Dear 4A Families
I hope you all had a nice weekend, despite the lost hour of sleep! The extra daylight hours are always nice, but the time change can throw off the sleep schedules a bit. The good news is it looks like warmer temperatures are on the way and our class is getting healthier. We begin the 3rd and final trimester of the year this week!
We have a very special event this Thursday the 14th. The “Of Cedar and Salmon” program will be set up in the School Hall all day just for the 3rd and 4th grade students. This multi-media, multi-cultural, hands-on educational program is designed to teach students about the native art and culture of the Pacific Northwest Coast. This program supports and supplements the 3rd and 4th grade studies of Native People and cultures. Parents are welcome to come at any point during the day to check out the displays and program.
Oral Biographies: If you have not done so already, please sign your child up for a time to present his/her oral biography using this link to the Google Drive. . Next Wednesday the 20th the students in 4A will have an hour of class work time for their oral biography projects. Students can work on their notes, plan/practice any part of their presentation, ask questions or get advice from their classmates or me. Every student needs to bring in materials to either work on or practice their presentation. All students are expected to use their time productively. All students need to come to school with a plan of what they will be working on during the hour—and the materials they will need to use their time well. This also gives me a chance to check in with the students and see if they need anything as they prepare to present. If the work time goes well and students are interested, we may add a second work time on Friday the 22nd as well. This is a checklist that I will be going over in class with the students of things to strive for when presenting. They will practice these skills when they present their mini bio posters in class as well. You should use this checklist at as your children are practcing. They do not have to do all of the items on the list, but they provide some good areas of focus as the presenations are being prepared.
Religion: Our religion classes will focus on Lent as well as the 10 Commandments this week. The 4A students will receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation next Tuesday, March 19th. We will review the rite in class and I will send home an examination of conscience for them to reflect on Monday night so they will be prepared on Tuesday.
Spelling/LA : There is no spelling test this week. The list for next week will come home this Thursday. The students have been working hard on their mini bio posters in class. They will get a chance to practice presenting in the style of the big biography project when they share their posters in the “voice” of the person they wrote their report on.
Reading: This week we will be reading a wonderful and emotional story called Train to Somewhere. It is based on the Orphan Trains that ran from 1854 to 1929. This story ties in with our Oregon Trail studies, and will help the students better appreciate the struggles and challenges faced by the children of this time in our history.
Math: I am proud of the growth the students have made mastering the long division algorithm. It takes perseverance to master this challenging skill. Interpreting remainders remains a bit more challenging and we will continue to practice strategies to tackle story problems successfully. Your assistance at home checking over homework is appreciated. Just a reminder, whenever students are completing story problems they are required to label all answers appropriately. Understanding the problem is just as important as accurate computation. Ms Simpson’s group will take their division chapter test next Tuesday the 19th.
From Mrs. Podell: I am amazed at how well the students have mastered the long division algorithm. They also have done well interpreting remainders. Since they are doing so well, we are going to review the chapter tomorrow and test on Tuesday.
Homework: The bulk of homework time should be spent on the Oral Biography Presentations. I will give extra time to complete as much math and other homework at school as possible in the next two weeks.
Be sure to check your child’s filers for corrected tests and classwork. Filers should be cleaned out/organized as we start the new trimester. Thank you!
Have a wonderful week everyone. May the auction be successful on Saturday
and Happy St. Patrick’s Day on Sunday!
