Newsletter for 3/4 Class March 29 – April 2

What an exhilarating week we have had in the 3rd and 4th grade classroom. Monday opened with a bang as student presented their oral reports. Your children have done a spectacular job with their biography projects. The oral presentations have been tremendous! We performed for the other lower school students and each presenter talked about his or her life and accomplishments and subsequently responded to the groups’ questions. All the hard work will be compiled into a class book for each student to have and cherish. Do not fret, more research lies in your child’s future… with the biography projects behind us we are ready to do more research and writing – stay tuned to hear what we have planned next!

We are nearing the end of The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank. We have looked into the political context surrounding the book. Come glimpse the enormous time line the group created hanging in the classroom. As part of our research process we have been learning about different ways to systematize vital information using visual tools (time lines, webs, graphic organizers, etc.). Conversations have continued about WWII, concentration camps, and worth of human life, how people make choices, relationships, and similarities and differences between each of us. Many of our conversations have been emotional as your children are outraged the more they learn and read. Please continue to talk with them about this at home; it is such a fantastic way to explore core concepts of humanity and values.

Another strand of our focus the last few weeks has been discovering and creating different forms of poetry. Through their poetry the children are exploring topics, styles, language, and genre. Children are learning about different types of speech and their purpose (noun, verb, adjective, and adverb). Madlibs have made their way into this unit and the children and cracking themselves (and others) up!

Please don’t forget to have your child get pledges for the read-a-thon Monday and encourage them to read, read, and read! We are so excited about next week and looking forward to a super literacy celebration. As always, we adore your children and are grateful for the chance to teach and learn with them.

Lit Week: March 29- April 4 (an abbreviated list of what’s happening)

Monday: 3/29 Wear pajamas, bring a “snuggly”, read-a-thon, breakfast for lunch (bring a fruit break)

Tuesday: 3/30 Wren’s nest, no heat-up picnic

Wednesday: 3/31 Little Shop of Stories, no heat-up picnic

Thursday: 4/1 Book exchange, reading feast (potluck lunch of favorite book food, bring a fruit break)

Friday: 4/2 Dress as your favorite character, pizza party (bring a fruit break)

Dates to remember:

Spring Break: April 4- April 9

Have a great day!

Kristen and Mindy