Hello Lincoln Families,
I hope everyone is well and was able to enjoy the extra time on Friday afternoon! I would like to share with you some interesting research I came across about reading. The article listed the following benefits to reading daily: Reading enhances brain activity, improves vocabulary and comprehension, develops critical thinking skills, and improves testing scores. In my 17 years of classroom experience, all of that research made sense to me. But, the article went on with listing some more recent research proving that reading has some health benefits too. It can reduce stress, manage depression, and reduce memory loss, according to the University of Sussex. Dr. David Lewis, says, "Losing yourself in a book is the ultimate relaxation..." Dr. Lewis's comment doesn't surprise me. I am an avid reader myself and have experienced exactly that type of relaxation. However, I don't think I have expressed that enough to my students. It's not just about test scores. What about getting lost in a good book? The study also found that reading can be more relaxing than going for a walk or listening to your favorite music. In the late fall, I created a "reading rate bookmarker." The idea behind it is that students can commit to a favorite book, in any genre, bringing it from school to home, keeping track of their daily reading, finishing, and starting the process again. Keeping track of the time and pages they read is data for them (teacher & parents). The data has been so helpful for me and the students to ask questions about their reading like, Do I like this book? Do I enjoy the genre? Am I able to finish this book in a reasonable amount of time? Why is this book taking me three weeks to finish? I want to thank all the parents who have been signing the bookmarkers. It helps validate not only that your child is ready at home, but brings you into the conversation and makes you a part of their reading journey. I continue to encourage parents to ask some of the same questions above. The goal is for your child to become a "lifelong reader". Thank you for helping me encourage your child to persevere, and to read every day at home even when schedules are so very busy.
Conferences for Spring:
As many as you know spring conferences are primarily done on an "as-needed basis" for students needing additional academic, social or emotional support. I know that some parents may want to meet regardless of whether their student falls into this category. I have reached out to parents via email with information about conferences for this Trimester. If you have any questions please email me.
Just a reminder: This year Lincoln will celebrate Valentine's Day by doing activities from our P2 Program all week! On Thursday, February 17th, the parent committee who signed up at our Parent Night in the fall, is sending in snacks, etc. We will eat the snacks in the morning and do a "love collage" as a cumulative activity. We will not be doing the traditional card exchange. We are taking care of all activities in school. So, nothing from home is needed. Thanks!
Chromebook Reminders
* Charge computer
*Leave charge cord at home
*Bring CB in case
*Pack-up Backpack
*Bring to school every day
Important Dates
Field Trip: Planetarium: 2/4 (no chaperones can come:)
Late Start Days: 2/2, 2/9, 2/16, 2/23
No School: 2/18, 2/21
This Week's Academic Focus
Reading: Students all have a new individual reading goal that has been recorded in their "reader's notebooks". We will continue meeting weekly in small groups and individual reading conferences. These strategies are intended to be added to their "reading tool kit". The whole class goal will be to focus on the main idea/details in non-fiction including using text features in the text.
Writing: Our focus will be on persuasive writing. 4th graders are given a thesis statement and will learn how to develop a five-paragraph paper, using the writing process, to convince or persuade a reader of their opinion.
Math: Unit 3 Extending Operations to Fractions this week.
Link to families for Unit 3 Extending Operations to Fractions
Link to families for Unit 2: Fraction Equivalence and Comparison
Illustrative Mathematics. (Here is the link if you are interested in looking at the program).
Science: Energizing Everything will be our next unit of study. Students will explore energy, energy transfer, and electricity.
Link to Mystery Science Energizing Everything Unit.
Social Studies: The focus will be Human Geography in the United States and the push & pull factors of migration to America. I will use different interactive read alouds along with this unit to give our class background knowledge for certain historical events that have taken place regarding migration. This unit preludes a big historical presentation that each 4th grader will do that will take a few months to complete. More information is to come. In the month of February, we will also focus on Read alouds about the courageous people who were part of the Underground Railroad for Black History Month.
Positivity Project focus this week is "Identifying the Good in Others".
Back-to-School Night Presentation
If you were unable to attend Back-to-School Night above are the slides. The field trip permission slip went home with your child. Please sign and return as soon as possible if you haven't already. If you would like to make a donation for the field trips, please go to slide six and click on the link. Thank you.
Weekly Specials Schedule
No letter days this year!
Lunch 12:30-1:20: Specials will be the last 45 minutes of the day 3:05-3:50: A.M. Recess will be from 9:40-9:55 and P.M. Recess from 2:25-2:40 every day.
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