Energized in 4th Grade

The Electric Pickle (ask your child about it)

Dear Parents,

We are energized about learning in 4th grade.  Students used Google Classroom to complete a Nonfiction Text Feature slideshow and to complete a scavenger hunt in writing.  Our personal narratives have sparked our reader’s interest, and students are zapping division problems.  We are currently working on electricity in science.  We also received a jolt to our revising and editing skills from Sean Easley, the author of The Hotel Between.

Native American Rock Art -- ROCKS NEEDED

Please have your child bring a palm-sized, smooth, light-colored rock next week.  We will be painting the rocks the following week.

Student Council

Applications are due Monday, October 1st, at 3pm.  Late applications will not be accepted.

Reading Buddies

Reading Buddies begin October 5th.  This will be our introduction on Friday.  Beginning November 2nd, fourth grade students are required to bring books to read to their buddy the first Friday of each month.  The books should be appropriate for the 1st grade buddy. If a student forgets to bring books one time, the student will sit out of buddies and write an apology letter to their buddy.  Students lose the privilege of having a buddy for two weeks if they forget to bring books a second time.

Denim Drive

Calling all gently used or new jeans!  Please donate denim items. Our goal is to collect 300 items by October 19th.

UPCOMING DATES

October 1 - Denim Drive begins

October 8 and 9 - Student holidays

UNITS OF STUDY

Reading - Nonfiction text structures

Writing - Personal Narrative

Spelling - Week 4 - Homework due on Thursday,  Test on Friday

Math - Division with remainders and Angle Measurement

Science - Electricity

Texas History - Native American tribes of Texas

Have a great weekend!

Kelly

Choose Kind

Dear Parents,

We have had another delightful week of learning.  We finished reading Wonder, and I am so impressed with the caring hearts the children have.  Meaningful discussions and examples of reaching out to others have solidified the purpose of this novel.  Oh how different our world would be if we all were kinder than necessary. I hope you have a chance to read this book.

Denim Drive

In a few days, fourth grade will begin our service project -- the Denim Drive.  The students are eager to encourage and help others in need. Creative juices have generated flyers, skits, Power Points, posters, and many more advertisement opportunities in order to get the word out to other Canyon Creek students to donate their denim!  The collection begins October 1st.

IMPORTANT DATE CHANGES

Due to bus black-out dates beyond our control, we have had to make some date changes for some important 4th grade events during the spring semester.  Please make changes to your calendars:

*April 11, 2019 - Field trip to the Meadows Center

*May 1, 2019   - Field trip to the Bob Bullock Museum (chaperones needed)

*May 22, 2019 - Texas Day

Please note the change of date for Texas Day which is no longer on March 2nd.  We will have a huge celebration during Texas Day on May 22nd, and we have had to change the pancake breakfast that was scheduled for May 23rd to a doughnut breakfast and celebration.

Practice Makes Permanent

Multiplication facts 0-10 should be mastered.  We will begin multiplication of 1-digit by 4-digit numbers next week.  Please have your child practice nightly until instant recall is obtained.  Instant recall of these facts is a game changer in 4th grade math. It can make all the difference in math confidence!

UPCOMING DATES

September 27 - Author Visit

October 1 - Denim Drive begins

October 8 and 9 - Student holidays

UNITS OF STUDY

Reading - Nonfiction text features

Writing - Personal Narrative

Spelling - Week 3 - Homework due on Thursday,  Test on Friday

Math - Division with remainders

Science - Forms of Energy

Have a great weekend!

Kelly

Autumn Leaves and Pumpkins, Please

Dear Parents,

Our class is really enjoying the book Wonder.  It is a beautiful story of compassion for others, friendship, and showing kindness.  It is a story we reference many times throughout the year. The students always seem to connect really well to the story of August Pullman.  In our class we choose kind!

Denim Drive

Fourth grade kicked off our annual Denim Drive this week!  All items collected will go to the RRISD Clothes Closet. We are hoping to collect at least 300 items this year.  At CCE, we care deeply, give generously, and help willingly. Fourth grade students are currently preparing for the drive, however, we will start collecting new and gently used denim items October 1-19.  Thank you for helping out!

Shrinky Dinks

Our class needs 4 packages of Bright White (must be BRIGHT WHITE) Shrinky Dink paper.  You can find this at Michael’s. I used a 40% off coupon, and I paid about $4.00 for one package.  Please email me if you are able to provide one package for our class. I need the paper by September 21.

Practice Makes Permanent

Multiplication facts 0-10 should be mastered.  We will begin multiplication of 1-digit by 4-digit numbers next week.  Please have your child practice nightly until instant recall is obtained.  Instant recall of these facts is a game changer in 4th grade math. It can make all the difference in math confidence!

Conferences

Thank you for setting aside some time to come in and meet one on one about your child.  It does take us all working together for sure! I will have to respect all parents’ time and will not be able to go past the 20 minutes.  If your conference is scheduled for in the morning at 7am, I will meet you at the front doors by the office at 6:55 to let you in. If you don’t remember the time you reserved, please contact me.

UPCOMING DATES

September 27 - Author Visit

October 1 - Denim Drive begins

October 8 and 9 - Student holidays

UNITS OF STUDY

Reading - Realistic Fiction - Story Elements

Writing - Personal Narrative

Spelling - Week 2 - Homework due on Thursday,  Test on Friday

Math - Multiplication of 2, 3, and 4 digit numbers

Texas History - Map Skills

Science - Forms of Energy

Have a great weekend!

Kelly

Back to School, Mom and Dad!

Dear Parents,

The past week of school has been busy and full of learning!  Our class is working hard to build a trusting, positive class environment so all students can flourish.  In creating a caring classroom community, we continue to deepen our connections to each other. My hope is that all students will feel nurtured, respected, and have a sense of belonging so they will be able to grow and learn to their full potential.

Back to School Night

Back to School Night is Tuesday, Sept. 11.  The meeting will start promptly at 7pm. Thank you for setting up childcare arrangements for this evening.  There will be a sign up sheet for parent conferences at this time.

Box Tops

It’s that time of year again.  The annual BOX TOP competition has begun.  Please send in box tops to help our school.  The top classes get a prize.

Peach Jar

In an attempt to save paper, many Tuesday folder papers are now being sent electronically.  If you have not subscribed to Peach Jar, please do so as soon as possible through this link.  Without a subscription, you may miss something important!  There are a lot of after school enrichment programs being offered.

UPCOMING DATES

September 10 - Foreign language classes start - Spanish

September 11 - PTA Meeting/Back to School Night

UNITS OF STUDY

Reading - Realistic Fiction - Making Inferences

Writing - Personal Narrative

Spelling - Week 1 - Homework due on Thursday,  Test on Friday

Math - Addition and Subtraction review

Texas History - Regions of Texas

Have a great weekend!

Kelly