Newsletter 4th GRADE SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER NEWSLETTER   Welcome everybody! Thank you once again for attending Parent Night last week and kicking off our year. In addition, fourth grade would like to express gratitude to everyone who donated books from our Book Fair and contributed to our respective classroom libraries. All of your generosity is well appreciated! We have started off our year in Math by reviewing place value, comma placement, ordering, and comparing numbers. Strategies have also been discussed for word problems and self- checking mathematical computations. Multiplication, addition, subtraction, and division practice are continually reinforced in class. We strongly recommend practicing math facts with your child so they can sharpen their skills at home too.  Soon, we will introduce long division with/without remainders and multiplication by 2- digit numbers. For our sports fans, we will be examining bar graphs and measurements in yards/feet using NFL Team statistics.   Estimating and rounding to the nearest 10,000 or 100,000 will also be studied. In Religion, we have identified good people and good things in our lives. We have shared the Story of Creation and discussed how God created all good things. Soon, students will learn about St. Francis of Assisi, sing the Canticle of the Sun, and discuss environmental stewardship.  Art, Religion, and Social Studies will be integrated by viewing Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper. Italy and its cities, Rome and Milan, will be located on a map and discussed. In Art, fourth grade completed their 3-D self-images last week and proudly displayed them in our hallway. Upcoming projects will include hieroglyphic writing, floral bouquet making for the Anointing of the Sick Mass, and sequence mapping a how-to-do something cartoon. In Social Studies, we learned about the equator, prime meridian, populations, regions, and different kinds of maps.  This week through the use of our software technology program, United Streaming, we identified locations of the United States in the Western Hemisphere and described some of the landforms. This month students will pretend they are flight crewmembers and will chart U.S./World destinations for a class demonstration. Additional map work will include regions and identifying landmasses such as islands and peninsulas. In Science, the earth’s orbit around the sun and moon’s orbit around earth were studied.  Students became “the sun”, “the earth”, and “the moon.”  They rotated and revolved to understand the concepts.  We replicated the Earth’s axis with a tennis ball and pencil and demonstrated rotation.  Motion through space, shadows, and gravity were studied. Gravity, solar and lunar eclipses were demonstrated as well as the moon’s monthly orbit around earth. Comparing and contrasting planets will be reinforced using Venn Diagrams and by writing post cards to fellow students from space.              In Language Arts, sentence structure and the concept of complete sentences were studied. Declarative, interrogative, imperative, and exclamatory sentences were defined and differentiated through classroom participation.   Subjects, predicates, nouns, pronouns, and verbs will be reviewed and practiced through the use of “Grammar Rap.” Synonyms, antonyms, and thesaurus usage will be reinforced using reading and spelling lessons.  In writing, an introduction to outlines and the writing process will be learned.    We will review the necessary components for book reports such as: Title, Author, Main Character/Characters, Summary/Synopsis, and Opinion. In Spelling, we learned a spelling strategy of looking at the word, saying and spelling it aloud, and closing our eyes to visualize the word.  We have also practiced using our dictionaries to find out the spellings and meanings of unfamiliar words. In Reading, we have studied setting and sequence in the readings of A Day With Grandpa and A Train to Somewhere. Next week, we will broaden science concepts and skills by connecting the next story, Space Probes to the Planets. Students will discover more amazing space information by integrating expository nonfiction. Soon, we will start the novel James and the Giant Peach and will compare and contrast the book and movie.

 

 

Dear 4^th Grade Scholars,

 

Hello and welcome to 4^th grade! We are looking forward to a very productive, creative, and exciting new school year! With the help of my teaching partner, Mr. Cerjak, we will help you reach new heights. You are great and nothing can stop you! You will succeed by working hard each day and giving your best effort. You will earn super grades and excel. You can do it! Set realistic goals with due dates and work hard to achieve them. Your parents and I will help. Choose to be respectful, courteous, and friendly because each of you deserves this.

 

School is demanding, but we can work together and solve the hardest of challenges by working together. Division, fractions, decimals, and multiplication by double and triple-digits will be magical when you learn the secrets and become a Math- Magician! In Science, we’ll explore the solar system, rain forests, and oceans. We will watch an erupting volcano and an earthquake model in class too! You will use the NASA website and sing some catchy songs to assist your learning.  For Social Studies, the class will make a United States Jello map to see and then eat. YUMMY! In Language Arts, we will read and examine some great literature like James and the Giant Peach and Indian in the Cupboard. We will also focus on becoming more creative in our Writing Skills too. We’ll play Spelling Sparkle, Bingo, Class Jeopardy, and Wheel of Fortune this year; to name a few. We’ll meditate, pray, tell Bible stories, and learn miraculous things about Jesus’ life. Most importantly, we will model our daily behavior by Jesus’ life. We will encourage and assist our fellow classmates and lead by example.

 

 

Monday- Library

Tuesday- P/E

Wednesday- Computers

Thursday- P/E

Friday- Computers

 

 

 

 

 

 Don’t forget to…..

 

 

ü      Bring smiles and enthusiasm everyday by choosing your attitude

ü      Be friends with your classmates and make their day

ü      Eat a nutritious breakfast each morning

ü      Get plenty of sleep

ü      Exercise your body and mind

ü      And…..HAVE FUN!

 

 

 

 

MISSION CONTROL…..

Over and out for now but before we set to launch here are a few last reminders….

 

Become an avid reader because reading is fun, relaxing, and the key to success. Read at least 30 minutes each night. Remember to practice your multiplication tables daily as well as your addition, subtraction, and division facts. Practice your spelling words throughout the week in school and at home. Learn to spell new words and discover a foreign language! Do fun scientific experiments at home with your family and discuss your observations and results.

Be respectful, listen, follow instructions, come prepared and get READY TO SUCCEED!

 

Thanks for your cooperation!

