Week of April 20 to 24
It's Going to Be a Busy Few Weeks:
As we head into a very full few weeks, I appreciate your partnership and patience as we navigate all these exciting events together. If any questions pop up about specific dates or times, please don't hesitate to reach out. We make a great team—we've got this!
What We Learned this Week:
Bible: It has been a high-stakes week in Bible as we wrapped up Unit 13. The students have been captivated by how God used the prophet Elisha to protect His people, even in the midst of war and famine.
Weekly Highlights:
Unsuccessful Raids & Blinded Armies: We learned how Elisha’s God-given insight thwarted Aram’s raids on Israel. In a remarkable turn of events, an entire army sent to capture Elisha was blinded and led right into the heart of Samaria. Rather than meeting them with violence, Elisha showed God’s mercy by feeding them and sending them home!
From Famine to Feast: We discussed the desperate situation in Samaria during the siege and Elisha’s bold prophecy that food would be available within a day. We followed the story of the four lepers who discovered the deserted Aramean camp, becoming the unlikely messengers of God’s provision for the city.
The Rise of Jehu: We ended the unit by looking at the anointing of Jehu as the next king. While Jehu carried out God's judgment on Ahab’s family and the priests of Baal, we had a deep discussion about the heart of a leader, noting that Jehu unfortunately did not fully walk in the ways of the Lord.
Math: The students have been learning that fractions are like puzzles—there are many ways to name the same "piece" of a whole. This week, we focused on finding common ground to compare fractions with different denominators.
Key Highlights:
Visualizing with Fraction Bars: We started by using fraction bars to "see" how 1/2 is the same size as 2/4 or 4/8. This visual foundation is key before we move into the numbers.
The "Rule of One" (Multiplication & Division): We learned the mathematical "secret"—if you multiply or divide the numerator and denominator by the same number, you are essentially multiplying by 1, which keeps the value the same! We used this to both "grow" fractions and to simplify them into their simplest form.
Number Line Equivalency: By plotting fractions on a number line, students discovered that equivalent fractions sit on the exact same spot. This was a great "aha!" moment for seeing how fractions relate to each other in space.
Finding a Common Denominator: When denominators didn't match, we used three specific strategies to find a common denominator:
The "Big Brother" Method: Checking if the largest denominator can serve as the common denominator.
The Product Method: Multiplying the two denominators together to find a guaranteed common match.
The Efficiency Method: Finding a common denominator that is less than the product of the two, keeping our numbers smaller and easier to manage!
Interpreting Data with Dot Plots: We wrapped up by using dot diagrams to organize information. The students practiced reading these plots to find the most common value and answering complex questions based on the data points.
Reading:
The "Frindle" Countdown
We have nearly reached the end of our journey with Andrew Clements’ Frindle! This week, we dove into the penultimate chapters, and the tension in Westfield is at an all-time high.
Chapter 13 & 14 Recap:
Chapter 13: We saw how the "frindle" phenomenon has truly taken on a life of its own. It’s no longer just a school prank; it’s a national sensation with merchandise, legal battles over trademarking, and massive financial implications. We discussed how Nick is starting to feel the weight of his own creation—it’s a lot for a 5th grader to handle!
Chapter 14: Ten years have passed! We got a glimpse into Nick’s future as a young adult. The most intriguing part of this chapter was seeing how the "frindle" legacy followed him all the way to college and beyond. We also saw Nick receive a very important package from his past, setting the stage for the final resolution.
The Mystery Letter: Throughout both chapters, the "secret letter" from Mrs. Granger remained the big question mark. The students have been making incredible predictions about what she wrote to Nick all those years ago.
Our journey through the 1940s is in full swing! This week, we moved deeper into our historical fiction unit, balancing our shared class experience with our collaborative book club groups.
Key Highlights:
Mentor Text: Number the Stars: We read through Chapters 2, 3, and 4, following Annemarie and Ellen as the world around them begins to change rapidly. These chapters introduced us to the concept of the "Resistance," the importance of King Christian X to the Danish people, and the frightening reality of the "buttons" shop being closed.
Deep Conversations: I have been so impressed by the students' maturity. We moved beyond just "what happened" to discuss the complex themes and social issues present in the text. The students are identifying the quiet ways people show courage and how communities look out for one another during difficult times.
Diary Packets & Reflection: Through our discussion questions, students are demonstrating a deep level of empathy and comprehension. They aren't just reading the words; they are feeling the tension of the setting.
Book Club Momentum: The classroom was buzzing with excitement as students met with their book club groups! They are taking great ownership of their reading schedules and are eager to share the unique perspectives of WWII found in their specific novels.
Writing: This week, we took our analysis skills to the next level! We spent time reading and dissecting several Spanish short stories, looking specifically for the "heart" of the story—the theme.
What is a Literary Essay? A literary essay is a piece of writing where the author (the student!) shares an original idea or "claim" about a story they have read. Instead of just summarizing what happened, the writer argues why something is important. They use specific "evidence"—quotes, character actions, and key plot points—to prove their point and help the reader see the story in a deeper way.
