Hello and Happy February!!!
Math: We completed our challenging Fraction and Decimal unit this week, and students just finished the assessment. We will start Unit 4 - Addition, Subtraction, and Measurement, on Monday. You can find a unit overview at this link: http://www.
Speaking of computation, students have done a fantastic job their first week of "clinic"! Thank you for your support with this. One way you could support them in this is to have them explain one of their strategies with you! I'm finding that many of our classmates are using a 2nd strategy that is unclear. Having them explain it to you would ensure it makes sense for the problem, and they understand how it works. :)
Reading: Students have been very engaged in their Historical Fiction books. They are learning about how to do the hard work of reading complex texts, practicing the strategies together in our read aloud, and then applying it (with the support of reading partners) to their historical fiction reading. 
Vermont Studies: In addition to learning about VT history through historical fiction, students have been reading, writing, and acting what they're learning!! This week we focused on learning about the native people of Vermont and how the arrival of Europeans impacted their lives. A response to this work is part of next week's HW. Students will complete it on Google Classroom, so if you haven't seen them use it yet, check it out!!!
Also, today was very exciting because we all participated in the Words Come Alive program!! Students worked with Susanna Olson from the Flynn to reenact a few scenes depicting Champlain's Arrival and his encounter with the Iroquois Indians. Students thought about the feelings of the Abenaki, Iroquios, and Frenchman during this encounter and created tableaus to represent them.
Valentine's Day: Yes, we will be celebrating Valentine's Day with a small party next Friday. If you would like to send in a healthy snack (fruit, cheese, veggies and dip, popcorn, etc), just let me know via email. I'll bring in one treat for them :). Students do not have to send in Valentines for their classmates, but they may. However, if they choose to, they must bring one in for all 20 of our classmates. I'll send home a class list with students.
Other News and Important Events:
- Scholastic Book Fair next week!! Monday we will go "preview" the selection. Wednesday students will go down to purchase books. It will also be open Tuesday and Thursday evenings if you want to go with your child to purchase books.
- Community Bond Forum -Tuesday February 10, 7:00 pm SCSCafeteria
- February Break - 2/21- 3/3
Ok. That's enough for now!
:)
Dear Families,
Good morning to you on this chilly Sunday! I just wanted to say thank you to everyone for the awesome books from the Book Fair! We have a whole new basket of books for the classroom thanks to your generous donations.
I'm sure you heard about the fun Friday we had celebrating Valentines Day! The valentines students sent in were SO creative this year!! Students also did good reading in their Historical fiction books, and read and wrote about Snowflake Bentley. Our goal is to complete our historical fiction books by next Friday, so some partnerships know that they should be reading these books as their nightly reading too. Please check in with your child about this.
This coming week we have a few additions to our schedule. On Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, Susanna Olson from the Flynn will return. She'll be working with students to reenact the land grant dispute that occurred in Vermont before it became a state. Students will also be working with her to act out significant parts from the class read aloud "Green Mountain Hero". These "Words Come Alive" activities will be a fantastic way for students to summarize some of what they've learned during our Vermont History unit.
On Wednesday morning, 4th graders will be taking the NAEP between 830-1030. This is a nationally administered test given to 4th, 8th and 12th graders annually. SCS was once again selected to participate. Students will be assessed in either reading, math, or science. NAEP does not provide scores for individual students or schools, as it is intended to be "The Nation's Report Card". Here is a link if you want to find out more: http://nces.ed.gov/
And on Thursday afternoon we get to watch the middle school musical over at the Town Hall!!
Finally, attached
are the latest PTO notes, thanks to Corrine Levinthal!!
Thanks again for all of your support!! Stay in touch
