Dear 4A parents:

Thank you to all who were able to make it out to Curriculum Night. I hope you were able to get a good overview of the year and understand more about how our classroom operates. Please fell free to contact me with any questions or concerns you may have throughout the year.

Some important dates coming up:

• No school on Monday, September 4th in recognition of Labor Day - This will also be a Rest and Relaxation weekend (which means no homework!)

• Singapore Math/Spalding Night for 3rd-5th grades - Tuesday, September 5th from 6-7:30 (This event will mainly benefit new families.)

• Love and Logic by Larry Kerby - Tuesday, September 12th from 6:30-8 (This event will benefit all families.)

Academics this week:

This week in ELA, we will continue in Pollyanna with discussing imagery and focusing on comprehension. In grammar, we will study synonyms and antonyms and subject nouns. Your children recited the poem, "Dreams" well and this week will receive "Afternoon on a Hill" to recite the week of September 11th. Our first spelling and phonogram tests will be on Friday. There will be 30 spelling words on the test and a separate test for 10 of the phonograms.  

In math this week, we’ll be wrapping up our unit on whole numbers by introducing word problems. There will be a test on Friday covering all the topics we’ve studied in math so far, including place value, estimation, factors, and multiples.

This week in History/Geography we will be learning about the 4 time zones in the United States. Students will explore how ET, CT, MST, PST compare with other time zones in the US and across the globe. We will also begin our study of physical maps. Students will learn the importance of  these maps and how to read changes in elevation on a physical map. 

We are excited to begin this week with our unit on "Geology: The Earth and Its Changes". The unit starts off with the study of the Earth's layers. Students will be able to identify the layers of the Earth through hands on activities as well as building their own 3D models.

**Please make sure you check the agenda each night. The reading logs are an important part of the ELA grade this year, so it is imperative that they are completed well and on time. Each Friday, your child gets a daily breakdown on what the reading log should contain. This paper can be stapled to the reading log or just kept in the take-home folder. 

**For the past 3 years, I have noticed that the incoming fourth graders, for the most part, do not know their math facts (not only multiplication and division, but addition and subtraction, too). This is something that we can all help to remedy. We will be doing a math fact program called Rocket Math in school,  but you, as parents, will have to take a big part of your child's learning them at home. Please utilize the Grag Tang Math link that I have added. One thing I did with my children was have them do math drill for 10-15 minutes before they could play any computer games, this proved effective with them.

Thank you for partnering with me in these areas!

Thank you also to the Robinson's for donating recess equipment. What a blessing to our class! We have also received much needed tissue and hand sanitizer from many of you. This is already proving helpful during the allergy/cold season that has already begun.

Keep saving those Boxtops!

Thank you,
Mrs. Gore

Dear 4A Parents:

We have some exciting things happening this week. First the solar eclipse will occur tomorrow. Those children who will be accompanied by their parents may observe it with special glasses donated to the school for them to use. The rest of us will remain in the class watching it on live stream. We will have a lesson and activity that will correspond to the subject. A letter was sent home regarding this event, please refer to it to understand the policy and procedure for the day.

The other important event is Curriculum Night. It will be on Tuesday from 6-7:30. Please come to hear the overview of our year and to understand more of how our classroom operates. This is an adult only event, please make other arrangements for your children. 

Important dates:

• This Tuesday, August 22nd is Curriculum Night for 3rd-5th grades from 6-7:30
• Singapore Math/Spalding Night for 3rd-5th grades - Tuesday, September 5th from 6-7:30
• Love and Logic by Larry Kerby - Tuesday, September 12th from 6:30-8

Academics this week:

In language arts this week, we will continue writing summaries and doing dictation. We will begin diagramming simple sentences, and start Touchstones which is a book that helps us in our Socratic discussions. Everyone will individually recite the poem, "Dreams", on Friday.

In literature, as we read Pollyanna, we will go over the skill of understanding conflict and resolution. Please make sure your child is completing their reading log using the sheet they were given that has the questions for each day on it.

This week in math, we'll continue studying multiples and factors, exploring their relationship through discussion and group work. We will introduce the order of operations and start working on word problems at the end of the week. 

In History/Geography this week students will review important components of maps and learn to use them along with latitude and longitude to find coordinates of cities and countries. We will also learn about time zones across  the United States, and internationally. Students will discover their importance and how they impact travel and communication. 

We will be collecting box-tops all year, so your child can bring them in at any time!

I'm looking forward to seeing you on Tuesday,

Mrs. Gore

Dear 4A Parents:

Our first full week is complete and we are getting used to our routine. I’m so thankful for my class; they are an enjoyable group of children.

Here are some important dates to mark down:

• ·         Picture Day – Tuesday August 15^th  (An envelope went home last week for orders.)
• ·         Curriculum Night – K-2^nd grade – August 17 from 6-7:30

                                           3^rd -5^th grade – August 22 from 6-7:30

                                           **Curriculum Night is an adult only event, please make other                                                                    arrangements for your children.**

Academics This Week:

We will be reading chapters 6-10 in Pollyanna. Your child should not be reading ahead because we want to experience the twists and turns together as a class. Our focus this week is characterization and comprehension. One of the main grades in Literature is from the reading logs. These need to be completed in a thoughtful manner in order for your child to get the 10 points (per week) that they are worth.

Along with summaries and dictation, we are continuing capitalization, reviewing what a sentence is, and reviewing the 4 types of sentences, in Language Arts. We will have a packet for cursive practice. We will also practice the poem “Dreams” which each child will present to the class on August 24^th. They should be practicing this each night with proper pacing and inflection. 

This week we'll be wrapping up our study of place value with a discussion of number patterns and mental math. We'll be working on estimation for numbers up to 6-digits and at the end of the week, starting to discuss factors and multiples.

