PICTURE DAY IS COMING!!

Dear Families,
"Picture Day" is coming! I sent home packets with your child today, so if you would like a picture of your child please be sure to get the paperwork completed and returned to me before Monday, October 5th. Fourth grade students will be photographed at 9:35am on that day.
Students have been busy at work in a variety of areas. One of the exciting programs I just started that is meant to increase your child's vocabulary by 100's of words is called Wordly Wise. Your children were introduced to 15 new words today. Throughout the week they will be engaged in meaningful activities in order to master meanings as well as spelling. Each week we also work on 10 additional words children already know, but that are spelling demons. For instance, there, their, and they're. They have also been introduced to four types of sentences. Ask them about powerful sentences and if they can describe for you a "Double the Who" or "Triple-Decker sentence. We will be reviewing these types of sentences on numerous occasions. They will use them in their autobiographical narrative that we started planning last week.
In math, we are studying Geometry. We have talked about lines, rays, and line segments and started talking about angles today. In order to make math more hands-on we have looked at line segments on actual blue prints, used geoboards to create line segments, created angles with straws and twist ties, and will be building geometric solids. In project math, students will also be graphing information on all students' career choices and their future incomes. I'm hoping to compete the graphs this week, but at this point only a few students have looked up their career income. It would be great if you could sit down with your child and look on the computer or in a library book regarding their future career choice. In addition to graphing the income, I also want them to understand what they will be doing in their chosen work and where they might have to move in the country to work in their field (geography).
For the "All About Me" project, students have made scrapbook covers, they all need to have completed a second interview with their parents, and have started to decorate their shoes in a way that represents who they are. Additionally most of them have completed writing about a summer activity they enjoyed. Stop by and read the writing posted on the bulletin board outside my room. This week students will be bringing home a family tree to complete. If you have photos of any of the people on the family tree that can be copied for their scrapbook, please send them along. Any stories about their relatives will also make the family tree come alive! I appreciate your efforts!! Students are also reading books of their choice and completing book reports. This part of the project has two purposes. For one, students and I will understand the type of fiction they prefer and two, they will understand the elements of plot.
Finally, we are beginning to touch on map skills and we will soon be looking at ecosystems for science.
If you have any questions, please feel free to email. I am looking for a room parent to help me with the student store. If you are interested, please let me know and I will explain what is needed. Also, the kindergarten teacher, DeeDee and I want to have a used book, DVD, and game sale; however, we need donations. We would love for you to make more space on your shelves for new books and get rid of the old ones. Donations can be dropped off in my room.

Thanks for your caring,
Kim