Fall Newsletter
Mrs. Kraus' Class
It’s proving to be an exciting fall with new upcoming curriculum topics, field trips, crafts, projects and holidays. As always, parent communication and participation is greatly welcomed.
In READING, we will finish our current guided reading selection, Top Secret and start new books with multiple reading groups. I try to incorporate titles that integrate with the overall curriculum such as Pocahontas and Pedro’s Journal. We will also start our first book report on a Nutmeg book of choice. Most of the book report completion will take place in the class room but much of the reading is done independently both at home and during S.S.R. The completion date will most likely be before Thanksgiving. More info will follow.
Regularly Scheduled Events
MAD MINUTES: Every Tuesday and Friday
SPELLING: Test Fridays
Packet sent home on Mondays – To be completed by Friday
In MATH, we are completing our unit on Addition and Subtraction. Upcoming topics will be Geometry and Fractions. Geometry involves many definitions so I incorporate the vocabulary into our spelling activities. Fractions in particular, are often difficult to conceptualize. Any connections at home with real-world examples always help.
We also continue to stress practice of math facts in multiplication and division with Mad Minutes. You can help at home by quizzing, flash cards, mental math or reinforce in daily use. Check out the following websites for more valuable Math practice, games, and fun . . .
In Social Studies we are beginning our study of Native American peoples who lived three to five hundred years ago. Students always enjoy this unit because of the many opportunities to work in a hands-on way with materials. October and November will be filled with research, related crafts, a field trip and aligned projects in Music and Art classes. An invitation for you to join us in November at school to see the many products of this unit will come along shortly.
Fourth Grade science topics are matched to the Connecticut State Science standards. Lessons are “inquiry based” which means that students will experiment, observe, analyze and discover in active ways. Then communicate and report, in writing, their findings. Our next topic is Magnetism and Electricity. Also as part of our curriculum, we will investigate the wetlands right in our own ‘backyard’ at Hammonasset State Park. We will traipse through the marsh, locate fiddler crabs and osprey nests, and explore the variety of life that is supported through wetlands.
Upcoming Dates
- October 15th 9 am Student Council Assembly
- October 16th 1 pm Fire Safety – “Smoke House”
- October 22nd 9-1:30 Hammonasset Field Trip
- November 9th 9-1:30 Bushy Hill Field Trip
- December 1st & 2nd 1p.m. →Parent Teacher Conferences (Early dismissal days)
| Jane Krauss | ||
Grade 4 Teacher Voice Mail: 7235 Email: krausj@madison.k12.ct.us Updated: Thursday November 12 2009
|
||