Welcome Back from Spring Break!
Monday, April 9th: Puffins to Forest Grove Public Library 2pm-3pm
Chaperones Needed!
Wednesday, April 11th: Pioneer Day at the AT Smith House
All day O&A and Oregon Trail Dress Up Day!
Talk to your Puffin about how Pioneers might have dressed, and what types of foods they would have brought for lunch. We encourage students to dress the part that day!
Chaperones Needed!
Friday, April 13th: NO SCHOOL for students
Grading/Staff Development Day
Thursday 4/19 and Friday 4/20: NO SCHOOL for students
Student Led Conferences
Monday, April 30th: Puffins to Forest Grove Public Library 2pm-3pm
Chaperones Needed!
Level 2 Suggested Weekly Homework:
Reading Homework
Spend at least 20 minutes reading (outside of school) every day.
Reading is on the "honor system" and we ask that you help your kiddo to develop a daily reading routine with good-fit books. At fall conferences, your kiddo brought home the Tower of Books wall poster, which is a fun (and optional) reading genre challenge.
Typing Homework
Level 2 students have typing homework to develop and support important keyboarding skills. Please practice at least 20 minutes per week on: Typing.com
Math homework
It is strongly recommended that your student practice math skills
at least 30 minutes (or more) per week.
This can be completed online with Dreambox or Khan Academy. Students can also play math games, or complete worksheets (you can find grade level workbooks online or at the Learning Palace).
Current 4th grade Math Topic:
- Geometry
All 4th grade math students should be practicing their multiples DAILY.
4th graders have set goals and made plans for daily practice and have identified the numbers they needs to work on (ie. 6’s, 7’s, 8’s, etc.). Check in with your kiddo about this!
What's Happening in the Puffin Nest...
Our O&A last week: pioneer chores in the garden
Settling in Oregon was hard work in many ways, even for kids. They didn’t often have a lot of free time as they were very busy helping their families by doing chores most of the day, everyday!
In the Backyard Garden as part of our O&A, we tested out what it was like to complete some of the chores that pioneer kids were tasked with. Students washed and mended clothing, practiced using a rope lasso, and learned about gathering kindling and making a spark for a fire to cook food over.
In class, we completed Storypath Episodes 2 & 3:
Preparing for the Journey & Organizing for Departure
● Students discussed the logistics/challenges of the journey, the transportation, the items to bring.
● Students created covered wagons, decided what animals and provisions to bring.
● Students read information about their journey and reflected on their experiences.
● Students discussed issues surrounding the organization of the wagon train.
● Students selected a leader for the wagon train, established rules for the wagon train, and wrote farewell letters.
Current Class Read Alouds:
Daily Life in a Covered Wagon
This historical adventure follows a typical family from Indiana traveling to Oregon in a covered wagon. It shows how they really lived: how they dressed; what they ate; what they saw; how they survived the hazardous journey.
Rachel's Journal: The Story of a Pioneer Girl
Rachel and her family travel by covered wagon following the Oregon Trail from Illinois all the way to California. The terrain is rough and the seven-month trip is filled with adventure and Rachel's handwritten journal chronicles every detail.
Reading Workshop: Book Clubs
These small group "Literature Circles" engage students in vocabulary study and rich conversations about shared readings. Students can express their opinions, predictions, and questions about a text in a productive, structured way while developing their reading, speaking, and thinking abilities.
Students are finishing up their first book, and getting ready to explore a new book in their book club group. Ask your kiddo to tell you about the book they are reading!
Our Book Club Books:
- The Wanderer
- View from Saturday
- Flora & Ulysses
- Because of Winn Dixie
- Bridge to Terabithia
- Holes
- The Mouse & the Motorcycle
- Cricket in Times Square
- How to Train Your Dragon
- Clementine