Ross / Ellis Weekly Newsletter
August 31, 2018
"Intelligence plus character — that is the goal of true education."
Welcome Back to School!
We will be sending home a weekly newsletter each Friday. This newsletter will keep you up to date on what we will be learning in school, have pictures and videos of fun activities that we do throughout the year, and also notify you of upcoming field trips and other events.
Curriculum Night is Thursday, September 13th
Homework
We believe that homework should be kept to a minimum in order for your child to have enough time available for extracurricular activities, getting outside to play, and getting ample rest.
In Language Arts you should expect your child to have to read 25 minutes each night and on Thursday night your child will also have to do the Parent Writing Sort for spelling. Also, we will send home any work that your child did not complete during the time provided at school to complete at home. Hopefully this will not happen often!
In Social Studies you should expect your child to have to complete an NC Studies Weekly newspaper assignment most weeks. We will begin these in class on Monday and they are due on Friday. Each week your child will be responsible for completing the multiple choice worksheet that accompanies the newspaper. Students are also required to find and underline evidence for each answer in the text. They DO NOT need to complete the crossword puzzle or any other activity within the newspaper.
Math homework will begin next week. It will be given to students each Monday (Tuesday next week due to Labor Day) and will be due on Fridays. Assignments will be simple initially as students learn expectations and routines. Homework will always be practice of skills already taught to students.
In Science, you should expect your child to have to complete an NC Science Studies Weekly (SSW) newspaper assignment most weeks. We will begin these in class together on Mondays and they are due on Friday. Each week your child will be responsible for completing the crossword puzzle on the back page of the newspaper and finding each of these answers in the text. This will not begin for a few weeks, and most students will have time in class to complete this assignment.
Planners
What Will We Be Learning This Week?
Math
We will begin 4th grade math by reviewing strategies for Adding and Subtracting Multi-Digit Numbers. We will use the standard algorithm as well as a few other strategies involving place value understanding. At the same time that we are reviewing these skills, we will be building a math community where students learn to take risks and respect others as we solve problems and analyze data. We will focus on creating a "Mindset for Problem Solving" by emphasizing questioning, understanding, and reasoning about math, not just doing math for the correct answer.
Language Arts
We will begin our first Words Their Way spelling list this week. Usually the lists will be differentiated so that different students will have different lists but this first list is only for practice so we will all do the same list. I hope to have different lists next week.
Since this first list is only for practice it will not count for a grade, although there will be a practice test on Friday. There is no need to study for this test at all.
In 3rd grade students had practice sorts to complete at home but we will be doing them in school in an effort to reduce homework. The exception is Thursday’s Parent Writing Sort. Please complete the Parent Writing Sort with your child this Thursday evening for the purpose of practicing how to do the assignment. Please do not worry if your child struggles with spelling the words because this test will not count for a grade. I just want to make sure that we are ready to do the Parent Writing Sort for the list next week when it will count for a grade.
40 Book Challenge:
This year we will be completing the 40 Book Challenge in our reading class! The idea is that each child will independently read 40 books in an effort to increase the child’s love of reading and reading ability. Although it is not required, it is highly encouraged that all students try to compete this challenge. Students who are successful will be given a celebration at the end of the year! Please see the links below for more information.
Social Studies
Science
Science will begin with the discussion of the three categories of science: Life Science, Earth Science, and Physical Science.
Odds & Ends
Scholastic Book Orders
Upcoming Events
Monday, September 3rd - Labor Day Holiday - NO SCHOOL
Tuesday, September 4th - PTO Meeting 3pm in Media Center
Monday, September 10th - Deadline to turn in Moon Pie Money
Thursday, September 13th - Girl Scout Interest Meeting 6:30-7:30 in Cafeteria
Thursday, September 13th - Curriculum Night
Wednesday, September 26th - Progress Reports
Friday, October 12th - Blackburn Blast
Contact Info
Email: fletcher_ross@catawbaschools.net
Location: 4377 West Hwy 10 Newton, NC 28658
Phone: (828) 466-7065