Read our latest news!   

 September Newsletter 2008

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

           Our 2008-2009 school year is off to a great start in 4 O! I am looking forward to a fun year with your wonderful children!

Thank you! Thank you, parents, for your donations to our class of candy, crackers, antibacterial soap, extra film, and Ziploc bags.Thanks for filling out the parent questionnaire for me. It will give me information and insight about your child.

Assignment Books. Thank you for signing the assignment book each evening! This is a wonderful way for us to maintain communication between home and school. If you have a lengthy question, please write a separate note. Your child can put it in my parent note basket in the morning, so I’ll have more time during the school day to respond to you.

Each afternoon, I stamp the assignment page if the assignments are correctly copied from our assignment poster. I also remind them of what textbooks should go home. Students write ALL assignments down, even if they have time before the end of the day to complete an assignment.

Monday Papers. Look for most graded work and information from me or from the school office, to come home on Mondays. Monday papers are put in the front pocket of their portfolios. Please look over the papers with your child and make sure the papers are cleaned out on Monday evenings. Thanks!!

Language Arts. Our first monthly theme in language is “You Can Do It!” They will read about people who learn to tackle challenges in a positive way. Look for a yellow spelling list to come home the first day of each week. Children may copy the five challenge words posted in the classroom. The entire list is always available at our class website, at: http://www.unit5.org/odellla/spelling.htm.  Final spelling tests will be every Friday. 

We will learn the writing steps in writers’ workshop, and how to use a simple thesaurus. We will review what makes a complete sentence, and writing simple paragraphs. Narrative writing will be our first essay format this year. Students are enjoying the humorous book, Classroom at the End of the Hall by Douglas Evans.

Social Studies. Our first unit is about how to use maps and globes, as well as understanding the different landforms and bodies of waters. The rest of the year we will explore the five United States’ regions.

Science. Mrs. Stout is your child’s science teacher. In the first science units, students are learning about the scientific process and weather.

Math.  In math, Ms. Piercy is reviewing reading calendars and elapsed time. Fourth graders first cover geometry, place value, and data organization. There are A LOT of vocabulary words to learn, so please review the parent math letter Ms. Piercy sent home last week. The hardcover student reference book should also go home when your child has homework. It has many pages to help with all the vocabulary! See this website page for fun geometry vocabulary practice:  http://www.aplusmath.com/cgi-bin/games/geopicture

 If your child doesn’t have homework, please review the basic facts with your child. Students should have immediate recall of the facts to insure fourth grade math success.

Attendance. It is important that children not arrive at school prior to 8:00 a.m. Teachers are not on supervision duty until 8:00. School breakfast begins at 7:50. Students must be finished eating by 8:10 a.m.  The school day begins PROMPTLY at 8:15 a.m. with our all-school assembly. If your child is absent, please call the attendance hotline number: 452-4492. Thank you!

September Dates to Remember

Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns. I look forward to working with you and your child!  I hope to see you on Open House Night!

                                                                                                Best wishes,

                                                                                                Mrs. Lisa O’Dell

         Back to top.