| As we work on our first opinion writing piece of the year, students illustrated their three "favorite season reasons". The class leaned heavily toward winter, but we did have some fans of spring, summer, and fall. As the week goes by, we'll be working on adding details and examples to turn our opinions into five paragraph essays. |
fantasy_setting_map2014.doc |
It was fantastic to meet with all of you last week to share the growth and progress students have already made during first trimester and make plans to support student learning for the rest of the year. Report cards are also now available via Family Access.
Our goal for this week: "Use details and examples to support my opinion in writing."
Some items in this Monday's take-home folder:
Sign and return: Weekly Update, December Reading Log (in binders), November Reading Log, sign and return math tests (Larson math class)
Review and keep at home: Math fact tests, Math practice pages (varies by walk-to-math class), WA Adventure questions, YMCA Kids' University Programs, Smart With Art holiday gift making class registration
Brrrrr! It’s cold out there. Please send your children to school dressed for the weather. Students without coats/pants will not go outside for recess (unless I receive an email from you). Thanks! The mystery word is: climate`
Assignment packets for the WA Topographic Map optional project will be coming home this week and are attached here. This project is an effective way for students to reinforce their learning. By creating a three-dimensional clay (play-doh or model magic) map showing the elevations, regions, important bodies of water, major cities, and boundaries of Washington State, students learn-by-doing. I hope you will consider assisting your child with this optional project due on Tuesday, Dec 16 OR Tuesday, January 6, 2015. I want to make sure that you are part of the discussion when deciding whether or not your student should complete this project. Please circle yes or no and sign the top of the packet. Thanks!
One Voice Holiday Giving Campaign:
4th Grade - Toys; toothbrushes, toothpaste, floss
Every year, through community donations, the One Voice event provides basic necessities and small pleasures to 275 families, helping about 800 kids. Let’s show our generous CUB spirit and give what you can. Items will be collected in your child’s classroom during the week of 12/03-12/10.
Family Survey: If you haven't had a chance to fill out the CVES Family Survey before or after your conference, please take a moment to fill it out online. Thank you for helping to make CVES an even better learning community!
Reflections Art Entries: are due by Tuesday, 12/9
http://www.cvesptsa.org/reflections-program.html
Lexia: I've mentioned to some families during conferences that students can complete 20 minutes of Lexia two or three nights a week and use that for their 20 minutes of reading (or count it as an additional 20 minutes). This option is a great reading skill builder for all students! Students should be able to log in at home using the link on the 4th grade website. Please let me know if you have any questions about the program.
December volunteer calendar: is attached to this week's email. Please let me know if you need any adjustments or can't be here on your day. Thanks again for all you do to support our class's learning - we couldn't do it without you!!!
Attendance Hotline: If your child will be missing school or tardy for any reason, please be sure to call the attendance hotline: 425-831-4108. The mystery word is: dialogue. Due to changes in the district's policy, if a student is absent and the attendance line has not been called, our school secretaries are required to call all the emergency contact numbers in that student's file until they can find a reason for the absence. Please call the attendance line!
Important Dates:
12/1 – 10 Holiday Giving Campaign: 4th Grade: toys/toothbrushes/paste/floss
12/9 Reflections Art Entries Due
12/11 Dance Man: 5:30 (for K-2) and 6:45 (for 3-5)
12/17 Fantasy Book Report Due
12/22 – 1/2 No School
1/05/15 School Resumes
1/19/15 No School (Martin Luther King, Jr Holiday)
2/16 – 2/20 No school Mid-Winter Break
Coming Up This Week in Class: We are launching Envisions Topic 9 (division), finishing our WA state desk maps, writing and drawing about our favorite seasons, reading about WA state regions and geographic features, and starting the Gravy Group WA Topo Map project!
In our partnership to ensure success for your child, good communication is critical. If you ever have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to e-mail me at [email protected]. I’d love to hear from you and look forward to working with you this year.
With thanks,
Emily Larson
[email protected]