Hello Everyone,

I hope you all had an enjoyable weekend! 

Reminders:

*Math Facts: 4th grade students need to practice math facts music to mastery by the end of October. 5 minutes each night as homework is assigned. These are silly songs but can really help to review this important skill. This math level requires automaticity and fluidity with math facts. Thank you for supporting your child. Click here

*Blue Binders: All students are expected to bring their blue binders and AR book home and back to school daily. Fridays are an exception, unless there is a special project. Students need a parent signature on their planner each night and a parent initial on the reading log nightly homework when it comes home. Please be sure to check with your child every night on the homework front.

**Back to School Night and Coloma Meeting: Wednesday September 25th. I will give a classroom presentation at 7:15 - 8:00 for parents.  At 8:00 p.m. I will provide information about the COD--Coloma Outdoor Discovery School this year. I look forward to greeting everyone and talking about the new Coloma program that the Outdoor School provides. (Mark your calendars Coloma: Oct. 16-18).

4th Grade Dance: Due to constructions this year and the lack of a stage for performances, all grade levels will be working with the talented Micha Scott this year on a dance performance rather than a play which will be performed at the Subud Center down the road. We will have our performance Nov. 14th at 7p.m. More to follow as it gets closer. 

Math: we will review whole numbers and place value up to the millions. We will continue to review math facts and begin to go forward this coming week with estimation, approximation and rounding. We, as a general rule, have a test every Friday to assess the week's concepts. In addition, we are working on a POM (problem of the month) and continue to do math story problems each period to reinforce concepts.

History Social Sciences: My World. We have a new program this year K-6th grade. The Gold Rush will be our first stop as we prepare for our Coloma trip this year Oct. 16-18. Gold Country here we come!! 

Science: Foss curriculum on solid earth--land forms and soils. 

Current Read Aloud: Kit Carson. We are mapping Kit's journey through the Sierra Nevada Mountains from California to Santa Fe, New Mexico. 

Accelerated Reader: Your child has been taught how to successfully log into Accelerated Reader in class.  All quizzes should be completed within 24 hours of finishing a book and must be taken in the classroom, not at home.  Time will be given each morning for this purpose.

Accelerated Reader Book Find: click here Your child should be reading "good fit" books--on their reading level and interest level.  You can check to see that the books your child is choosing to read are in AR. If you put the title in and see the book pop up with information on reading level, points, and quiz #, you know that this is a good pick.  If you cannot find the book in the AR book find, this is a book that has no quiz associated with it and no points.  This is not a good pick.

Lucy Calkin's Novel: The Tiger Rising begins this week.

Growth Mindset video: I support best practices and a growth mindset in the classroom. Please click here to view an excellent video on this concept. Your child will view this in the classroom this week.

Writing: Narrative essay reading preparation beginning this week.

Vocab./Grammar/Spelling: we will review exclamatory, declarative, imperative, interrogative in conjunction with simple, compound, and complex sentences in the coming weeks and practice capitalization rules in class. Daily spelling homework will be assigned each Monday and wrap up with a brief quiz on Friday in the classroom. 

*Board Meeting: 9/11 at 6:00 p.m. to discuss and weigh in on early start date next year.

*Drive for Schools: begins September 19-November 3.

*Taco Movie Night -- Friday Sept. 20th 6 p.m. 

Have a lovely week.

Truly Yours,

Heather