Dear 4A parents,

I hope you are enjoying getting outside this weekend!

Important Dates:

• 9-29 - Early dismissal - 12:30 (In-Service day for teachers)
• 9-29 - Second Annual Literacy Night and Read-a-Thon Kick-Off - gates open at 5:00 p.m.
• 10-3 - 4th Grade Coffee Talk from 8:15 - 9:30 a.m.
• 10-6 - Early dismissal - 12:30
• 10/9-10/13 - Fall Break
• 10/16-10/18 - Mandatory Parent/Teacher conferences (10-18 conferences in the afternoon)
• 10-18 - School resumes, second quarter begins

We will begin literacy groups this week. Our time for this will be Tuesdays from 11:05-11:35. This is a chance for volunteers (who have been fingerprinted) to come in and listen to a group of students read and then ask some prepared questions. The students always enjoy this time to spend with parents.

There will be a Sign-up Genius link for this on the blog in the future, but for this week, we can have 4 parents come in. Please email me to let me know if you would like to come in this Tuesday (Sept. 26th).

 

Academics this week:

We will start Prince Caspian on Monday. Please make sure your child brings in the book that has the same cover as the one shown in the Current Literature section of this blog. We will continue studying adjectives and classifying and diagramming sentences with them. The poem "The Violet" will be presented Friday, October 6th.

In math this week, we are wrapping up our study of the operations of whole numbers. We spent Friday reviewing these concepts and will continue to review in class on Monday. We will have a test on Tuesday (9/26). Our next topic of study, coming at the end of the week, is fractions!

In geology, we will continue studying earthquakes and begin tsunamis. There will be an assessment on these 2 subjects early next week (Oct. 2nd). The study guide will be handed out this week. 

In history this week we will have a history test on Friday 9/29. The test will cover the Fall of Rome and the rise of Christianity. Study guides will be handed out on Monday and will be filled in throughout the week.  Our focus this week is the study of the rise of the Christian Church after the Fall of Rome. We will explore the life of monks, the importance of monasteries and the missionaries who spread the religion throughout Europe. 

>>Here is some information from Mrs. Rockmaker, the music teacher, about the mandatory Fall Concert.
________________________________
Fall Concert

Thursday, November 16th at 7pm at the Higley Center For the Performing Arts

Dress Code for Concerts:

Girls must wear a white shirt, with a black skirt (knee length or longer) or dress slacks, and black dress shoes (black tights if desired).

Boys must wear a white collared, button-down shirt, black slacks, black socks and black dress shoes.

The students will be wearing the same attire for the Spring Concert in April.

Some stores that carry appropriate concert attire:
o Macy’s
o JCPenney
o Sears
o Kohl’s
o Target
o Walmart
o Lands’ End (landsend.com)
· Shopstyle.com

Feel free to email me if you have questions.
Sharon Rockmaker
Email: srockmaker@archwaylincoln.org Blog: archwaylincolnmusic.wordpress.com
____________________

**Please make sure your child is correcting returned work for understanding and for extra points. This needs to be completed ASAP so the quarter grade will reflect the revised grade. 

Thank you for your partnership!
Mrs. Gore

Dear 4A Parents:

I hope you are enjoying your weekend!

Important Dates:

• 9-29 - Second Annual Literacy Night and Read-a-Thon Kick-Off - gates open at 5:00 p.m.
• 10-3 - 4th Grade Coffee Talk from 8:15 - 9:30 a.m.
• 10-6 - Early dismissal - 12:30
• 10/9-10/13 - Fall Break
• 10/16-10/18 - Mandatory Parent/Teacher conferences (10-18 conferences in the afternoon)
• 10-18 - School resumes, second quarter begins

This week in Academics:

We finished Pollyanna and will have a quick check on vocabulary and comprehension of chapters 16-30 on Monday. Before we actually start reading Prince Caspian, we will go over some background information from The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe which most of the students read last year. In Grammar, we will introduce adjectives. There will be a Shakespeare assembly on Friday with a performance of Twelfth Night. We will discuss the play beforehand so your child will know what is it about.

This week in math, we’ll conclude our study of the operations of whole numbers by learning how to multiply 2- and 3- digit numbers by 2-digit numbers. We will take notes in preparation for a test coming up early the week of the 25th. 

