Newsletter for September 9th from Mrs. Roberts
Dear Families,
Thank you so much for helping your child attend Assessment Day. I know how hard it can be
to juggle a different schedule but it was very helpful. Here are some quick pieces of
information that I thought would be helpful.
Spelling: Since we have a short week, we won’t have spelling words to study. I will be giving
the No Excuse Spelling Words test as well as a developmental spelling assessment. Next week,
it will be spelling as usual. I haven’t entered grades as we’ve learned the procedures but I will
be placing them in Infinite Campus next week. I will attach a grading rubric that explains how
spelling scores are determined.
Writing Bugs: Please remember to return Writing Bug Number Two by tomorrow. I sent home
the newest Writing Bug today. This week, your child is asked to write a personal narrative
which is a true story about themselves. They should remember to use the pronoun I and write
at least three or more paragraphs. Writing Bugs may be typed and a printed copy sent to
school. I am unable to accept emailed copies due to printing issues. I didn’t attach lined paper
this week but your child is more than welcome to take some home from school if they need
lined paper. Not everyone was using the lined paper and I didn’t want it to be wasted.
Math: This week we will finish Unit One in Everyday Mathematics. We will review the
concepts in class on Wednesday; take the test on Thursday and a pretest for Unit Two on
Friday. I hope that we will be able to complete another Exemplar on Friday. Exemplars are
word problems that can be solved using a variety of methods. We completed our first
exemplar about Bridge Building on Friday and it was a challenge but a fun one.
Science: This year, fourth grade at Cotton Creek is participating in a study with the University
of Colorado to determine the effectiveness of computer tutorials as supplemental instruction
to the classroom teacher. Two of our fourth grade classes will have follow up computer
tutoring and two classes will not. The decision on which two classes was made by the district
and we are excited to find out who will or will not have computer tutorials. Since we are
working with the University, we must send home a permission slip with each child explaining
more about the study. The study is being conducted in certain Boulder Valley Schools as well
as some from our district. The permission slip will go home next week in Monday Night
Folders.
Social Studies: We are almost done with Unit Seven: Modern Colorado. A few students need
to complete their timelines then we will begin Chapter 1: The Land We Call Home. During the
course of this chapter we will learn about the tools of geography, the features and regions of
Colorado as well as the people and the land of Colorado.
Have a great week,
Keri Roberts