19_nuts_and_bolts.doc |
19_larson_student_handbook.doc |
We had a fantastic first week of school. I love our class! Your children were wonderful; they were excited and participated in all the activities. We are already establishing our classroom community as Team 4L. Our team is working towards our common goal of learning in a kind and respectful environment. As always, the beginning of the year is the time to set expectations and procedures. Attached are several forms for you reference.
Early each week I will send a weekly fourth grade newsletter full of information for you, and post the same newsletter on the class website. It is my goal to send only one email every week to my families. If you would prefer not to be on the distribution list, please notify me so I can remove you. If you have an additional or alternative email address (es), I would be glad to add those. Each week I hide a "mystery word" in the newsletter for kids or parents to find. You'll know it when you find it! Students who bring me a post-it or scratch paper the next day with the word and their name written on it get a class reward!
If you have not yet had a chance to do so, please fill out the Parent/Guardian input form to help me get to know your child and better meet their needs. If you are interested in volunteering (thank you!) please fill out the volunteer form.
Parent/Guardian Input Form (online)
Volunteer Form (online)
Thank you for sending me such terrific children! I feel so lucky to be their teacher this year and I look forward to getting to know you, too!
Important Dates:
9/12 PTSA Ice Cream Social 6:30-8 pm
9/13 Bio-collages due
9/17 Curriculum Night for 4th grade at 6:00 pm
9/20 Extra Credit Rock Formation Speeches due
10/2 Individual Photos, Grade 3-5
10/14 No School for Students - Teacher Work Day
11/11 No School - Veteran's Day Observed
11/13 Individual Photo Retakes
11/22 & 25 – 27 Conferences (half days)
11/28-29 No School - Thanksgiving Break
12/23-1/3 No School - Holiday Break
1/6 School Resumes
Take Home Folders / Return to School every Tuesday:
Review and Keep at Home: Allergy Information letter, 2018-19 Welcome and "Nuts and Bolts" packet, Insurance Information booklet, Saving Fred flowcharts, Two Truths and a Fib, Eureka Math newsletter, September Book order
Sign and Return: student handbook (last page), weekly tracker, reading log (in binders)
Goal for the Week: Make quick, quiet transitions
Coming up this week in class:
Continuing math Topic A: Place Value of Multi-Digit Whole Numbers, learning classroom expectations, starting our first reading book - Porpoises in Peril, introducing research and informational writing, continuing our Rock Layers in science, using line drawing forms in art, and sharing Bio Collages!
Homework: This year, your child will be keeping track of assignments and homework in a weekly tracker. At home, please check the weekly tracker (located in the front of the binder) to support your child’s homework habits. It is also posted on our classroom blog daily. (http://cves4.weebly.com/ms-larson )
Starting this week…..
Monday Take Home Folders and Reading Logs are due back every Tuesday: Most corrected papers, signature requests, and important communication will be sent home in a green folder on Monday afternoons. Please look for a sign and return weekly tracker starting next week (providing student and/or teacherupdates on behavior and effort), as well as sign and return items such as tests or permission forms. Empty green take-home folders, signed reading logs, and signed trackers are due back every Tuesday. Getting parent signatures is a student responsibility. The children and I have been talking about how parents are very busy people, and it's the student's job to make sure papers get signed. The mystery word is: equation.
Scholastic Reading Club Order: Our first reading club flier went home in last week's folders! To place an order, go to www.scholastic.com/bookclubs, select "parent" and Continue. You'll need to create an account with your own user name and password (if you don’t have one yet), and use class activation code GPZ63 to connect to our class order. Books will be delivered in 1-2 weeks after the last day to order. As always, our class gets free books and materials with every online order placed. Thanks in advance for helping us expand our classroom library and programs! The last day to order books is today, Monday, September 16th. If you have any questions, please let me know.
Math Facts: Fourth grade students must be fluent in all multiplication and related division facts up to 12. Please use our on line program REFLEX https://www.reflexmath.com/go (username: [email protected]) or visit the 4th grade blog to learn strategies and interactive ways to practice math facts at home.
Math: At Curriculum Night, you will learn about our fantastic new math curriculum, Eureka! Please take a look at the “Math News” in today’s take home folder. We are working through Module 1, Topic A on Place Value.
At-home Reading: Students are expected to read 20 minutes a night, with a goal of 100 minutes each week. Your signature is required on their weekly minute totals every Monday evening. I will be checking for signatures every Tuesday morning. (Our September reading logs start today.)
Reading: Our reading lessons focus on:
- Using details and examples from the text as evidence to support comprehension
- Describing characters and setting
- Determining the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in the text
- Engaging in collaborative discussions
Writing: Students will be starting research and informational writing focused on stating a main idea (using a topic sentence) and providing supporting details.
Social Studies: Coming Soon!
Science: Our first "Scope" (unit) is about Rock Layers. Students will be identifying evidence from patterns in rock formations and fossils in rock layers to explain changes to a landscape over time. We’ll be making and testing models, watching videos and reading about the work of geologist and paleontologists, and practicing the Claim, Evidence, Reasoning format to support explanations.
Bio-Collage: Last week your children came home with pieces of 9x9 construction paper. Their job is to create a collage about themselves and their interests. They can use photos, clip-art, words, drawings and magazines to create their collage. The collages are due Friday, September 13th.
Volunteer Opportunities: Thank you for your support. I will be emailing each volunteer with a specific time/day and then I will be uploading everything to an on-line volunteer management tool. I appreciate all the folks who volunteered for at-home correcting. Thanks, again, for all you do to support children, teachers and learning!
Please visit our 4th grade blog…. http://cves4.weebly.com/
Phew! The first few newsletters are always some of the longest! I’m hoping they will be more concise in the future! : )
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 larsone@svsd410.org. I’d love to hear from you and look forward to working with you this year.
With thanks,
Emily Larson
4th Grade, CVES
[email protected]
www.cves4.weebly.com