Hello to our 4th grade families! Today some of our students remarked, "It's Thursday already?!" This week did seem to go by especially quickly, partly due to our beautiful Tuesday afternoon touring the grounds of the World Dairy Expo in Madison. We couldn't have ordered a more comfortable day to wander through immaculate cow barns, milking parlors, and dairy tents. It was so much fun to watch our kids look around in awe at sights quite new to most of them. They especially couldn't get enough of watching and identifying the different breeds of perfectly groomed cows at every turn, and all of us were exclaiming at their SIZE - when we get within arm's reach of these gentle but powerful animals, we realize just how massive they are! I want to again thank our terrific chaperones for coming along and keeping us together: Mary O., Patty S., Lisa B., Kim P., Jamie F., and Rufino A. Our students did a most wonderful job with listening to the many guides who were full of information, and I heard many intelligent questions being asked, as well. Way to go, fourth graders! We all said we wished we could take a field trip for every unit we cover in social studies and science this year!
On October 17th, we do have another opportunity for a couple of hours away from the classroom again - thanks to our school district. From 12:30 to 2:30 that day, all 3 of our classrooms are invited to Pope Farm Park on Old Sauk Road for a hands-on program with guides, naturalists, and historians. Three parents have volunteered so far to join our class there that day - please let me know if you would like to come, too. We can have as many parents with us as we'd like - you are most welcome! See the info half of your permission slip for a refresher on all the details (all parent signatures have already been turned in - thank you!)
Coming home this Friday, October 4th: The October Scholastic Book Order forms - remember that you may order through me and send me a check made to Scholastic Book Club with your order form, or you may order directly online (which has proven to be very easy and convenient!). We are setting a deadline for our order this month of Friday, October 11th. Also coming home this Friday is a small laminated login card attached to an information sheet about how you and your student can access "Everyday Math Online". Your 4th grader can find games and other activities on this site which will help them practice basic facts, and other math concepts. Take a look and give it a try! Almost all of our math students, whether they attend the 4th grade or the 5th grade class in math, need more practice with accuracy and recall of their basic facts - this is another fun way to get that practice.
Friday, October 4th, is also the date for the PTO-sponsored West Middleton Fall Dance in the gym from 6 to 8 pm! This event also includes a Pumpkin Sale. These pumpkins got delivered to our school entryway this afternoon, and what a collection of huge, perfect pumpkins they are! It creates an atmosphere of instant Autumn at school.
Very soon I will send you a sheet with a list of time slots for our two parent/student/teacher conference evenings on November 19th and 21st. You will have the chance to mark your first, second, and third choice for times, and I will confirm those with you after hearing from everyone. It is so valuable for our students to be present as we discuss their goals and progress, so hopefully there will be time slots that work for everyone's schedules.
This week we are over the halfway point in Unit 2 for math already and it is going so well! We are polishing off our first three personal narrative writing projects and organizing them into those binders which will collect all of our 4th grade writing this year (a real keepsake). In reading class we have been using both our personal reading books and our class read-aloud book, "Stone Fox" to practice reading "Stronger, Faster, Longer", "reading ourselves awake" and to read "like the words are GOLD!" Next week we shift our social studies emphasis to Wisconsin's Ice Age history and the resulting landforms, along with adding to our mapping skills, and in science, Mrs. Bertz has our students deep into experiments with Rocks.
One last thing - and not the least thing! Our class has been very motivated to demonstrate orderly and respectful behavior in ALL of their classes throughout the building. We have been collecting 'compliments' from teachers and other staff members and keeping track! We set ourselves a target of 25 positive remarks and today we reached our goal! Therefore, we have voted that the way we most want to celebrate our achievement is to enjoy a 'read-in' day, which will take place next week on Friday, October 11. On this day, we may each bring in a small blanket or pillow, wear 'comfy' clothing and/or slippers in the classroom, and read our way through our book collections. We will also munch (Mr.!) Hannam's special carmel corn, and watch the movie version of the book we will have completed by then, "Stone Fox" (produced for NBC back in 1987!). We just wanted to let you know about this special day ahead of time! They have earned it - and I love their idea for 'all day stamina' with their books, of course!
We'll let you know how everything goes next week! Until then, Melanie Hannam
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