Fourth Grade Team,

Mrs. Leahy (Website: http://teacherweb.com/IL/StThecla/MrsLeahy/index.html)

Mr. Cerjak  (Website: http://teacherweb.com/IL/StThecla/MrCerjak/index.html)

 

 

PLEASE COMPLETE AND RETURN ATTACHED SHEET FOR OUR RECORDS

 

 

 

 

4TH GRADE MAY, 2009 NEWSLETTER

RELIGION: Beatitudes are our primary focus. Students recognized the true meaning of
Easter by reading Our Church Celebrates Holy Week. The children studied Tridium
Liturgies to better understand the events preceding Christ’s Passion. A
religious “Easter Play” was read aloud. Art and religion will be integrated with
drawings of the Sacred Vessels: Cruets, Chalice, Ciborium, Paten and Tabernacle.
Reading about Thomas’ doubts and Pentecost is included. Everyone will write “God” in
Japanese characters because we viewed the video Respecting Other Religions. Japan’s
oldest religion, Shinto, and Buddhism were highlighted. Social Studies was integrated
with conversations about traditional, eremonial Japanese dress, Kimonos, traditions,
food, respect for ancestors, and St. Frances Xavier.
-We learned how our Church honors saints. St. Vincent de Paul, St. Isidore and Mother
Elizabeth Ann Seton. Other lessons focus on St. Agnes, and how our Church honors
Mary. We’ll examine the Feast of the Assumption, Feast of the Immaculate Conception
and The Angelus, an ancient prayer.

MATH: Reviewing multiplying by 3 digit numbers, computing quotients with remainders
and dividing using a 2 digit divisor, adding/subtracting like/unlike fractions, mixed
numbers, and calculating equivalent fractions. Counting squares, perimeter and area
have been covered as well as, Fahrenheit and Celsius Temperatures. Equations are
reviewed to understand that everything to the left of the equal sign must equal
everything to the right of the equal sign. Soon, the students will study units of
weight: ounces, pounds and tons. Your mathematicians are also finding products by
multiplying using a 3 digit numbers. An example is: 76,543 X 892 =. …
-Students will construct geometric shapes with their marshmallows and toothpicks.
They are eating their chocolate bar fractional pieces. Soon, we will review customary
units of capacity: cups, pints, quarts and gallons. Lessons also included centimeters,
millimeters, comparing/ordering fractions, multiplying and dividing fractions.

SCIENCE:Ocean light/dark zones, the food chain, adaptations and the hydrosphere have
been studied. Other topics included volcanoes, plate tectonics, islands, subduction,
earthquakes, Richter Scales, seismographs and how life returns after a volcanic
eruption. Students identified the earth’s crust, mantle and core. Scientists’
drilling was simulated by drilling into a hard-boiled egg with its shell with a straw
to demonstrate the layers. The science scholars will erupt a volcano using vinegar
and baking soda. They will demonstrate the destructive power of an earthquake by
stacking empty soda cans on a table that will quake. The lithosphere will continue to
understand how mountains form. Matter, its properties, forms, density, physical and
chemical changes are also topics.

READING: The Disguise includes predicting, summarizing, using inflected form (es)
differentiating between main ideas/details and suffixes. Cross-curricular work will
include locating Korea on the map and defining Korean words, kimchi. Half-Chicken and
Blue Jay Takes the Heat and Blame It On the Wolf were also read. Paraphrasing,
writing descriptions, understanding thesaurus entries: synonyms and antonyms were
studied. The homophones vain, vane, vein were reviewed. Students learned about the
legend of the weather vane. A Peddler’s Dream will integrate Math and Social Studies
with circle/bar graphs indicating immigration to Texas from Mexico, India, Philippines
and Viet Nam. Silent consonants: kn, gn, wr, mb will be included. A plot was
discussed as well as conflict/problem, climax, resolution or outcome of a story. We
read: Charlotte’s Web, Blame It on the Wolf and Lou Gehrig, the Luckiest Man Alive.
Venn Diagrams were used and students identified clue words like but, instead and
unlike for contrasting. Each story had comprehension questions and open book multiple
choice test questions to expand comprehension by applying the skills acquired from the
lesson.
Mrs. Kalble is supplementing our classroom reading, Rikki-tiki-tavi. The CD Rom, The
Legend of Mowgli, is an interactive game of Rudyard Kipling’s classic tale of
adventure.

LANGUAGE: Adjectives, pronouns, subject pronouns, possessive pronouns, and object
pronouns were studied. Sentence subjects and predicates are upcoming. Students also
studied: inflected form with “er” and “est.” Lessons included: contractions with not,
context clues, plurals, possessive plurals, using library book listings: card
catalogues and electronic listings, using encyclopedias, alphabetical order, compound
words and sentences, topic sentences that state the main idea, and persuasive
paragraphs that give an author’s opinion and reasons that support the opinion.

SPELLING: Topics included: suffixes, prefixes, analogies, haikus, antonyms, synonyms,
word associations, compound words, spelling strategies, recognizing classifications,
onomatopoeias, homophones, and homographs.

SOCIAL STUDIES: Lessons about the Civil War, slavery, cotton, rice, plantations and
the Southeastern Region of the U.S. were recently concluded. Post Civil War lessons
focus on changes in this same agricultural region after the abolishment of slavery.
Eli Whitney’s cotton gin and George Washington Carver’s scientific discoveries for
improving crop production are currently being read. Map work is done regularly to
keep skills current. Map keys, map legends, latitude/longitude and hemispheres are
included.
Future lessons center on the shift from agriculture to manufacturing in large cities.






















FEBRUARY 4TH GRADE NEWSLETTER
HAPPY ST. VALENTINES DAY

RELIGION: Our focus is on following Jesus example of serving others. Part of our
Lenten
preparation is discussing the Last Supper that was the first Mass. We discussed why
Jesus washed
the disciples feet on Holy Thursday. The students prepared for The Stations of the
Cross by
hearing and seeing them on the computer. We are learning about the Triduum and Deacon
John will
visit the students on Ash Wednesday. Our field trip centered on a religious theme
from the
Bible story, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat. The story was read; then
the
students drew and colored Josephs story.

MATH: Math knowledge and skills are being reviewed so the students show their best
efforts on
the upcoming Terra Nova Tests. Computation reviews include: multiplying by double
digit numbers,
dividing by double digit numbers, dividing with remainders, adding and subtracting
alike
fractions, multiplying fractions and reviewing basics like place/value concepts and
patterns.
We also did comprehensive reviews of tables, charts, graphs including circle, bar,
line and
pictographs. Measurement is being practiced, including measuring in inches, feet,
yards and
liquid measurement as well as, metric system measurements. Geometric terms and
concepts include:
parallel, perpendicular, triangle, equilateral, scalene, vertex, squares, rectangles
and
circles diameters/degrees.