This week, students will be assessed on all the concepts covered thus far in geology. We will go over the study guide on Monday and the assessment will be on Tuesday. We will then begin to study earthquakes. Students will be able to explain how stress in the crust changes the earth’s surface, recognize different faults, how they move, and what they are called. Students will be able to understand that there are varying seismic waves and the differences between them.

This week in History we will study The "Dark" Ages and discover why this term is misused. Students will uncover causes and effects that led to the Fall of Rome, and that happened in the period known as the Dark Ages, or more appropriately the Middle Ages. We will begin to explore the major differences between the Eastern and Western Roman Empire that led to a major split in the Christian Church and shaped Western culture. 
______________

Please continue reviewing Math Facts with your child.

We are getting low in tissues, if you are able to contribute a box it would be greatly appreciated : )

We are still collecting boxtops!

Thank you for your continued partnership and support!
Mrs. Gore

Dear 4A Parents:

I hope you enjoyed your weekend. It won't be too much longer until our wonderful Arizona weather kicks in!

For those of you who made it to the Singapore Math/ Spalding Night, I hope it was a benefit to you and helped answer any questions you may have had.

Important Date this week:

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

Academics this week:

In ELA - Your child will recite "Afternoon on a Hill" on Wednesday. Adverbs will be introduced and we will work on classifying and diagramming sentences with these in them. As we finish up Pollyanna this week, we will use these final chapters to practice a summary, dictation, and character development. Our next literature book is Prince Caspian by C. S. Lewis. I've placed the picture of the cover of the book we use in the margin. Please make sure your child brings this book in on Tuesday, September 19th. We continue to have our Spalding and phonogram tests on Fridays. The students are doing a good job on these. 20 people got 100% on the last test!

In math this week, we will continue to explore multiplication and division as well as working on word problems that involve all four operations. We will be starting a math facts program called Rocket Math this week. Rocket Math uses timed tests to help students improve their math fact fluency. We will practice facts in class, and it would be beneficial for your student to spend a few minutes a day reviewing multiplication facts as well. Please let me know if you have any questions about this program as we begin to implement it this week!

We continue in geology with discussions of convection currents and different types of plate boundaries. The study guide for the first assessment will go out this week. The assessment will be the following week.

In History this week we will finish us our study of world mountain ranges before turning our attention to the Geography of Europe. We will examine the major rivers, mountains, and countries of Europe.  Finally, we will study fall of Rome and the beginning of the Middle Ages. 
__________

Your child will bring home some graded work this week, please make sure you are looking for it in their take home folder. Also make sure you are checking their agenda each night. If there is missing work, I try and write it in there.

**Math Facts, Math Facts, Math Facts**
Please take just 5-10 minutes a day to drill your child on math facts (addition and subtraction, as well as, multiplication and division). Let's make it a goal together, that they will have these down by the time they move on to 5th grade. 

Thank you!

Mrs. Gore

Dear 4A Families,

I hope you are enjoying your long weekend!

Here are some important dates to be aware of:

• 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 conflict/resolution and character development. In grammar, we will learn the question-answer flow with subject nouns and verbs. Our spelling list this week will have 20 words due to the shortened week but we will still have 10 phonograms on the test on Friday. 

In math this week, we’ll be reviewing multi-digit addition and subtraction. We’ll practice mental math strategies, estimation, and addition and subtraction word problems. At the end of the week, we’ll start multi-digit multiplication.

This week in History we will learn about the major mountains and mountain ranges around the world. Students will locate these mountains and mountain ranges on a map and gain an understanding of the importance of mountains to civilizations, including how they can be barriers and offer protection or isolate communities. 

This week we are discussing the theories of plate tectonics and continental drift. Students are introduced to the theory of plate tectonics and explore how the theory was developed and supported by evidence. Through class discussion, videos, and activities, students will seek connections between tectonic activity and geologic features and investigate how the theory of plate tectonics evolved.

Your child will bring home some graded work this week, please make sure you are looking for it in their take home folder. Also make sure you are checking their agenda each night. If there is missing work, I write it in there.

**Math Facts, Math Facts, Math Facts**
Please take just 5-10 minutes a day to drill your child on math facts (addition and subtraction, as well as, multiplication and division). Let's make it a goal together, that they will have these down by the time they move on to 5th grade. 

Thank you!
Mrs. Gore

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