Good afternoon! My daughter had her senior thesis defense yesterday after school and she a super job! We are so proud of her! I just wanted to encourage you all to stay the course if your child is thriving in this curriculum. My daughter has an amazing group of friends, several of whom started with her our first year as 1st graders. Twelve years later, she'll be graduating with these same friends. Very cool!

I'm getting a late start today because we are celebrating my father-in-law's 92nd birthday. Dave has a couple sisters and a brother-in-law who came into town to help with the festivities. I'm also trying to get some gardening done. I made some lemon scones earlier thanks to a new recipe from a coworker...delish! A little grading later on, and then just enjoying family for the rest of the weekend. 

Let's take a look at what your 4th graders will be doing this week.

Language Arts 

Poetry - It's our last week of Paul Revere's Ride. The students have been doing a great job this quarter with these last three stanzas. We will try to coordinate a time when all three classes can perform the entire poem for parents and families. 

Grammar - We will review quotation marks before our AASA writing test on Thursday (formerly AZ Merit).

Literature - We are thoroughly enjoying our new book! Thank you for coming in to read with the students this week! Even though testing is going on, we have been given permission to continue with reading groups. What has to happen is that the teachers will come to the front to meet the volunteers and walk them back to the classroom. Once you have been given your group, you can take the students anywhere on the western half of the building (the hallway by the restrooms being the dividing point).

Math - We'll be finishing up our geometry unit this week; our test will be on Friday.

Science - We are learning about blood this week. We'll learn about the different components of blood and then about the various blood types. If you know your blood type or any other family members' blood types, please tell your children. They can record this information in their agendas. There will be a comprehension check next week about the cardiovascular system.

History - We have already learned why the colonists are beginning to be upset with their mother country. This week we'll learn how the British continue to make decisions that further fuel the frustration of their subjects in the 13 colonies. On Wednesday, the kids will write a paragraph explaining why the colonists are so upset.

That will do it. Remember that Thursday is our writing test. Please be sure to have students to school on time. Give them a good healthy breakfast, too. : )