SCIENCE: Science concepts are always integrated with math, language arts and social
studies. Our
reading text stories, Komodo Dragon, and Crocodilians describes the komodos habitat in
Indonesia. Map work reinforced geography skills. We viewed actual komodo dragons on
the
computer using United Streaming that features many Discovery Channel educational
films. A CD
was played to model fluent reading so students hear the readers tone, inflection and
use of
punctuation. Science terms that were learned were: reptiles, amphibious,
ectothermic, cold-
blooded, predator, prey, monitor lizards, estivate, osteoderms and scales. Estuaries
were read
about and described with pictures. These estuaries are where rivers meet oceans and
the fresh
water meets the salt water that forms these unique habitats. We learned how herons
and other
birds and fish have adapted to these wetland habitats. The students are also learning
about
their bodies using our 3-D human, Dimensional Man. An upcoming Dental Health
Presentation
teaches proper hygiene and why its important for maintaining health.

LANGUAGE ARTS: Our personalized, pyramid/alliteration sentences were displayed in the
hall.
Many are also posted on our website for you to enjoy. Many concepts have been learned
and
reviewed so the students can apply their knowledge and skills in the Terra Novas.
Lessons
included: context clues, homophones, homographs, rhymes, synonyms, antonyms, text
structure,
setting and authors purpose. We are reviewing proper punctuation, capitalization,
spelling
rules and indentation as well as the different kinds of sentences. Friendly letter
formats and
neat, legible cursive writing is practiced.

SOCIAL STUDIES: Your children did amazing group work on their Chicago skyscrapers.
Their
architectural marvels were displayed in the hall and supplemented with research on the
internet. The scholars learned numerous concepts about elections linked to the recent
Presidential elections and President Obamas Inauguration. Technology was used on
United
Streaming to celebrate President Lincolns bicentennial and President Washingtons
birthday. We
learned about slavery, the Gettysburg Address, Emancipation Proclamation and the
Revolutionary
War when Washington was general.


JANUARY-FEBRUARY, 2009 NEWSLETTER
GRADE 4

Welcome back to school after a peaceful, joyful and restful Christmas vacation.
Mother
Josephs biography was learned and extended our Beatitude lesson. Technology was
included by
researching www.sistersofprovidence.net.

Another terrific thank you to the fourth grade performers who sang and had dialogue
in the
Christmas Concert. You made the day special for your families, friends and the entire
school
community. What a glorious way to praise God with our voices joined in song.

Math knowledge and skills are practiced daily so the mathematicians can apply what
theyve
learned and scaffold their comprehension. We mastered adding/subtracting alike
fractions.
Multiplying fractions was introduced The scholars will venture converting fractions
into
equivalent fractions. Long division using single, double and triple digit divisors is
done
regularly. These computations include quotients without remainders as well as, with
remainders. Multiplication is linked to division so we multiply our division problems
as a
method of checking our work. Therefore, work can be checked for accuracy and
multiplication can
be practiced so students stay current.

Language arts included many skills including summarizing, sequencing, homophones,
synonyms,
antonyms, adjectives and writing. The entire writing process was reviewed and is
being
implemented. Cross-curricular stories such as Into the Sea have science components.
Descriptive stories were written using indentation, capitalization, punctuation,
correct
spelling and adjectives. Watercolor drawings will enhance our concept of the oceans
biodiversity and the artwork will be proudly displayed in the hall. Mrs. Kalble will
assist
with the project by having the students do their descriptive stories in Word and
insert graphics
into the text. Formatting will also be reviewed. Pyramid sentences are being done
to practice
alliteration, grammar and punctuation skills.

Sparkle was played so spelling skills stay sharp. This game requires total focus
because the
student thats called must know the next letter of the word being spelled. The game is
intense
but the students thrive in it and enjoy the challenge. The word that no one spelled
correctly
was onomatopoeia. Are you able to spell it and give its definition?

The group skyscrapers are being constructed for Catholic Schools Week and the
students
architecture is amazing. As you know, fine arts is included because were working with
Mr.
Peyovich on recording our background construction songs and The Picasso structure will
be
displayed as part of our project.

Please join us for Catholic Schools Week to celebrate your childrens success!
Thank you for your support and caring.


Mrs. Leahy


4TH GRADE NEWSLETTER
RELIGION:
We identified good people and good things in our lives. Grace, Gods presence, and
goodness
from God were discussed. We reread the Story of Creation and discussed how God
created all good
things. We, humans, have free will to choose evil and sin by turning away from God.
Students
learned about St. Francis of Assisi, sang the Canticle of the Sun, and discussed
environmental
stewardship. A biography of the American writer, Rachel Carson, was read and her
environmental
work researched. Art, religion and social studies were integrated by viewing Leonardo
Da Vincis
The Last Supper. Italy, was located on the map and, its cities Rome and Milan were
discussed.
We learned that the painting is in a monastery in Milan. The lesson was extended by
Jesus
example of service to others by washing the disciples feet. Praise and thanksgiving
were
central themes. The lesson included St. Thomas Aquinas who lived in a monastery and
was
renowned for his intellect. We read the Bible story of King Solomon to see other
people who had
great wisdom and used it to make our world a better place.
The two main parts of the Mass, Liturgy of the Word and Eucharist were reviewed.
Attending
Mass on Sunday was highlighted with a lesson on this Commandment. We learned that the
word of
God is Scripture in the Bible.
Active participation at Mass is vital. Students are required to respond and sing
hymns during
Mass. Please reinforce this by praise and example at Sunday Mass. Thank you for your
continued
efforts.
Each student prays and meditates in class. Learning the importance of quiet time
and its
calming effect on our bodies and minds is prayerful. Conversations with God are
prayers that
can be formal prayers or daily informal conversations with Jesus.
October is Respect Life Month so students will discuss strategies to respect their
peers,
parents and grandparents, the elderly, younger children and all Gods creatures. We
are
including discussions on the Sacrament of the Sick. The students made beautiful floral
bouquets
from egg cartons for the Anointing of the Sick Mass. The students crucifixion
drawings will be
displayed in the Churchs front lobby.

