Monday, Feb 18th NO SCHOOL President's Day
Thursday, Feb. 21st Celebrations of Learning!
Our School-wide Open House from 5-6:30pm
Level 2 students will be presenting their class business and their Mini-Golf course will be open for business!
Remember that our kiddos will be running their business, and are asking for donations to play through the mini-golf course. (If you are able to support their business, please bring your cash donation to play!)
Wednesday, March 13th O&A to Portland Zoo
Departing FGCS at 9am- returning 2:15pm
I am looking for 4 Puffin parent chaperones who can follow the bus in their cars and meet us at the zoo. If you are interested, please email: [email protected]
Community School Calendar 2018-2019
Forest Grove Public Library November Calendar of Events
A little note about comfort: Winter is here! Please make sure that your kiddo is properly outfitted with warm (waterproof) layers and appropriate footwear on Monday and Wednesdays when they will be outside for at least part of their day.
What's Happening in the Puffin Nest...
This week, FGCS students participated in The Great Kindness Challenge, which is a week dedicated to creating a culture of kindness on school campuses nationwide. Throughout the week, the Puffins worked on kindness quotes, and created thank-you note invitations to show appreciation for school staff. We also focused on classroom community and problem solving skills. You can encourage your child to practice extra kindness at home and show the world that KINDNESS MATTERS!
Students continue to use Out & About time in February for building our recycled mini golf course! This week the puffins set up a mini-golf hole prototype and tested out their obstacles. Students participated in a critique to help them be positive communicators, as well as to improve their work through the sharing of skills and knowledge.
Reading Workshop: Literature Circles
These small group "Book Clubs" engage students in rich conversations about shared readings. Students can express their opinions, predictions, and questions about a text in a productive, structured way. Students take on specific group roles which are designed to develop reading, speaking, and thinking abilities. Ask your kiddo to tell you about the book they are reading!
Our Book Club Books:
- Flora & Ulysses
- No Talking
- Shiloh
- Because of Winn Dixie
- Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator
- Sideways Stories from Wayside School
- Charlie Bumper vs the Teacher of the Year
- Sasquatch Escape
- Clementine
- How to Train Your Dragon
- One and Only Ivan
- Time Cat
- The People of Sparks
How's your homework routine going?
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 and a well-lit, comfy reading spot away from distractions. 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
Passwords were sent home at family visits. Please email Ginny if you need help getting into your child's account.
Math homework
It is strongly recommended that your student practice math skills at least 30 minutes (or more) per week.
Our Dreambox math program for homework has started. Passwords and account information were sent home with your kiddo this week.
If you are interested in exploring other ways to practice math at home, take a look at these ideas:
Ideas for math practice:
- 4th graders can get valuable math practice with Khan Academy. Current 4th grade math topics are listed below.
- Online Math Game Sites: ZapZap Math or Prodigy- create your own account!
- Multiplication Facts Practice with a simple dice game. How to Play: Each player takes turns rolling 3 dice. First to break 200 (or 500, etc.) wins. On your turn, you get to choose two dice to add together, then you multiply the sum by the final die. That’s your score for that turn.
- Facts Practice with Free Math Apps: Sushi Monster & Math Hero
- Facts Practice with Purchased Math Apps: Operation Math & Math Vs. Zombies
- Place Value and Rounding
- Multi-digit Adding and Subtracting
- Factors & Multiples
- Prime and Composite Numbers
- Multi-digit Multiplication
- Division with Remainder
- Fractions
Prefer a worksheet for math homework? You can download here, or your student can pick up a paper copy in class.
Here are the practice pages for the previous weeks:
- Homework #1: Introduction to Fractions
- Homework #2: Unit Fractions/ Finding Fractions on a Number line
- Homework #3: Comparing Fractions
- Homework #4: Adding & Subtracting Fractions
- Homework #5: Adding & Subtract Fractions with UNLIKE denominators AND Multiplying a Fraction by a Whole Number
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!