September 5, 2024

Dear Parents,

Happy Thursday! We have survived a long week and now a short week. The students are definitely trying hard to adapt to the schedule, homework, and trying to keep organized. It will be a struggle for a while but they will get it I promise. One of the most important things for a parent to remember is to NOT throw anything away or take anything out of the Homework folder. Everything in that folder must be returned the next day. IF the student does not return their work it is a late slip. The biggest thing the 4th graders will learn this year is taking responsibility of their own work. They need to be in control. All work has to be returned the next day. If it is done and is left at home, that is a late slip because it is not being turned in on time. This is the best way for the student to be responsible. I have talked to them about not having parents go through their folders and clean it out. IF it needs cleaned out they need to ask me to help them. That way we ensure that nothing important gets thrown away.

Language Arts

We have now read our story of Flora and Ulysses 3 times. We will be finishing the 3rd reading tomorrow. They will then take a selection test over the story. It is online and consists of 5 questions. Monday they will take their spelling post test. We practiced our misspelled words today. They had their last grammar lesson today for this story. Tomorrow we will finish reading the story and work on a final spelling worksheet to practice the words. Monday they will take the post test and the end of the week test over everything we learned in the story. This will include text and graphic features, author's purpose, and figurative language. We used all these strategies when reading this story. We will begin the next story on Tuesday.

Math

We have finished the first lesson finally. It takes a long time in the beginning to cover the first couple of lessons. They should be review but it gives me a lot to cover in one lesson. They have turned in their first homework assignment. We will move on to lesson two tomorrow. It will cover place value a little more in depth. This will also take me several days to cover, once we get past the first couple lessons they become easier and will take 1-2 days to get through and be sure they understand. The good thing is we got started about 10 days sooner than last year. That is because I was learning Language Arts last year and the resource was brand new.

Social Studies

We finished the first lesson today and they are completing a worksheet over it. I made the worksheet a little easier for them. Instead of writing out long answers they can just place a number in the correct box. We will then begin Chapter 2 . We will cover all of chapter 2 and test over it. I will keep you posted here when that test will be. It is made up of 3 lessons so it will take us a little while to cover it.

Lunch

Just a reminder about what students can bring for lunch. There is a section in the student handbook that covers this but here is just a reminder. They are allowed to bring their own lunch on days they do not like what is on the menu. They must bring food from home. We do not allow any food from restaurants of any kind brought in to students. The students should also not be bringing pop in their lunches. They are able to purchase milk here at school using their lunch ticket.

Spirit Day

Tomorrow is our Cy/Hawk Friday!! Students can pay $1.00 to wear sweats or a hat. Also be sure to wear your favorite Cyclone or Hawkeye gear to show your support.

FAST Testing

This testing will begin next week. With 24 students it will take me a while to get through them. I have a 2 week window to get the testing completed. So at some point in those two weeks your student will be tested. I use technology time to do any testing that is done on the computer.

Green Valley Field Trip

Last week you had some paper come home in the Take Home folders for our field trip to Green Valley State Park on Monday, September 16th. There is a green permission form, a white volunteer form and they need $5.00. They will get to go out to the park and enjoy some outdoor activities for most of the day. The white form is for Green Valley your child is the volunteer so fill it out for them. Some have returned the forms but need to pay money yet. Some need to return all 3 items.

They will need to bring a sack lunch the day of the field trip. Also the students should wear clothing that they can get dirty and play in. Lastly, I am asking that they wear tennis shoes for protection.

I had a great time in Colorado last weekend. It was the perfect get away. I came back with a clear head for sure. This weekend I plan to hang around my house and get some things done. My daughters are coming down for a baby shower so I will get in a little Grandma time as well. Have a great weekend!!

God Bless,

Mrs. Sickels