October/November Events!!!!!!!

Dear Families,

Happy Monday! Halloween is less than a week away and I would like to have a Friday celebration. Are there any parent volunteers out there who would be willing to join us at approximately 12:30pm to celebrate? Let me know! I also need a donation of treats (Halloween cupcakes, drinks, napkins, etc....). Students can bring their costumes to wear during our celebration or wear them all day - please no scary masks!! Let me know if you can volunteer!!!

Other upcoming events include the following:

• Wednesday, November 4th, 1:30-6:30pm/Student-led Conferences. The sign-up sheet for conferences is right outside my classroom door.
• Thursday, November 12th, 5-8pm/Dinner, parent meeting, and exibition of "All About Me" project.
• Thanksgiving Break - November 23rd- 27th
• December 7th- 11th/Borders Book Sale Fundraiser. Take your flyer into Borders, buy books, and 15% of your purchase goes to IA. The parent meeting on Thursday, December 10th will actually be held at Borders and will include student performances (stay-tuned for more information).
• Parent arranged Fall Festival in IA parking lot - date to be announced.

I hope you can make any or all of the dates above. If you have questions, please let me know!

During the school day, your children are starting to learn about 8 to Great during our morning meeting time. This program is designed to teach life skills for success. After our morning meeting we study new words (students are also practicing "acting" the words out) and grammar. In our daily writing program, students are in the midst of writing their autobiographical narrative into paragraphs. After they finish, we will be looking over their writing for revisions and final editing. In writing as well as other activities here at IA, we are committed to excellence and beautiful work. In math, we are almost finished with Geometry! Students will be assessed today and be moving on to the next unit. During this unit, students will be taking an imaginary tour of the world. They will learn about the countries they visit and the people that live there. Additionally, they will be collecting and examining numerical data and become more aware of the "use of numbers". For Social Studies/Reading/Math, we are reading a book called Patty Reed's Doll . We are looking at a young girl's trip from Illinois to California through the eyes of her doll. Students are learning why people moved to California in the mid-1800's, what it was like to travel in a covered wagon, the hardships that was endured, and for the math portion we will be calculating time needed to travel a certain number of miles. This week we will also be singing camp songs, drawing and coloring covered wagons, and pressing flowers like our pioneer girl in the story. For science, we will "kick-off" learning about ecosystems with our field trip to Mission Trails which is scheduled for Wednesday, October 28th from 9:30am-1:00pm. Students are being asked to bring a bag lunch, so we can picnic after the tour. Please also send your child with a $1 donation to cover the cost and I need volunteer divers, so contact me immediately if you can drive. Ask your children about their enriching MAPS activities!

I think that's it for now! As always, please contact me with questions or concerns reagrding your child's education here at IA.

Sincerely,

Kim Brunetto

Dear Families,

We are finishing up the "Me Project" and are ready to head forward with our learning. As you know, we will be going on our first field trip on Thursday the 15th of October to the Serra Museum in Presidio Park in San Diego. This field trip will "kick-off" our study of California history, a fourth grade standard. Please be sure to be at school before 9am as I would like to have all the students in vehicles and ready to drive to the site at 9am sharp! After the docent-led tour, we will enjoy a picnic in the park, so please be sure to send a bagged lunch with your child.

In math right now we are learning studying Geometry. Students are drawing, describing, and playing games to recognize polygons as well as practicing math facts. We are also practicing vocabulary by using a program called "Wordly Wise." Some of these higher level words are actually showing up in student writing. Yeah! We have been doing a lot of writing with the "Me Project". One of the most exciting pieces is an autobiographical narrative that students have put a few weeks into planning. I think you will be impressed and see growth even from their first writing project. The program I am using comes from the Learning Headquarters, a well-respected curriculum in the teaching world!

We will be exibiting work from the "All About Me" project on October 29th. Stay-tuned for more details.

On November 4th, that is a Wednesday, we are having student led conferences. Please come in and sign up for a time that works best for you. Please feel free to email me also with a time that works best for you. The conferences will last 15 minutes and the first one will start at 1:15. If this date does not work for you we can schedule for another date. I will be sending a form home that you should go over with your student prior to the conference.

Hope everyone is well! You all have amazing kids and we are really making progress and are absorbing so much. Keep the communication open. If you have any questions or comments let me know.

Kim