Here is an update on what your child is studying at school.

Math- We have been working on: solving a variety of problems involving addition and subtraction, reading, writing, and identifying the place value of numbers to the millions and estimating sums and differences. We are taking a test on Monday.  Most students are ready and doing very well.
After Thanksgiving vacation we will have a short unit on angles and polygons.

Science- Students have been very excited to study rocks and minerals. Each day we used food ingredients to demonstrate a type of rock. Igneous rocks are formed by intense heat so we made rock candy by boiling corn syrup and sugar. Sedimentary rocks are formed into layers by pressure. We pressed together different colors of Airheads. This was very fun and even tasted good. (Our igneous rock had a slight burnt taste.) Metamorphic rocks are formed by a combination of heat and pressure. We layered, pressed, and heated graham cracker crumbs, marshmallows, sugar, and chocolate chips to demonstrate this rock. The rock cycle was shows how each rock type can change into another type. We also studied fossils.

The Rock Cycle

student writing

Writing- We have been writing about our ideas in the form of essays. We talk about “pushing our thinking” to generate ideas as we write. One of the essays students have been writing describes what they are thankful for.

Reading: Our reading mini-lessons have been about elements of a story-the plot, characters, and setting. The story The Princess and the Pizza has a plot with a “twist”-a variation from a typical “princess” story.
Most of the time students are given the opportunity to read books of their own choice during reading time. After Thanksgiving, students will be reading Stone Fox in small book club discussion groups. A book club of a few girls is reading the book Esperanza by Pam Munoz Ryan.

Communication is so very important. The following are some of the ways I will use to keep you informed:
Agenda Each day your child will bring home their agenda which will list what we did each day and assigned homework. Please read and sign your child’s agenda every day.
Biweekly Newsletters I will send home newsletters to keep you informed of classroom activities, important information, and upcoming dates.
Classroom Blog Watch for pictures, class projects, and newsletters on our blog. Go to our class blog at http://cboersma.edublogs Information from our former handbook is now on the blog too. Click on “About Fourth Grade” at the top of the blog.
If you do not have access to the internet, please let me know and I will put a copy of newsletters, etc. in your child’s mailbox at school.

Please help me by keeping me informed of things that will help me teach your child more effectively. Please contact me with any concerns or questions by sending a note, writing a note in your child’s agenda, calling, or emailing. I will get back to you as soon as possible.

I would appreciate it if each family would donate a box of Kleenex to our class. At the open house I will also have some sticky notes on the white board with suggested donations. Thank you so much for your help!

It is such a joy and honor for me to be your child’s teacher. I am so excited for a GREAT YEAR!

Sincerely,
Claire Boersma

Phone: 616-797-9797, ext. 22308
Email: cboersma@hpseagles.net