Literature Circles Letter

Dear Parents,

In the month of December we will be doing a prolonged activity in English called Literature Circles.  Each day students will read a portion of a novel with a small group of students.  They will choose to write some kind of journal entry that helps them to think about the portion that they have read.  Every few days they will also meet as a group to discuss their book.  In that meeting students will have roles to facilitate discussion.  They will have to come to the meeting prepared for their role.  

This is an exciting way for students to experience some great novels that they are interested in, but there is a good deal of work involved.  We will be able to finish all of the reading during class.  Some of the other tasks may come home for homework.

I also have the audio for these books that students could use in the evenings to reinforce the reading during the day.  If you are interested in using it you could send in a flash drive, get the audio from your local library, or purchase the audio off of iTunes.

I hope that this will be an exciting time for your child!

In Him,

Mr. Lee

Reading Homework

I have signed up our class to use Raz-Kids.  It's a captivating reading website where you earn stars by listening to books, reading them, and by answering quizzes.  I will send home passwords.  Watch for them.

Raz-Kids

Math Quiz

Wow!  We had another great Math result.  In our most recent Math quiz/test no one lost more than 3 marks.  Also, there were three perfect papers!  Excellent work everyone.

Can you Add and Subtract 4 from any number?

All you have to do to add 4 to any number is: add 2, and add 2 again!
To subtract 4, subtract 2 and subtract 2 again!

Week at a Glance

This week we are beginning Literature Circles.

Grade 3 students have a handout to finish by Friday as homework.  Their spelling words are: swimming, swam, getting, coming, came, having, doing, ended, happened, happening, started, joked, received, smiled, smiling.  There will be a test on Friday!

Grade 4's spelling words are: beautiful, classify, community, communities, electricity, happiness, prettier.  There will be a test on Friday!

In Math we are going to be learning how to add large numbers together.

Our Trip to 1908

Adding and Subtracting 3

To add and 3 to numbers, just add 2 then add 1 more.
To subtract 3 from numbers, just subtract 2 and subtract 1 more.

November 21 - November 24

Hello Everyone!

This week is going to be another exciting one!  In PBL we are putting the finishing touches on our journals and we're having a bit of a party on Tuesday.  We'll wear some Pioneer clothes.  We'll bring in a vegetable each so that we can make soup with.  We'll play a few Pioneer games!

In Language we will be beginning Literature Circles.  The way they work is that students choose a novel to study.  Then, each day they'll have some work to do that will get them thinking about their book.  Once a week, students will get together to discuss their book and share their thoughts.

In Math the grade 3's will be comparing numbers, counting by 2's and 5's.  In grade 4 we'll be comparing numbers and adding with regrouping.

We are having a grade 3 spelling test on Thursday.  The words came home Monday with some homework to complete by Thursday.  Grade 4's have new Nifty, Thrifty, Fifty words!

This Week's Activities

This week we will be finishing our Pioneer Journals. We will read them to each other on Friday!


We are going to have a quiz on Genesis 12:2-3, 7 Friday.


We are going to have a spelling test Friday too. The grade 3 words are save, give, have, live, move, above, alive, alike, to, two, too, know, do, blew, blue.


The grade 4 words are Nifty Thrifty Words. They are expensive, governor, impression, depression, independence, submarine, transportation, unfinished.

Mental Math Practice

Can you add 2 and subtract 2 from any number?  Prove it!

This Week

This week we are preparing to go to a 1908 classroom.  I have sent home a couple of info pages that say how to dress in period clothing.


We are going to be writing journals for PBL.  Each student will create a character and write about 5 days in a pioneer life.


In Language we will be performing our Reader's Theatre plays for other classes!  It is great to hear how the fluency improves with practice.


Everyone did very well on the Math test last week.  The class got straight A's.


We are going to have a spelling test on Friday.  The words are:
beautiful, before, discover, enough, first, hopeless, journal, let's, recycle, went, when, float, how, mail, name, rain, skate.


Our memory verses are Genesis 12: 2-3, 7

² “I will make you into a great nation 
   and I will bless you; 
I will make your name great, 
   and you will be a blessing. 
³ I will bless those who bless you, 
   and whoever curses you I will curse; 
and all peoples on earth 
   will be blessed through you.”


⁷ The LORD appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” 

Weekly Review Nov 4

         We performed a play called Chrysanthemum.  We are going to start doing reading buddies.  We are going to do a christmas play.  We are also going on a field trip to a museum that will help us with our pioneer topic.  We had a math test and we all got A's.  We had some high school student's come to our class.  We are doing a Pioneer project.  We also had a spelling test.Mr.Lee is doing a half marathon.  We play soccer at recess.
       By Meera and Caleb.

Class Trip November 10

Dear Parent,

We have a great learning opportunity happening Thursday November 10.”  Our class will take a field trip to the Jordan Historical Museum.  

The cost is $5.

This field trip is an important part of our Pioneers unit.  The full day program that they run is called “Strict But Nice: A 1908 School day”.  Through role-playing, children will recreate authentic lessons and daily routines experienced by turn of the century students, including the traditional “3 R’s”, a spelling bee, work on slates, penmanship, memory work and traditional games. 

Because the success of “Strict But Nice” stems largely from active role-playing, students are encouraged to prepare simple costumes and historically correct lunches for their visit.  We won’t be able to buy food on site.  Outdoor games will be played  during the day, so they will need to have appropriate clothing.

We will also need to have parent drivers for the day.  We need a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 4 drivers.  Please let me know if you would be available.

In Christ,

Mr. Lee

Class News

We've been having a great week so far!

In Language we have been practicing for a Reader's Theatre Play!  It is called Chrysthanthemum.  The script has a number of female roles.  I had to change the script, but I didn't want to waste the paper, so I sent the unedited script home.  Next week we'll be performing our play for other grades!

We will be doing a Math Test Thursday.  Last test all the students got an A+.  I think that we can all get an A on this test too!

In PBL we've been learning about Pioneer times.  We are becoming experts on different Pioneer occupations.  On Friday we are going to share our expertise with our groups.  Next week we will be writing a journal from the perspective of a Pioneer person.  We will have a trip next week on Thursday.  Details to follow!