CLASSROOM NEWS

For Your Information:

Kids On The Block Assembly
The 4th grade students attended an assembly on Wedneday, September 26th about learning differences. The presentation did a wonderful job expressing how all people have strengths and weaknesses. It also helped students understand what it feels like to have some types of learning challenges. Please ask your child to tell you something they learned during the assembly.

Magazine Sale Ends Next Week
The final magazine sale turn-in day is Tuesday, October 2nd! Students should report directly to the multi-purpose room when they arrive at school if they have orders.


Subject Update:

• Spelling - Lesson 5: Words spelled with -oi
• English/Writing - The students have started Unit 5 on capitalization and punctuation. They are learning about capitalization of important words (first word of sentence and names of people, places, and things), common abbreviations, and uses of commas.
• Reading - The students will take a reading theme test on Tuesday, October 2nd. This is not a test for which students can study. The activities completed and discussions of the different biographies read in class were preparation for this final activity.
• Science - The students brought home their bean plants today. It might be fun to continue observing the life cycle of the plant. Next week, we will learn about animal habitats and behaviors.
• Social Studies - We will be thinking about the rights guaranteed to us by our U.S. Constitution and the responsibilities we have as U. S. citizens.
• Accelerated Math - The students will review addition properties and strategies used when adding or subtracting whole numbers. Then we will explore addition and subtraction of decimals.

Mark Your Calendar:

10/5: Character Counts Spirit Day - Wear green for "Responsibility!"

10/8: No School (Columbus Day)

10/9: 1st Trimester Mid-Point (Review student grades on ParentConnect!)

10/11: Junior Achievement (Session 1)

10/12: Prairieview School Spirit Day - Wear clothes that show school spirit!

10/17: Early Dismissal (11:00 a.m.)

CLASSROOM NEWS

For Your Information

Thanks to Our Morton Arboretum Chaperones
Thank you to Mrs. DeBow and Mrs. Calabria for joining the class at the Morton Arboretum. It was an enjoyable and informative woodland experience.

Reminder...
Magazine sale turn-in days are Tuesday and Thursday. Students with sales to turn in should go directly to the gym on those days when they arrive at school.

Junior Achievement
Junior Achievement is a program which invites volunteers from area businesses into the classroom to do activities related to Social Studies. Our representative, Ms. Zurek, from the McDonald's Corporation will help us understand better how the resources of a region are used by people to make products or provide services. We will begin our Junior Achievement sessions in October.

Subject Update:

• Spelling – Lesson 4: Words spelled with -ea
• English/Writing – The Unit 1 Test about sentences is scheduled for Tuesday, September 25th! Then we will learn about capitalization and punctuation (Unit 5).
• Reading – The students will read a biography about a famous baseball player, Roberto Clemente. We will identify character traits that describe this man, and think about the people and events that influenced his life.
• Science – We will continue to observe our bean plants and read about the life cycle of flowering plants. The Chapter 1 Test is scheduled for Thursday, September 27th!
• Social Studies – Students will learn about the U.S. Government. We will discuss the rights and responsibilities of U.S. citizens.
• Accelerated Math – We will learn how to order and compare decimals. We will also learn how to round decimals. The Chapter 1 Test covering place value of whole numbers and decimals is scheduled for Friday, September 28th!

Mark Your Calendar:

10/8: No School (Columbus Day)

10/11: Junior Achievement (Session 1)

CLASSROOM NEWS

For Your Information

Thanks for Stepping Up!
Thank you Mrs. Foernssler for taking the role of Head Room Parent. Mrs. Foernssler will be doing the "behind the scenes" work for each of our classroom parties. She will contact the people signed up for the different parties closer to the party dates.

Don't Forget...
Please remember to bring a sack lunch on Monday for our field trip! We will be eating at the Morton Arboretum before returning to school. Also, please dress for the weather - this is an outdoor learning experience!


Subject Update:

• Spelling - Lesson 3: Silent -e words and endings -ful and -less
• English/Writing - We will be reviewing subjects and predicates and learning how to correct run-on sentences.
• Reading - The students will be reading about Marian Anderson and thinking about the people who influenced her in some way. Does anyone know why Marian Anderson became famous?
• Science - We will be observing our bean plants as they grow while learning about the life cycle of a flowering plant.
• Social Studies - The students will learn about early Americans and explorers.
• Accelerated Math - We have made the official move into the 5th grade level materials. Next week, we will learn about place value of whole and decimal numbers.

Mark Your Calendar:

9/17: Morton Arboretum Field Trip

9/18: Early Dismissal (11:00 a.m.)

9/20: Picture Day!

CLASSROOM NEWS

For Your Information:

Thanks for Coming to Curriculum Night
Thank you to all of the parents who were able to join me in the classroom for Curriculum Night. I know that we went through a lot of information in a short period of time, so please contact me if you have questions or concerns. If you were not able to attend, please review the information sent home via your child. Also, anyone who has not returned the yellow “Information Sheet” or bottom section of the “Fourth Grade Policies,” please do so as soon as possible.

Needed: Head Room Parent
If anyone would like to volunteer to be Head Room Parent, please let me know. It would involve coordinating the Halloween, Winter, and Valentine’s Parties for me (you would not have to attend the parties).


Subject Update:

• Spelling– Lesson 2: Silent e words with ending –ly
• English/Writing– The students will be learning about subjects and predicates. The subject tells who or what. The predicate starts with a verb and tells what is or what happens.
• Reading– We are reading about Walt Disney. Although many know about the successes of Walt Disney, many people do not know the obstacles he had to overcome to achieve his dream.
• Science– The students will learn the parts of a flower. We will also learn the function of each part.
• Social Studies– We are discovering the different factors that affect the climate of a region. Ask your child to tell you the difference between climate and weather.
• Accelerated Math - We will be rounding to estimate products and finding compatible numbers to estimate quotients. A multiplication and division quiz is scheduled for Friday!

Mark Your Calendar:

9/12: Beginner Band Parent Information Meeting 7:30 p.m.

9/17: Magazine Fundraiser Kick-off

9/18: Early Dismissal (11:00 a.m.)

9/20: Picture Day