MATH: Foreign and domestic coins will be brought to class. Students use money to pay
and make
change by simulating shopping. The class will learn historical facts about U.S.
coins. Our
penny was the first coin with a president, Abraham Lincoln. It replaced Indian head
pennies.
Geography was integrated with map work locating countries using the currencies.
Place, value, comma placement, ordering, comparing, strategies for word problems,
benchmarks,
and checking math problems, were reviewed. Bar graphs, measurements in yards/feet
will be
introduced using NFL Team statistics. Estimating and rounding to the nearest 10,000
or 100,000
is upcoming. Mental mathematics was also be explored.
Reviews are ongoing to reinforce skills. Multiplication tables, addition,
subtraction, and
division were reviewed. Long division was introduced as well as long division with
remainders
and 2 digit multiplication. We sing division to country-western music.



Using data to draw conclusions was analyzed. Lessons also encompassed identifying
numerical
relationships. Heres an example of a problem presented to students. Thirty five
round vases
must be displayed in a triangular shape stacked in rows. The top row has 1 vase. The
next row
below has 4 vases. The 3rd row has 7 vases. So how many rows are needed to display
our 35
vases? Overall, students did very well after several review lessons. They deserve
praise for
their hard work and enthusiasm. (Did you figure out the answer? Probably so, but
dont fret if
you are rusty, with analytical thinking. I sometimes need a moment to think about
beginning 4th
grade math and I have the answer key). Rows 1 and 2 have a difference of 3. Row 2
and row 3
also have a difference of 3. So the next row, 4th row, would have 3 more than in row
3. Row 4
should then have 10 vases. Row 5 then would have 3 more than the 4th row, or 13
vases. So rows
1-5 have 1+4+7+10+13=35. Five rows are needed to display our 35 vases. Thats the
relationship
and pattern. Students recognize patterns and apply them to sequences. Halloween
geometric
shapes will be integrated with art by drawing and coloring items for the holiday.
Your children have already learned to add and subtract alike fractions. Hurray!

SCIENCE: The earths orbit around the sun and moons orbit around earth were studied.
Students
became the sun the earth and the moon. They rotated and revolved to understand the
concepts. We replicated the Earths axis with a tennis ball and pencil and
demonstrated
rotation. Motion through space, shadows and gravity were studied. Gravity was
demonstrated. We
simulated solar and lunar eclipses. The moons monthly orbit around earth was
demonstrated. The
mass of objects was studied. Comparing and contrasting planets will be reinforced
using Venn
Diagrams and by writing post cards to fellow students from space. Students get a
better
understanding by using the NASA CDs and watching launch videos.
The 3 Ps of fire safety are persuasion, prevention, and protection. Students
demonstrated
stop, drop, roll, and learned the pyromid fire triangle which include oxygen, heat,
and fuel.
The Count Floyd video donated by a major insurance company supplemented fire
safety.
Environmental health integrated religion with St. Francis. Ecosystems are
interdependent and
require reducing, reusing, and recycling to survive and thrive.

LANGUAGE: An introduction to outlines and writing process will be learned. Audiences
were
identified and how writing should be tailored for the particular audience. We
learned the
different types of writing used to inform, describe and persuade. Sentence structure
and the
concept of a complete sentence were studied. We played The Whiffle. An assigned
student, the
writer will address the class giving information about a specific thing, called the
whiffle. Other students, the writers audience see if the information actually
describes the
object well enough to identify it. Subjects, predicates, verbs, and sentences were
reviewed
and practiced.
Synonyms, antonyms and using the thesaurus was reinforced from reading and spelling
lessons.
Ms. Dohnal and Ms. Kalble expand classroom reading lessons on researching topics and
outlining.
Declarative, interrogative, imperative and exclamatory sentences were
differentiated. We
interrogated a Halloween witch to reinforce interrogative sentences. Sentences will
be written
by students and pulled out a bag so they can be identified. Rappin grammar identified
a noun
as a person, place, or thing. Subjects and predicates are next.

SPELLING: Spelling strategies were introduced and commonly misspelled words were
reviewed.
Students are encouraged to utilize Spell Check but using the dictionary in class is
mandatory.
Words can be spelled the same but pronounced differently and have different
definitions. An
example is bow: a weapon, a tied ribbon, to bow or lower ones head, a violin bow or
the bow
(front) of a boat. Word context was learned. Consonant combinations of str, squ, (1
vowel),
scr, thr, were studied. Words with kn, gn, wr, mb were studied. Silent letters in
words like
knot and gnat were noted. Double consonant words were also examined. We learned a
spelling
strategy of looking at the word, saying and spelling it aloud, and closing our eyes to
visualize
the word. Using the dictionary, thesaurus and other reference books was integrated.
The
Spelling companion CD is used in class and in computer class to enhance the weekly
lesson in the
book .



SOCIAL STUDIES: Patriotism was explained and its important. The equator, prime
meridian, ethnic
groups, customs, populations, regions and understanding maps initiated our lessons.
Lectures
and readings included Our Nations Land and The United States Today. Natural
resources, their
uses to humans, and conservation were explained. Continents were learned and finding
locations
by using latitude and longitude was practiced. Students will pretend they are flight
crew
members and will chart world destinations. Map work will include regions and
identifying land
masses such as islands and peninsulas.
We discussed Columbus and researched information on the internet.

READING: A Day With Grandpa was supplemented with literature. The worksheets focused
on the
setting of a story, its place and time.
A Newbery Medal book, Call It Courage by Armstrong Sperry will be read. The story
is about
Mafatu, a boy in the South Pacific, his dog Ari , the Albatross he adopted and how he
overcomes
his fear of the sea. He was alone and drifted in the sea because his mother did not
survive the
sea voyage. So he feared water until he was 15.
Were finishing the novel James and the Giant Peach. The video was shown to compare
and
contrast between the book and movie.
Space Probes will be read to expand understanding of our current science unit.
This story
focused on data about each planet in our solar system and how writers organize
information.
This is text structure. Train to Somewhere, Yingtao, and Family Pictures was read.
Father Ken
will read Family Pictures in Spanish for Latin Heritage Month.
Journey to the North Pole, and Clay Children are stories that well also read.
Students were shown models of the necessary components for book reports: Title,
Author, Main
Character/Characters, Summary/Synopsis, and Opinion. Facts and opinions were
differentiated.
Octobers reports are entertaining scary stories. These explorers can be modern day
people or
explorers from the past like Christopher Columbus or Lewis and Clark. Students can
also choose
to report on space or sea explorers.

