December 1 Library Visit
December 2 Scholastic Orders Due
December 3 Winter Social 5-6:30pm
December 12 All School Meeting and Spirit Day
Homework Due Thursday, December 4th
1. Read for at least 20 minutes every night.
2. Complete Reading Response Letter OR Opinion Paragraph Packet
3. Complete at least 30 minutes of math practice*
4. Work on your new Job Application (DUE MONDAY, DECEMBER 8th)
*Suggested IXL skills for 3rd grade math practice:
Q.1 and Q.2 Temperature
O.5 Calendars
*Suggested IXL skills for 4th grade math practice:
D.1, D.20, D.23, & D.24 Multiplication
Upcoming Out and Abouts
This week, we will work on preparing for Winter Social (see "Weekly Review" for more details about the Plovers' new business!). Next week, we will take a tour of the Forest Grove Goodwill store. Chaperones are needed and we will be walking from FGCS to Goodwill.
Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteers are needed to help with Winter Social set up. Click here for more info from Karen Torry. Please sign up on VolunteerSpot to donate food for our Friday Community Breakfasts this month. We also need O&A chaperones for our visit to Goodwill. Thank you!
Scholastic Book Orders
December book orders are due this Tuesday, December 2nd (I will submit the class orders Wednesday morning). Books will arrive before Winter Break. If you plan to give books as a gift and do not want your student to see them, I can place your order in a paper bag or set them aside for you to pick up. Please send me an email if you do not want your child to see the order. Visit our class book club page to see this month's selection, including the Holiday Gift collection.
Math Notes
In third grade math, we continued to analyze results from our survey question: "Where is your favorite place to shop?" We decided how to classify all the answers from other classrooms and made a HUGE bar graph in the hallway to compare responses across all four levels. Then, pairs of students worked together to analyze a portion of the data and create an easier-to-read bar graph using NCES's Create A Graph website. Each pair shared their graph and conclusions with the class. Click here to see their completed bar graphs!
This week in fourth grade math, we will begin our third unit from Investigations called Multiple Towers and Division Stories. During this unit, students will build on the work they did in our first unit Factors, Multiples, and Arrays. Students will solve multiplication problems with 2-digit numbers, division story problems, and problems about factors, multiples and other number relationships. In math class, students will spend time discussing problems in depth and sharing their reasoning and solutions. It is most important that 4th grade mathematicians accurately and efficiently solve math problems in ways that make sense to them. At home, encourage your student to explain his/her math thinking to you.
Weekly Review
Before Thanksgiving Break, the Plovers discussed possible ideas for projects that could show what they've learned about garbage, recycling and consumerism. They wanted to create a product from recycled materials that other kids could enjoy; they also wanted to raise money or collect donations to help others during the holidays.
The Plovers realized that the school had a lot of milk cartons from lunches that could be reused. Tessa thought it would be fun to create something like a doll house that the Level 1 students might like to play with! Joey had created a home for his pet rock out of a cardboard box, so the class decided to make something similar from the milk cartons. As soon as they started talking about pet rock homes, there were many more ideas for rock accessories, vehicles and upgrades!
This week, at Winter Social, families can order a custom-designed pet rock house that will be built some time before Winter Break. When you order a house, you can choose how many rooms you want, a swimming pool upgrade and optional furniture. Proceeds from pet rock house sales will be used to buy nice, gently used winter clothes at Goodwill and we will donate the clothes to Foster Closet, which helps local kids in foster care.
How Families Can Help:
1. Visit the Plover classroom during Winter Social to view prototypes of the pet rock housing options and order your very own pet rock home!
Winter Social to view prototypes of the pet rock housing options and order a pet rock home!
2. Drop off donations of NEW children's socks, hats or gloves for Foster Closet before Dec 15th (bring donations to the Plover Nest before or after school).
3. Purchase a book or book pack from Scholastic to include with our clothing donations to Foster Closet. Here are some book pack ideas from the Holiday Gift Books Flyer - Puppy Place Snowy Pups Pack $4, My Weirder School 2-Pack $5, Bad Kitty Christmas Pack $8, and National Geographic Winter Readers Pack $5. Scholastic orders are due tomorrow, December 2nd.
Communication
Please contact me with any questions or concerns. Parents and students can e-mail me at [email protected]. You can also leave a voice message on the class phone, come into the classroom before or after school, or call me before 8PM at home.