Reading At Home

Thank You!

I cannot thank everyone enough for joining me for Open House recently.  It was so nice to meet so many of you and to begin our journey working together to help your child succeed in fourth grade.

Reading Expectations

As discussed at Open House, there will be no reading log this year.  My goal is to create life-long readers and I do not feel that this is something that is encouraging our students to read.  Students are still expected to read at least 20 minutes every day.  I will make sure to help students find books that are engaging and that they want to read.  I hope that families can support me by helping their children find times at home to read.  I will also be monitoring student progress at school and will contact you if anything comes up in hopes that we can both support our readers together.  Please let me know if you have any questions!

Homework Expectations

We have been working on becoming more independent with homework.  In the classroom, we copy down our homework each morning.  The due dates will always be listed on the planner.  If you ever have any questions about homework please let me know.  I will continue to email when assignments are not turned in on time to help everyone stay in the loop.  Right now, students are still working on turning in their work on time.  Please encourage them to keep track of due dates.

Growth Mindset

At Open House I mentioned Growth Mindset.  If your child shuts down or frustrates easily after making a mistake or chooses the easier option then this could be the gentle push your child needs.  In a nutshell, research shows that there are two types of learners.  The first has a growth mindset and believes that with practice and determination, they can get better at anything.  The second learner believes that they are only born with certain talents or smarts and there is nothing they can do to change it.  Research also shows that learners with a growth mindset are more successful than those who aren't.  Below is a video that can help you to understand it further.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wh0OS4MrN3E&feature=share

Upcoming Events

9/21    Ice Cream Social - 6:00 - 8:00

9/23    School picture day

9/28    ½ Day PD - dismissal 11:40

Off To A Great Start!

We've had a great start to the school year!  We have been getting to know each other, getting to know the routines and expectations in the classroom, and have also been setting ourselves up to be successful academically.  It was wonderful meeting everyone during Open House.  We had a wonderful turn out and the students were very excited to show off what they have been learning about Google Docs.  If you have any questions now that the dust has settled, please let me know.

Supplies

I cannot thank everyone enough for all of the donations that came in the first day of school.  They were all very needed and will help to keep us running smoothly.  During Open House I completely forgot to share a few more items that are needed in our classroom.  If you are able to help out, it would be greatly appreciated.

                                                   5-subject notebooks  (urgent)

                                                   hand sanitizer 

                                                   exercise balls (for seating)

Book Orders

This is a wonderful way to get your reader motivated!  I cannot tell you how many times a week I get asked if our orders have arrived!  This month's order is due on Tuesday.  If you need an extra flyer, let me know.  Our class code is H3M9C if you would like to order online.

Storytelling

This past week we launched Writer's Workshop by telling stories around "the campfire."  Students made their own "campfires" and used flashlights to light up themselves in our darkened classroom.  We ate popcorn and thought about memories with family members, summertime stories, stories about times we felt intense emotions, and stories about favorite objects.  While students were enjoying their storytelling, and listening to others' stories they didn't even realize that they were generating many different ideas for Writer's Workshop this year!

Check out the video of our campfire stories:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1SAWe1eb4ZTSUQybXhjMlFVOFE/view?usp=sharing

Welcome!

Welcome To Fourth Grade!

I hope that by now everyone has gotten my newsletter and information about the start of the school year.  I am so excited to meet everyone next week.  The classroom is nearly ready and I have been busy planning many wonderful activities and lessons for us this year.

Summer Reading

In my down time I spent a lot of time reading this summer.  While I did read several adult books, I mainly read books that my fourth graders had recommended to me at the end of last school year.  I can't wait to share these books with all of you.  I've posted some of them below.  Have you ever read any of them?



I have to say that I really liked each of these books!  If you are interested in hearing a little bit about any of them feel free to ask me when you get to school next week.  I'd be happy to share them with you.

Sneak Peak

While the beginning of the school year is really exciting, I understand that it can also be nerve wracking.  This will be my 13th year of teaching but I still get butterflies driving into school on the first day!  To help make all of you feel better about coming into a new classroom, watch the video below.  You'll get a sneak peak at your new classroom and hear a little bit about what we'll have going on over the first few weeks.

• Sneak Peak Video

Special Events!

Field Trip

On Wednesday June 15th we will be walking to the Hudson Public Library to kick start summer reading and then to Wood Park for a picnic.  Permission slips are going home today so please be on the lookout.  We are looking for parent volunteers to join us, so please let me know if you are available. 

