Quarter One, Week Two

Hello families,


Week Two:
We hope your weekend has been restful and refreshing. I'm sure our scholars are enjoying a little break from the routine and study of our first week of school. Though third grade wasn't easy, fourth is a whole new challenge. Our goal is to develop their inner drive to accomplish something that challenges them. The easy thing to do is to choose the road of least resistance. Great things happen when we are willing to pursue the difficult.


Upcoming Lessons: 

Math:
The students studied whole numbers last week and will be tested on their understanding on Tuesday. The class performed a practice test on Friday, that was assessed and sent home with them over the weekend. Monday, we will offer extra help to those who need it, in order to prepare our scholars for their test on Tuesday.
Our scholars will be working on estimating and rounding in Unit 1, Chapter 2. This is a quick chapter and they will have another test on Thursday or Friday, depending on their understanding of the concepts.

Grammar & Writing:
Last week, students reviewed the four kinds of sentences and nouns. On Tuesday, they will take their first Grammar Test. The test is lengthy, but I believe most scholars will perform well on it. Last week was a lot of review for our scholars.
Study Tip:
Sentences
- The four kinds of sentences: declarative, exclamatory, interrogative, and imperative (definitions and examples of each).
- Label the five parts of complete sentences: capital letter, subject, verb, end mark, and complete sense.
Nouns:
- Match nouns to the four types of nouns: person, place, thing, or idea.
- Make singular nouns plural.
- Make proper nouns plural.
(Our scholars will be instructed to take home their Grammar Notebooks. Inside is where all their definitions and examples live. This will help you know what they should study).
After our test on Tuesday, students will then look at how to classify and diagram very simple sentences (sentences that only possess a subject and a verb). There will be a much shorter test on this later in the week.

History:
In history, our scholars will conclude their study of geography and will take their first test on Wednesday. There is a study guide for this test in their history notebooks (p. 17). Monday and Tuesday will be spent reviewing the concepts from this chapter.
Study Tip: 
- Memorization of key vocabulary helps students be more confident in their answers. An online practice is listed here.
On Thursday and Friday, we will begin our unit on the Middle Ages. They will begin by reviewing the glory that was Rome and its crumble. Expect them to be inspired and want to take a visit to the ancient city when they get home this weekend.

Literature: If math, science, history, and grammar lend themselves to causing some student stress, literature is where they find relief. Next week, students will read chapters 5, 6, and 7 of The Princess and the Goblin. Ask your child how the book is going. They have all been thoroughly engaged in the process and verbal analyzation we do in the classroom.
On Friday, we will turn our eyes to take a look at The Book of Virtues by William Bennet. Scholars will partake in legends, myths, Biblical stories, biographies, and poems during even weeks (2, 4, 6, & 8) of each quarter. The purpose of each reading and seminar afterward is to discuss the situations the characters find themselves in and the virtue that can be gleaned from their noble or ignoble decisions and actions.
Year Readings:
"The King and His Hawk"
"Hellen Keller and Anne Sullivan"
"David and Goliath"
"The Story of Cincinnatus"
"St. George and the Dragon"
"As Rich as Croesus"
"The Sin of Omission"
"Damon and Pythias"
"Keep Your Eyes on the Prize"
"Can't, Jonathan and David"
"Nathan Hale"
"George Washington's Rules of Civility"
"Icarus and Daedalus"
"O, Captain My Captain"
"Dolley Madison Saves the National Pride"

Poetry:
Last week, we discussed the poem "Humanity" by Elma Stuckey. At some point during week three, students will be asked to present the poem before the class or to Miss Kogler or Mrs. Arnold. This is a great poem for discussion at home. The ideas and themes our scholars picked out of the poem last week were so intriguing. "Clarence" by Shel Silverstein will also be read and discussed this week, but our scholars are not expected to recite this poem.