ART/RELIGION: Egg carton flowers were made for the Anointing of the Sick Mass. We
made our 3-D
self images and stained glass windows of Jesus crucifixion. Now we are writing our
names in
hieroglyphics and decorating the papyrus with Egyptian art.





























Dear St. Thecla Parents:
Hello, Im Mrs. Leahy. Thank you for your continued commitment to Catholic
education. Ive had
the privilege of meeting many of you already. There are many fun, fascinating and
educational
activities planned for 2008-2009. The goals are for your child to grow personally,
spiritually,
and excel academically. A joint effort makes this possible.
Your input is vital, appreciated, and helpful. Please share the following
information. Please
note your responses in the margin please. Your input is welcomed, valued, appreciated
and will
help your child develop a better self concept and self confidence.
Has there been a recent event that affected your child?
What are your childs favorite activities: hobbies, puzzles, or games?
Why does your child enjoy this activity? Please ask, and if your childs response is,
Its
fun! please ask for specifics. Lots of activities are fun, so why is this one the
favorite?
Who are his/her special friends? Are there any ongoing issues with other classmates?
What
remedies have been most successful?
Does he/she struggle in a particular subject? Is he/she tutored outside
of school?
Does your child read regularly for leisure? Please note his/her favorite
book. Are you able to read
regularly
as a family?
What sports, toys, TV programs, or movies are your childs favorites?
Are there any specific, difficult issues?
If so, how
may I help?
Your childs well being and success in school are paramount. Working together assures
this
goal. Your information is confidential and enables me to better serve your child.
Basic school supplies: 2 sharpened #2 pencils with erasers, 2 black/blue erasable
ink ball
point pens, 1 red pen, lined loose leaf paper, ruler, small dictionary, calculator,
small
stapler, compass, protractor, and separate pocket folders for each subject. Subject
folders are
color coded and will be kept in a 3 ring binder. Good daily habits eliminate wasted
time, ease
frustration and help students excel. School related stress diminishes when
assignments are
easily found. The students become more organized and learn study skills.
Daily math and reading homework is assigned Mon.-Thurs. Weekly spelling units will
be
completed
by the last day of the school week. Students complete 1 page daily from the unit to
prepare
for Friday tests. Monthly books are required to be read. Book Reports will be
written. The
format was modeled and students were advised of the first theme.
Please encourage your child to center his/her backpack to distribute the weight.
Proper
posture
is also required while seating or standing in class. By working together, your childs
spine
will keep growing strong, straight, and healthy.
An assignment notebook is vital. Your child received his/her Good News Assignment
Book the
first day of class. Daily entries should be crossed out after completing
assignments. Students
learn better organizational skills, time management, self reliance and adhere to due
dates.
Project supplies will be announced at least 2 weeks prior to the start date. Regular
reminders
will be given verbally, written on the board and internet. It is the students
responsibility
to note needed supplies and assignments in the homework notebook. Crossing out
completed tasks
completes the process. Notes indicating project supplies will not be sent home for 4th
graders.
Lets help them develop lifelong skills.
We want students to do their best. Organization can be learned. Folders should be
labeled for
each subject. All assignments and hand outs for specific subject should be kept in
the
designated subject folder. The most current work should be in front.
Homework is due on the assigned date. Five points are deducted daily for late work
unless a
signed written excuse is submitted for an illness or an emergency. If there is an
emergency or
illness, extra time will be given, but these are infrequent occurrences. No homework
will be
given on Fridays so school work wont conflict with your familys weekend activities.
However,
special projects should be worked on over weekends and holiday breaks when time is
available.
Homework is assigned on long holiday weekends when theres no school on a Monday.
Homework
always relates to our class lessons.
Makeup work is due the week after returning to school. Any catch up work should be
completed
over the weekend after an absence. Extra time will always be given to complete
assignments after
an extended absence. Please reassure your children.
A parents signature is requested on assignments with poor grades. Please designate a
comfortable, well lit space at home for your child to do homework. A completely quiet
environment thats free of distractions helps your child focus so assignments are
completed
quickly, productively, and comfortably. About a half hour will be assigned.
Graded or checked assignments should be removed from folders on the weekend after the
schoolwork
is returned. This lightens the backpack weight and helps students to find assignments
easily.
Please continue recycling paper. We can be the best role models.
School/classroom rules, and procedures must be practiced. Christian conduct is
essential. If
students choose inappropriate conduct, they also choose to accept the consequences.
Positive
consequences are rewards. Negative consequences are punishments resulting from
breaking the
rules. Name calling, bullying, inappropriate language, or violence will not be
tolerated;
warnings/detentions will be issued. Detentions are served the Friday after the issue
date unless
otherwise advised. Rules protect each student, maintain a Christian environment, and
provide an
atmosphere for optimal learning. Each individual must feel safe, maintain self-
esteem, enjoy
school and excel. All students are required to follow all rules at all times. Please
call me
if your child tells you of any concerns with classmates. Also advise me by getting
feedback from
your children. I will listen; their opinions matter. Assure them that voicing their
legitimate
concerns will benefit them.
Students will keep a conflict journal. Whenever disagreements arise, students will
be asked to
note how the situation could have been prevented. It will be required that sentences
start
with, I should/could have.. Students will not be permitted to state, He/she
did/said Students are accountable for their actions. To help them make positive
choices,
conflict resolution videos will be viewed regularly and discussed.
Thank you for entrusting me with your child. My commitment is making your childs 4th
grade
experience safe, fun, and academically challenging. If you want to discuss your
childs
progress, please call Mrs. Sansone and give a convenient time to call back. Youll get
a reply
that day or the next day and well meet at the appointed time. Please specify any
concerns
before our meeting so suggestions can be prepared and be available for you. Time will
be saved
and effective strategies can be implemented. Kids 1st!
Please check backpacks every Wednesday. Occasionally, information is given on
Friday, so
please ask your child for any bulletins. Students rotate cleaning our classroom on
the last
school day of each week. Chores include bundling trash, washing desks, boards and
vacuuming.
Students are dismissed by 2:45 p.m. after cleaning. A signed note is required.
Thanks, your
children are great helpers and I appreciate their hard work.
A well-ordered environment and positive academic expectations result in effective
classrooms
where students excel. Positive expectations help students achieve their standards.
ALL
CHILDREN CAN LEARN! Teachers do NOT teach 4th grade or subjects. We teach STUDENTS
and they
learn the various subjects. Your children will hear this. You are responsible for
learning,
achieving and performing. I have positive expectations for each student. Working
together
enhances the quality of your childrens lives. They will learn and practice school and
life
skills as well as working in groups.
Thanks for being exemplary partners in your childrens schooling. Together, we will
guide your
children to becoming happy, productive, life-long learners who succeed.

