April 1st Update

Families of Room 31~

Happy April!  My body and mind is looking forward to the warmth that spring brings.   It is a busy time for us in 4^th grade so it will be important to reach out if you have any questions.

Report Cards:   Trimester 2 report cards are coming home on Monday April, 1^st.  Please sign and return the report card envelope, yet keep the report card at home.  Please reach out of you have any questions / concerns.

Field Trip Slip / Money : The students took home their field trip information last week.  If you have not done so already, please return the blue form and the $12.oo by April 9^th. 

Spring Fling – Our class has been asked to bring in items for a Squishy / slime basked.  If you have not already contributed, you may send in an item or $5.00 contribution by Friday April 5^th.  Thanks to those families whom have already contributed!

Coolidge Spring Fling, Friday, April 26th from 5:30-7:30 at Oak Middle School.  A notice was send home last Monday to purchase tickets for the ice cream!  Hope to see you there.!

Early Release:  Tuesday, April 2^nd is an early release.  Dismissal will be at 12:10. 

Coolidge Book Fair:  The Coolidge Book Fair is happening this week.  Students may bring in money any day for shopping purposes.  Also, the book fair will be open from 3:30 – 6:00 on April 4^th if any families want to shop during this time.

Spring Concert:  The Grade 4 Spring Concert will be held on May 1st from 7:00-8:00 PM for families to enjoy.  More information from Mrs. Falvo will be coming home soon.

4^th Grade MCAS: 

     ELA – April 23^rd and 24^th

     Math  - May 15^th and 16^th

Reading / Math Incentive Program:  The Reading / Math Incentive Program ends on Friday April 26^th.  This will be the final day for any slips to be turned in.  Many students have already reached gold medal status!  I’ll be sending home updates for each child on Tuesday of this week.  Please get those final slips in!

WACKY SHOES Reading / Writing - This week students will NOT have a reading log to complete.  They will be working on a Reading / Writing Prompt similar to those we have worked on in school. The assignment will be spread out over the course of the week.  The final writing sample may either be hand written and turned in OR if you child has access to a computer, they may either type it and print it or type I and send it to me via email.  Please reach out if you have any questions.

MATH:  Students are moving on to our next chapter (Chapter 10) on parallel and perpendicular lines.  It is a SHORT chapter and we will complete it as well as the assessment by April vacation. 

SOCIAL STUDIES:  Our class is wrapping up their study of the Midwest.  They will take their Midwest assessment on the climate, physical features, natural resources and the economy of this region on Thursday April 11^th.  Their study guide and notes should be coming home on Tuesday April 2^nd.  The test will be similar in format to the test they took on the South region. 

As always, please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or concerns.

Kelly Finneran

MARCH 4th UPDATE

Week of March 4^th

Well…. We made it to March but it doesn’t look like Spring is around the corner!  As they say… March comes in like a lion and out like a lamb.  Fingers crossed the snow this month does not amount to much and that sun and warm weather arrives by the end.    Below are a few updates for this week.

MORNING ARRIVALS – for those students whom are parent drop off, it is most helpful for your child to arrive in the classroom closer to the 8:45 time.  Many students have been arriving at 9:00 or later.  Although they are not tardy until 9:00, most of their classmates are already in class and unpacked / working or in morning-meeting.   Arriving a little earlier is great practice for next year when your child will have to arrive at Sherwood for an 8:00 start time.

Tuesday March 5^th:  This day is a ½ day for students.  Dismissal will begin at 12:10!

ELA MOCK MCAS - On Friday, a letter went home with your child sharing the fact that the fourth grade will be holding a “MOCK” MCAS.  We will be giving the students one article to read where they will have to answer multiple choice questions as well as plan for and type an open response question using the iPad.  We feel it is important for the students to experience what the ELA Reading MCAS will be like prior to the actual MCAS testing on April 23^rd and 24th, especially given this is their first experience taking MCAS on the iPad.

Please send your child to school with TWO snacks and a water bottle this day for us to “practice” what snack eating will be like during MCAS.

COMPLETION MONEY - The $10.00 and the pink form sent home last week is due by Thursday March 7^th.   Thanks to the many of you whom have already sent your in!  More information about the end of the year celebration will be coming home in the near future.

Scholastic Book Orders:  Book orders are due online or by check by Friday, March 8^th.

MATH – We are completing our lessons this week on Adding and Subtracting Decimals.  This chapter includes some math problem solving using decimals.  Our assessment will be later this week or early next week!

READING / WRITING – We a quite a few different activities happening in these areas.  Some students are working to wrap up their current DRA.   All students have been working on the comprehension skill of Determining Importance by locating FACTS / ASKING QUESTIONS and RESPONDED to the article or story read.  They have learned the importance of merging their thinking while learning new information!  Also, the students have been working on writing point of view responses.  As we wrap that up, we will be moving on to writing responses that continue the story! 

SCIENCE – We are in the middle our “TECH TRIAL” where the students are attempting to use the design process to build prototypes to light lightbulbs and make a motor run.  When we wrap this up we will be moving to our new unit on WAVES.

SOCIAL STUDIES – We have started our study or the Midwest by working on our maps in school.  I will be assigning the map quiz on the states, capital and physical features this week.   Look for the study guide / practice maps to come home.  Know that you can also find them on our Schoology site.

As always, please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions / concerns.

~ Kelly Finneran