Hello,
Thank you to all the parents who were able to attend our Back to School Night on Thursday. If you ever have any questions or concerns, please let me know. Here is the link to the district At A Glance Map. This resource lets you know what we are teaching in each subject throughout the year. Be sure to click on the 4th grade tab. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1E1_YhCIGt318TMTaJni84G0rV0JdndSRzDteWugZM44/edit#gid=1362765212
Read about our classroom:
Reading-We are working on expectations in the reading workshop and beginning to write responses to our books. We will practice more next week and will begin reading response letters for homework in a few weeks. We are focusing on reading fiction and talking about characters and character changes, setting, plot, and theme. We read Stone Fox together and made predictions as we read. We will continue with fiction for a few more weeks and will include using context to figure out unknown words and rereading to be sure comprehension is happening effectively.
Writing-We went through the writing process as they wrote poems about themselves. We brainstormed, planned, drafted, revised, edited, and published. We conferenced about our writing and shared it with others. We did all of this while working on the expectations of writing workshop. We are now writing entries about personal narratives and will begin working on leads and drafting one of our entries to take it to publication.
Social Studies-Thank you for all the wonderful photos of your children in Texas. Our map in the hallway is covered and it looks amazing. We are using the photos to learn about each other as well as to learn about the regions in Texas. We are taking a virtual bus trip to learn about each region and taking notes. We will continue this next week.
Writing Club will begin on Monday, Sept. 12 after school at 2:50. Writing Club will be every OTHER Monday. In Writing Club, the students in 2-5 grade free write and share their writing. We will have a mini-lesson and talk about a writing craft or strategy. Then the writers can choose to write whatever they want. It can be a poem, story, rap, comic, essay.... anything. They can write individually or in groups. They can choose to share their writing with others as well. It is a place and opportunity for children to be creative and use their imaginations in a risk free environment. Writing Club will take place in the library and we will walk out to the front of the school for pick up. After school, the kids will meet in Mrs.Crochet's music room by the cafeteria and I will pick them up to go to the library to write. All 2-5th graders are welcome.
Service Club will begin on Monday, Sept. 19 after school at 2:50. Service Club will alternate with Writing Club and will be on every OTHER Monday. In Service Club, the children plan, advertise, and facilitate service learning projects for our school. We make signs, write announcements for broadcast and Coyote Call, and persuade people to help. In the past, we helped our school collect toys for Dell Children's Hospital, flip flops for children in Honduras, books for Libraries of Love in Africa and food for the Round Rock Serving Center. We also meet at the Round Rock Serving Center once a month on a Saturday morning to volunteer. . After school, the kids will go to Mrs. Crochet's music room by the cafeteria and I will pick them up to go to my classroom for our meeting. All 4th and 5th graders are welcome.
40 Book Challenge! Fourth Graders are involved in a 40 Book Challenge this year! We will be reading from a variety of genres and charting our progress. It is going to be great and the kids have already finished Stone Fox, so we have 39 books to go! Your child is expected to read everyday for at least 20 minutes. They will record their reading on their reading logs and will let me know when they finish a book. They will talk to me about their book and write a reading response on a notecard. Any books that they already finished since fourth grade started counts! Our September Monthly challenge is to read the first book in a series. It can be any genre, but not a book that they read before. The Monthly Challenge is due on Sept. 29 and we will have a treat and lunch in the classroom on Friday, Sept. 30 for all the children who met the monthly challenge. (1st book in a series) View the powerpoint below. Happy Reading!
Dates to remember:
No school on Monday. Be sure to add some reading to your weekend plans! Enjoy the time with family and friends.
Tuesday, Sept. 6-PTA meeting at 9:00 am in the PTA portable.
Wednesday, Sept. 7-Family Fun Night-5-9 at Chipotle Mexican Grill, 2424 Farm to Market Road 685, Pflugerville, TX 78660
Friday, Sept. 9-Grandparents' Day-our lunch time is 11:25-11:55. All are welcome to come and eat with your child. College Shirt day. Homework Packet is due.
Monday, Sept. 12-FCE Spirit Day! Wear green and purple. Writing Club 2:50-3:50 in the library, Watch DOGS kick off at 6:00, Homeroom Parent & Volunteer Orientation at 6:30
Tuesday, Sept. 13-Homeroom Parent & Volunteer Orientation at 8:15, Sr. Choir Interest Meeting 2:55
Friday, Sept. 16-Austin Jazz Concert at 1:15 for grades 3-5, Homework packets due, Spelling test, College Shirt Day
Thank you for sharing your children with me. They are working hard, being creative, and helping each other. They love to share what they are thinking and learning with each other. It is wonderful to see!
Sincerely,
Pam
