 
 
 
 

Absences 
When students are absent, they are responsible for making up the work.   Students will have an “Absent Folder” on their desk when they return.  Students have the same number of days they were gone, for example, if John misses 2 days of school, he would have 2 days after he returned to school to make up the work.  The school policy is the absence will only be excused if the child returns with a doctor’s note.  A note from the parent will not count as an excused absence. 
Much of our classroom activities cannot be done at home (group work, experiments, in-class games, buddy class activities, etc), so perfect attendance is strongly encouraged.
 
 
 
 
 

Wise Owl Award
Each month one student will be chosen as the "Wise Owl Award" recipient.  The student will receive a special certificate of his or her achievement. 

The Wise Owl then goes traveling to the award winning student’s home.  The student keeps it for the month. This owl is carefully wrapped in a plastic box and travels to and from home and school, visiting wise owl students and their families. 

The Wise Owl is awarded to the student each month who has best exhibited one or more of the following traits:
has a positive attitude 
is hard working 
shows improvement 
works to his or her potential
listens attentively 
helps others 
goes above and beyond
is a good citizen
is ready to learn
is outgoing 
shows academic progress 
demonstrates leadership
 
 
 
 
 

Grading
 
 
 
 
 
 

Effort
Students are always expected to turn in their best work.  Students must correct low scores to make sure they understand what was being taught.
 
 
 
 
 
 

Spelling Words and Tests
Spelling words will be in your child's folder under Spelling and sometimes Reading.  The words will be on a sheet for the entire unit. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Water Bottles 
It would be great if students would bring and use a water bottle with a spill-proof lid.   This avoids 20 students standing in line for the two drinking fountains! 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Discipline/Classroom Incentives/Rewards
Disruptions affect everyone!  A respectful learning environment is crucial. I handle behavior problems respectfully as they occur.  Together, on the first day of school, we discuss what a learning atmosphere should consist of.  We talk about rules, and together, we make a Bill of Rights.  You can read the Bill of Rights on our Rules page. 

Please also visit our Rules page for the consequences for breaking a rule. 

Also on our Rules page is our Rewards and Incentives. You will see an actual picture of a Runbuck and several bits of information. 
 
 
 
 
 

Piedmont Einsteins
I believe students should be challenged to learn as many new things as they can.  Saying "I'm bored" is not going to happen in my classroom!  Students may become members of my classroom Piedmont Einsteins.  Students who achieve 20 accomplishments or more become members of the Hall of Fame and will have their name added to the Hall of Fame wall.  These challenge activities may be done at home or at school. 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Auction
At the end of each 9 weeks, students will spend the Runbucks they have earned and saved.  I will hold a classroom auction comprised of garage sale and sale-type items I have collected.  If you have any items to donate, I would appreciate it very much! 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Conferences 
Conferences are twice a year, to be announced by each school. 
 
 
 
 
 

Our Daily Schedule

Curriculum
Click below on the subject, to see what the state of TN says each fourth grader should be learning.

Reading/Language Arts
Math
Science
Social Studies
 
 
 
 
 
 

School Supply List
Click here to go to my school supply list for this year.  Please make sure supplies are replenished throughout the year.
 
 
 
 

Accelerated Reader (A.R.)
When you look on the Accelerated Reader test list at our school you will see a reading level and a point value listed for each book. That information will help your child choose a book. The reading level of a book tells you what grade level that book is appropriate for. Please keep in mind that some children are capable of reading above their grade level, while others may need to read books below their grade level. All students will take the STAR test at the beginning of the year.  They will know their own reading range. If the book has a reading level of 4.7, that means that the book should be easily read by a student that has been in the fourth grade for seven months. (The first number represents the grade and the second represents how many months the child has been in that grade.) If you are unsure whether or not your child can read a book, have him or her turn to the center of the book and read a page to you. While your child reads, hold up one finger each time he or she cannot pronounce a word properly. If you are holding up 5 or more fingers when the page is finished, the book may be too hard for your child at the time. If you are not holding up more than five fingers, ask him or her question or two about the content on that page to see if it was understood. If your child can't answer the questions the book needs to be read at a later date. Some children are very good at calling words without knowing their meanings. Therefore, you should ask questions to make sure that your child understands the vocabulary, as well as count the words that were not pronounced properly.  The student(s) with the highest AR score at the end of the year will be recognized at the end of the year at Honor’s Day.
 
 
 
 

Volunteers
I love having volunteers in our classroom.  If you think you would like to volunteer, please let me know at least a day in advance. 
If you think, "Mmmm...I just don't know what she'll have me doing", well, here is a list of things you might have the opportunity to do.
 There are many ways parents can 
         volunteer at our school. 
    Here are a 50 different ways you can 
                  help. 

          1. Tell stories to children. 
          2. Listen to children read. 
         3. Conduct flash card drills.
          4. Provide individual help.
         5. Assist in learning centers.
         6. Set up learning centers.
          7. Help contact parents.
           8. Reproduce materials.
    9. Make instructional games.
10.  Clean up the shelves.
         11. Play instructional games.
     12. Play a musical instrument.
         13. Assist with tests.
         14. Prepare visual materials.
         15. Prepare bulletin boards.
          16. Help with book fairs.
         17. Reinforce high frequency words.
     18. Make puppets.
      19. Assist teachers with field trips.
          20. Make props for plays.
      21. Cut out materials
       22. Gather resource materials.
     23. Help children with arts and crafts.
    24. Help with cooking or class projects.
      25. Help classroom teacher set up 
               experiments.
         26. Help with handwriting practice.
    27. Escort children to bathroom, library, 
                 cafeteria.
      28. Look up AR book information
       29. Make list of library resources.
      30. Drill spelling words.
        31. Prepare teaching materials.
      32. Supervise groups taking tests.
        33. Discuss careers or hobbies.