I would like to sincerely thank you for the opportunity to work with your students this year. It has been a memorable and rewarding year in which I have both enjoyed myself immensely and have learned a great deal about teaching and learning. This is an unforgettable class, not only for themselves but also for their wonderfully supportive families. It has been a truly wonderful year. Thank you!
Many families request suggestions for summer work to support their children’s learning and to prevent the inevitable regression that occurs to varying degrees over the break.
Reading:
- Commit to a summer library reading program, available through Windermere, the Upper Arlington Public Library (http://www.ualibrary.org/kids/ ), or the Columbus Metropolitan Library (http://www.summerreadingclub.com/). Your student should have already brought home recommended summer reading lists from the Columbus Public Library. I will be sending home recommended summer reading lists from the Upper Arlington Public Library next week. You can also find their lists here: http://www.ualibrary.org/kids/kids_booknook.html
- Build reading time into your student’s day, maybe a mid-day lunch and reading break or at bedtime, so they will have time every day to read.
- Consider having your child read a book with friends in a book club. This can create excitement around reading. The trickiest part of this is choosing a book that all the students can read. Books on CD can be a great support here to level out the different reading levels. Celebrate with a movie adaptation at the conclusion of the book and discuss the differences. Do a Google search for “literature circles” for suggestions on roles and discussion questions.
- Your student will increasingly read non-fiction texts as they progress through school. I particularly enjoy our non-fiction science and nature texts with comprehension questions at the end for comprehension. You can peruse United Art and Education’s selection on Fishinger. They have a huge assortment and friendly salespeople who can help you find just the right level for your student.
- For the avid reader, you may consider having them find, or better yet, create a play adaptation of a favorite book. Most 3rd graders are still very excited to perform for friends and family without being overly self-conscious.
Writing:
- Plan to build in time for a paragraph each morning before your student heads off to camp or the pool. This will help to keep their convention sharp and their stamina up. You can focus on something different each week (wondrous words, convention, topic sentences or conclusions, descriptive details, etc.). Giving them a deadline with an attractive reward afterwards will make this easier on you if you have a reluctant writer. Refer to the writing checklist we use that was shared at Parent Information Night.
- Pen pals are a great motivator for some students and there are many different ones to choose from. You and your family can learn about a new culture as well.
- Independent research projects can also be very motivating. Let your student choose some books from the library and create a slide show, poster or other creative way of sharing what they’ve learned.
Math:
- Your student will not see a lot of new math concepts in 4th grade, but they will progress through deeper examinations of these same concepts and at a faster pace. Please refer to the math website hand out from Parent Information Night for great online resources.
- Basic fact fluency is key in 4th grade. Don’t let those skills slip over the summer. I strongly recommend focusing on strategies, rather than simply memorizing them. But… whatever works for your student is good.
- Multi-digit addition, subtraction, multiplication and division are also key to 4th grade math. A few problems a day will ensure your child is ready to tackle their new math applications.
Field Trips:
- Field trips are perfect for the inquisitive mind. I recommend the Franklin County Metro Parks for great free hands on science and nature exploration.
- The Columbus Museum of Art, which we’ve just visited, has a new children’s wing.
- The Ohio State University has many free museums. Orton Hall Geological Museum and the Wexner Center for the Arts are two of my favorites.
- There are links for the above mentioned resources on our class blog. You can learn about all of Ohio State’s museums at http://www.osu.edu/visitors/museums.php.
Field Days
- Wear shorts, tennis shoes for running and t-shirts that can get wet and dirty.
- Send an extra set of clothes to change into.
- Apply sunscreen before your child arrives at school. There will be stations to reapply throughout the day.
- If your child brings a water bottle, please write their name on it (or on a piece of masking tape on the bottle).
- Our morning session will last from 9:00-11:05.
- Lunch and “recess” will be indoors from 11:05-12:05 to give the students an opportunity to get out of the sun. The cafeteria will serve a sack lunch. I encourage your student to pack a lunch. Please do not send any peanut products.
- Our afternoon session will last from 12:10-2:30.
- Volunteers will eat in the gym. Mr. Moore is providing a catered lunch for you.
The Windermere Ukulele Orchestra will be representing our school in the annual Upper Arlington 4th of July Parade. We will be decorating the float on July 3rd. Amy Skidmore is organizing this event and would greatly appreciate any volunteers. Please send an email to amyskidmore3@aol.com if your child wishes to participate. “The plan is to create some signs which mimic the high school athlete/band etc. signs which you see around town: "A UA Ukulele Bear Lives Here." The kids will wear their ukulele orchestra shirts and have their ukuleles to play along with the CD, which we'll broadcast so people along the parade route can hear. We'll also create silhouettes of houses to create a neighborhood. More details to follow, but we'll likely have one day to create the decorations and one day (probably July 3rd) to put the decorations on the trailer. The goal is to keep it as simple as possible as everyone is busy in the summer.” Thank you Amy!
For the student interested in continuing their ukulele playing, you may want to visit Ukulele Player Magazine at http://www.tricornpublications.com/uke_player.htm or Ukulele Underground http://ukuleleunderground.com/. You may also want to contact Jodi Matthews for individual lessons.
We will be cleaning up our classroom this week and sending home all students’ materials. Please check the lost and found before Thursday for any missing items. Please send your student’s Everyday Math Reference Book to school this week. These must be returned before your student’s progress reports can be mailed.
Please return all library materials this week. These must be returned before your student’s progress reports can be mailed.
From the PTO: Take advantage of the popular PTO "Pre-Order" service. With your order, the supplies that your child will need are delivered to the classroom for you. Please consider using this economical and time-saving service. All of the details on how to place your order will be contained in a packet you will receive from the school by July 25.
Please don't forget to return your Fantastic Mr. Fox permission slip by Monday.
Thank you again for a wonderful school year. I hope everyone has a safe and relaxing summer. I’d love to hear from those of you who are moving.
Cheers,
Mr. Hudson
