Dear 4A Families,
Happy Monday everyone. I hope you all enjoyed the sunny weekend. This Friday there will be a half-day for West Fest set-up. Hopefully the weather will cooperate for this fun community event. Students may enjoy free dress when wearing their West Fest t-shirts—new or old–or if they dress in fall themed clothing. Newly ordered shirts will be distributed on Thursday.
This will be the final paper copy of the newsletter I will send. I sent out an email on Sunday using our 4A email distribution list. If you did not get it or if there are any changes, additions or deletions you want me to make to our 4A list, please let me know. Thank you
We’ve Got A Whole New School Year in Our Hands
As you have probably seen, the bulletin board outside of our classroom has the students holding the world in their hands. In keeping with our school theme, every student is challenged to do his or her best each day—academically, socially, and spiritually. Successful, happy students—and adults– exhibit these qualities (and more), Courage, thoughtfulness, perseverance, curiosity, patience, forgiveness and grit! (Experts define grit as persistence, determination and resilience). As we move into our school year I am excited and inspired by my new group of students. We will have an amazing year together. I am linking you to a copy of 4A’s Social Contract. In class on Monday we will be using this document and our class rules to review expectations. Thank you for your support at home as well.
Social Studies: Last week the students received study sheets for a continent and ocean test that will take place next Wednesday the 23rd. This is a review of the test they took in 3rd grade. We will continue to review in class, but hopefully your child has asked you to quiz them as well. The test will have a word bank of the continents and oceans. Students need to know the locations. The 4A website has links to review the continents as well. Look under the “Map Study Sheets” section on the right-hand links column. The students are also memorizing the Continent poem, which is in each filer and available as a PDF in the tabs at the top of the 4A website under Map Skills. I will give practice time in class for this, but the memorization should be practiced at home as well. The final day to present the poem is also the 23rd. We will be focusing on the concept of latitude and longitude as we gain skills reading maps using coordinates.
Science: We will continue to introduce our Engineering is Elementary project with a look at a girl from Nata, Botswana, and how she solved a need in her village. We will also introduce the term green engineering in class. Finally, the students will receive their first Science Scope magazine from Scholastic. This is a wonderful magazine full of interesting articles and fun activities. The students will receive a magazine almost every month. Be sure to look for them in your child’s filer!
Religion: We will continue to focus on strategies to make and build friendships in our Steps to Respect lessons. Our religion focus will be on God’s Plan and how God reveals himself through creation, Scripture and Tradition. We will also get some practice using our Bibles to look up Gospel readings, and we will preview this coming Sunday’s Gospel: Mark 9: 30-37.
Reading: This week we ask the question, “Why do people pass down stories over the years?” Our comprehension strategies this week use tall tales and folktales to examine the character’s relationships and how they change throughout the stories. The students will be asked to infer/predict—use text clues to figure out what isn’t directly stated by the author. As students read they will also learn about point of view and figurative language (hyperbole, simile, metaphor etc.).
Spelling (and some math): The spelling words this week are the number words. These words tie in with our required math objective of reading and writing numbers through the millions in grade 4. The spelling “packet” includes some extra math practice that will require some parent assistance (along with spelling practice). All students have this packet in their filer. Please read the directions and return the completed and signed homework on Friday (not before). Let me know if you have any questions. Thank you!
Math: The students have all been signed up for Mathletics. I know most of the students have accessed this site at home as well as school (I can see what they have done J) This site is an outstanding resource and compliment to our math program. We will use the site regularly at school and students will occasionally have homework assigned from the site as well. Parents can sign in on this account as well and you can see progress and scores. Take some time to check out the site.
Along with the spelling/math homework, our math lessons will focus on place value, ordering, comparing and rounding numbers to the millions. We will also be reviewing the multiplication facts most days. Quick recall of multiplication and division facts is an important and expected skill in grade 4. We will move sequentially through the facts (2’s, 3’s, 4’s, etc.) with daily practice.
Don’t forget–-PICTURE DAY is next Tuesday the 22nd. Order forms were sent home last week. More are available in the office if you need them. Students may wear uniforms or free dress for picture day.
Thank you for your support of the magazine sale. This is an important fundraiser for our school.
Important magazine sale dates to keep in mind:
- First deadline for online orders is Monday 9/14 at 9PM
- First “Tally Tuesday” will be on Tuesday 9/15 where we will enter and tally
online orders and donations for the weekly class competitions
- Donations must be turned in on “Tally Tuesdays” at drop off
Go 4th Grade!
Have a wonderful week!