We are also providing an opportunity for each child to get their own library card if they don't already have one.  Please let me know if your child doesn't have a library card so we can get the paperwork done.

Time Capsule Closing Ceremony

On June 22 at 9:00 (the last day of school) we will be holding our Time Capsule Closing Ceremony.  Students should be collecting items for their time capsule and looking for a small bin or box to keep their items in.  The time capsules are due to school on June 16th.  This will give us time to add things that we have collected here at school.  Please let me know if you have any questions.

We also need donations of duct tape for the Closing Ceremony if anyone can send some in!


Thank you so much for your continued support!

Book Clubs & Research!

Book Clubs

The Book Clubs have been a huge success in the classroom so far!  Students are reading, talking, and tracking their thinking about books.  They are growing new ideas and thinking more deeply about characters and theme.  They are discussing issues that matter to them.  This could not have been as successful if it hadn't been for your support.  Thank you so much to all of the families who have reminded, read with, or discussed the books your children are reading.  We will continue the book clubs until the end of the school year. 

In the classroom we have been using a sentence starter resource to help guide our discussions.  We have also learned that the same sentence starters can be used when we are reading to help us guide the notes we take in our reader's notebook and the thoughts we are having.  I told our class that I would include a picture of the resource on here in case any of them wanted to refer to it while they are working from home.

Non-Fiction Research & Writing

Students have been researching their chosen region and have been learning a lot about how to take notes, research their questions, and organize their thinking.  Next week we will begin drafting our non-fiction books.  To do this we will use Google Docs.  There may be times when students will be asked to work on this at home as well.  If you are unable to access Google Docs from home for whatever reason, please feel free to have students email their work to me and we can add it to our documents here at school the next day.

Hand Sanitizer!!!

We are on our last drops of hand sanitizer!  If anyone has any bottles that they are willing to donate, it would be much appreciated!

MCAS

We have our math MCAS testing next week on Tuesday and Thursday.  Please make sure that your child comes to school on time.  A good night's sleep and a hearty breakfast always makes a difference as well!

Special Events & Dates

Important Dates

The end of the year is approaching and with it comes many special events and important dates.  A blue notice was sent home earlier explaining these.  If you haven't gotten a copy I am posting it below.  Please let me know if you have any questions about anything!

Time Capsule

The end of the year is also an especially important time for fourth graders in Hudson because they are getting ready to move on from Farley and enter middle school.  To commemorate this event, we hold a Time Capsule Closing Ceremony.  Students should begin creating a time capsule at home.  On June 16th, students should bring these capsules to school so that we can add more items to it from school.  We will then celebrate and close the time capsules at a ceremony on the last day of school.  I am posting a reminder below that includes ideas of what could go into the capsule.

My Man Blue

Students just completed a poetry comprehension unit.  They learned comprehension strategies for understanding poetry and reviewed internal and external character traits which they learned earlier in the year.  Our culminating project was for students to create life-sized pictures of the main character that included his internal traits.  I thought you might like to see pictures of some of the final products.

 

 

 

Hand Sanitizer

We are just about out of hand sanitizer!  If you are willing to donate any, could you please send it in?  Our immune systems thank you!

Reminders!

Conferences

Conferences are this Thursday and Friday with evening conferences on Thursday.  Please don't forget to sign up for one.  If you are having difficulties, please email me with some times and I can add you to my schedule.  I look forward to meeting with everyone!

Book Fair

Our class is going to the book fair tomorrow (Wednesday) and again on Friday.  Please help them to remember to bring in their money so they can buy a book.  They are excited to get their hands on some new books!

MCAS

If you could have seen how hard everyone worked on MCAS over the past three school days you would have been so proud!  Students used their strategies that they have learned, double checked their work, and persevered.  The ELA portion of MCAS is now over (yay!).  Our math MCAS is scheduled for Tuesday, May 17th and Thursday, May 19th.

Panoramic Photographs

Forms will be sent home tomorrow for panoramic group photographs.  A picture will be taken of the entire fourth grade and you will be able to order a copy using the form.  The picture will be taken on April 14th and forms must be in by that day.

Monday April 11th.........
Red Sox Day! - Students can wear Red Sox gear (including ball caps) or red, white, and blue clothing.