Greek and Latin Roots:
Students will begin their Greek and Latin roots flashcards, this week. Students should review these a few nights a week. Their notecards are kept in their backpacks so they should have them available every night. The study of Greek and Latin roots is cumulative, they will be tested on:
25 - End of First Quarter
50 - End of Second Quarter
75 - End of Third Quarter
100 - End of Fourth Quarter

Idiom: Ask your child to explain the idiom, "as the crow files." This week we will be taking a look at the idiom, "blow hot and cold." Students are not tested on idioms, but you may find it enjoyable to hear how your child understands them.

Science:
Scholars will begin the week with a mass, volume, density lab on Monday. On Tuesday and Thursday, they will have their first Science quizzes. I will give some support on these first quizzes in respect to what the students should study and know. They will also learn about the following topics: vacuums, elements and the periodic table, atomic numbers and mass, and mixtures and solutions.

Spalding:
Last week, students were introduced to Spalding, some for the first time and some for the fifth time. Some scholars may think that their handwriting is as good as it's going to get. We have been working on some very simple fixes to enhance our handwriting. If you take notice, use these tips at home:
- Hold the pencil correctly. Lightly grip the pencil between the thumb and middle finger, allow the pencil to rest on the pointer finger, not the space between the thumb and pointer finger.
- Sit up tall.
- Arms gently laid on desk.
This week, students will be working through lowercase and uppercase cursive letters and the rule pages in their Spalding notebooks. This will be the last week fo Spalding with no homework.

MCC:
On most days of the week, I give the students a short reading and comprehension activity. These are graded every day and reviewed together. Please keep a lookout for these at home. They are the primary way we determine how your child's comprehension skills are.
Study Tip:
- One of the best ways to increase reading comprehension is to read with your child at home. Asking them questions about what you read together, allows them to relax and describe how they comprehended the text.

Graded Work:
Our greatest concern for your child is his or her moral virtue -- responsibility, honesty, integrity, and wisdom. Your children will hear us say, it isn't about the grade you receive, it is about the effort and care you put into your work. Students who possess these virtues and others often find that intellectual virtue follows close behind.
Grades do not indicate a child's overall ability level or intelligence. They are the map to your child's current success or mastery in a specific subject (like science) or skill (like studying). If your child receives an F on something, it doesn't mean they are a failure, it means they need more practice and instruction.

Reasons your child may surprise you with a D or F:
- Lack of understanding of the material.
- Poor teaching tactics on the teacher's behalf.
- Prior knowledge not present to understand the new information.
- Poor study habits.
- A learning challenge caused by some past trauma or present disability.

Think of the grading system as an alert system. If a poor grade surfaces, it alerts us that our scholar needs attention. Fourth grade is the perfect place to make mistakes, learn from them, and grow as a learner. It will take time for our scholars to become well versed in making mistakes and growing from them.

If you receive a quiz or test back and the grade is not what you want or would have expected, please understand that you are not the only parent going through this painful experience. Your child may start to think that they aren't smart because they failed a history quiz at the beginning of the year. Or, after the first math test, they may see an F or D and think they are just bad at math. None of this is likely the case. Your child is helping us pinpoint where they need more practice, better to find this at the beginning of the year than the middle or the end.

Tests and Quizzes:
We will never give your child a test without giving them fair warning, of at least one school day. Quizzes are worth much less than tests and it is a quick assessment for us as teachers, to evaluate who needs more practice and who is ready for the next challenge. Sometimes, these will be given without prior warning. Our goal is not to cause our students anxiety, but to show them what they can be proud of learning and what they need help with. Expect quizzes and tests to be issued regularly. What we have found in the past, is that after the initial shock of a quiz or test wears of, the scholar is left with a sense of accomplishment that they were able to recall what they learned and use it. Those that are don't feel this sense of accomplishment, may need more time on the subject or skill.

We realize that this is a lot of information that may take some time to process. Please reach out to us if you have any questions regarding this week's homework or concerns regarding your child. Mrs. Arnold and I are looking forward to another great week at Archway Arete.