Key Highlights:
Theme Detectives: We didn't just look for what happened; we looked for why the author wrote it. Students identified strong themes and gathered specific evidence from the text that supported those big ideas.
Graphic Organizers: To keep our thoughts clear, we used graphic organizers to map out our claims and match them with the strongest pieces of evidence from the Spanish short stories.
Drafting our Essays: To conclude the week, students "tried their hand" at writing their very own literary essay! They chose a story that resonated with them and began the exciting process of turning their notes into a structured, persuasive piece of writing.
Social Studies: It has been a big week of transitions in Social Studies! We wrapped up our look at the Bill of Rights and officially launched our brand-new unit on Economics.
Key Highlights:
The Great Gum Scarcity: To kick off Economics, we had a firsthand (and very funny!) experience with scarcity. When we realized there were many students who wanted the single pack of gum, it clicked: scarcity happens when our wants are "unlimited" but our resources are "limited."
Opportunity Cost: We learned that scarcity forces us to make a choice. When we pick one thing, we have to give up another—this is called Opportunity Cost. The students practiced identifying the "next best thing" they gave up when making everyday decisions.
What is a Market Economy? To end the week, we began studying how a Market Economy works. In this system:
Supply and Demand: Prices and what gets made are determined by how much people want something (demand) and how much of it is available (supply).
The Power of Choice: Unlike other systems, a market economy is driven by individuals and private businesses rather than just the government. Consumers (the students!) get to decide what they want to buy, which encourages businesses to compete and create better products.
Spelling: Here is the link to next week's spelling list!
Cinco de Mayo Optional Dress-Up Day:
To celebrate Cinco de Mayo, we are having an Optional Dress Up Day! This is a fun way for our students to celebrate the day through clothing and accessories.
Participation Details:
What to Wear: Students are invited to dress up in traditional or festive attire! Think necklaces, guayaberas, or anything bright and celebratory.
Borrow a Crown: I have flower crown headbands available for the girls to borrow and wear for the day.
Group Photo: We will be taking a nice class group photo on that day to capture all the festive spirit!
We are looking forward to a day full of color and culture!
End of Year Gift for our Students Update:
As we look toward the finish line of 4th grade, I wanted to share an update regarding our special end-of-year gift for the students: the Spanish edition of "Tu eres especial" (You are Special) by Max Lucado.
Shipping Update:
The Situation: I received word from Christianbook.com that there is a significant delay in their warehouse. The books are expected to arrive there by May 22, and they will be shipped out to us as soon as possible.
The Timeline: Since our last day of school is June 3, this will be a tight turnaround!
The Plan: I am praying for a speedy delivery so we can get these beautiful books into the students' hands on our final day. If the timing doesn't work out, please don't worry—we will come up with a "Plan B" to make sure every student receives their special gift.
Thank you for your patience and understanding as we navigate this little shipping hiccup!
4th Grade SI Chapel Invitation:
Mark your calendars! We are so excited to invite parents, family, and loved ones to attend our upcoming 4th Grade SI Chapel. This is a special time for our students to lead us in worship.
When: Monday, May 11
Time: 10:40 AM – 11:15 AM
Location: The Small Gym
Arrival Instructions: Please plan on checking in at the front office to receive your visitor badge before making your way to the small gym. We can’t wait to see you there!
From the Office:
Upcoming Dates:
May
1: Y5 & Kindergarten Visit Day
1-8: Swim lessons (excluding May 7)
7: 1/2 day of school
11:30 dismissal for kindergarten and 5th grade
Tulip Time Kinderparade 1st-4th grades
13: Senior Walk (celebrating our Rose Park alumni!)
21: 4th Grade Plant Sale at Rose Park - 7:30am
25: Memorial Day: No school
27: Field Day & Ms. Raak’s retirement celebration
June
3: Last Day of School 1/2 day
Preschool celebration at 9:00am
Final Chapel at 10:30am
Y5-5th Grade dismissal at 11:30am
4th Grade Plant Sale: The annual fourth grade plant sale is coming to Rose Park on May 21 starting at 7:30am. They will be selling tomatoes, peppers, and a variety of herbs. All plants will be $3 per pot, cash or check only. Mark your calendars!
Ms. Raak's retirement celebration: After 40 years in education Ms. Raak, our Rose Park PE teacher, will be retiring at the end of the school year. Field Day just so happens to be her birthday as well! Please save the date to help us celebrate Ms. Raak by congratulating her out on the playscape to end the day on Wednesday, May 27th. Parents are welcome to park their cars and come out back to the playscape to celebrate Ms. Raak and end field day, and her wonderful career in celebration! Please join us from 2:45 -3:30 pm for a cookie and congratulations. Please be mindful of the bus and carpool lanes as you park cars!
From the Library:
Literati Book Wishlist:
Hi, parents!
To prepare for the upcoming Literati Book Fair, I’ve created a digital wishlist of items I’d love to add to our classroom library:
https://literati.com/a/
These books will help students on their journey to becoming confident and enthusiastic readers. Thank you for your support!
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