Respectfully,
Mrs.Leahy










4TH GRADE APRIL, 2008 NEWSLETTER

RELIGION: Beatitudes are a primary focus. Our Church Celebrates Holy Week was read
and
discussed so students recognized Easters true meaning. The children studied Tridium
Liturgies
to better understand the events preceding Christs Passion. A religious Easter Play
was read
aloud. Art and religion will be integrated with drawings of the Sacred Vessels:
Cruets,
Chalice, Ciborium, Paten and Tabernacle. Reading about Thomas doubts and Pentecost is
included. Everyone will write God in Japanese characters because we viewed the video
Respecting Other Religions. Japans oldest religions, Shinto, and Buddhism were
highlighted.
Social Studies was integrated with conversations about traditional Japanese dress,
Kimonos,
traditions, food, respect for ancestors, and St. Frances Xavier.
-We learned how our Church honors saints. St. Vincent de Paul, St. Isidore and Mother
Elizabeth
Ann Seton. Other lessons focus on St. Agnes, and how our Church honors Mary. Well
examine The
Ascension, Feast of the Assumption, Feast of the Immaculate Conception and The
Angelus, an
ancient prayer.

MATH: Reviews continue on multiplying 3 digit numbers, computing 2 digit quotients,
dividing
with remainders, adding/subtracting like/unlike fractions, mixed numbers, and
calculating
equivalent fractions. Counting squares and area have been covered as well as,
Fahrenheit and
Celsius Temperatures. Equations are reviewed to understand that everything to the
left of the
equal sign must equal everything to the right of the equal sign. Soon, the students
will study
units of weight: ounces, pounds and tons. Your mathematicians are also finding
products by
multiplying with 2-3 digit numbers. An example is: 76,543 X 892 =.
-Students will construct geometric shapes with their marshmallows and toothpicks.
They will eat their chocolate bar fractional pieces. Soon, we will study customary
units of
capacity: cups, pints, quarts and gallons. Lessons also included perimeter,
centimeters,
millimeters, comparing/ordering fractions and multiplying fractions.

SCIENCE: Ocean light/dark zones, the food chain, adaptations and the hydrosphere have
been
studied. Approaching lessons include volcanoes, plate tectonics, islands, subduction,
earthquakes, Richter Scales, seismographs and how life returns after a volcanic
eruption.
Students identified the earths crust, mantle and core. Scientists drilling was
simulated by
drilling into a hard-boiled egg with its shell with a straw to demonstrate the
layers. The
science scholars will erupt a volcano using vinegar and baking soda. They will
demonstrate the
destructive power of an earthquake by stacking empty soda cans on a table that will
quake. The
lithosphere will continue with focus mountain formation.

READING: The Disguise will include predicting, summarizing, using inflected form (es)
differentiating between main ideas/details and suffixes. Cross Curricular work will
include
locating Korea on the map and defining Korean words, kimchi. Half-Chicken and Blue
Jay Takes
the Heat and Blame It On the Wolf were read. Paraphrasing, writing descriptions,
thesaurus
entries: synonyms and antonyms were studied. The homophones vain, vane, vein were
reviewed.
Students learned about the legend of the weather vane. A Peddlers Dream will
integrate Math
and Social Studies with circle/bar graphs indicating immigration to Texas from Mexico,
India,
Philippines and Viet Nam. Silent consonants: kn, gn, wr, mb will be included. A plot
was
discussed as well as conflict/problem, climax, resolution or outcome of a story. Were
reading:
Charlottes Web, Blame It on the Wolf and Lou Gehrig, the Luckiest Man Alive. Venn
Diagrams
will be used and students will identify clue words like but, instead and unlike for
contrasting. Each story has comprehension questions and open book multiple choice
test
questions to expand comprehension. It also allows the students to apply the skills
acquired
from the lesson.
Mrs. Mason is supplementing our classroom reading, Rikki-tiki-tavi. The CD Rom, The
Legend of
Mowgli, is an interactive game of Rudyard Kiplings classic tale of adventure.

LANGUAGE: Adjectives, pronouns, subject pronouns, possessive pronouns, and object
pronouns will
be addressed. Sentence subjects and predicates will be included. Students also
studied:
inflected form with er and est. Lessons included: contractions with not, context
clues,
plurals, possessive plurals, using library book listings: card catalogues and
electronic
listings, using encyclopedias, alphabetical order, compound words and sentences, topic
sentences
that state the main idea, and persuasive paragraphs that give an authors opinion and
reasons to
support it.

SPELLING: Topics included: suffixes, prefixes, analogies, haikus, antonyms, synonyms,
word
associations, compound words, spelling strategies, recognizing classifications,
onomatopoeias,
homophones, and homographs.

SOCIAL STUDIES: Lessons about the Civil War, slavery, cotton, rice, plantations and
the
Southeastern Region of the U.S. were recently concluded. Post Civil War lessons focus
on
changes in this same agricultural region after the abolishment of slavery. Eli
Whitneys cotton
gin and George Washington Carvers scientific discoveries for improving crop production
are
currently being read. Map work is regularly done to keep skills current. Map keys,
map
legends, latitude/longitude and hemispheres are included.
Future lessons center on the shift from an agriculture to manufacturing in large
cities.



