October 13, 2015
Dear Parents,
A consistent message we are conveying in our building is- “This work
is important; you can do it; and I won’t give up on you.”
Classroom Environment:

Class room expectations
o
Respect: We show respect to property, to others, and ourselves through our words and
actions.
o
Responsibility: We should be responsible to ourselves and others by being kind, helpful, and
following through on obligations.
o
Safety: We maintain a safe environment by accepting other people as they are, cleaning
up after ourselves, supporting each other during times of struggle, and following school expectations
in the hallways, bathrooms, playground and the cafeteria.
We have the following projects and events coming up:
Upcoming Events

Early Release 10/22
Curriculum Bites: In our newsletters, we will highlight the upcoming topics/concepts in curriculum we will be studying so
you will be able to discuss and assist your students. Here are the concepts we will be learning about over the next few
weeks.

Literacy:
o
Workshop model: How we use reading through skills, structure and strategies to make
meaning for deeper understanding.
o
Signposts: We will use 6 different signposts to help us dig deeper into text and look for
connections.

The Aha Moment is the second signpost we are working on. This helps us predict
outcomes and identify theme or setting.
o
Reading expectations at home: Read 30 or more minutes every day. Record your book on
your log at school. Parents ask your student a question about their reading such as, “Tell me about
your story so far.” “Why would the character do that?”
o
Tower of Books Challenge: The students have received a challenge to read 30 books by
December 18th.
o
Writing: We are in the process of writing our first narrative stories. They are mysteries
based on the book The Mysteries of Harris Burdick by Chris Van Allsburg.

Homework: Most of the writing will be completed in class; however, there will be
assignments to collect words and practice structure, mechanics and grammar of writing.
This week we will be working on sentence structure.
o
Words their Way:

Homework: Please see the first pages of their Words Their Way notebooks for
weekly homework. Other ways to study would be to locate words in their reading or other
printed text. Write a story using their words. Making a person dictionary of words.

Math: We are beginning Module 3, which will include work with multiples and factors leading to
multiplication as well as basic fractions. . See attached parent information letter.

Homework: There is less homework with Origo, however, we will send home the
workbook nightly to complete if necessary and for the students to review their daily school
work at home with you.

Social Studies: In fourth grade we study the regions of the United States. We begin by discussing
reasons people move including economy, culture, geography and climate. We are finalizing our Northeast
portion of our social studies notebooks and will begin southeast next week. Please continue to work with
students in using resources for finding information such as states and capitals, using a map, and finding
information in print and digital text.

Homework: Practice states and capitals of the Northeast. We will have a quiz on
the Northeast Region on 10/22 including states and capitals.

Science: We are studying the human body by creating our own “Monsters” using the human body
systems. The students are in groups of four. Each student is a specialist on their body system and responsible
for finding information on the organs and function of their system in order to be able to include it in their
monster body. Those systems include skeletal muscle (orthopedic), circulatory/respiratory (cardiologist),
digestive (gastroenterologist), and nervous system (neurology). We will be displaying our monsters in the
stairs when they are complete and will post pictures as well. Students will be responsible for understanding the
different systems and how the contribute to the overall function of the body.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Sharon Price
Sharonk.price@lz95.org
847-719-3300