Dear Families,

  Hello and Happy Fall!  (I waited until the weekend to send this, just so I could say that..... :))

School is finally starting to feel like we're getting into the routine of things.  Just in time to have a 4 day week, a field trip, and NECAP testing...... Anyway, here are some of the things we've been doing:

Reading : 

Reading conferences, our first response, and 3 minute fluency assessments.

Writing:

Students wrote me letters about their "writing lives,", and continue to work in their notebooks.  This week however, they actually started a couple of narratives.  Soon, students will choose one of the narratives they've already started to work through the writing process!!  

Look for the letter that I wrote in response to the students' "writing lives" letter on our blog site!!

Math:

We've been working on understanding area this week in preparation for looking at multiplication using the area model.  In addition to using pattern blocks to  think about area, we used 1 in square tiles this week. Multiplication starts on Monday! Additionally, we shared our strategies for subtraction after looking at the HW together.  And finally, we talked about a new ADDITION to the goal sheet - CLINIC!!  

Students brought home a (computation) clinic book (you may have heard it referenced to as "the dinosaur"...:)), a salmon colored instruction sheet, and either a pink or yellow clinic cover sheet.  All students were placed in either addition or subtraction based on a few assessments they've completed.   They will complete 4 problems a night (Due Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday), and one of those 4 problems should be solved using 2 different methods.  Students correct themselves, turn it in each day and keep the clinic book in their HW folder.  Please let me know if you have questions about this part of the weekly goal sheet.  

Spelling:

Spelling (word study) will also start this week.  There will be 2 groups in our classroom.  All groups will bring home a packet on Monday that is due on Friday.  We complete a pre-test on Monday and go over the spelling rule and word sort together.  The rest of the work is to be completed at home.  The quiz will always be on Friday.  

Other important stuff:

I know that there was a big meeting with 4th grade parents, administrators and school board members this week concerning the large class sizes we're faced with this year.  I wanted to say thank you for your support.  I hope that we can now move forward with what we've got and continue to feel supported and confident in all of the people and programs at SCS.  Moving forward, we are fortunate here in Shelburne to already have many supports in place.  And of course, I will always do my best to meet the needs of ALL of my students.  

- Remember, there is NO SCHOOL on Wednesday (9/26)

- Field trip to Shelburne Farms on Friday 9/28.  A permission slip came home last week.  Let me know if you have any questions or concerns.  It's sure to be a great time!!

 - NECAP testing will start the first week of October (10/4) and continue through the following week.  4th graders complete testing in both math and reading.  Science NECAP will take place next spring.  

OK, That's enough for now.  Keep in touch!!