A May newsletter went home with fourth graders today. Because there was not a section about math on it, I included one in the newsletter below. Please notice the upcoming events. The date for the invention fair has been announced and there will be a writing celebration this spring. I hope you and your family will be able to join us for both. We also have the field trip to the Connecticut Science Center next week.
December 15, 2017
Hello Fourth Grade Families,
Last Tuesday, fourth graders role-played being immigrants immigrating to America in the early 1900s. Before starting their journey, they changed into outfits typical of that time period. They filled out a real government document before gaining passage on the Cunard Line, a ship to the United States. They went to the ticket office where passports and documents were checked, and tickets to America were purchased. Then they traveled to a port by foot, a very long and tiring journey. Students boarded the ship (the quiet house), eager to set sail. First class had luxurious accomodations. Steerage passengers had to cram into a smaller space. It was cramped and many passengers hoped they would not become seasick. After a long voyage, students could see a green lady on a pedestal holding a torch in one hand and a book in the other. They jumped for joy!
Upon arrival at Ellis Island, everyone was taken to the Baggage Room. They had to leave their possessions behind and trust that they would not be stolen. Each family group had to wait until they were called. Each family member was then asked many hard questions and had to pass many tests. If any test was not passed, the individual was sent to detention. Those in detention hoped they wouldn’t be sent back to their home countries. As part of the inspections, everyone had to be checked by a doctor and experience mental tests. Once all of these tests were passed, everyone had to take a citizenship test. The questions were really hard! After a long and grueling journey, everyone was welcomed into America.
Welcome to grade 4!
September 1, 2017
Hello fourth grade families,
I hope your child is enjoying fourth grade so far. We have been working hard to get to know one another and to learn about expectations at Leverett Elementary School. It is truly a pleasure teaching your child.
Students received their first homework assignment on Wednesday. Your child is decorating the cover of a notebook. It can be covered with photos, magazine clippings, or drawings done by hand. The images should remind your child of special memories. I encourage students to include images of their family members, friends, special vacations, sports they play, getting awards, or anything else that is significant in their lives. The images on the covers help students think of ideas when they are stuck in writing class. It is due, in class, on Wednesday, September 6. Please let me know if you have any questions.
We have snack time everyday. Students are encouraged to bring a snack from home. There is no sharing snacks in our classroom.
Your child has PE on Wednesdays and Fridays. Please send sneakers to school on those days so your child can participate safely.
School library books are due on Thursdays.
I am sending home the first book order of the year today. You may purchase books from it for your child(ren). The easiest way to purchase items is to go to scholastic.com/readingclub. Click on the word PARENTS in the orange box. Our class code is MB8QC. Teachers are given points by Scholastic every time orders are placed. I use these points to purchase books for the classroom. If you choose to purchase from this book order, please submit your order by next Friday, September 8, 2017. Feel free to email me if you have any questions.
Homework will start soon. Please make sure you have some pencils at home for your child to use. Also, please talk with your child about where he/she will complete the daily homework. Often, a tabletop or desk with few distractions nearby works best.
There is no school on Monday; enjoy the long weekend.
We have a class blog at https://kgriswold.edublogs.org/. You can also get there by going to the Leverett Elementary School home page, clicking on Academics, clicking on grade 4, then clicking “News From Grade 4.” It will be updated frequently this year. Please let me know if there is additional information you would appreciate finding on the blog.
Please feel free to email me at griswold@leverettschool.org anytime. I especially appreciate hearing about when things are going really well for your child at school, and when something is bothering him/her. I will always respond to emails as quickly as I can. Please know though that I often do not check it over the weekend, or between my lunch time at work and the end of the day. If you need to notify me about changes to how your child is going home, call the school. They will communicate the change to me.
I look forward to a great year together!
Sincerely,
Katrin Griswold
Read-a-thon: Friday, March 3, 2017
The school will once again be celebrating Read Across America, and Dr. Seuss’ birthday, with an all school read-a-thon! The entire day will be filled with reading, and reading related activities, to celebrate literacy and the joy of reading.
Just like in the fall, children should wear comfy clothes, bring sleeping bags, books or maga zines, a favorite stuffed animal, and prepare to enjoy a day of reading. Dr. Seuss books are most welcome!
Children do have recess on that day, and should also come prepared with appropriate outside clothing.
The read-a-thon is an all school event, and will be packed with fun and memorable activities for children of all ages. It is a day we look forward to all year long!
Your student will still have a spelling test on Friday.
Friday, December 16, 2016
4th Grade Update
Dear Fourth Grade Families,
My blog has been updated. It looks a little different, but all of the same pages and information are there. There are new pictures and links to two fractions videos we watched in class. On the sidebar, there are some new features. For instance, you can subscribe to the blog. If you subscribe by putting in your email address, you will get notified when the blog has been updated.
The Gingerbread Raffle has begun. Raffle tickets are one dollar each. All proceeds go to the PTO.
Friday, December 23 is the last school day before the winter break. Dismissal will be at 1:05.
Friday, December 23 will also be a crazy sock day. All students are invited to wear a favorite, colorful, or wild pair of socks.
There will be an assembly on the morning of December 23. It is scheduled to be from 9:15-10:00.
In writing, students are writing poetry. They are learning about different poem structures, such as haikus and shape poems, as well various techniques for writing poetry. Students are also building their poetry writing stamina. The amount of time that students can independently write poetry has increased since the start of the unit. Students are spending time each week typing their poems. so they can assemble an anthology of their work at the end of the unit.
In math, students are learning about fractions. They are building on their understanding of equivalent fractions, to help them compare and order sets of fractions. We continue to review multiplication facts, to help maintain automaticity.
This week, students have been learning about homophones. We do not do spelling groups during shorter weeks. Students have been learning about their, there, and they’re, as well as its and it’s.
In reading, students have been learning what theme is, as well as strategies for identifying it. Students also continue to work on individual reading stamina and fluency.
In social studies, students have begun learning about mapping and the United States. Students are learning to read maps, and to use sources to fill in a map of the United States.
As always, please feel free to email me if you have any questions.
I hope all of you have a wonderful winter break. If you celebrate upcoming winter holidays, then I hope you and your family have a very happy holiday.
Sincerely,
Katrin Griswold
Friday, September 23, 2016
Dear Fourth Grade Families,
It has been a wonderful start to the year. Students are adjusting to being back in school and have learned many of the expectations and responsibilities asked of fourth graders. For instance, fourth graders must empty their own homework folder each morning and put all papers from their mailbox in each afternoon.
We read a book in the beginning of the year about bucket filling. You help to fill someone’s bucket when you are kind to them or go out of your way to help them. We have been doing a lot of work in fourth grade to fill not only each other’s buckets during the day, but those of other school community members and family members.
The SAFE Program begins next week. It is a four week fire prevention program for elementary students. An information letter did go home last week. Please let me know if you need another copy.
Picture Day will be on Monday, October 3.
There was some confusion this week about spelling homework. A homework planner will be sent home every Monday, telling students what they need to do each night. A Spelling planner will also be sent home, explaining the spelling activities students need to do. If Spelling homework ever takes more than 20 or 30 minutes, please write me a note to me and have your child stop for the evening. Spelling homework should not take longer than that. A spelling test, will be given in class on Fridays.
The school website has been updated. Our class blog is now up and running. News, announcements, special projects, pictures, and more will appear on the blog throughout the year. I invite you to peruse it often. Please let me know if there is any information you are wondering about, but do not see on the blog yet.
As always, please feel free to email me with compliments, concerns, or questions.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Sincerely,
Ms.Griswold