Welcome back all!  Happy New Year and I hope you all had a relaxing and delightful Winter vacation.  I am so grateful to all of you and the thoughtful and generous gifts you chose for me!  We are slowly getting back in the groove so that we can finish up 4th grade (sad) strong! This announcement will contain the academic focus for the next two weeks.  Please reach out if you need anything or have any further questions.

~Dana

 - Ask Your Child About -

• How do you do the standard algorithm in double digit/single digit multiplication?
• We are starting division- are you fluent in your 1-12 multiplication facts?
• What have you learned in your research about the systems of the human body?
• How does the brain send messages to the body?

• Math
• Unit 6
• Unit 6 3D shapes
• Beginning double digit multiplication
• adding decimals
• division as the inverse operation of multiplication

• Literacy (Read Aloud, Word Study, Reading, Writing)
•  Number the Stars in our historic fiction unit- 
• Weekend news
• Author study
• strengthening reading stamina

• Science/Social Studies/Global Perspectives
•  Nifty 50 specifically the North East region
• Animal and Human adaptations- the systems of the human body

• Homework
• nightly reading 30 minute minimum
• practice math facts!!!!
• Thursday reflections signed and returned weekly

- Announcements 

• It's division time!!!  Please practice multiplication facts on the car ride to or from school, at dinner, breakfast, anytime you can.  This is the foundation for all the math to come.  Make it fun but please start this practice.  We have added fluency practice to our math block but repetition is key!
• Valentine's Day will focus on friendship and building strong relationships with peers.  We would love to host a pancake breakfast on Friday Feb. 13th open to families and siblings, grandparents or your favorite neighbor!  Our amazing Ms. Rosa will be sending out feelers for donations and volunteers to lend skillets or their flippin' stacks skills.  

Welcome back all!  Happy December and I hope you all had a relaxing and delightful Thanksgiving vacation.  I spent much needed quality time with a few books of my choice, a chair in the sand and a puppy to cuddle.  It was delightful and now it is equally delightful to be back in the swing and to wrap up 2025!

We are happy to welcome our amazing Ms. Lang!  She has wonderful experience and her philosophy of teaching and nurturing children blends perfectly with our GHCDS beliefs.  The kiddos have been welcoming and very respectful of her and her support position in our classroom community. 

Students are welcome to bring in a favorite holiday book to share with the class.  If you are interested in being a special guest reader anytime in the next 2 weeks please let me know!  Otherwise, we will borrow your treasured story and either I or your student will read it to the class.

~Dana D. Noe

 - Ask Your Child About -

• How do you do the standard algorithm in double digit/single digit multiplication?
• Want to review those spelling words one more time before Thursday?
• How many frog species to scientists believe exist?
• What is "walk about" writing?

• Math
• Unit 5
• Unit 5 adding and subtracting with decimals
• Beginning double digit multiplication
• adding decimals

• Literacy (Read Aloud, Word Study, Reading, Writing)
•  Number the Stars in our historic fiction unit- 
• Weekend news
• Author study
• strengthening reading stamina

• Science/Social Studies/Global Perspectives
•  Nifty 50 specifically the North East region
• Animal and Human adaptations  - tree root systems

• Homework
• nightly reading 30 minute minimum
• Thursday reflections signed and returned weekly

- Announcements 

• Monday the 8th raffle tickets on sale each morning for donation raffle
• Thursday the 18th music concert at 8:45 and an in class cookie exchange (details to be announced)
• Friday the 19th The Polar Express celebration of learning in the afternoon (volunteers and donations will be requested shortly for this in class event)
• Christmas break 12/22-1/6

  Happy short week and then vacation!!!  Upcoming events this week include...

 - Ask Your Child About -

• Multiplication fact practice, favorite tool to use in class
• Teach me the fifty nifty song please?

• Math
• Unit 5
• Unit 5 adding and subtracting with decimals
• Beginning double digit multiplication

• Literacy (Read Aloud, Word Study, Reading, Writing)
•  Number the Stars in our historic fiction unit- 
• Weekend news
• Author study
• November gratitude challenge

• Science/Social Studies/Global Perspectives
•  Nifty 50 specifically the North East region (Connecticut this week)
• Animal and Human adaptations  - tree root systems

• Homework
• nightly reading 30 minute minimum
• Thursday reflections signed and returned weekly

- Announcements - 

• Remember- Thursday is a full school day.  The feast will end around 1:00 just let me know if your kiddo is leaving early with you or another family. 
• In classroom spelling bees will be held on 12/8, top two spellers will go on at the end of the month to be in the schoolwide spelling bee.
• Report card work is beginning...  End of the first trimester is next Thursday. 
• Family Gathering of Thanks for the lower school is next Thursday the 20th.  Please sign up if you can send a dish or volunteer!

