Hello! We had a WONDERFUL first week of 4th grade. I have learned quickly that this is an amazing group of students with whom I am planning to have a very successful and fun school year. This week we focused on: -Multiplication (properties, fact families) and Division (part names, inverse operations, fact families) We also spent a lot of time learning the procedures for completing Daily 3 Math centers required weekly work. -Ecosystems and how environmental changes effect them -Learning our CAFE model of Reading which contained such activities as "Read to Self" and "Work on Writing" INDEPENDENTLY. -Rules and procedures for just about every situation you can think of! Updates: -For now, there will be Wordly Wise tests EVERY OTHER FRIDAY to assess vocabulary. Individual spelling lists will be created eventually, but we as a grade level are focused heavily on CAFE strategies right now to get the year started. -WATER BOTTLES: If your child would like to bring water every day that is completely fine, but I need it to be in a hard bottle with a spout. There were many distractions with bottled water that were created from the noise of students crumpling them or spilling because the top was not twisted on securely. Thank you for your understanding! -Your child might tell you about going to meet with Mrs. Whitfield. That is for the standard DIBELS assessment that is done each year to help assess their Reading levels. IMPORTANT INFORMATION/QUESTIONS FOR YOU: -T-SHIRTS----We have someone in the building that can make t-shirts for our class. What I'd like is feedback from you about whether you like the idea and if you'd be willing to pay around $10-$12 for a class t-shirt. I'd like to make them generic (and not refer to 4th grade on them) since the current plan is for me to loop with these students to 5th grade. If you have any suggestions about design, please let me know that as well.(I was currently thinking of doing something with their graduation year on it.) Please either e-mail me or make a comment below! -ROOM PARENT(S)---I am in the process of reviewing all of the e-mails about who is willing/able to be room parent and will send an update ASAP about who that is. CAR RIDERS--- PLEASE make sure you're dropping your child at school in the morning through the car rider line. The gravel parking lot across the street is for employees. If you need to come in with your child in the morning for some reason, you will need to pull into a space on the side of the building. You can access those parking spots from the side entrance closest to Hursey's back parking lot on Hortense Street. FRIDAY FOLDERS---Your child's Friday folder is coming home today for the first time. Please look through it, sign the behavior report and return it to school on MONDAY. A day late folder will cost the student $100 classroom dollars. 2 days will be another $100 and on Wed. the fine goes up to $500/day. These folders are crucial to communication between home and school. You are welcome to send me any comments/notes on the behavior report as well. (Not for absences/tardies though!) SORRY THIS IS SOOOOO LONG! I promise it will not be this way always. I just had a GREAT first week with your kiddos and wanted to keep you updated. I am even more excited (if possible) for this year now that I know what a wonderful class this is going to be!! Warm Regards, Mrs. Berrier