Week Four: Sept. 18

We are woven together!

Our learning is just cruising right along!  The kids are really enjoying writing their own personal narrative - ask your child what he/she is writing about, and try to get them to elaborate on some of the details of that event.  We're practicing forming good reading habits and skills as we enjoy books at our individual levels in the classroom.  The kids LOVE to be read to - we're reading through a book called Stone Fox right now, and they beg for more when I start to close the book.☺️  We're studying the parts of speech in Grammar as we analyze sentences from picture books we read.  We are mastering multi-digit addition and subtraction in math.  We're very interested in the moon and sun.  We are completely encapsulated by the story of Samson as we read a bit more of it everyday in Bible - who knew that God uses tainted people to get His work done here on earth?😉  We have such great conversations surrounding God's word.  These kids are truly a blessing to me!

Some kids found a praying mantis. We let it visit the classroom for an hour.

IMPORTANT DATES:

MAP Language Test - Tuesday, Sept. 22

MAP Math Test - Wednesday, Sept. 23

Walk-a-thon/KickBall Game - Wednesday, Sept. 23

THINK ENERGY "yellow" pages Due - Friday, Sept. 25

Details for this coming week:

THINK! Energy Homework - Thank you to those of you who have already filled out the yellow home energy worksheet that came in the front pocket of your child's blue cinch sack with their THINK! Energy kit last week.  If you have not yet done that, please remember to take care of that soon and send the paper back by this coming Friday.  We would love to be awarded the $100 grant if everyone returns it - our wish list is long! 😉

Walk-A-Thon - This one requires very little (if anything) from you, but just so you know, we will be fulfilling our promised walk-a-thon steps this week Wednesday afternoon.  Mrs. Vanderzwaag and I will be taking all the 4th graders on our own walk-a-thon to a nearby park where we will get in some more "steps" as we play organized kickball and enjoy the park.  We will return to school and have the celebratory popsicles once we are back.  It should be a fun afternoon!  Appropriate clothing and good walking shoes are really the only thing you will have to think about that day for your 4th grader.

MAP test - These kids have been troopers as we've been testing and assessing to gain an understanding of how to best teach to their needs.  This week Tuesday will complete the Language portion of the MAP test. On Wednesday, we will finish up with the final portion of the MAP test, the Math portion.

Homework - Continue with the daily math and reading assignments:  ten minutes a day of addition and subtraction fact practice, with a goal of increasing speed and accuracy; and 30 minutes a day of reading.  Thanks for your support with this!

I think that's all I have this week!  Great things are happening, and great kids are hanging out in room 208!

Here are some pictures from our special visit with Shadow.