From the desk of Mrs. Prive

Greetings to all,
    
           Where has the year gone?    It is hard to believe that we are on the last leg of our journey in fourth grade!    The next seven weeks are chock full of new material, field trips, baseball, softball, and Spring Fling.
           Next week is Science NECAP.  We will be testing on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday mornings.   Parents, please make sure your child gets to bed at a reasonable time the night before, eats a good breakfast, and leaves the house with lots of positive encouragement and kisses and hugs.  Studies have shown that all these make for better testing results.
          We will be starting our last unit in Reading Streets after NECAP, learning about the regions of our country, writing a compare/contrast essay, and doing an interesting book project.  We will be busy right up to June 20th
          The class is presently in "boot camp" training for 5th grade.    I heard their drill sergeant is tough!  Who will make it?    Stay tuned.

March 19, 2012

Greetings to all,

The research reports are in and all did a great job. Thanks parents for the positive comments regarding walking the children through this step by step. I have learned that this is the easiest way to approach this major task. Though we have spent almost three months on it, I feel that it was quality time well worth spent. Their biographies are most entertaining. They will be on the outside bulletin board in the very near future. Stop by and read a few.

March 4, 2012

Greetings to all,

Winter break is behind us. It is now time to think about the next seven weeks and look forward to spring, Easter, and our next vacation.

We are going to be very busy for the next thirty- four school days. The class will be finishing up their biographical research report and then move on to their third major writing project. Everyday Math has us working on Unit 7. The main focus being fractions. We continue to work on the Animal Kingdom in science and this will be followed by a unit on plants, ecosystems and biomes. In social studies we will start our tour of the United States learning about and comparing and contrasting the regions of the country. Reading Street has us currently working on unit 4. As you can tell we will be busy and will come up for air on April 20th.

January 8, 2012

Greetings to all,

A reminder that it is winter and the children need to be appropriately dressed for the outside elements. They are outside many mornings and then once again for twenty - five minutes for recess. Speaking of winter, cold season is upon us and we are going through tissues rather quickly. Donations will be appreciated.

The recent newsletter went home on Friday, January 6, 2012.

Homework reminder:

1. All should be reading 20 minutes every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and sometime over the weekend. Don't forget to sign and return reading logs.

2. Spelling words go home on Monday with followup assessment on Friday. All should spend a few minutes studying each evening.

3. We are getting into big time multiplication and division. The children are expected to have a pretty good grasp on basic facts by now.

4. There is also usually a written math assignment each evening.

Please check those agenda books.

January 1, 2012

The Maple Avenue Student Council extends a very sincere thank you to all who donated pajamas to our community project in December. We collected a record breaking 283 pair of new children's winter pajamas as part of The Warmth From the Millyard winter clothing drive. Your help was greatly appreciated.

January 1, 2012

HAPPY NEW YEAR to all!

November 17, 2011

Greetings to all,

Parents, please see my newsletter headed home tomorrow, November 18th.

The Maple Avenue Student Council extends a very sincere thank you to all for your generous canned food donations. We collected a great amount of food to donate to the Goffstown Food Network. Thank you for allowing us to help others.

Happy Thanksgiving to all.

November 6, 2011

Greetings to all,

Parents, my newsletter on Friday, Nov. 4, addressed the importance of reviewing basic multiplication facts. We are at this stage in math and just a few short weeks down the road we will be applying these facts to more challenging math problems. The children all have their math triangle facts cut out and stored in a plastic baggie for drill. Your help would be greatly appreciated in following the study of these facts through.

Our music teacher, Mr. Landano, has been working very hard with the children for their upcoming Winter Concert on Dec. 20. He is asking the children to work on learning the lyrics to the songs at home. The children know that the music is available on his web site. There will be more information coming regarding the concert as we get closer to it.

I mentioned also in my recent newsletter that Parent/Teacher conferences are set for December 9. Stay tuned for more info.

Until next time...

October 20, 2011

Greetings to all,

It is beginning to feel like Autumn. There is definitely a chill in the air. It is time to break out a jacket/sweatshirt for the early mornings on the playground.

