Dear 4D Parents,

It was a pleasure meeting with you all last week during our conferences. I enjoyed our conversations and I am confident we will have a very successful quarter. We had a great first week back and I am so thankful for all the birthday wishes, gift cards, cards and presents. I am honored to teach such a wonderful class and to have such a supportive group of parents and students.

We are in the middle of the Who's Reading Program and I hope your child has been enjoying being a part of the conversations. This program will culminate with Literary Day on October 31st. A permission slip went out last week that you need to fill out if your child is planning on dressing up for this day. Please have them turn that in this week, if they have not done so already.

This week's academics:

We will be writing an opinion paragraph in class throughout the week. We will have a quick check for vocabulary and characters on Chapters 1-8 of Prince Caspian on Monday. In grammar, we will begin learning about prepositions.

This week in math, we will finish our first fraction unit by studying how to convert from an improper fraction to a mixed number. We will review for our unit test on Thursday and Friday, and the test will be on Mon., Oct. 30.

This week students will learn about some rare geological features including geysers, hot springs, fumaroles, and mud pots. The students will learn about the four types of mountains and three types of rocks. The science test is moved to Monday, October 30th.

This week in in History we will continue our study of Feudalism. Students will play the role of lords and serfs and create their own medieval manor layout. We will have a review day on Thursday providing an overview of Middle Ages thus far. On Friday students will have a quiz on the Middle Ages. The review on Thursday and their Thursday night homework sheet will help to prepare them for Friday's quiz.
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This quarter, we've begun a system for participation. It's called STAR which stands for Sit up, Tract the speaker, Ask/Answer questions, Respect our space. Each Monday, we will send out a report on how well your child did the previous week in these areas.

Needed for the classroom: Tissues, and hand sanitizer.  

Sincerely,
Mr. Bergeron

Dear 4D Parents:

Welcome back! I hope you and your family had a wonderful break. I am eager to begin this next quarter, and of course meet  with you all at conferences this week.

We are in the middle of the Who's Reading Program and I hope your child has been enjoying being a part of the conversations. This program will culminate with Literary Day on October 31st, where your child can dress as their favorite character in Literature.

Academics this week:

We will pick up ELA with sentence revisions and continued understanding of setting. The students will receive their copy of Paul Revere's Ride which includes the dates to memorize the stanzas by. This poem is the fourth grade project and will be recited January 8-10. It is a daunting task but if they keep up with the plan, it will be completed well and worth the effort.

In math this week, we will continue studying fractions. We will learn about mixed numbers and improper fractions and how to convert from one to another. Please continue practicing multiplication and division facts with your student, because these facts keep recurring as we explore concepts relating to fractions.

As you practice math facts I recommend using the Rocket Math App. I have included a link (under Helpful Links in the right hand margin of this blog. This is a fun way to have your child learn their facts. I encourage you to utilize this or something similar.

In science, we will continue our study of volcanoes. We will discuss the types and parts of volcanoes, and types of lava. The students will learn about famous volcanoes such as Mount St. Helens and Mount Vesuvius.

This week in history we will continue learning about the Middle Ages. We will focus on feudalism and the hierarchy of kings, lords, knights and serfs. We will focus more specifically on the role of serfs as we progress through the week.

I'm looking forward to meeting with each of you during our scheduled conference time this week.

Sincerely,
Mr. Bergeron

Dear 4D Parents,


We are about to begin our final week of the First Quarter!  We have shared so many great memories as a class, and I am truly fortunate to be able to teach such an amazing group of scholars. I am looking forward to more great memories as we continue through this year.

 Here are some important dates that are coming up:

• 10-3 - 4th Grade Coffee Talk from 8:15 - 9:30 a.m.
• 10-6 - Early dismissal - 12:30
• 10/9-10/13 - Fall Break
• 10/16-10/18 - Mandatory Parent/Teacher conferences (10/18 conferences in the afternoon)
• 10-18 - School resumes, second quarter begins

Our Scholastic Book Fair Is in full swing. Here is the link for our book fair, if you'd like to order online http://www.scholastic.com/bf/archwayclassicalacadlincoln

We will not have a regular library time this Thursday. Instead, the students will have the option to purchase items from the book fair during our scheduled library time. If you would like to browse the items with your child, please feel free to come by the book fair when it is open.

Book Fair Hours:

• Monday, Tuesday, Friday: 7:25-8:30am, 12:00-1:00pm and 3:00-4:30pm
• Wednesday: 7:25-8:30am and 12:15 - 4:30pm
• Thursday: 7:25-8:30am, 12:00-1:00pm and 3:00-7:00pm

Parents will be able to enter through the parent walk up gate and go to the library during the morning and afternoon hours. They will need to sign into the office during the lunch hour times.