FOURTH GRADE NEWSLETTER

RELIGION: Lessons include: The Feasts of the Assumption, Immaculate Conception,
Angelus, Mary:
Patroness of the United States. Students are preparing for our May Crowning.
-The 1st 3 Ten Commandments teach us to love God. The other Commandments teach us to
love each
other. Students differentiated between the Sacraments of Initiation, Sacraments of
Healing, and
Sacraments of Commitment. The Great Commandment and the Good Samaritan were topics.
Vocabulary
included: Ash Wednesday, Lent, Passover, Way of the Cross, Calvary, Holy Week,
Triduum, values,
reverence, vain, Sabbath, Incarnation, and Messiah .
-Respecting our parents is a commandment. Discussions centered on the importance of
family and
why parents deserve our respect.
-Jesus Goes to the Temple will be read and discussed. Thomas More, Lord Chancellor of
England,
and his execution by Henry VIII is upcoming. Readings included Thomas
touching Jesus side and hands and the story of Pentecost.
-World Peace will be sung using the corresponding sign language.
READING: Making judgments means deciding how to react towards people and
situations. Welcome
to McBrooms Farm is the short story which highlights judgements.
John Henry is a story about a super human African-American man. Exaggeration and
tall tales
were discussed. Blame It On the Wolf had contrasting and comparing.
-Inflected word forms (er, est) and plots were reviewed. Example: whiter/whitest
-The Luckiest Man is about two time MVP, New York Yankee baseball player, Lou Gehrig
who died
from ALS. Gehrigs work ethic, sportsmanship, and citizenship were highlighted in the
story.
Henry Ford was discussed along with his contemporaries so students understood the era
when Lou
Gehrig lived. His teammate, Babe Ruth, was also discussed. Cal Ripken Jr. was read
which
included text structure, the way writing is organized in chronological order. Topics
included
the Baseball Hall of Fame and interviews. Chronological order was also reinforced.
Pecos Bill
featured Texas coyotes. Encyclopedia entry formats contained newts, salamanders, and
amphibians.
- Fujita Scales for measuring tornadoes were studied. Out of the Blue is our current
story
about Benjamin Franklin and his inventions. Lydia LaRue is another inventor who was
included in
our reading. Readings included these inventions: Post-It Notes, Silly Putty, and Dr.
Pepper.
-The Disguise and Korean Foods features a girl who overcomes gender stereotypes.
Podari is
backpack in Korean, Kimchi is a traditional Korean spicy appetizer. Work book
assignments
included antonyms, and summarizing which tells the main idea.
-Rudyard Kiplings Rikki-Tikki-Tavi is about triumph. The lesson included making
inferences,
making decisions, and then drawing conclusions. Half Chicken is about a chicken
born with a
single leg, wing, and partial feathers and includes paraphrasing. He is very vain and
finds
that his calling in life is to be a weather vane. Blame It on the Wolf and Wolves were
read. The
students acted the parts. The wolf is on trial for allegedly blowing down the pigs
houses.
Chocolate Is Missing includes Brazil, its exports, guinea pigs, and investigations.
Blue Jay, Stagecoaches, Peddlers Dream, and Amazing Alice, were recent stories.
Paraphrasing,
prefixes, Henry Fords assembly line, predicting, adjectives, summarizing, themes,
inflected
forms, thesauruses, and contractions were included.
-May book report topics are volcanoes and April reports were about inventions.
MATH: Fraction bars help in adding and subtracting fractions. Equivalent fractions
continued,
their similarities and differences discussed and the 2 ways of solving the problems
practiced.
They show the same amount but the sizes of pieces are different. Fractions in their
simplest
form also continued as well as fractional parts of numbers.
-Mixed numbers, a whole number with a fraction, were identified and written as a
fraction.
Adding and subtracting like and unlike fractions was included. Fractions were
multiplied and
reduced to lowest terms.
-Line plots, slide symmetry, perimeter, and area were studied. Also studied were:
units of
capacity, pints/quarts/gallons, and conventional/metric measures including
gram/kilogram.
-Hypotenuse is the longest side of a triangle having a 90 degree angle. Concave and
convex were
defined.
-U.S. time zones and elapsed time will be calculated using maps. Fahrenheit and
Celsius
temperatures were also reviewed.
-Word problems using dollars, cents, and measurements were completed to practice
thinking
skills, multiplication and division.
-The Calculator was a cross-curricular lesson with Spelling which included terms like
key
sequence and display.
SCIENCE: Students viewed the Discovery Channels The Ultimate Guide to Sharks that
showed the
predators role in the ocean. A sharks physiology and communication were also
explained.
Students will expand their knowledge in computer class. The website is:
www.discoveryschool.com. Volcanoes, magma, lava, subduction, faults, earthquakes,
crust,
mantle, core, plate tectonics, mountain formation, Richter Scales and seismographs
will be
studied soon. Survivors and colonizers were defined and their importance in
regenerating an
area after an eruption. Subduction is sliding 1 plate under another. Students
learned
that sub is Latin for under such as submarine and duct is Latin for to lead as in
conduct. Igneous, sedimentary, metamorphic, pumice, granite and obsidian rocks were
identified. The entire crust of the earth moves around floating on a huge blob of
melted iron
and rock that starts 50 or so miles below our feet. Ground forces were simulated by
doing
a tabletop earthquake of empty soda cans. The duck, cover and hold earthquake
survival method
will be demonstrated.
-Adaptations were reviewed and why they help all species survive in their habitats.
-A Newberry Honor Book, Volcano, by Patricia Lauber (Bradbury Press, 1986) and
National
Geographic, January 1981 are 2 publications to share photos with your child of the Mt.
St.
Helens May 18, 1980 eruption.
-The current module is The Rainforest about stewardship of our Earth. Cross
curricular studies
have been done with geography topics about rain forest countries. The students
learned about
the 3000 fruits that are grown in the rainforest. We eat about 200 varieties of these
fruits.
Deforestation and species extinction has been examined for its long term effects.
-Sanitized owl pellets will be dissected. Various preys skeletal remains will be
observed so
students understand the interdependence of the rainforest and the food chain.
LANGUAGE /SOCIAL STUDIES: Adjectives were defined. They answer the questions: how many
or what
kind? Students will write letters using adjectives to describe a day in an American
National
Park. The students will do web quests on National Parks in Mr. Wasowskis class.
- Language reviews included: nouns, pronouns, adjectives, singular/plural possessives,
subjects/predicates, compound words and sentences, capitalization, abbreviation,
possessives,
topic sentences, facts/opinions, metaphors, similes, homographs, quotations, context
clues,
manuals, and main ideas of paragraphs.
Other concepts were: context clues, contractions with not, and properly using I, me,
we, and
us, action and linking verbs.
-Social Studies topics included: George Washington Carver, a slave who became a world
famous
scientist in agricultural research. His important work was discussed. Cotton Gins
and other
inventions improved lives and resulted in changes. Key terms included: cash crops,
plantations,
slavery and colony. We recently studied concluded learning about the Southwestern
region of the
United States: landforms, economics, and people.
SPELLING: Suffixes (ly, ion, ful) were studied with these words: carefully, action
and
beautiful. Students also learned that the word pollution comes from Latin meaning
dirty or
soiled.
-Prefixes (dis, in, re, mis) were learned. Words included: disrespect and
misconduct.
-Japanese haikus were studied and students wrote haikus. Other multicultural
connections
included words like Hanukkah and Kwanzaa.
-Capitalization, abbreviations, possessives, palindromes, inferences, word
associations,
context clues and easily confused words, then/than and our/are are currently being
studied.
Future lessons focus on: word building and base words plus suffixes. Final lessons
will be
cross curricular. American bison, land forms, herbivores, plant reproduction and
geometry are
some topics.
-Tales of Courage was read which supplemented Science earthquake/volcano
lessons.
-Units included vowel sounds and same sounds that are spelled differently. Examples
include
the s sound with words support, scent, cent, waltz, and listen.
-Vowels in final syllables that sound alike but are spelled differently were studied.
Examples
are: people & model





