Week of February 25 - March 1

Families of 4C,

It’s hard to believe there are only two weeks left in the quarter! Our students are still going strong every day, setting a great example of behavioral expectations!

We have had a reported case of Conjunctivitis (pink eye) in our class. Keep an eye out for the letter that was sent home on 2/22 with more information from Nurse Walters.

As a reminder, all students need to have a pair of headphones or earbuds accessible at school. In an effort to get our kids comfortable using them in preparation for AzMERIT, I’d like them to bring them in as soon as possible. My goal is to have students use them during Khan Academy and Typing Quest so they are used to wearing them for the state tests in Spring, where they will need them for audio-related questions on the test. Thanks!

Grade reports will be sent out after week 8.

This Week:

Writing/Grammar: This week, students will be continuing their writing project about comparing and contrasting fast geologic processes, and slow geologic processes. This writing project will carry over for science this week as well. Throughout the week, students will have a grammar review packet for homework. On Thursday, they will be taking a practice test in class to prepare for their cumulative review test on Friday, March 1.

History: History tests and quizzes will be open-note for the remainder of the school year. Since all tests and quizzes are open-note, spelling counts! As long as students take effective notes in class, they should have all the information they need for the exam. This week, students will be learning about Valley Forge and John Paul Jones as they continue through their study of the American Revolution.

Literature: In literature, we will be continuing our reading of Carry on, Mr. Bowditch. Students will continue to have regular journal entries as part of their literature participation grade.

Math: On Monday, students will be taking their test on rounding decimals. Through the middle of the week, students will be doing a cumulative review over factors, order of operations, fractions, decimals, shapes (area, perimeter, diameter, radius, types of triangles, etc.), and geometric solids. They will take their cumulative review test on Thursday, February 28. On Friday, students will learn how to add and subtract decimals.

Poetry: Students will continue their memorization for the poem, “Paul Revere’s Ride,” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Students will recite their stanza of the poem next week on Thursday, March 7.

Greek and Latin Roots: Students will learn Greek and Latin roots 73-75. The review check for this Wednesday will be over roots 70-72.

Science: This week, students will be continuing their writing project about comparing and contrasting fast geologic processes, and slow geologic processes. This writing project will carry over for writing this week as well.

Spalding: This week, students will be studying their next 30 words, approval ----- err. We will typically study 30 words every week; however, this is subject to change by a word or two from week to week depending on word groupings. A family member should dictate the words to the student each night for homework. Students will review words on Thursday and take the final test on Friday.


I hope you all have a restful weekend!

--Mrs. Conforti

Week of February 19-22

Families of 4C,

Both our field trip to the State Capitol and our Great Hearts’ Day Celebrations were very successful! Thank you to all who volunteered your time, or supplied us with goodies!

There is no school on Monday, February 18, in observance of Presidents’ Day.

Our class will be visiting the library on Friday, February 22, from 9:00-9:15.

Friday, February 22, is Spirit Wear Day! Students are permitted to wear a spirit shirt with uniform pants.

Here’s an article about sugar and the brain if you are interested in reading more about its impacts: https://www.learningliftoff.com/the-effects-of-sugar-on-a-childs-academic-performance/.
I know I personally struggle with my own sugar consumption, but I find the mornings I have a healthy snack with more protein or vitamins, my own focus and endurance are much stronger throughout the duration of the day. When I came across this article, I thought some families may find it useful and I wanted to share it out!

This Week:

Writing: This week, students will be doing a writing project about rocks, soil, weathering, and erosion. This writing assignment will carry over for science this week as well.

History: History tests and quizzes will be open-note for the remainder of the school year. Since all tests and quizzes are open-note, spelling counts! As long as students take effective notes in class, they should have all the information they need for the exam. On Tuesday, students will take their test over chapters 1-14 and will have their study guides on pages 219 and 220 due (#10 and #11 are from future chapters, and will be extra credit). They will continue through the American Revolution studies throughout the remainder of the week by learning about the battle of Saratoga and early America after the Declaration.

Literature: In literature, we will be continuing our reading of Carry on Mr. Bowditch. As a reminder, ALL students need to have a copy of this book. Currently, half of the students in our class do not have this book. If you are truly unable to supply a copy, your child may check this book out from the school library on Friday.

Math: This week, students will continue practicing decimals. On Wednesday, we will have Khan Academy after the students finish their test on thousandths. Later in the week, we will be studying rounding decimals and students will be tested on this concept on Friday.

Poetry: Students will continue their memorization for the poem, “Paul Revere’s Ride,” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Students will recite their stanza of the poem on Thursday, March 7.

Greek and Latin Roots: Students will learn Greek and Latin roots 70-72. The review check for this Wednesday will be over roots 67-69.

Science: This week, students will be doing a writing project about rocks, soil, weathering, and erosion. This writing assignment will carry over for writing this week as well.

Spalding: This week, students will be studying their next 20 words, minute ----- anger. We will typically study 30 words every week; however, this is subject to change by a word or two from week to week depending on word groupings. A family member should dictate the words to the student each night for homework. Students will review words on Thursday and take the final test on Friday.


I hope you all have had a great long weekend!

--Mrs. Conforti

Week of February 11-15

Families of 4C,

The Fourth Grade Field Trip to the Arizona State Capitol will be this Monday, February 11. The field trip will last all day, from 8:30-2:45. Students and parents attending will need to bring their own lunch. If your child requires any emergency medication, please be sure to send it with them on the trip as well.

