Newsletter - Week of Aug. 28th - Sept. 1st

                                        

Newsletter Weekly Update : August 28 - September 1, 2017

Language Arts

This week will continue our work on developing routines for reading and writing workshop by looking at and practicing what great readers and writers do, think, and say. In Reading this week, students will be developing retelling skills, exploring character traits in fiction texts, and begin noting important ideas in their reading with the use of thinkmarks. In Writing, children will begin generating ideas for their first piece of opinion writing, with a focus on themes and issues related to their lives.

Math

In math this week the students will be working with manipulatives in order to better understand place value of multi-digit whole numbers. They will be shown how the base ten number system helps us to add and subtract.

Science/ Social Studies

Our first unit called The Culture Unit falls under the Social Studies umbrella and will take us through until October/November. This week students will begin investigating their name as an introduction to the concept of identity and what influences it. Be prepared, as they might come home with questions to ask .

Resources

These links were mentioned in our Grade 4 Open House evening and would be a good resource for information: Open House Slideshow ES Parent Learning Connection: Learn more about WHAT and HOW your child is learning.Click on the content. Click on the grade level buttons at the bottom of the page.

Announcements

Grade 4 is a peanut free zone. Please email your child’s homeroom teacher or their P.E. teacher in case your child is unable to do P.E. Friday 25th August is a Free Dress Day. Suggested donation is RM 5. The proceeds will go to the Children’s Cancer Hospital. Changes in busing pick up or drop times should be emailed directly to Melawati Busing: melawatibusing@iskl.edu.my

Celebrations

Please see your class blog or class website for individual class celebrations when the sites are up and running.

Week 4 Newsletter

HOME LEARNING CHOICE BOARD:

I have sent the September/October Choice Board to both you and your child, so that you can take a look at it before we actually begin using it. The students will be required to choose four activities each week. On Friday we will have a Home Learning Share Time in which the students will be able to share what they have done for home learning each week. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to send me an email with your questions.

SOCIAL STUDIES-CULTURAL BELIEFS & VALUES:

I would encourage you to start talking about your family’s cultural heritage. This week your child will be bringing home a questionnaire, which will require them to ask you a few questions about how they got their name. This is not due until next Monday. I am looking forward to hearing all about the origins of their names!

FOCUS TOOLS:

Mr. Ward has given the class a few focus tools to use in our classroom in order to help the students to focus better while listening in class and while concentrating on his or her work. We only have a few, so the students must take turns sharing the focus tools. Many of them would like to use a ‘stress ball’, but we only have four. I would suggest that if they really need a focus tool, you might want to buy them one of their own to use in class.

NEWSLETTERS & EMAIL:

I cannot stress the importance for you to use your Panther Apps in order for me to keep you abreast of happenings in 4JK. These will include reminders, curricular updates, classroom happenings, etc.

Kindest Regards,

Ms. Joni Kerr

Week 3 Newsletter

OPEN HOUSE:

Thank you for coming to Open House last night. It was great to see you all and I hope you enjoyed seeing where your child spends their day and get a small glimpse into what we are doing in 4JK.

INDIVIDUAL PHOTOS:

Due to the fact that we missed out time slot yesterday, our NEW time slot will be: THURSDAY, August 24th at 11:00. Please have them wear or bring in (if they have P.E. that day) a nice shirt or blouse. They can wear their ISKL short. If girls choose to wear a dress or a nice top and shirt that is fine too. They will NOT have to change back into their uniforms after the photos, they may wear their street clothes all day, free FREE dress day!

HOME LEARNING:

The students will be getting their first Home Learning Choice Board Next week. Until then, keep encouraging your child to read for at least 20 minutes a night and please allow them to play some of the educational games. I would also encourage you to start talking about your family’s cultural heritage.

NEWSLETTERS & EMAIL:

I cannot stress the importance for you to use your Panther Apps in order for me to keep you abreast of happenings in 4JK. These will include reminders, curricular updates, classroom happenings, etc.

Kindest Regards,

Ms. Joni Kerr

Week 2 Newsletter

   

              

MAP TESTING THIS WEEK:

Your child will be Taking the MAP reading and math tests this week. This is not a timed test, it is only an assessment to see what your child’s personal best is. It is just a tool we use at ISKL to see what the students know and how we teachers can adapt our curriculum to best suit the needs of your children.

INDIVIDUAL PHOTOS:

The photographer will be here starting next week to take photos of all the students. Our time slot is MONDAY, August 21st at 11:30. Please have them wear or bring in (if they have P.E. that day) a nice shirt or blouse. They can wear their ISKL short. If girls choose to wear a dress or a nice top and shirt that is fine too. They will NOT have to change back into their uniforms after the photos, they may wear their street clothes all day, free FREE dress day!

HOME LEARNING:

Over the first few weeks of the school year, your child will be asked to spend the majority of their home learning time reading and exploring books. I have also given your child usernames and passwords to STUDYLADDER which they have in their Home Learning Logs. Please allow them to play some of the educational games.

STUDENT SUPPLIES & CLASSROOM MATERIALS:

I have told the students in 4JK that if they choose to, they may bring in a small pillow to sit on while at their chair if they would feel more comfortable. They will also be able to use it during DEAR time while they are quietly reading their books around the room.

BIRTHDAYS:

All birthday treats will be shared in the canteen during snack or lunch. If you would like to send in a treat for your child on his/her birthday just contact me so I can inform the teachers in the canteen. Any birthday treats need to be nut free. If you choose to have a birthday party for your child outside of school, the school asks that you only pass out invitations in school if you are inviting the whole class. If your child does not want to invite everyone in the class, please send home invitations outside of school.

NEWSLETTERS & EMAIL:

I cannot stress the importance for you to use your Panther Apps in order for me to keep you abreast of happenings in 4JK. These will include reminders, curricular updates, classroom happenings, etc.

Kindest Regards,

Ms. Joni Kerr