FEBRUARY-MARCH, 2008 4TH GRADE NEWSLETTER

RELIGION: Former lessons focused on the Pope, Mother Theresa, Beatitudes, and people
who lived
according to their convictions. These included Franz Jaeger who died during WWII
because of his
beliefs. Currently we are concentrating on Lent, Palm Sunday, the Triduum, Jewish
Passover
customs, and Jesus Resurrection on Easter Sunday. The students understand the Lenten
obligations of praying, fasting, and almsgiving during the forty days of Lent. The
upcoming
lessons include Pentecost. The Rice Bowl lessons include Japan, its culture and
respect for
other religions. Catholic Relief Services in the African nation of Mila was also
discussed as an
extension of the Rice Bowl Project. St. Patricks teachings of the Holy Trinity using
shamrocks
and St. Josephs like were also highlighted.

MATH: Lessons included reviews to refresh skills. Place, value, standard and expanded
forms,
multiplying by 2-3 digit numbers, dividing using 2 digit numbers, and dividing with
remainders,
averaging, finding patterns, adding and subtracting fractions, calculating equivalent
fractions,
showing simplest form, multiplying fractions, graphs, geometry, perimeter, and area
were
covered. Dividing fractions has been introduced.

SCIENCE: Adaptations were studied and waters necessity for life. Sharks and other
predators in
the hydrosphere were discussed showing the animals roles in the oceans ecosystem.
Currently we
are focusing on the Rainforest with its diverse ecosystem and interdependence of
species. Its a
continuation of the interdependence of life. Light and dark zone ocean habitats
include
producers, consumers, and decomposers. Math was integrated using bar graphs showing
differences
between monkeys and calculating annual rainfall using feet, inches, yards and
centimeters. The
future topics include mountain formations, earthquakes, volcanoes, and rocks.

READING: Stuart Little will be read during Library Class. Collaborating with Ms.
Dohnel affords
more class time to broaden knowledge using leveled readers linked to topics in our
Reading
text. The upcoming book reports will be about Presidents, Washington & Lincoln, and
about
inventors. Students will construct and display their inventions. Tall tales and other
fictional
stories were studied in John Henry. The theme also corresponded with African American
History
Month. Making judgments, inflected forms with er and est, researching card catalogs
and
databases were other concepts that were included. Marvin of the Great North Woods
included these
skills: drawing conclusions, using context clues, plural forms, collecting and
recording
information, and using outlines. Students learned about French-Canadian culture, the
influenza
epidemic in large metropolitan areas during the 1900s and heard French phrases. Future
stories
will be: On the Pampas, Rikki-tikki-tavi, Half Chicken, Blame It on the Wolf, and Lou
Gehrig:
The Luckiest Man. Willie Mayes biography was read to build background knowledge and
generate
interest in baseball.

LANGUAGE AND SPELLING: Lessons focused on the following skills: analogies, collective
nouns,
homophones, homographs, tongue twisters, synonyms, antonyms, suffixes, compound words
and
sentences, words in context, possessives, and contractions.

SOCIAL STUDIES: Reading and technology were integrated using reports on inventors.
Students will
do web quests on the U.S. National Parks. Comparing and converting skyscraper heights
around the
globe, integrated math and map work.

Thank you,

Mrs. Leahy

On the Pampas is the current story and skills include: generalizing, drawing
conclusions, and
learning about beef and dairy cattle and life on ranches.




JANUARY-FEBRUARY, 2009 NEWSLETTER

GRADE 4

Welcome back to school after a peaceful, joyful and restful Christmas vacation.

Another terrific thank you to the fourth grade performers who sang and had dialogue in
the
Christmas Concert. You made the day special for your families, friends and the entire
school
community. What a glorious way to praise God with our voices joined in song.

Math knowledge and skills are practiced daily so the mathematicians can apply what
theyve
learned and scaffold their comprehension. We mastered adding/subtracting alike
fractions.
Multiplying fractions has also been introduced. The scholars will venture converting
fractions
into equivalent fractions. Long division using single, double and triple digit
divisors is done
regularly. These computations include quotients without remainders as well as, with
remainders.
Multiplication is linked to division so we multiply our division problems as a method
pf
checking our computations. Therefore, work is checked for accuracy and multiplication
can be
practiced so students stay current.

Language arts included many skills including summarizing, sequencing, homophones,
synonyms,
antonyms, adjectives and writing. The entire writing process was reviewed and is being
implemented. Cross-curricular stories such as Into the Sea have science components.
Descriptive
stories were written using indentation, capitalization, punctuation, correct spelling
and
adjectives. Water color drawings will enhance our concept of the oceans biodiversity
and the
artwork will be proudly displayed in the hall. Mrs. Kalble will assist with the
project by
having the students do their descriptive stories in Word and insert graphics into the
text.
Formatting will also be reviewed.

Sparkle was played so spelling skills stay sharp. This game requires total focus
because the
student thats called must know the next letter of the word being spelled. The game is
intense
but the students thrive in it and enjoy the challenge. The word that no one spelled
correctly
was onomatopoeia. Are you able to spell it and give its definition?

The group skyscrapers are coming in for Catholic Schools Week and the architecture is
amazing.
As you know, fine arts is included because were working with Mr. Peyovich on recording
our
background construction songs and The Picasso structure will be displayed as part of
our
project.

Please join us for Catholic Schools Week to celebrate your childrens success!

Thank you for your support and caring,

Mrs. Leahy