The BIG NEWS is that we will be starting ROTATION next Wednesday. The children are anxious for this . All fourth graders have been mixed and matched into five groups. They will "rotate" through each fourth grade teacher for five weeks on Wednesdays for a seventy - five minute block of time. They will be taught three science units (energy, force and motion, and science inquiry) and two social studies units ( economics and government). Your child will bring home a letter of introduction at the start of each Rotation outlining what the area of study entails. There will be assignments connected to the program. We teachers find this activity to be very beneficial to the students. It does prepare them for MVMS through the movement of classrooms, being held accountable to more than one teacher, and meeting students that they have never been in a classroom with at Maple Avenue. It is also a nice change for the kids in the middle of the week.

My weekly newsletter will be sent home tomorrow. Until next time...

October 10, 2011

Greetings,

This past week the children participated in NECAP testing. We did three reading tests. All went very well. The children utilized their strategies, took their time, and were very engaged. I was most pleased as I observed them work. We will do two math tests this week and finish up next Monday.

This week we will begin our actual switching for Enrichment Block. The children will be ability grouped and travel to another teacher for the 2:30 - 3:00 time frame. Our team is comprised of Mrs. Packard, Ms. Spinelli, Mrs. Chisholm, and myself. We will normally rotate teachers every six weeks with the start of a new Reading Street unit. This time around we will be working with our groups for nine weeks. Once again I would like to stress the importance of this area of the curriculum and ask your help with early dismissals. We do work right up to the bell at 3:00 PM.

Until next time...

October 2, 2011

Greetings to all,

It is hard to believe that September is over as well as the Red Sox!!!!!!! Time sure does fly when having fun.

We had a great visit to the Mount Kearsarge Native American Museum in Warner, NH last Monday. This first field trip "kicks off" our year long study of New Hampshire. The children came away with a wealth of information about the first immigrants to dwell on this land. We saw some fabulous artifacts dating way back in history. The students were amazed to find out just how resourceful these people were and all that they passed on to us.

It was great seeing many of you at the PFT ice cream social.

NECAP testing starts this week. Early to bed and a good breakfast will benefit your child.

My weekly newsletter went home on Friday, Sept. 30.

September 25, 2011

Greetings to all,

With weather like today, it is hard to believe that summer is officially over! This past week flew by. Most have settled in and those new procedures are fast becoming routines. I hope all my students brought home the weekly newsletter on Friday. Check those backpacks! It is loaded with information.

We were introduced to Ms. Spinelli's smart board this week. IMPRESSIVE!!!!!! She invited our class and Mrs. Packard's to join her in a presentation on the Abenaki Indians. The children loved the interaction. This set the stage for our prep work on Native Americans of New Hampshire for our field trip on Monday to the Mt. Kearsarge Native American Museum in Warner, NH. This is a fun excursion always enjoyed by all.

FYI... the PFT ice cream social is Tuesday evening and class pictures are on Thursday.

Mrs. Pyszka visited our room this week to discuss behavior expectations. Fourth graders were reminded that they are the school's role models. They are doing a great job so far!!!!!!

Until next time... Have a great week. I know we will!!!!!

September 18, 2011

Greetings to all,

Thank you parents for attending Parent Information Night last Thursday. It was wonderful meeting you. I am looking forward to a great partnership with you for the 2011 - 2012 school year. As I stated cooperation is spelled W-E. Together we share a common goal - your child. For those that were unable to attend we touched upon the schedule for a given day, Rotation, and homework expectations to mention a few topics. I will review much of this in my weekly newsletters over the next few weeks. Hardcopies will be sent home to all on Fridays. Please take the time to read these and discuss the contents with your child. Please feel free to contact me at anytime by phone or email. My door is always open. Until next time... Mrs. Prive

Greetings to all of my fourth graders,

Hopefully you all received my letter from two weeks ago. This is just a reminder that I have all the school supplies that you will need to start fourth grade except for pencil cases. I am looking forward to seeing you soon. If Mom or Dad have any questions send me an email. Enjoy the last week of summer.

Mrs. Prive

Summer days are dwindling.