September 28, 2011

We had a lot of fun at the Cubs game last week! Thank you to Mr. Jim, who provided the tickets, and Mr. Torres, who bought a souvenir for everyone.



Students did much better on the science test than on the social studies test. The extra studying the students said they did paid off! Please remember that I give the study guides to the students at least a week in advance so that they have lots of time to review and ask me questions if they don't understand something. We have an English test next week, October 6, on sentences.

On Friday, October 7, we will be going to the National Museum of Mexican Art to view their Day of the Dead exhibit. I will also be sending home information next week on the fourth grade Day of the Dead project. Students will need to interview two people about a person in their family who has passed away, and they need a shoebox by the end of the month in order to build an ofrenda.

Our art lessons with Mr. E have also begun! Mr. E is an artist who works with the Art Institute to teach classes at schools. He is working with grades 4, 5, 6, and 8 this year. The students analyzed a painting called "Distant View of Niagara Falls" and discussed how to interpret paintings.

Mrs. Z has has been doing a great job working with the students in science, math, and social studies! In science, the students began a unit on ecosystems, and in social studies, they are learning about economics, with lots of hands-on activities and games. In reading, they are doing guided reading groups where each group has a different novel to read. Students may need to do some reading at home to make sure that they are prepared for our meetings.

September 12, 2011

Last week, we had the opportunity to meet our buddies in Mrs. K.'s preschool-4 classroom and make pinch pots with them. The fourth graders did a great job helping their buddies and being good role models.



Today in reading, we discussed the events of September 11, 2001 through reading an article in the Scholastic newspaper and sharing responses of adults who remembered where they were at the time of these attacks. We discussed how we need to remember this tragic event to honor the brave people who died and ensure that this never happens again by promoting peace in our world.

We are at the end of our first social studies and math units, so those tests are this week. Math will be this Wednesday, and social studies will be this Friday. The study guide for the social studies test was sent home last Friday. Students should fill out the answers and definitions by using their book, then spend 15-20 minutes every night reviewing the information by rereading the study guide or answering questions asked by a study partner. We are almost done with science, and that test will most likely be at the end of next week.

We also have a field trip coming up! We are going to the Cubs game on Wednesday, September 21. Since the game is in the afternoon, students will arrive back at school at 4:30 and should be picked up then.

Quite a few students these past two weeks have had missing homework. Please make sure that your child has a set time and place to do their homework, that assignments are crossed off of the homework notebook as they get done, and that all assignments are then placed in their red homework folder and sent back to school. Thank you!