Dear Parents,

The rhythm of fourth grade is snapping along. It has been an exciting and busy week with lots of opportunities for creativity and exploration.

Our Geometry study has us designing complex patterns with straight edges and compasses. Fourth graders have all figured out how to make the seven sacred circle design and many are experimenting with making inscribed shapes in circles. It has been great to see students using persistence and accuracy when figuring out how to create these patterned designs. Students are also creating a piece of artwork with colored string in a circular design. I cannot wait to see how they turn out.

We are getting into the plot of Sign of the Beaver. It is a terrific read because it brings up historical references that we have been learning about. I have been reading a book about the early history of Vermont aloud at lunchtime. We are mostly doing a shared reading this class novel responding to the events of the story both orally and in writing.

We had a lot of time to get into more research on beavers. What fascinating rodents we get to study! Beavers are known as a keystone species because they alter their environment for their needs. By creating wetlands, beaver habitat is shared by many species needing water and protection. We have also learned about forest succession and zones of the pond. Our trip to the beaver site in Putney was a great outing but the beavers did not make a showing for us. Being nocturnal it is rare to get to see them in the light. It was a fun hike and good experience seeing the wetland. Friday is our first Tech class and students will explore a beaver related website and respond to some guiding questions.

The kids are enthusiastic about being together and learning how to work as members of a group. We have been doing challenges that focus on group dynamics and processing how to be an effective part of the whole. Being mindful of group success goes a long way in building a caring class community. I have enjoyed seeing kids problem solve and work as a team. These skills will be put to the test as we prepare a fun “beaver skit” for All School Meeting next Wednesday (9-28). Try to come see it if you can.

I am really enjoying getting to know these fourth graders. They are hard workers and creative individuals.

Sincerely,

Emily

Settling In...

Things are going along smoothly. What a great week of getting to know one another.

Some highlights: making shapes with straws and twist ties in math

Buddy Lunch

reading Sign of the Beaver

playing Hex

playing Jeopardy in French

correcting our own spelling tests

meeting Patti Smith and learning about her beaver family

a great game of capture the flag

perfecting group challenges and processing our strategies

Next week we will be leaving campus twice for outings.

Monday we will head out to the Brattleboro Art Museum leaving at 12:15

Thursday we will go see the beaver habitat on Sand Hill Rd. in Putney leaving at 12:50

Looking forward to it!

--Emily

Getting Started.........

Building community and behaving in ways that show we care and respect each other have been the main objectives in 4^th grade this week. What a great group we are!

We are reviewing cursive, computation, and having a lot of fun discussing the wonderful book, The Magician’s Elephant by Kate DiCamillo. Thank you students and parents for reading this before school. It has been a terrific experience to start the first week sharing in literature circle.

“Hopes and Dreams” is a way for students to think of some broad goals and to articulate individual interests. Our learning community seems eager and willing to work hard this year. These are some ideas that were shared as a “Hope and Dream” as we begin 4^th grade:

Clara hopes to do a lot of math and get a lot of homework.

Elle hopes to finish her last belt in Judo and study Kung Fu.

Charlie hopes to do math, cursive, and homework.

Val hopes to be goalie for the New England soccer team.

Matt hopes to study Egypt and go to Boston.

Ella hopes to go on a sailboat and wishes for level 7 in gymnastics.

Ethan hopes to go kayaking.

Kasey hopes for her yellow belt and to learn about beavers.

Garrett hopes to learn knot tying and become an inventor.

Pierce hopes to play center on his hockey team and learn about beavers.

Chloe hopes to send her writing to Kate DiCamillo.

“We are a community who dreams and encourages each other to do his and her best each day.”

The TGS community is looking for ways to help those in need after tropical storm Irene. We would like to expand our food drive as a way to help. Donating food is a great way for kids to get involved in this recovery effort.

Specials schedule:

Mon- PSD and Art

Tues- PSD and Recorder

Wed- French and Music and All School Meeting

Thurs- Library

Fri- Tech, PSD, and French

All for now, Emily