Halftime of May

Good Afternoon,

I can't believe this is reality, but we just completed the last full week of school for this school year. This week during i-Ready testing as a class we talked about how they felt 9 months ago coming into the classroom to where they are now. A lot of them laughed at the thought about how they felt the nerves at one on ones and the first day of school or the shock when I told them they have read in class over 7,500 minutes this school year. A school year is filled with so many highs and lows, growth, memories, but at the end of it I wanted them to remember that our goal throughout the year from the very beginning was to learn and have fun, and hopefully we can say that we were able to accomplish those two things.

Week in Review:

Leader in Me: This week, we talked about how to Sharpen the Saw. Sharpen the Saw includes having balance in our body, mind, heart, and spirit. Discuss these questions with your learner:

  •     What can we do as a family to help others and sharpen your spirit?
  •     What new foods can you try to sharpen your body?
  •     How can you build and strengthen a relationship to sharpen the heart?
  •     What is something new we can learn as a family to sharpen your mind?

Writing: This week in writing, our 4th grade authors continued working on their graphic novels. They spent time drafting in cartooning centers, where they brought their story ideas to life through drawings and panels. Students also began managing their own projects by making decisions about their story structure, characters, and pacing. Toward the end of the week, they practiced revising their work by “zooming in” on important moments to add more detail and emotion.

Math: This week in math, students continued exploring decimals by adding tenths and hundredths. They also revisited single-digit multiplication to strengthen their fluency and accuracy. Later in the week, we introduced the standard multiplication algorithm, helping students learn a more efficient way to solve larger multiplication problems. 

Reading: This week in reading, students continued their work in our Historical Fiction unit. They explored how readers can learn from historical narratives by thinking deeply about the characters and events in their books. We also discussed how one person’s perspective in a story doesn’t represent everyone’s, helping students recognize different viewpoints in history. Later in the week, students examined how power can show up in many forms within stories, including social, political, and personal power. Through read-alouds and book clubs, readers are building empathy and critical thinking skills as they connect with the past.

Content: This week in social studies, students explored how people make choices about using limited resources like money and time. They learned that every choice has both benefits and costs, and that even good choices can mean giving up other opportunities. We discussed the many factors that influence spending decisions, such as advertising, peer pressure, price, and incentives. Students practiced asking thoughtful questions to recognize these influences in their own lives. They also began thinking about how people set goals and make economic choices to reach them—identifying goals for themselves and their community while brainstorming the steps needed to achieve them.

  • Thank you to a parent who shared this great resource which can benefit your 4th grader and family! Every fourth grader in the US is eligible to receive a free pass for their family to visit America’s natural wonders and historic sites, which accesses hundreds of parks, lands and waters for an entire year! Visit everykidoutdoors.gov/rules.htm for more information and to get your pass!


A Look Ahead:

  • May 20th - Family Night with Community Clothes Closet 5:00-6:30
  • May 23rd - Early Dismissal (11:30)
  • May 26th - No School
  • May 29th - 4th Grade Concert
  • May 30th - Impact project celebration in classroom for families to attend 
  • June 3rd - Field Day
  • June 4th - 4th Grade Walk to Library & End of Year Picnic 
  • June 4th - Cafe Krueger Celebration
  • June 5th - Last Day of School; Early Dismissal (11:30)


That's all for this week!

Have a great weekend!


Mr. VW




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