Parent/Teacher Conferences: 
4D Homeroom Parents please sign up here

http://signup.com/go/YkkEchK

Conferences are for parents only.

Thank you so much for your continued partnership!

Literature Groups will take place each Tuesday from 11:30-12:00. This is a chance for volunteers (who have been fingerprinted) to come in and listen to a group of students read and then ask some prepared questions. The students always enjoy this time to spend with parents.

There will be a Sign-up Genius link sent out for volunteers.
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Academics this week:

We will introduce the literary concept of theme during literature and continue describing the characters that are introduced in the chapters of Prince Caspian we will read this week. On Friday, we will have the spelling/phonogram test and the students will individually recite the poem "The Violet".

In math this week, we'll continue our study of fractions. We will discuss comparing and ordering fractions with different denominators and adding and subtracting fractions with the same denominator. We will also continue practicing putting fractions in simplest form. **This is a key skill in fractions, one that requires fluency in multiplication and division facts. If possible, please review these math facts with your child at home!

We will go over the study guide for the second geology test on Monday and take the test on Tuesday. Then we began the last unit of geology with volcanoes.

This week in history we will continue our study of the Middle Ages. We will focus on the rise of feudalism and examine the relationship between kings, lords, knights and serfs.  Students will study heraldry and why it the importance to knights in the Middle Ages. Students will also make their own coat of arms using symbols and designs of the Middle Ages.
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Thank you for helping to make this quarter a success, I truly appreciate your support!
I'll see you at you scheduled conference. Please let me know if you have any questions. I hope you have a wonderful break.

Mr. Bergeron

Dear 4D parents,

I hope you had a relaxing weekend and your child is ready for another exciting week!

Important Dates:

• 9-29 - Early dismissal - 12:30 (In-Service day for teachers)
• 9-29 - Second Annual Literacy Night and Read-a-Thon Kick-Off - gates open at 5:00 p.m.
• 10-3 - 4th Grade Coffee Talk from 8:15 - 9:30 a.m.
• 10-6 - Early dismissal - 12:30
• 10/9-10/13 - Fall Break
• 10/16-10/18 - Mandatory Parent/Teacher conferences (10-18 conferences in the afternoon)
• 10-18 - School resumes, second quarter begins

We will begin literacy groups this week. Our time for this will be Tuesdays from 11:30-12:00. This is a chance for volunteers (who have been fingerprinted) to come in and listen to a group of students read and then ask some prepared questions.

Academics this week:

We will start Prince Caspian on Monday. Please make sure your child brings in the book that has the same cover as the one shown in the Current Literature section of this blog. We will continue studying adjectives and classifying and diagramming sentences with them. The poem "The Violet" will be presented Friday, October 6th.

In math this week, we are wrapping up our study of the operations of whole numbers. We spent Friday reviewing these concepts and will continue to review in class on Monday. We will have a test on Tuesday (9/26). Our next topic of study, coming at the end of the week, is fractions!

In geology, we will continue studying earthquakes and begin tsunamis. There will be an assessment on these 2 subjects early next week (Oct. 2nd). The study guide will be handed out this week. 

In history this week we will have a history test on Friday 9/29. The test will cover the Fall of Rome and the rise of Christianity. Study guides will be handed out on Monday and will be filled in throughout the week.  Our focus this week is the study of the rise of the Christian Church after the Fall of Rome. We will explore the life of monks, the importance of monasteries and the missionaries who spread the religion throughout Europe.

>>Here is some information from Mrs. Rockmaker, the music teacher, about the mandatory Fall Concert.
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Fall Concert

Thursday, November 16th at 7pm at the Higley Center For the Performing Arts

Dress Code for Concerts:

Girls must wear a white shirt, with a black skirt (knee length or longer) or dress slacks, and black dress shoes (black tights if desired).

Boys must wear a white collared, button-down shirt, black slacks, black socks and black dress shoes.

The students will be wearing the same attire for the Spring Concert in April.

Some stores that carry appropriate concert attire:
o Macy’s
o JCPenney
o Sears
o Kohl’s
o Target
o Walmart
o Lands’ End (landsend.com)
· Shopstyle.com

Feel free to email me if you have questions.
Sharon Rockmaker
Email: srockmaker@archwaylincoln.org Blog: archwaylincolnmusic.wordpress.com
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Thank you for your continued support!
Mr. Bergeron

Dear 4D Parents:

I hope you enjoyed a nice relaxing weekend.

