Week 4

UPDATED FRIDAY 7:28pm
My thanks go out to all the parents who took the time to make salt dough, send in trip/art/ subscription money, sign reading logs and homework sheets (among other things) this week. Your attention to these matters really help your child stay up to date!

There have been a few birthdays this week. The class procedure for personal celebrations is to send in a note to me so that I can let you know if we have time on a given day. Celebrations should consists of a treat that can be enjoyed by everyone. Please keep in mind that we have kids with allergies to nuts, wheat, etc. The donation of a book can be a great choice!

Here's what is coming up next week:

• We will have our first Family Friday on October 4. As of now we have no scheduled presenter. If you are interested in sharing a talent or experience with the class, please fill out and return the letter that is in your child's homework folder today. 
• We will have our curriculum conference on October 15 instead of the 16th that was listed for the rest of the fourth grade. I will be at a math workshop on the 16th.

Have a lovely weekend!

Week 3

Field trips are an enhancement to the learning we do in class. Today, your child will have some permission slips for some trips we will be taking in upcoming months. Please be aware that these trips require a deposit, which is why I am asking for the money so early. Please send the complete permission slip and admissions money as soon as possible next week.

We've finally gotten our Go Math workbooks! The new workbooks reflect the changes in the Core Curriculum. One major difference is the expectation that children learn math vocabulary (which wasn't a strong emphasis in the Everyday Math program). Our students will need some time to adjust and I thank you for helping your child. 

Here's something to keep in mind for next week:

• Your child will turn in the green reading response sheet s/he has been working on this week. Some students have asked if they can add more pages if they run out of room. One sheet more should be enough, anymore can run the risk of a child not fully thinking about what is most important in the summary. You can support your child by encouraging good capitalization practices and avoiding run on sentences as well as listening to the response to hear if it makes sense.
• Extended Day classes begin on Tuesday. If your child has received an invitation to come for extra instruction, please have your child come to school by 8 am. Breakfast will be served earlier is you would like for your child to participate in that.
• Please check your child's homework folder this weekend. There will be a brief comment on this week's sheet with my initial observations of your child's behavior during these first two weeks. 
• Scholastic Book orders can be placed online. If you use the Guided Reading link on this blog, you can access the Scholastic website. Our class code is HHRTL. I have received some book orders and will enter them on Sunday. If you are interested in ordering please do so through the website before then. 

Have a great weekend!

Week 2

UPDATED FRIDAY 1:13PM.
It has been a pleasure meeting or reacquainting myself with the 4-303 families! This first week of school gave us an opportunity to establish routines and get to know each other better. Most of the work so far has been given to help assess where the children are at in terms of their learning. The children in this class have been extremely sweet and cooperative, patiently listening to many new directions and procedures. Their good listening skills will be bonus as we continue our learning this year!

As you've no doubt noticed, your child has a homework folder, preloaded with weekly homework sheets. We have established a routine for your child to copy the daily assignments in the space provided. As your child completes an assignment, s/he can check off the box next the assignment. Please encourage this habit so it is less likely assignments are "forgotten". Please look over the sheet at the end of the week to check in on your child's homework routine and sign the bottom of the sheet.

On the bottom of the sheet is a space where I will begin placing comments on your child's school week, starting next week. Usually, this will be a brief blurb just to let you know of some of your child's successes or concerns in school.

We have been working on learning capitalization rules. In class, we are using the MINTS mnemonic to help us remember common uses of capital letters. If you look on the left side of this blog, underneath the calendar, you will find a PREZI that further explores the MINTS mnemonic. There are some slight differences in PREZI but the information is accurate and interactive. Please encourage your child to view it.

Here's what's happening next week:

• We will receive our new Math books! We are using the GO Math program which will help us to better meet the standards of the Core Curriculum. We are currently working on Place Value concepts. Your child can play Math Games with these concepts if you click on the Fourth grade iXL link and play games A1, A2 or A3 under  the NUMBER SENSE section.
• This first week, students have been working on keeping up their reading logs, entering information to keep track of their reading pace.  Next week, they will begin writing extended responses for their independent book. You will notice that the reading log sheet for week 2 will have an assignment printed in the back with an abbreviated rubric. We have been practicing writing about ideas from a book and summaries in class so that your child can do this independently.
• If you have not already done so, please send in the $5.00 National Geographic subscription money and the $2.50 Art class fee. This was added in the supply letter that went home in the third grade report card and in the summer letter.
• Please note that the children will come up to class by themselves starting on Monday. They will be expected to meet at the school yard, where they will be sent upstairs at 8: 38. In case of rainy weather, students will meet in the MMR. Dismissal will still be at Sherman Street. 

Thank you for all your support this week! I appreciate your efforts to send in supplies, fill out numerous forms, and provided lots of helpful information. Please feel free to talk to me at dismissal or send a note in if you have any questions.
Have a wonderful weekend!