Carving Memories

Dear Families,

Chilly nights are here!  I love this time of year!  We had a wonderful assembly this morning celebrating Canyon Creek Elementary’s 20th anniversary.  Be sure to ask your child about it -- we had some past teachers and staff who came to celebrate with us as well!

Thank you PTA for providing lunch for the CCE staff today.  We truly appreciate your hospitality.

Our class is excited for the Dead Word Funeral on Tuesday.  If possible, please wear black clothes.

The required library reading log, "Saddle Up and Read"  is due on Friday, November 3rd.

4th graders are responsible for bringing books for their reading buddies on Friday, November 3rd.

It is very important to be at school with so much learning going on each day. However, if your child is absent, contact me in the morning so I can gather up his/her work for pick up in the office by noon.

Please continue to practice the multiplication and division facts.  Instant recall is our goal!

On Halloween night I will be trick-or-treating with my family (while my 13 year old still wants to be seen with his parents), but Mrs. Terry has invited all of my students to stop by her house for a special Halloween treat.  Mrs. Terry’s address is  10629 Bramblecrest Drive.

This Week's Learning:

Reading/ Writing: Poetry

Spelling: Week 6

Math: Geometry

Texas History: European Explorers

Upcoming Dates:

10/31- Report Cards go home.  Please sign one copy and return in the brown envelope

Have a great weekend!

Kelly

Spook-tacular October

Dear Parents,

Blue Jeans - Go GREEN!  A BIG “thank you” to all who participated in our denim drive.  The fourth grade collected 250 denim items that will be donated to the RRISD Clothes Closet. This fourth grade service project was a fun learning experience for us.

Dead Words

Our "Dead Words" will be put to rest on Tuesday, October 31.  Students have two weeks to complete this project at home.  Complete instructions were explained and sent home this week.

Our character word for October is self disciplined.  

TAG Referral

Canyon Creek will be hosting TAG Referral Information Night for families interested in referring their students for TAG testing. This night is designed for families whose students are not currently enrolled in the TAG program but are interested in testing. Please join us in the library on November 8th from 6:00-7:00 pm for more information about how to complete the referral process.

Book Buddies

Your child met their reading buddy for the first time last week.  They got to know each other by filling out a Get To Know You sheet.  4th graders are responsible for bringing age appropriate books to read to their buddy the first Friday of the month. Friday, November 3rd is the first Friday, so have your child look through their old books and choose some to read to their 1st grade buddy.  Students are not allowed to check out books from the library for buddies.

This Week's Learning:

Reading: Poetry

Spelling: Week 5

Writing: Halloween creative writing

Math: Geometry

Texas History: European Explorers

Upcoming Dates:

10/23- 10/27 Red Ribbon Week: Please consult the red activities sheet.

​10/27- Canyon Creek  20th Anniversary Celebration: Fun Run

10/31- Report Cards go home.  Please sign one copy and return in the brown envelope.

Have a fantastic weekend!

Kelly

The Dead Words are Coming...

Dear Parents,

The cool weather didn't last long, but it was enjoyable.  Fall has just begun which means the end of the 1st Nine Weeks is near -- October 20th is the last day of this grading period.  The Denim Drive only has one more week, and we are only half-way to our goal.  Please help us reach our goal of 300 pieces of denim. Thank you for supporting and promoting our first Project Based Learning of the year.

Native American Rock Painting:

Your child will need a flat, palm size rock to paint.  Please send it in a baggie with your child's name on it no later than 10/17.

Dead Word Funeral:

Dead words are upon us.  Next week your child will come home with information regarding the Dead Word Funeral.  Please look for an email from me containing an example of a previous student's tombstone.  The information has been blurred, so that each child can come up with their synonyms.  There are several items at the dollar store this time of year that may be helpful in your child's constructing/crafting of this project.  Please be sure your child has each element outlined on the bright orange information sheet that will be coming home next week.

News from Our Room Mom:

We know there is A LOT going on at school so thanks to all those parents who have already turned in your forms/donations to Renee Zhao for the 4th grade class activities coordinated with the room moms. REMINDER if you don’t return the form we won’t have you on the “Room mom’s email list” to send updates about class parties, activities and events . . .so please send back the form in the envelope regardless of donation status.  If your form has gotten misplaced please feel free to email reneezh2003@hotmail.com. We are really looking forward to a fun year together.  Thanks so much!

Congratulations to our Student Council representatives for this year: Theo and Patrick!  Thank you Lauren, Sahana and Iris for the wonderful speeches.  It is great to know we have so many students willing to take on leadership roles.

This Week's Learning:

Reading: Procedural Text

Spelling: Week 4

Writing: Dead Words (putting overused words to rest), Expository Writing, and Compound Sentences

Math: Types of Lines and Mearsuring Angles

Texas History: Native Americans in Texas

Upcoming Dates:

10/20- Denim Drive ends and the end of the First Nine Weeks

10/23- 10/27 Red Ribbon Week

​10/27- Canyon Creek ES's 20th Anniversary

10/31- Report Cards go home.  Please sign one copy and return in the brown envelope.

Have a wonderful weekend,

Kelly

Columbus Day -- 2-Day Holiday for Students

Working in groups while exploring insulators and conductors of electricity.

Dear Parents,

It was a full week of learning!  In science, we learned that electricity travels in a complete circuit.  We also learned the difference between conductors and insulators.  In math, we examined the relationship between multiplication and division.  We also learned the organizational structures of nonfiction text in language arts.

The fall library enrichment reading program continues through November 3rd.  Your child needs to read every night and log the different genres of books on their Saddle Up and Read form.  Wahoo for a great bunch of readers!

I am thrilled how our class has truly embraced the Denim Drive. Remember to clean out your closets and bring to school new and gently used denim jeans and jackets.  What a wonderful way for us as a grade level to give back to our community.

From our music teacher:
It is recorder time for 4th graders in music.  Please help me in encouraging your students to be responsible for bringing their recorder and book to school on Music days!  An "Essentials Schedule" is posted on my webpage.  Just follow the links from the CCE website.

First days with recorders are as follows:
Mrs. Terry's class - Wednesday, October 11th
Mrs. Babbitt's class - Thursday, October 12th
Mrs. Blaschke's class - Friday, October 13th
Mrs. Christie's class - Monday, October 16th

If your student forgets his/her recorder, please do NOT bring it to school for them.  The office personnel will not deliver recorders to classrooms.  I do have sterilized "loaner" recorders for them to use, however, it is always preferable for them to use their own instrument.

Students are expected to practice their recorders at home.  Thank you for your supports and for your patience with your instrumentalist!

Mrs. Martin


Units of Study:
Reading: Nonfiction Text Structure
Spelling: No spelling this week
Writing: Editing and Revising skills
Grammar: Your and You're
Math: Exploring Division
Texas History: Native American tribes in Texas

Upcoming Events:
October 9th - Student holiday
October 10th - Student holiday
October 20th - Denim Drive ends

I am delighted to partner with you in your child's education.  Communication is our greatest tool to ensure your child's success.  Enjoy your four day weekend!
Kelly