Welcome back from winter vacation! I hope everyone had a restful week! Although the break was great, I'm happy to be back with the kids and routine of the day!
Before the vacation we were so lucky to have the Museum of Science visit us and help us design and test wind turbines. The 4th graders really enjoyed planning, building and testing their models using the engineering design process. Thanks to the PTO for providing this opportunity!
We also enjoyed a whole school play day on Feb. 12th. Students brought in activities and crafts and participated in learning new games and trying new things throughout the day. They benefit so much from play!
We are thrilled to be going to the Lowell Museum on Tuesday, March 3rd. This whole day event will help us understand the lives of immigrants and the challenges they faced. Permission slips went home last week and should be returned as soon as possible with the check for $7.50 which will cover the bus fee. Let me know if you have any questions or concerns. Students will be eating lunch at the Lowell Museum so please make sure to have them bring a brown bag lunch that day. Also, they will need to have a healthy morning snack. All items should be in disposable containers.
Report card time is coming up and so this is a good time to let me know if you have any specific concerns about your son or daughter.
Thanks as always for your support.
Here's to a great 2nd half of 4th grade. Can you believe the 100th day of school is on Friday? The kids have been learning so much and working so hard. We've moved on from multiplication and division and started on our fraction unit. We'll be reviewing 3rd grade skills and learning about equivalent fractions, simplifying fractions, and adding, subtracting, and multiplying fractions. In social studies, we continue to travel through our country learning about climate, culture, landforms, and famous sites of our country's regions. After visiting the southeast, we are now journeying through the mid-west! We'll be having a states and capitals quiz on Feb. 10th. In Science, we will be learning about energy sources and building some simple machines. We are excited to have the Museum of Science visit us on Friday, Feb. 14th. They will help us build wind turbines and test them using the Engineering Design Process. In other news, Valentine's Day is also Friday, February 14th. A list of all room 19 classmates went home. If students choose to bring in valentines, please include all members of the class. Reminder: no food products are allowed! Another thing to add to your calendar is the Whole School Play Day which will be held on Feb. 12th. Students may bring in games, puzzles, books, and crafts. No electronics are allowed on this day. I'll have activities available for that day as well! I know the kids are really looking forward to this exciting event! For more information, check globalschoolplayday.com.
We have been reading about social issues during our reading time. Students have been looking at picture books and recognizing themes and making connections to themselves and our world. In writing, we are working on opinion pieces. I'm very impressed at the amazing and creative work that they are accomplishing and look forward to their final essays.
Please mark your calendars for the upcoming MCAS dates for 4th grade: ELA tests will be on April 2nd and 3rd, and the Math is scheduled for May 6th and 7th. Please make every attempt to have your child to school on those days!
Thanks as always for your support!
SNOW DAY!
Stay safe! Enjoy the beautiful white landscape and relax with warm hot cocoa! This is a great time to look at the photos of our busy 4th graders!
December is here and so is the snow.
This will be a great month of learning! We will be moving onto division in math and work on word problems using multiplication and division. In Science we will continue to explore our earth; looking at fossils, rocks, and erosion.
Lately, we also used the Engineering Design Process to create prototypes of shelters for Limpy the Turkey!
The kids also did a fabulous job writing about Limpy the Turkey and his adventures around our community!
In reading, we are developing skills for reading non-fiction text.
The Student Council students, with the support of the PTO, will be donating a tree to the upcoming Festival of the Trees being held at Parker on Dec. 7th and 8th. Swing by to see the tree and support Reading Education.
Feeling Thankful!
Thank you for meeting with me to conference about your wonderful children.
Thank you for all the support you give throughout the year.
Thank you for sharing your children with me so we can learn together.
Thank you for the time and love you give your children everyday.
Wishing you all a joyful Thanksgiving .
Take a look at the pictures that highlight our very busy month of November!
Welcome November!
I hope everyone enjoyed Halloween this year! It turned out to be a great night for trick or treating with only a sprinkle of rain! We enjoyed celebrating by doing some pumpkin exploration with estimation and measuring! We also had Understanding Disabilities visit us on Halloween and talk to us about learning disabilities. The students challenged themselves with writing, reading and math activities. Thank you to Mr. Cruickshank, Mrs. Nolan, and Mrs. Palm for helping facilitate the activities.
Student portraits went home on Friday. I thought they came out great but if you are interested in retakes, the date is November 12th!
We had a wonderful workshop with our Poet in Residence, who guided us through the creative process of writing poetry! Thanks to the PTO for this opportunity!
You have probably heard of the water ban in Reading. Please have your students bring in water bottles since our water fountains will be off limits. The district will have water bottles available in the school for students and teachers as well.
Here's what we've been learning in room 19!
