WELCOME BACK MRS. GALAZKA!
It is hard for me to believe that my time in room 258 has come to an end. What a polite, respectful and hard working group of students you are. It has been a pleasure getting to know each of you and to be a part of your fourth grade classroom. I will still be subbing in the district so if you see me in the building I hope you stop and say hello. Even though I am sad to leave you and all your smiling faces, I am excited for you and all the fun you will have with Mrs. Galazka when she returns on Tuesday, November 13th.
Thanksgiving break is next week but there is still a lot of work to be done before we meet with your parents for conferences next week.
* Celeste is our Star Student and we can't wait to learn more about her.
* Congratulations again!! The class has filled the marble jar and will have the chance to vote on another class reward. What will it be this time? An extra recess? Lunch with the teacher?
* More rewards for room 258. Our class won the recess Smart Stepping Challenge and will have an extra recess this week! More details to follow.
* Ivy Hill School is holding a food drive until November 15th. Please drop off any non-perishable food items in the boxes located in the commons. Thank you for your generosity towards families in need.
* Thank you to all that made cards and/or brought in candy for the troops. Your thoughtfulness during this Veteran's Day is greatly appreciated.
* In social studies this week, we will continue our study of Native Americans and the ways they adapted to the climate in their regions. The students will be working with a partner to research their given tribe, their culture, and the region they live in. The highlight of our research will be a field trip to Mitchell Native American Museum on Friday, November 16th. Please make sure your permission slip and money are handed in by Thursday, November 15th.
* In Math we will be starting to work with decimals as we begin Unit 4. Please make sure you continue to study your multiplication facts at home and prepare for the mad minute quizes.
* In Reading, the students will work in groups reading nonfiction literature and commenting on new concepts learned. We will also begin work on anlayzing character traits in order to gain a better understanding of the characters in our fiction stories. The book report genre for November and December is Historical Fiction. A sheet explaining the requirements of the book report went home last week. The choices of questions are different than previous book reports so make sure to look over the pages carefully. Due to the short amount of time left before Winter break, the book report will not be due until January.
* The students will put the finishing touches on their personal narratives and write a final draft this week. We will take a break from WEX writing until January and do some other creative writing activities that Mrs. Galazka has planned.
*Conferences will be next week November 19th and 20th. Both Mrs. Galazka and I will be there to fill you in on all the hard work your children have been doing and the progress they have made. Please return your conference confirmation sheet if you have not done so already.
Thank you again for letting me spend time with your children. I will cherish the fun learning we have experienced. I just hope they have learned as much from me as I have learned from them. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me or Mrs. Galazka.
Marybeth Buck 11/12/12
