Dear Parents,

Welcome to fourth grade!  We’re doing a job share this year.  Ashley Collins will teach Math, Reading, and Writing in the morning.  Ben Needham will teach Storyline, Art, Oregon, and Science in the afternoon.  We’ve been working together for ten years and have an excellent working relationship.  We are looking forward to combining our talents in order to provide a challenging and engaging fourth grade experience for your child.  Also, we have similar values and expectations regarding student behavior and achievement.

For several weeks we’ll be discussing and practicing manners.  Please reinforce this with praise when you notice your child saying “please” and “thank you”.  We’ll be encouraging children to look others in the eye and to give verbal responses when spoken to.

This year the students will be given homework on school nights, Monday through Thursday.  Students will be expected to do half-an-hour of homework on these nights, no more and no less.  After completing the homework sheet, students are to finish up the half hour by silent reading. If the assigned work takes too long, please sign the sheet for your child and it will be considered finished. Generally speaking, We’d like each child to spend at least fifteen minutes of the homework time reading.  Further, we support parents making judgments as to whether the time has been used wisely.  Typically homework sheets aren’t too challenging and are meant for reinforcement of what we’re studying in class.  Encourage your child to select an appropriate place to do his/her homework.  Preferably this will be a quiet, well-lit spot that’s out of sight of the television.  For the written work I’d like students to use a desk or table rather than their lap.

Students may bring a healthy snack for the morning if they wish.  Fruit, cut vegetables, dried fruit, and nuts are all good choices.  Please, nothing involving chocolate, candy, or salty snacks.

Finally, our classroom becomes hot during the warm days.  Your child may bring a water bottle to have on his or her desk.  We ask, however, that children only bring plain, unsweetened water.

Curriculum

Math: I’ve enclosed a parent letter explaining our first unit called Arrays and Shares.  An area of emphasis will be helping every student to memorize the multiplication facts, 2’s through 9’s.

Reading: We’re reading Matilda, a classic children’s novel by Roald Dahl.  The class will continue guiding reading groups and silent reading.

Writing: Students are writing their autobiographies.

Art: The class has made contour line drawings and “fireworks”.  These are now on display in our classroom.

Oregon: The first area of focus is maps and mapmaking.

Story: Sasquatch by Oregon author, Roland Smith.

Dates to Remember

Friday, September 11th PTA Potluck @ 6:00 P.M.

Tuesday, September 15th PTA Meeting @ 6:30 P.M.

Wednesday, September 16th 2 hours late opening

Wednesday, September 23rd School pictures

Thursday, September 24th Back to School Night & Dinner @ 6:00 P.M.

If you ever have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me.  You may call the school and leave a message (503-916-6431) or email (bneedham@pps.k12.or.us and acollins@pps.k12.or.us).  You’re welcome to visit our class anytime.

Sincerely,

Ashley Collins                   Ben Needham