In Reading, we are finishing up our realistic fiction unit where we analyzed plot and character. The students really enjoyed the mentor text, The Tiger Rising. Ask about the surprising ending!
Our mathematicians have been working hard on multiplication and finding patterns to help with multiplying larger numbers. This coming week, we'll be introducing 2 and 3 digit by 1 digit problems.
We are looking at our world in science,by gaining an understanding of the Earth's layers and landforms. We will be investigating tectonic plates and their impact on the Earth.
In Social Studies we are exploring the Northeast and studying the states and capitals.
Our young writers are busy with their first drafts of their own narrative stories. They have developed story lines and characters and are working on adding detail. I can't wait to see the final products!
This is the month for conferences. I will send reminders home to confirm your time and day!
Thanks as always for your support.
Patti
Halfway Through the Month!
October has been going fast! We've been busy in room 19 and all around the school!
Here's what we're learning!
Our mathematicians have finished learning about meters, kilometers, liters, milliliters, grams and kilograms and how to convert measurements. Next, we'll be working on reviewing and expanding our knowledge of multiplication and division.
We are winding up our science unit on energy and matter with a fun exploration on transfer of energy. Ask the kids about their marble experiment!
We are developing our skills in reading and writing with a deeper understanding of character. I'm excited to see our first narrative writing projects which we are starting soon. The students have such amazing insight into the characters of our read aloud, "Tiger Rising".
We will be having Understanding Disabilities visiting our classroom on October 31st to talk to the kids about learning disabilities. We so appreciate this program as it is always a great experience for our kids.
Our new Poet in Residence will be presenting to us this week during a program, followed by a classroom workshop regarding writing of poetry, on Wednesday. Because of the Wednesday workshop, the room 19 lunch will be at 11:40 pm that day.
We are starting our Book Buddy program with Ms. Piazza and Ms. Kobrenski's classroom this Wednesday. It is always a fun and rewarding, friendship-building time!
Whole school play day was a great success with students trying out many new games and activities including, friendship bracelets, origami, charades, legos, kinetic sand, chess, and the game of Life. What a fun day of friendship and fun!
Pajama Day was a great way to celebrate expected behavior and following the Core Values. Look at the picture place to see the photo!
Some important upcoming dates:
October 24th: Anthony's Coal Fire Pizza PTO Fundraiser
October 26th: Spooky Fun Faire!
Sensory Friendly Faire 4:30 – 5:30
Full Spooky Fun Fair 5:30-7:30
Monster Mash 7:30-9:00
October 31: Understanding Disabilities
November 14: Author visit (autographed books are available to purchase).
Thank you for meeting with me to conference about your wonderful children.
Thank you for all the support you give throughout the year.
Thank you for sharing your children with me so we can learn together.
Thank you for the time and love you give your children everyday.
Wishing you all a joyful Thanksgiving .
Take a look at the pictures that highlight our very busy month of November!
Welcome November!
I hope everyone enjoyed Halloween this year! It turned out to be a great night for trick or treating with only a sprinkle of rain! We enjoyed celebrating by doing some pumpkin exploration with estimation and measuring! We also had Understanding Disabilities visit us on Halloween and talk to us about learning disabilities. The students challenged themselves with writing, reading and math activities. Thank you to Mr. Cruickshank, Mrs. Nolan, and Mrs. Palm for helping facilitate the activities.
Student portraits went home on Friday. I thought they came out great but if you are interested in retakes, the date is November 12th!
We had a wonderful workshop with our Poet in Residence, who guided us through the creative process of writing poetry! Thanks to the PTO for this opportunity!
You have probably heard of the water ban in Reading. Please have your students bring in water bottles since our water fountains will be off limits. The district will have water bottles available in the school for students and teachers as well.
Here's what we've been learning in room 19!
In Reading, we are finishing up our realistic fiction unit where we analyzed plot and character. The students really enjoyed the mentor text, The Tiger Rising. Ask about the surprising ending!
Our mathematicians have been working hard on multiplication and finding patterns to help with multiplying larger numbers. This coming week, we'll be introducing 2 and 3 digit by 1 digit problems.
We are looking at our world in science,by gaining an understanding of the Earth's layers and landforms. We will be investigating tectonic plates and their impact on the Earth.
In Social Studies we are exploring the Northeast and studying the states and capitals.
Our young writers are busy with their first drafts of their own narrative stories. They have developed story lines and characters and are working on adding detail. I can't wait to see the final products!
This is the month for conferences. I will send reminders home to confirm your time and day!
Thanks as always for your support.
Patti
Halfway Through the Month!
October has been going fast! We've been busy in room 19 and all around the school!
Here's what we're learning!
