Week of September 29th

Thank you to all who came to the Fall Festival on Friday! We had so much fun. A HUGE thank you to our wonderful PFSA for putting on such a fun event for our school! 

This week and next week we have a lot of information, thank you for taking the time to read through my blog each week so that you are prepared right along with your student. :)

Parent/Teacher Conferences:

Please, please plan on coming to our "A Day in the Life of a 4th Grader" on Tuesday, October 7th. This is one of the things that my students' parents talked about all year long last year as something that was so helpful to them. It is an amazing way to get a glimpse into your student's daily life here at school. It will also give you really good insight into why I do the things I do and hold students accountable in certain ways. :) If you haven't already, please click HERE to sign up for a session. Remember, if you can't make it to your session, just join us on the next one. Signing up lets me know how many copies to make of everything and make sure I have what I need to be most efficient during our time together.

I have emailed those of you that I have specific concerns with. If you would like to meet with me but did not get an email, please send me an email and I will get you on the schedule. :)

Math:

This week we are really working on multi-digit multiplication. Often times parents are frustrated because they do not know or understand the strategies I teach my students to be able to do this. Please know, the algorithm is the goal! But as research has shown how student's brains develop mathematically, we have developed strategies to help their brains progress through to the algorithm. My students know that if you are helping them on their homework and you only know the algorithm, that's ok! They need to listen to you as you explain it. 

I have also posted our multiplication strategy page on my online Interactive Math Notebook for students to reference at home if they are struggling. :)

ELA:

This week in ELA we are working on reading comprehension with our book, Because of Winn-Dixie, and with  non-fiction text on a website called Readworks. Students will continue to learn new morphemes this week as well. 

October Book Celebration:

If you are new to Vision Charter you may not know that we don't celebrate Halloween like most schools. Each grade level will read a classic novel and on the 30th students are invited to dress up as a character from that book as we do our book celebration party. For 4th Grade we read Alice in Wonderland. On Thursday, October 30th your student can dress up (dress code rules still apply) as a character from the book and we will do different activities to celebrate. I will send out a snack sign up when we get closer to that date. Costumes do not have to be crazy or expensive. My own kids have fun finding things around the house that we already have to create their costumes each year!