Important Dates:

• 9-29 - Second Annual Literacy Night and Read-a-Thon Kick-Off - gates open at 5:00 p.m.
• 10-3 - 4th Grade Coffee Talk from 8:15 - 9:30 a.m.
• 10-6 - Early dismissal - 12:30
• 10/9-10/13 - Fall Break
• 10/16-10/18 - Mandatory Parent/Teacher conferences (10-18 conferences in the afternoon)
• 10-18 - School resumes, second quarter begins

This week in Academics:

We finished Pollyanna and will have a quick check on vocabulary and comprehension of chapters 16-30 on Monday 9/18. Before we actually start reading Prince Caspian, we will go over some background information from The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe which most of the students read last year. In Grammar, we will introduce adjectives. There will be a Shakespeare assembly on Friday with a performance of Twelfth Night. We will discuss the play beforehand so your child will know what is it about.

This week in math, we’ll conclude our study of the operations of whole numbers by learning how to multiply 2- and 3- digit numbers by 2-digit numbers. We will take notes in preparation for a test coming up early the week of the 25th. 

This week, students will be assessed on all the concepts covered thus far in geology. We will go over the study guide on Monday and the assessment will be on Tuesday. We will then begin to study earthquakes. Students will be able to explain how stress in the crust changes the earth’s surface, recognize different faults, how they move, and what they are called. Students will be able to understand that there are varying seismic waves and the differences between them.

This week in History we will study The "Dark" Ages and discover why this term is misused. Students will uncover causes and effects that led to the Fall of Rome, and that happened in the period known as the Dark Ages, or more appropriately the Middle Ages. We will begin to explore the major differences between the Eastern and Western Roman Empire that led to a major split in the Christian Church and shaped Western culture. 

Sincerely,

Mr. Bergeron

Dear 4D Parents,

I hope you had a wonderful weekend. We are about to begin another week exciting week!

Important Date this week:

• Love and Logic by Larry Kerby - Tuesday, September 12th from 6:30-8 (This event will benefit all families.)

Academics this week:

In ELA - Your child will recite "Afternoon on a Hill" on Wednesday. Adverbs will be introduced and we will work on classifying and diagramming sentences with these in them. As we finish up Pollyanna this week, we will use these final chapters to practice a summary, dictation, and character development. Our next literature book is Prince Caspian by C. S. Lewis. I've placed the picture of the cover of the book we use in the margin. Please make sure your child brings this book in on Tuesday, September 19th. We continue to have our Spalding and phonogram tests on Fridays.

In math this week, we will continue to explore multiplication and division as well as working on word problems that involve all four operations. We will be starting a math facts program called Rocket Math this week. Rocket Math uses timed tests to help students improve their math fact fluency. We will practice facts in class, and it would be beneficial for your student to spend a few minutes a day reviewing multiplication facts as well. Please let me know if you have any questions about this program as we begin to implement it this week!

We continue in geology with discussions of convection currents and different types of plate boundaries. The study guide for the first assessment will go out this week. The assessment will be the following week.

In History this week we will finish us our study of world mountain ranges before turning our attention to the Geography of Europe. We will examine the major rivers, mountains, and countries of Europe.  Finally, we will study fall of Rome and the beginning of the Middle Ages. 

Please take just 5-10 minutes a day to drill your child on math facts (addition and subtraction, as well as, multiplication and division). Let's make it a goal together, that they will have these down by the time they move on to 5th grade. 

Mr Bergeron

Dear 4D Parents,

We are about to start another exciting week! I hope you all enjoyed a nice and relaxing holiday weekend.

A couple of reminders: Singapore/Spalding Night is tomorrow Tuesday, September 5th from 6:00-7:00 PM in the Archway MPR.

Love and Logic by Larry Kerby - Tuesday, September 12th from 6:30-8 (This event will benefit all families.)

Please be sure to check your child’s Latin Log and Reading Log and initial it. We want to ensure the homework is done and they receive credit for it.

For academics this week:

In math this week, we’ll be reviewing multi-digit addition and subtraction. We’ll practice mental math strategies, estimation, and addition and subtraction word problems. At the end of the week, we’ll start multi-digit multiplication.

This week in History we will learn about the major mountains and mountain ranges around the world. Students will locate these mountains and mountain ranges on a map and gain an understanding of the importance of mountains to civilizations, including how they can be barriers and offer protection or isolate communities. 

This week we are discussing the theories of plate tectonics and continental drift. Students are introduced to the theory of plate tectonics and explore how the theory was developed and supported by evidence. Through class discussion, videos, and activities, students seek connections between tectonic activity and geologic features and investigate how the theory of plate tectonics evolved.

This week in ELA, we will continue in Pollyanna with discussing conflict/resolution and character development. In grammar, we will learn the question-answer flow with subject nouns and verbs. Our spelling list this week will have 20 words due to the shortened week but we will still have 10 phonograms on the test on Friday. 

Thank your continued support, I am looking forward to another great week with 4D!

Mr. Bergeron