Scientists Ask Questions & Solve Problems

In Science, we will continue learning about the Scientific Method. Scientists are continually making observations and wondering about the natural world. As they observe the world around them, they ask many questions. Then, they make an educated guess called a hypothesis.  From there, the scientist plans his or her experiment. This is all done with these thoughts in mind..."I can discover how this works, or why does this happen, or how can this problem be solved."

"Thinking Like A Scientist":

Students will also learn how to control variables and make decisions.  Sometimes our hypothesis wasn't correct or the experiment was faulty.  Learning to discover through "failures" is part of being a scientist.  Students will learn to get messy, make mistakes, look for patterns, and discover that science is fun, and we will begin doing so by conducting an experiment using skittles. Our students will learn to observe, investigate, form a hypothesis, collect data, analyze information, make conclusions, and report their findings

To prepare our students for the 2017 Solar eclipse on Monday the 21 of August, we will talk about what a solar eclipse is.  We will learn all about what makes an eclipse happen. Discover the difference between a lunar eclipse and a solar eclipse as well as the difference between a total eclipse and a partial one. Find out the best way to watch an eclipse in action as well as what to be careful of while watching one. (Each child will have a pair of special glasses with which to view the eclipse. A permission slip will go out for this event.)

We have an exciting week planned for history/geography! We will discuss the importance of maps, and their many uses. Students will learn to measure distances using map scales, and locate places on maps using latitude and longitude. Students will be able to identify the importance of a map key, and compass rose and other essential components of map reading. Major terms we will learn this week are: Meridian, Equator, International Date Line. Students will also learn the importance of time zones in the United States and across the globe. 

Thank you for all the tissue boxes that came in!! We do not need any more at this time. Your generosity is appreciated J

We collect box tops as a class for the school. Any time you have some to donate, please send them in with your child.

Thank you for entrusting your child into my care each school day.

Mrs. Gore

Dear 4A Parents:

I'm excited to start our first full week. It was great seeing everyone on Friday. We were able to go over most of the procedures but still have a few more to go and, of course, there will be a lot of practicing them until the class runs smoothly.

We have set the foundation for a culture of kindness and the returning students have really stepped up in aiding and befriending the new students. I hope to build on this throughout the year as we learn more about what it means to be a virtuous person.

• This week in academics:

In Literature this week, we will begin reading Pollyanna by Eleanor H. Porter. Please make sure your child brings the book to school. I have put up a picture of the cover of the book we use. Learning about Pollyanna's difficult circumstances and how she deals with them is a great way to start the year. We will be focusing on setting and characterization this week.

Also this week, we will be working on summaries and dictation in our writing portion of Language Arts and capitalization in the grammar portion.

The students will start memorizing the poem "Dreams" by Langston Hughes. This will be presented the week of August 21.

In Math, we will begin by discussing place value in numbers up to 5- and 6-digits. Using manipulatives, we will discuss how to write numbers in standard and expanded form, how each place value relates to other place values, and how to order large numbers. Place value is a foundational topic upon which many other later topics are based, and this week is an important one in laying strong groundwork for the rest of the year.

In Science, we will begin by learning about the Scientific Method. Students will be able explain 5 reasons why science is important, and be able to identify and record each step of the scientific method. They will learn to define and identify variables in different scenarios as they conduct an experiment of their own. At the end of our study on the Scientific Method, we will each take on the role of scientists and conduct an experiment using M&M's to show mastery of all that we have learned about Scientific Method.

We will begin our study of history/geography this week by learning the importance of maps, and their many uses. Students will learn to measure distances using map scales, and other fundamental components of map reading. We will use latitude and longitude to find locations across the globe and become familiar with the Prime Meridian, Equator, International Date Line and how lines of latitude and longitude divide the earth. At the end of the week we will turn our attention to time zones across the world and here in the United States.

• Just a few reminders:

We are a nut-free room, so please do not have your child bring any snacks with nuts in them. It is fine to have nuts with lunch but since we have snack in our room, we can't have them at that time. Also the snack should be healthy and not messy : )

Almost everyone brought in a non-disposable water bottle which is very important. If your child does not yet have one, please invest in one soon.

From past experience, the children use a lot of tissue. This is the main item I ask parents to help provide. Please send in a box or two whenever you think of it. It will be greatly appreciated.

As we go forward, there are probably some questions that still need to be asked or procedures that need to be clarified, please don't hesitate to email me or make an appointment to came by and talk.

Thankful for you,
Mrs. Gore

Archway Classical Academy – Lincoln

4A Mrs. Gore, Mr. Edmondson

Dear Parents,

I am excited to welcome you to 4A and a new school year at Archway Lincoln! I will be your child’s teacher this year for 4th grade and I am looking forward to meeting you and your child and beginning the new school year.

This will be my third year teaching 4th grade at Lincoln. Prior to teaching here, I taught my 5 children at home. I am honored to have been at Lincoln from its start and look forward to collaborating with my colleagues again this year to provide your children with a rigorous, highly formative, and enjoyable year.

Joining me this year as my teaching apprentice is Mr. Wil Edmondson. I know he will be a delightful presence in 4A and I am looking forward to partnering with him this year.

Our curriculum is rigorous and interesting. Your child will be studying subjects that range from the Middle Ages to meteorology, phonograms to fractions, narration to navigation and many things in between. Mr. Edmondson and I look forward to helping your child transition from third grade to fourth grade.

Our goal is for this to be an enjoyable, productive, challenging, and encouraging year for all our students.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. My email is lgore@archwaylincoln.org and Mr. Edmondson’s is wedmondson@archwaylincoln.org

Warmly,
Mrs. Gore