Happy Monday Everyone-

Just a few quick highlights/reminders for this week:

Students may bring valentine cards to pass out this Friday. We will not have a "party" but will use the last 15 minutes or so of the day to exchange cards. Here is a class list:

Kylee

Lucas

Wyatt 

Makaylee 

Kyndall 

Charlotte 

Ryan 

Emilee 

Seamus 

Markus 

Natalie 

Phoebe

 Rachel 

Cameron 

Leo 

Rosa 

Jaidan 

Chase 

Levi 

Cooper 

Jilian

 Azahri 

Joshua

Next Thursday, February 20th is our Science Fun Day. The cost in $24. Please send in money by next Wednesday, February 20th.

*Next Friday, 2/21 is a teacher workday.

4th Grade Update 

This 9 weeks is off to a great start with one of my favorite units of the yea!. As you read in the last update we are about halfway through an integrated reading, writing, and social studies unit focusing on the Civil Rights Era. We have completed nonfiction background work and read many historical fiction picture books. Next week we will begin historical fiction book clubs. Students will be mixed up with 4th graders from other classes with either myself, Mrs. Landstrom, Mr. Kaji, Ms. Sinicrope, or Mrs. Shopmyer. Each group will read a novel set at some point between the 1930's- 1960's. Students will spend time reading independently and in groups discussing their books for the next several weeks. During writing and social studies time students have chosen a broad topic to research and are working to zoom in on some aspect of the topic. Then they will create a driving question for their research. They will create a project to display in or 4th Grade Civil Rights museum that you will all be invited to! (We will finalize the date soon,  it will be sometime during the last week before spring break.) Students have the option to get very creative with their project. The majority of the work will be done at school, but I will let you know if there's anything that would be better completed at home.

In math we have completed our unit on place value and the standard algorithm for addition and subtraction. We will continue to practice these with morning work and homework. Our next focus is measurement. We have worked to build a chart of measurement vocabulary and will focus on metric measurement with a little time spent on customary measurement. 

Next week we will take the next round of the NC Check ins for both reading and math. Please make sure you child has a fully charged computer.

A few reminders:

We are going to the symphony on Tuesday, February 25th. Students only need a completed permission slip, Orange County pays for the trip for all 4th graders.

Please make sure your child has a jacket or coat for recess. Unless it raining or well below freezing we will go outside each day.

Important Dates:

Thursday February 20th- In School Science Field Trip- check yellow folders for info
Friday February 21- No School, Teacher Workday

Friday March 13- end of the 3rd 9 weeks

Congratulations to both of our class representatives at the HES Spelling Bee today! 

1st place- Leo

2nd place- Natalie

Happy New Year and Welcome Back!

First, I'd like to thank you for making our end of 2nd quarter learning celebration a success! It was amazing to see so many proud faces, on both students and parents!

Thank you also for all of the thoughtful and generous Christmas gifts!

We have hit the ground running for the second half of the year and are already back in the swing of things. Here is an overview of what we will be working on for the next several weeks in 4th grade:

We have started an integrated Reading/Writing project that focuses on historical fiction and begins with reinforcing our nonfiction work from last quarter to build background knowledge. This week and next we are working to build a timeline and learn about significant events in the Civil Rights Era. Then we will transition to picture books, read alouds, and book clubs using historical fiction literature set during that time. Students will be reinforcing our work from the 1st 9 weeks to analyze characters and try to "walk in their shoes". 

In Science we have a short mini unit that focuses on the phases of the moon and what causes night and day, then we will use our Social Studies time to look at important events in NC during the Civil Rights Era.

In Math we will be focusing on mastering the standard algorithm for multi digit addition and subtraction- adding and subtracting up to 4 digit numbers the "old way". Students have used other methods in 2nd and 3rd grade to build understanding and will now look at how using the standard algorithm is usually the most efficient method. 

A few other important announcements/reminders:

Last 9 weeks you received info about re-registering your child to attend HES next. Thank you so much to those of you have already completed that, if you have questions or need more information please let me know. All students must re register to hold their spot at HES.  

Beginning next week students will have a small amount of math homework each week. Every Monday they will bring home a worksheet with math practice that is either a review or practice of skills we are currently working on. The sheet will be divided into days, Monday-Thursday. Your child may complete each column on the listed day, or however works for your family/your schedule. Completed homework should be turned in each Friday.  

Please help your child remember to charge their computer each night. 

Yesterday students received permission slips for our field trip to the NC Symphony on February 25th. Please complete and return this sheet. No money is needed  for this trip. We usually ask students for "dress their best" for this trip- more info about that when we get closer to the trip.

Important Dates:

January   15 PTA meeting, 6:30pm
                20- MLK, Jr, no school

February   21   Teacher Workday
                 25    Symphonyt Trip