 Happy short week and then vacation!!!  Upcoming events this week include...

 - Ask Your Child About -

• Multiplication fact practice, favorite tool to use in class?
•  Why do some trees have shallow root systems vs. deep systems?
• Can I quick quiz you on your spelling words?
• Who is Patricia Polacco?  How is she inspired to think up her stories?
• Teach me the fifty nifty song please?

• Math
• Unit 1-4 review
• Unit 5 adding and subtracting with decimals
• Beginning double digit multiplication

• Literacy (Read Aloud, Word Study, Reading, Writing)
•  Number the Stars in our historic fiction unit- 
• New spelling words
• Weekend news
• Author study
• November gratitude challenge

• Science/Social Studies/Global Perspectives
•  Nifty 50 specifically the North East region (Connecticut this week)
• Animal and Human adaptations  - tree root systems

• Homework
• nightly reading 30 minute minimum
• Thursday reflections signed and returned weekly

- Announcements - 

• In classroom spelling bees will be held on 12/8, top two spellers will go on at the end of the month to be in the schoolwide spelling bee.
• Report card work is beginning...  End of the first trimester is next Thursday. 
• Family Gathering of Thanks for the lower school is next Thursday the 20th.  Please sign up if you can send a dish or volunteer!

Upcoming events this week include...

 - Ask Your Child About -

• What is rare about a frog fish?
•  Why do our stomachs growl
• May I see your new spelling list?
• What does mode mean in math?

• Math
• 4th grade mid year assessment
• Unit 4- Averages
• Identifying number patterns

• Literacy (Read Aloud, Word Study, Reading, Writing)
• Beginning Number the Stars in our historic fiction unit
• New spelling words
• Weekend news

• Science/Social Studies/Global Perspectives
•    Nifty 50 specifically the North East region (Rhode Island this week)
• Animal and Human adaptations   

• Homework
• nightly reading 30 minute minimum
• Thursday reflections signed and returned weekly

- Announcements - 

• Our pumpkins were a BIG hit!  They looked great and it's all thanks to this amazing group of adults supporting kiddos and our school, many thanks!
• 12 learning days until Thanksgiving break!  If you have a student traveling please let me know so that we can say goodbye :)
• We will be writing more in our gratitude journals (great conversation starter at home)

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October Happenings

 - Ask Your Child About -

• What is a vampire squid?
• Planet size comparison video 
• Ready for the spelling test Thursday?
• Do you have an idea for decorating your pumpkin?

• Math
• 4th grade mid year assessment
• Square and triangular numbers
• roll and record for multiplication practice

• Literacy (Read Aloud, Word Study, Reading, Writing)
• Just finished our read aloud, The Tiger Rising
• Last few days of spelling word study
• Spooky story writing- written stories will be read in class on Halloween

• Science/Social Studies/Global Perspectives
•    Nifty 50 specifically the North East region (Massachusetts this week)
• Animal and Human adaptations   

• Homework
• nightly reading 30 minute minimum
• Thursday reflections signed and returned weekly

- Announcements - 

• Love this new idea a parent suggested about teacher communication.  I will update our blog on Mondays so that everyone is prepared for what is in the works this week!  The above listed events and topics are on the agenda this week. 
• No more reading logs!  They are rarely returned, I'd rather you discuss the book and it is no longer a requirement for the older grades.
• Thank Sophia's lovely family for donating a class set of pumpkins to decorate on Thursday!  We are in need of acrylic pens or paints for your child to use.

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First two weeks of School!

 - Ask Your Child About - 

• Community Building
• Morning Meeting
• 4-6th grade team building
• circle up, relay races, line up, trivia, ghost in the graveyard, A-Z scavenger hunt and steal the stuff
• Friday Gathering
• new student intros- welcome Michael and Dior

• Math
• 3rd grade review
• place value and the power of ten
• roll and record for multiplication practice

• Literacy (Read Aloud, Word Study, Reading, Writing)
• Mouse and the Motorcycle
• building reading stamina
• first spelling inventory
• free write Friday and gratitude lists
• buddy reading

• Science/Social Studies/Global Perspectives
• Unit one The Human Body
• Homework
• nightly reading 30 minute minimum
• Thursday reflections signed and returned weekly

- Announcements - 

• First Fire Drill 9/24 @11:10am

• The color days’ schedule is as follow:   

  Monday, September 8: Green Day   

  Tuesday, September 9: Purple Day 

  Wednesday September 10: Brown Day 

  Thursday, September 11: Black and White Day 

  Friday, September 12: Rainbow Day 

- Photos -