Progress Reports and Baskin Robbins

Hello 4B Families,

Just wanted to let you know that progress reports went home Friday for all of the students. Please take a moment to look over grades with your child, sign the progress report, and return it to me this week. Any missing or redone assignments can be stapled to the back of the progress report, and I will adjust your child's grade. Please feel free to email me any questions.

Thanks,

P.S. 4B Homeroom Students- Students who completed their reading log for November received a gift card for Baskin Robbins. I will be at Baskin Robbins this Thursday from 5:30-7:00. Please join me if your family would like to join us for ice cream to celebrate our reading mins!

11/19/09 Update

BOOK REPORTS 5 days to go until Monday November 23, which is when book reports for Informational Texts are due. Students should bring to school their book, 2 copies of their 1 minute speech, and a model of their book with 3 facts they learned attached to it. If you have any questions, feel free to email me.

WEEKEND/AFTER HOUR COMMUNICATION AND QUESTIONS- If you ever have questions about your student, homework or projects, after school or on the weekends, feel free to email me. If I am able and it is a quick reply, often, I can get back to you within the hour.

PTA MEETING- The PTA meeting with Superintendent Kathy Birkett was very informative. Dr. Birkett assured us that she was working with the community to hold the district to high standards that would help our students succeed on national tests like the ACT. She also discussed class size and how we fall average when compared to other districts. She understood the value of smaller class sizes, however reinforced that it would be expensive. She acknowledge that there have been issues with the bus and food service contract, but reassured that they were looking into improvements. She also briefly discussed the board's goal to reduce our deficit to sponge the proposed reduction in state funds to schools this year. She was open to answer questions, and let us know that if we had further questions, we could contact her.

Hello 4B families,
Over the year, I like to reflect on my teaching practice and how the year is going for your families. Please take the time to answer the survey below. I will use the data collected from the survey to note places for improvement. Thank you for your feedback.

Click Here to Take 4B's Classroom Survey

Sincerely,
Rachael Batchu

BASKING ROBBINS AND PTA MEETING THURSDAY

This Thursday to celebrate students who are reading at home, I will be at Baskin Robbins (Route 59 and Brookdale Rd.) from 5:30-6:45 to have ice cream with your families. The students who returned a reading log in september or October received a coupon for a free scoop of ice cream. You are your family are invited to have ice cream with us.

After Baskin Robbins, I will be heading over the PTA meeting at Brookdale. The School District Superintendent Kathy Birkett will be visiting our school and answering questions. I hope that you will be able to join me.

PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCES UPDATE

Parent Teacher Conferences are officially done. If you still have concerns, questions or comments, please feel free to schedule an update meeting with me. I am happy to say that I was able to meet with every family in our classroom and 6 additional math/literacy families. I have to admit that I look forward to conferences every year as one of the most meaningful experiences we have together. I can honestly say that after today, I have a better understanding of your needs and aspirations for your child. As I have often stated, you are your child's life teacher, and I am simply their teacher for a year. It is my main goal to aid your family in accomplishing the goals that you have set for your children. I hope that all of your questions were answered, and that you left feeling that I truly believe in your child and will do the absolute best I can to support him/her.

There is so much to be proud of when it comes to the students in 4B. Though we all have our needs, your children make learning fun. As a class, they are motivated to complete assignments accurately and with pride. They have all made significant gains in reading fluency and math. They are exciting, witty and creative. They make my job enjoyable, which feeds me the energy that I can share back with them.

Not only do I want to thank you for meeting with me, I would also like to thank the 21 parents who volunteer in our class each week. We are blessed to have both moms and dads in our classroom everyday for reading, writing, and math. Some days we have 4-5 adults in our room helping students. Your ongoing commitment is helping every student in our class. Our classroom has an open door policy, "anyone can stop by anytime, and help out in the classroom." Please let me know if your are interested in volunteering.

Thanks again for all you do,

Rachael Batchu

Student Teacher to Join 4B

In January, after returning from Winter Break, we will be honored to have Zonieke Alston- Betts join our classroom as a Student teacher. She will be slowly transitioning to our classroom as the full time teacher from January to May. Of course, I will be there with her supporting her, and helping out in the classroom. She will uphold the same quality of lessons, parent communication, and excitement that you are used to in the classroom. She will be visiting our class a couple of times this month and next month to help her prepare. She will also be sitting in on some parent teacher conferences to learn about our students and the process of having parent teacher conferences. I have personally selected Ms. Alston- Betts as my student teacher because of her child centered teaching philosophy, enthusiasm, natural ability with students, and personal commitment to high standards for all students. I guarantee that you will also find her to be a great addition to our staff and classroom. Please welcome her to 4B.

Informational Genre Book Shares

FYI- Informational Genre Book Share books came home today. Please take a moment to read through the packet of expectations with your child. Sign the packet so that I know that you are aware of the expectations and return it to school, so that I can see it. To help your child manage their time, set up a calendar of expectations for long term projects. Your child should be done reading the book in 1-2 weeks, complete the project component in 1 week, and write, revise and practice their speech in 1 week. The book shares will be presented in class on 11/23/2009, to ensure that you have a work-free Thanksgiving break! For this book report students are asked to create a 3D model of something in their book with three facts they have learned on the model. It is unnecessary to purchase anything for this project. Students can creatively use, recyclables, toys, boxes, paint, or nonperishable food items to create this project. Sample models could include, but not be limited to 3D posters, models, dioramas, or clay creations. Please do not hesitate to contact me should you have any questions. I hope your family enjoys this project as much as other families have in the past.

