Book Talks are coming!  One exciting thing about 4th grade is that “Partner Book Talks” are offered for the first time!  This means a 4th grader can choose to perform a Book Talk wiht a friend from our class.  I just want to caution you that this option WILL create more work for both the students AND for you!  Just be aware!  They will have to get together outside of school for writing a script and for practice.  They will be graded tougher if they are working together, as well.  If done well, partner talks can be really cute! 

The permission slips will come home today.  If your child is going to work with a friend, you might want to call the other parent just to make sure!  The dates will be assigned by Mrs. Elrod after all the permission slips are turned back in.  Please look over the sheet she sent home before Christmas as to what books are not allowed for Book Talks.  I will look over their books, as well.

A few things to note…

• Switch to Science for 3rd quarter
• A new F&F unit starts today on PLOT - newsletter forthcoming…
• Cursive handwriting is expected for all graded work in 4th grade
• Tougher penalties for late papers - one day late - no higher than a “C” - this is to prepare them for 5th grade!
• “Silent 15″ - at day’s end…ask your child to explain this time for “personal focus”! 

Wednesday - multiplication facts quiz

Thursday - Library books due;

Friday - Spelling TEST - Unit 19; BMV due (Matthew 6:33-34); POW/MMW due;

Please look it over with your child.  They worked hard today to write a brief explanation of three pieces in there.  I want them to explain to you what they’ve learned and what kinds of things we did during this unit.  If they cannot remember all the details, that’s ok.  It’s a hard time of year, but I hope they’ll remember the main idea of each. Some of it looks like scrap work – and that’s what they kept.  Some of it was partner work, and they won’t have all the papers.  I just hope you can gain a sense of our unit.   Please at least have them talk about the three activities they wrote about.  Some did a nice job explaining.  Others I hope can make themselves more clear with words than they did on their paper!  J

If possible, I’d love to have the signed pink paper back Friday.  However, if not, just promise me you’ll look over it over the holidays and return the paper in January.  Just please don’t lose it!  J

Tuesday - Chapel; work on Book Report drafts

Wednesday- Work on Book Report draft

Thursday - Spelling TEST - Unit 17

Friday - BMV: John 1:14 due; POW/MMW due; Book reports due

http://alerts.christianacademytech.org

Other things to re-stock by January:

• pencils
• notebook paper
• glue sticks
• colored pencils

Our class party will be Thursday, Dec. 18 from 1:15-2:15pm.  I’m sure you’ll be hearing from the room moms about ways you can help with this!  Thanks! 

Students will be dismissed from Chapel for Christmas at 11:30am

Why should you help the PTO?  Ask your child if they enjoy using all the math tools we have in our classroom.  Ask them if they like the microphone system we use every day in here.  Ask them about our cool maps I can pull down, our overhead screen we use to learn, the set of write-on maps and globes we share in the 4th grade, the games we play on rainy days, and the awesome calculators we use often in class and play problem-solving games on during free time.  All of these, plus countless other purchases, were made from PTO money you help raise.  We have been so blessed by the PTO!

Do you know that if each family at CAL spent $250 over the year at Kroger - that’s only about $20 per month - the PTO would earn $50,000?  Please pick one up at the PTO room or call the office and order one today.  If you have already been using your card, THANK YOU!