Hello Parents! I hope you are having a great week! We are back at it! It has been going really well!!! We already have one week done!  :) 

Math- They took a beginning of the year test last week. This is just to give me an idea of what they can already do. They were tested on things that they will certainly learn in 5th grade.  This week we started our first chapter. We begin with place value. On Monday and Tuesday, we were focusing on the Base 10 blocks and how they place value system is based on 10s. When our numbers increase, we are usually multiplying by 10. We discussed how numbers will decrease by 1/10 as well. They noticed how the numbers are either gaining a zero or losing a zero. 

I did tell them that on nights where they have to do their math at home, they can use their bigger math book as a textbook. We usually fill that out together, so you would have some idea on what we were doing in class that day.

Language Arts- This week we are reading a selection called A Package for Mrs. Jewls. This is just part of the story from Wayside School is Falling Down.  This is a funny little story about how Mrs. Jewls is teaching her class about gravity when she receives a computer one day. She uses that as part of her gravity demonstration and throws it out the window! The students suddenly understand gravity!  In grammar they are starting out with the basics of a proper sentence. They are identifying that each sentence needs a subject and a predicate. If one part is missing they have a sentence fragment. This spelling list is covering short vowels. They will have a posttest on Friday. They will also have a test over the story on Friday.

Religion- They did a Bible search last week. They had to locate chapters and verses and then find the title of that chapter and verse. This week we are beginning with understanding the mysteries of Incarnation--God becoming man in human form and the Blessed Trinity-- 3 in 1.

Book Order- In your child's folder is a book order. If you are interested in purchasing, please return the order and money by next Friday, Sept. 11.

Group Band on Thursday-- the students need to remember their instruments! 

Friday, Sept. 4 is our first Spirit Day! That means students can wear sweats for $1. They can also sport their favorite team shirt-- Creston Panthers, STM, UNI...are there any others? Nope! Pretty sure that is it! Oh wait... I guess there might be some Hawkeye, Cyclone, or Husker fans. :)  I realize the temp is supposed to be pretty hot on Friday, it is optional to participate! 

I hope everyone has a great weekend! I am heading to Doon on Friday after work. No school on Monday, so I will see your kiddos on Tuesday!

God Bless,
Miss Surma