Weekly Update

The start to our school year has been busy!   It is great to see all the smiling faces each morning!  We’ve been spending the first few days sharing some of our ALL ABOUT ME Bags, discovering and exploring new routines, establishing classroom rules / expectations and focusing on our Hopes and Dreams for the year.

A few reminders:

HOMEWORK PLANNERS

Please sign your child's homework planner every night after homework has been completed.   It is important that you check their assignments to assure they have been completed prior to signing the planner.     Also, I recommend that the children place their completed work in their red homework folder and place the planner and homework folder in their backpack when their work is completed.

READING LOGS

The students began their reading logs this week.   They are expected to read for a minimum of 15 – 20 minutes each night.   After they have read, they are to complete a brief summary of their reading.   There are samples of what the entry should look like on this week’s log.   I recommend that the children complete this nightly as it is due on FRIDAY of each week.   I request that a parent / caregiver sign off each day of the reading. 

MATH FACTS

The children completed their 5-minute baseline math assessments last week.   The expectation for fourth grade is that the students master these facts and receive a score of 90 out of 100 within the 5-minute time.   I was please to have many students at mastery for their addition and subtraction facts.  Those students who scored below a 90 in either area were given some flash cards to use at home.  The children established goals in class yesterday based on their score.   The students are expected to practice their facts 3 – 4 times a week.   Each month we will reassess their facts and set new goals.  

SCIENCE / SOCIAL STUDIES

We are being our study in each of these subjects this week.  In science we will begin exploring the properties of rocks and mineral.  This unit of study involves several hand-on experiments.  The students will be keeping science notebooks to document their observations.   In social studies we will begin with a study / review of the continents and oceans of the world.  We will then move to explore the regions of the United States focusing on the climate, natural resources, physical features, immigrants and the economy of each region.  We will begin with a unit of study on the EAST.

WATERBOTTLE / SNACK

Please send your child to school each day with a water bottle and a snack.   Lunch is at 1:05 each day and it is important to have the students “refueled” and ready to work. 

 There are a few important dates that I want you to keep in mind:

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10^th – PTO MEETING in the Media Center 7:00 PM

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 12^th – Curriculum Night  6:30 - 7:30    This is the evening when I will share an overview of the expectations for fourth grade.   We will discuss some of our curriculum and it will be a time for you to sign up for our Parent Conference Day. 

MONDAY, OCTOBER 14^th – Columbus Day – NO SCHOOL

Please let me know if you have any questions.   I look forward to meeting everyone on Curriculum Night September 12^th.

Miss Finneran