Oct 28-Nov 1

My apologies for a late post!  I won't bore you with my evening, but here it is LATE after a night of hockey and meetings and family time! 

Here is a quick curriculum update:
1. We have just finished our first pattern unit in exploration.  We will revisit the pattern unit about four - five times this year. 
2. In math we are moving into adding and subtracting 3 and 4 digit numbers.  An area of help for this unit is using MathFactsPro DAILY (for five minutes).  Once students are able to quickly recall their math facts, the strategy of how to add and subtract falls into place. 
3. Lastly, we are finishing up on the Lights & Shadows unit in Science.  There will be a test on Wednesday this week.  Our next unit is Gears, Levers, Axles, Pulleys & Simple Machines.  I love this unit! 

The week at a glance:
Monday

• Fundraising envelopes were due back in today!  That was my fault to not write in the agenda last week.  If you still have them at home, please return them so we can get a grand total.

Tuesday

• Library today!
• Leaps & Bounds program will be starting.  This is taught to us by the nursing students from the UofL.  It is a 5 lesson program to discuss being tobacco free.

 Wednesday

• Science test 

Thursday

• HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
• Parade at 8:45 a.m.  Please send your child dressed in costume.  You may also want to send a change of clothes. 
• HOT lunch day!
• Energy Day Assembly 12:30 p.m.

Friday

• DANCE -A- THON  

Logins & Usernames

Hi Parents,
Just to clear up some confusion.  I asked all students to write in their agenda their Spelling City username (first 6 of their last name and first two of their first name...with a FEW exceptions) and the password (nelsonkr).  Secondly, MathFactsPro as well.  They will need to know the class is nelsonkr; their name as a login and the password is nelsonkr.

Hope this helps! 

Thank you for the support!
Mrs. Nelson

Oct 21 - 25

Morning!  Welcome to another short week which is fun packed of goodness and learning!  Remind your child that they should be reading daily (don't forget to write the time and book down in the agenda on the calendar page) as well as practicing their math basic facts.  Ask them what the site is that we have been using in class. 

We will be having a Lights & Shadows science test "EARLY" next week.  I will be sending home a copy of the questions that students should be able to answer as well as doing an in-class review game next week. 

We are heading into our second week of fundraising.  If you have filled in your envelope, have your child return it to class.  Thank you!  The funds will be dispersed back to school in a variety of ways.  Ms. Scheldrup did announce this morning a few of the incentives and at $2000, the students will receive a longer recess break!  At $5000, the students will enjoy a popcorn party! 

Monday

• Remember to return your signed Friday letter.
• Library books returned
• Please go vote.  It is our civic duty to do so and it will have an impact on our children.  

Tuesday

• Tone it up Tuesday.  Remember to bring a water bottle.  Parents, if you would like to join us for a workout, you are welcome to come and sweat it out.  It is always nice to have the role models in the crowd of how to do different activities and such.  The time is 2:10-2:40. 
• I will be away this afternoon for an appointment.  Mrs. Wenaas will be in with the kids
• Spelling City assignment is due.

Wednesday

• IN CLASS field trip - - Scientists in School will be here to teach an interactive morning of Lights & Shadows.  If you would like to join us, please let me know ahead of time.  
• New Spelling City assignment will be in place

Thursday

• Today is a half day of school. (morning only!)  This afternoon staff of Galbraith will be completing our Leader in Me training.  Have a great afternoon students!

Friday

• No school today.  Leader in Me training for staff.
• Your homework this weekend is to enjoy the leaves and outside.  Possibly too, carve a pumpkin! 

Oct 14-18

Welcome to a short week! I hope you had a great weekend together with your family. As your children enjoy the day off tomorrow, there are a few websites they can look into.
1. Raz-kids. This is linked on the gal.lethsd.ab.ca website. This is a great reading website at their level and counts for home reading too!
2. Mathfactspro.com I introduced this site last week in computer class and it is a great five minute a day practice of basic facts.
3. Spelling City. Again, this will have an assignment attached each week in which your child will have two weeks to complete.
A few other reminders:
**We will be hosting a clothing exchange next week. If you have some clothing to donate, bring it in before Friday.
**Picture retakes will be on October 21st.
**With Halloween approaching I want to explain how we do things a little differently at the Grade 4 level. We don't do an official Halloween party with snacks rather we have a Halloween-themed-curriculum-based afternoon. We feel that with the kids going trick-or-treating they need an afternoon full of treats as well (and we just had a movie and popcorn party too!). We will still have fun and we are looking forward to seeing the kids' cosutmes! Just a reminder that the students will come to school in the morning dressed to do the Halloween parade and the afternoon will consist of the Energy Day Assembly and fun centers. Feel free for you child to bring a change of clothing if they don't want to spend the entire day in their costume.

Week at a glance:
Monday

• Happy Thanksgiving

Tuesday

• PL Day (I am attending a session in Medicine Hat in regards to the Leader in Me)

Wednesday

• Welcome back!!

Thursday

• I will have a sub (Mrs. Smith) in for me today and tomorrow.  I will be in the building and I know that the students will have a great couple of days.

Friday

• Frolicking Friday

Oct 7-11

It's hard to believe we are venturing into the sixth week of school.  There has been a lot of learning happening in these walls!  And I do want to say thank you to you - parents - for supporting the homework assignments that come home as well as home reading.  Lastly, if you ever have questions regarding homework, please don't hesitate to email me.  If the question pertains to social, please direct them to Mrs. Morrison.  You can email her at colleen.morrison@lethsd.ab.ca

I'm sure to that your child came home on Friday, pumped and buzzing with excitment over Enrichment Friday's.  The first day was truly a success!  We will have three rounds throughout the year with your child being able choose their options.  They give a ranking of 1, 2, or 3 and the committee then tries their best to place them within one of those three choices.

A few announcements:
1. The home reading tracking should be occuring on the October monthly calendar pages.  Your child should be reading for at least 15 minutes a night. 
2.Mr. Davidson is starting a Choir on Wednesdays.  Children will eat their lunch with Mr. Davidson and then sing their hearts away! 
3. I will be introducing Spelling City in computers on Wednesday.  This is an online spelling tool to help with words and working with words.  I have paid for the program and all students have access to it from home.  Eery two weeks, expect a new assignment to come home. Students will be given some time in class to get started, then they will have two weeks to complete the assignments from home. The username for the site is their school login, and the password is my last name. This week the words are homophones (or sound alike words). They are at a grade 4 level and this may or may not be the right level for your child. Don't worry. Assignments will soon be tailored to meet individual students' needs.

Here is a quick recap of the upcoming week:

Monday:

• Library books due
• Friday letters to be handed in
• Social poster due (and a little in class quiz)

Tuesday

• Library today!
• Tone it up Tuesday

Wednesday

• Picture money due

Thursday

• Our first Wanted Assignments Reward Day will take place. Students are invited to wear their pyjamas, bring one stuffy (that can fit in a backpack), and a G-rated movie to vote on. Students who have been proactive about their school work will be permitted to watch the movie and enjoy some popcorn from me. Students who are not caught up will be given the opportunity to complete any outstanding assignments and then join the party afterwards. After all, first things first!

Friday

• Enrichment Friday!
• Frolicking Friday....be prepared for the weather.
• Hot lunch money due