Fall Party

I wanted to take a quick moment to thank every parent involved in the fall party. There is no doubt in my mind that our class had one of the best parties in the school. I had tons of fun (even though I had to pop a balloon with my bottom!). Thanks to all of the parents who came/ supervised and to Ms. Burke for planning the party and to Anitha our PTA classroom coordinator.

Update October 28th

Parent Teacher ConferencesA couple of days ago, I sent home a sheet about parent teacher conferences, asking parents to write down and submit their questions and concerns ahead of time about their child. This will help me to be prepared for your conference and talk about your concerns. I truly believe that this is a time for you to tell me about your concerns and ask your questions. If you haven't done so already, please return the sheet with any questions or concerns you may have, or topics that you would like to discuss, so that I can be better prepared for your conference.

Report Cards - Go home on Friday. Please sign the envelope, keep the contents and return the envelope to school on Monday.

Curriculum Update- We have finished the respiratory system in science and are now doing a short review on Magnets and Electricity for the ISAT testing.
In social studies, we are starting the Northeast region next week. The students will learn about the Northeast and write postcards as if they were vacationing from there.
In writing, we are practicing writing an extended response for literature and an expository writing piece. Ask the students to show you their cheer for IEIE!
In Grammar, we are working on the four types of sentences. In accelerated math, the students are working on Division and in 4th grade math, the students are starting a new unit on decimals. In literacy, each class is working on different strategies, like asking questions, fact/opinion or recognizing elements of a story plot.

Book SharesOne more thing... This is a friendly reminder that book shares are due tomorrow. Please double check that your student has two copies of their speech (one to read and one for me to grade), a picture of a scene from their book and the book (with the page bookmarked that they illustrated). Your child does not need a costume.
Next month's book share genre is informational text and the project is to create a 3D project showing 3 facts that they learned from their book.
Thanks for your support in our monthly book shares.

October 12th Classroom Update

Hello Fourth Grade Families,

I hope that everyone has had an enjoyable and restful 3 day weekend! I thought it was about time for another classroom update. I would like to apologize, because I was hoping that I could be posting one update/ week, but I have gotten behind the ball already. I will continue to do my best to keep you updated! Sorry.

Progress Reports: Progress reports are ready for students and will be going home with them tomorrow. Please attach any missing assignments to the progress reports, sign and return them. Though it is not required to send home progress reports at this time, I typically send home progress reports two weeks before the end of the quarter, so that students and families know where the student's grades stands. Please contact me with any questions about progress reports.

Goal Setting Meetings: I have already met with 18 families to set up goals with their children. This has been an amazing experience to spend time with each of your families, listening to your concerns and dreams for your children. Together, I feel, we have created a network that will ensure that your child receives everything he/she needs in fourth grade and accomplishes all that you hope your child will this year. If you would like to set up a goal setting meeting. Email me! Also, thanks to the 15 parents who returned their parent homework. I have to admit I got a little emotional reading every one of them. It always rejuvenates a teacher's heart to hear the stories of their students and the love their families have for them. Thank you for sharing your stories with me.

Volunteers: We have so many volunteers in 4B! We are truly blessed to have parents that take the time to get involved. I am now fully staffed for parents in reading, writing and math everyday. If you are not signed up for a set time, and would like to drop by and help, you are more than welcome. Come on over and we will put you to work, supporting our students! If you would like to volunteer in reading or math and I do not have your child for that class, please contact your child's math or reading teacher to see if they would like some more help. I would like to thank Ms. Anitha (Praneet's Mom) for putting together the volunteer schedule. Thank you, you have made the whole year more manageable with your help organizing the schedule.

Art Awareness: We have a full schedule for Art Awareness! Thank you to all of the volunteers who will be presenting artwork to our class. Our first Art Awareness presentation will be October 20th on Frank Lloyd Wright!

Curriculum Update: In reading, most classes are wrapping up making connections to what we read or starting how to ask questions about what we read. Science has been so much fun learning about the circulatory system. Most students did a wonderful job on the quiz. If your child received a C or below, please sign their quiz and return it back to school, so that they can take a make-up quiz. We are now starting the respiratory system and then will be doing a mini- unit on magnets and electricity. After that, we will pick back up with the Northeast in Social Studies, which is one of the most challenging regions to memorize with all of those tiny states. In grammar, we have been working on types of sentences and in writing, we are wrapping up our bio-sketches on a famous person. We will then be participating in a mini- unit on writing extended responses and expository essays, to help students better prepare for ISAT testing.

What Happens at Intervention Time: Intervention is a separate time in our day where students who need additional services, leave the classroom to receive them. This is when the students who receive extra help in reading, math, speech or social work, receive their minutes. Also, this is the time that the Project Arrow students receive their enrichment. If your child, does not receive an intervention, they remain in the classroom with students at their level. Classwork that is done at this time is not graded nor included in the report cards. Instead extension activities are planned for these students. Currently, Ms.O is teaching reading fluency, Ms. J is teaching math multiplication of double digits and I am teaching how to write an extended response. Students are switching to another teacher for the week to practice each skill. After three weeks, we change the topic so that students can have different enrichments. If your child is receiving two interventions, then they are out for the entire period. If they are receiving one intervention, then they are in for half of the period. Please feel free to contact me with any questions regarding your child and interventions.

Please check my homework/ testing schedule at the right for updates in upcoming assignments and tests.

Thanks,
Rachael Batchu