Our mathematicians have finished learning about meters, kilometers, liters, milliliters, grams and kilograms and how to convert measurements. Next, we'll be working on reviewing and expanding our knowledge of multiplication and division.
We are winding up our science unit on energy and matter with a fun exploration on transfer of energy. Ask the kids about their marble experiment!
We are developing our skills in reading and writing with a deeper understanding of character. I'm excited to see our first narrative writing projects which we are starting soon. The students have such amazing insight into the characters of our read aloud, "Tiger Rising".
We will be having Understanding Disabilities visiting our classroom on October 31st to talk to the kids about learning disabilities. We so appreciate this program as it is always a great experience for our kids.
Our new Poet in Residence will be presenting to us this week during a program, followed by a classroom workshop regarding writing of poetry, on Wednesday. Because of the Wednesday workshop, the room 19 lunch will be at 11:40 pm that day.
We are starting our Book Buddy program with Ms. Piazza and Ms. Kobrenski's classroom this Wednesday. It is always a fun and rewarding, friendship-building time!
Whole school play day was a great success with students trying out many new games and activities including, friendship bracelets, origami, charades, legos, kinetic sand, chess, and the game of Life. What a fun day of friendship and fun!
Pajama Day was a great way to celebrate expected behavior and following the Core Values. Look at the picture place to see the photo!
Some important upcoming dates:
October 24th: Anthony's Coal Fire Pizza PTO Fundraiser
October 26th: Spooky Fun Faire!
Sensory Friendly Faire 4:30 – 5:30
Full Spooky Fun Fair 5:30-7:30
Monster Mash 7:30-9:00
October 31: Understanding Disabilities
November 14: Author visit (autographed books are available to purchase).
Welcome Fall!
Fall is officially here although the weather doesn't show it!
We are having a great time in room 19!
Here's what we've been up to.
In Math we are working on place value and rounding big numbers. We'll be comparing, adding, and rounding up and down to the millions! The kids are really getting it!
In writing we are reading, "The Best Part of Me" and working on our first short writing piece.
In reading, we are building stamina as we read just right fiction. Students are learning that reading is thinking and responding. We are growing our ideas about our characters and stories through conversation and note-taking.
We just completed our first science exploration, massing gravel and sand. Students used the scientific method to test which material had more mass! Ask them what they learned!
Picture day is Friday, Sept 27th. Envelopes went home and should be returned on or before that day!
Thanks for all your support!
Patti
Fall is officially here although the weather doesn't show it!
We are having a great time in room 19!
Here's what we've been up to.
In Math we are working on place value and rounding big numbers. We'll be comparing, adding, and rounding up and down to the millions! The kids are really getting it!
In writing we are reading, "The Best Part of Me" and working on our first short writing piece.
In reading, we are building stamina as we read just right fiction. Students are learning that reading is thinking and responding. We are growing our ideas about our characters and stories through conversation and note-taking.
We just completed our first science exploration, massing gravel and sand. Students used the scientific method to test which material had more mass! Ask them what they learned!
Picture day is Friday, Sept 27th. Envelopes went home and should be returned on or before that day!
Thanks for all your support!
Patti
Thanks for Coming!
Thank you to all the parents and caregivers that came to Curriculum night last week! I hope you got a good feel for what will be happening in 4th grade this year! It promises to be an exciting year full of learning and fun!
Coming up: Student Council! As a 4th grader your child has the opportunity to be part of the Birch Meadow student council. There are 3 representatives from each 4th and 5th grade classroom. Meetings are held once or twice each month on Mondays after school in room 19. There are 3 people selected for the first half of the year. Another election will be held in January for the 2nd half of the year reps. Permission slips went home with those students who were interested. They should be returned this week and speeches will be made on Monday, Sept. 23rd. The first meeting is scheduled for October 7th.
In Math we continue to practice place value; adding one more, ten more, 100 more, comparing 2 big numbers, and recognizing values.
We are working on figurative language in writing which will help us to include this in our creative writing throughout the year.
This is such a wonderful class of great listeners and learners. I am so thrilled to be working with them and you this year!
Coming up: Student Council! As a 4th grader your child has the opportunity to be part of the Birch Meadow student council. There are 3 representatives from each 4th and 5th grade classroom. Meetings are held once or twice each month on Mondays after school in room 19. There are 3 people selected for the first half of the year. Another election will be held in January for the 2nd half of the year reps. Permission slips went home with those students who were interested. They should be returned this week and speeches will be made on Monday, Sept. 23rd. The first meeting is scheduled for October 7th.
In Math we continue to practice place value; adding one more, ten more, 100 more, comparing 2 big numbers, and recognizing values.
We are working on figurative language in writing which will help us to include this in our creative writing throughout the year.
This is such a wonderful class of great listeners and learners. I am so thrilled to be working with them and you this year!