Great Hearts Day will be Thursday, February 14. Our celebration will focus on the virtue of friendship. Students will be creating pictures that represent what friendship means to them. They will also be writing kind words on a heart-shape for each of their fellow scholars. From 1:10-1:35, we will be teaming up with 1C to do some buddy reading. Students will finish the afternoon with some healthy snacks of fruit and popcorn! See the sign-up genius if you’d like to contribute: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0f49aca628a5fb6-great

Math tutoring is cancelled on Thursday, February 14.

Grade reports will be sent on a bi-weekly basis for the remainder of the quarter. You can expect to see the next grade report after this week, week 6.

As a reminder, students should still read for 25 minutes on Fridays, unless it is an announced R and R weekend.

Our class is in need of some extra tissues and hand sanitizer. If you are willing and able to contribute, you may send these items to school with your child. Thanks!

This Week:

Writing: This week, students will be doing a grammar review packet in preparation for the grammar review test they will be taking on Friday.

History: History tests and quizzes will be open-note for the remainder of the school year. Since all tests and quizzes are open-note, spelling counts! As long as students take effective notes in class, they should have all the information they need for the exam. This week, students will continue their study of the American Revolution by learning about the Battle of Bunker Hill and the Declaration of Independence.

Literature: In literature, we will be beginning our new story, Carry on, Mr. Bowditch. Please send your child to school with this book this week.

Math: This week, students will continue practicing decimals. On Tuesday, students will be taking their test on the hundredths place, and will continue practicing with thousandths throughout the week. On Wednesday, we will have Khan Academy.

Poetry: Students will continue their memorization for the poem, “Paul Revere’s Ride,” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Students will recite their stanza of the poem on Thursday, March 7.

Greek and Latin Roots: Students will learn Greek and Latin roots 67-69. The review check for this Wednesday will be cumulative over roots 1-66.

Science: We will continue our study of geology this week by learning about the Rock Cycle, erosion, and weathering.

Spalding: This week, students will be studying their next 20 words, accept ----- refer. We will typically study 30 words every week; however, this is subject to change by a word or two from week to week depending on word groupings. A family member should dictate the words to the student each night for homework. Students will review words on Thursday and take the final test on Friday.


I hope you all have a great long weekend!

--Mrs. Conforti

Math Workbook 4B

Good Afternoon Families,

As a heads up, we have begun our new math unit on decimals. This is the first unit in Workbook 4B, the second book in the Singapore Math Bundle you got at the beginning of the school year. Please locate your child's 4B Workbook and send it to school with them as soon as possible if you have not already done so, as this will be the book we work out of for the remainder of the school year.


Thank you!

--Mrs. Conforti

Week of February 4-7

Families of 4C,

Tuesday, February 5, is Class Picture Day!

There will be no Khan Academy this week (2/6) in order to allow time for other lessons, as our geometry unit progressed quickly. Thank you for your understanding.

There is no school on Friday, February 8. Enjoy the three-day weekend!

Grade reports will be sent on a bi-weekly basis for the remainder of the quarter. You can expect to see the next grade report after week 6.

The Fourth Grade Field Trip to the Arizona State Capitol will be Monday, February 11, which the the Monday following the three-day weekend. You can expect to see an email with details on Monday.

Great Hearts Day will be next Thursday, February 14. There will be an email sent with details and a sign-up later in the week.


This Week:

Writing: Students will continue their third major writing assignment on Endangered Species of animals. This will be an expository essay and will still be teacher-guided; however, students will have more freedom in outlining, constructing sentences, and choosing the information that goes into their essay. Students will type their final drafts in class on Wednesday and Thursday.

History: History tests and quizzes will be open-note for the remainder of the school year. Since all tests and quizzes are open-note, spelling counts! As long as students take effective notes in class, they should have all the information they need for the exam. This week, students will continue their study of the American Revolution by learning about the beginning conflicts in the Revolutionary War, and by reading and studying Patrick Henry’s famous “Give Me Liberty, Or Give Me Death” speech. On Friday, students will be taking their weekly quiz to review this information.

Literature: In literature, students will finish reading Prince Caspian, and we will begin reading Carry On Mr. Bowditch toward the end of the week. Students can expect to have regular journal entries in their literature notebooks, summarizing each chapter as we read. The journal entries are included in the participation grade for literature.

Math: This week, students will be learning about decimals. On Monday, students will learn about tenths and will take their test for this on Wednesday. On Thursday, students will learn about hundredths, and will be tested on this concept early next week.

Poetry: Students will continue their memorization for the poem, “Paul Revere’s Ride,” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Students will recite their stanza of the poem on Thursday, March 7.

Greek and Latin Roots: Students will learn Greek and Latin roots 64-66. The review check for this Wednesday will be over roots 61-63.

Science: On Monday, students are taking their mid-unit Geology review test on what we have learned thus far. Throughout the rest of the week, students will continue to learn about mountains and they will learn about the different kinds of rocks.

Spalding: Due to the shortened week and the monthly 50-word test, there will only be ten spalding words for this week’s review. This week, students will be studying their next 10 words, organize ----- invite. On Monday, they will take their monthly 50-word spelling test for the month of February. We will typically study 30 words every week; however, this is subject to change by a word or two from week to week depending on word groupings. A family member should dictate the words to the student each night for homework. Students will review words on Thursday and take the final test on Friday.


I hope you all have a great long weekend!

--Mrs. Conforti