Memorial Day Weekend

Good Afternoon,

We've wrapped up another wonderful week of learning, and it's hard to believe we're heading into the final stretch of the school year. This time of year brings a mix of excitement, reflection, and emotion as we begin celebrating this incredible group of 4th graders. As we look ahead, we're focused on making these last couple weeks meaningful and memorable for every student. Thank you for your continued support—let’s finish strong together!

Week in Review:

Leader in Me: This week, we learned about stress. Eustress is positive stress that feels exciting, can motivate us, and is short-term. Distress is negative, toxic stress that causes anxiety or concern, feels unpleasant, and can lead to health problems. Invite your learner to teach you about the differences between eustress and distress. Discuss ways you can support your learner if experiencing distress.

Writing: This week in writing, our 4th grade authors continued working on their graphic novels, focusing on editing for clarity to make sure their stories are easy to follow and engaging for readers. Students learned strategies to revise their work with the reader in mind. They also had dedicated work time to apply those strategies and make progress on their stories. It’s been exciting to see their creativity shine as they bring their characters and plots to life through both words and illustrations.

Math: This week in math, our 4th graders focused on building a deeper understanding of multi-digit multiplication. We began by introducing the standard multiplication algorithm and then moved into strategies that encourage thoughtful problem-solving, like "Think Before You Multiply." Students explored different ways to represent multiplication, including double-digit quick sketches and using the four partial products method. By the end of the week, they began working with a two-part area model to visualize and solve multiplication problems. These strategies are helping students become more flexible and confident mathematicians as they learn to choose efficient methods for solving complex problems.

Reading: This week in reading, our 4th graders wrapped up their historical fiction unit by exploring big ideas and themes across different texts. In our final lesson, students practiced finding thematic connections, thinking deeply about how different stories can share similar messages. They then completed a post-assessment over two days to reflect on their growth and understanding from the unit. 

Content: This week in social studies, our 4th graders explored how communities make economic decisions through a process called participatory budgeting. They applied their understanding of economics to evaluate how a community can meet shared needs and goals. Students reflected on how economic knowledge and skills can help them make a positive impact, both personally and within their communities.

  • 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 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 12:30 @ La Follette Park
  • 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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