November 14, 2011

It's hard to believe, but Mrs. Zangrilli's time with us is almost done! Her last day of student teaching will be next Tuesday, November 22. It's been great to have her in the classroom, with all the enthusiasm, hard-work, creativity, and compassion she brings. I know we will all be sad to see her go!

The Christmas concert is also quickly approaching, and will be on December 4. The fourth grade are singing two songs, Angels We Have Heard on High and Campana Sobre Campana, and playing the recorder on The First Noel. Please be sure the students are practicing at home, especially the recorder song, since this is the first time they've played this instrument.

We will have tests in math on Thursday, November 17, on reading maps in social studies on Tuesday, November 22 and on adaptations on Monday, November 21. The study guides for science and social studies are being sent home today. We also will have a spelling test before Thanksgiving break.

Thank you for all the food that has been brought in for the food drive! The students went to the food bank last week to learn how families get food and see where the food they donate goes. We will continue collecting food until November 22.

In reading, students are almost done with their mystery novels. They've done a great job identifying clues and suspects, and even red herrings! They are working on writing a journal this week from the perspective of one of the characters in their novel. After Christmas, we're going to read several historical fiction books, starting with The Whipping Boy. In writing, students are almost done publishing their fiction stories, which have included descriptive language like similes and personification.

Finally, in religion, students will begin creating a Jesse Tree for Advent next week. This is one of my favorite projects of the year. While creating the Jess Tree, we will trace the genealogy of Jesus in the Old Testament and tell the nativity story. Traditionally told through focusing on one person each day through the four weeks of Advent, we will tell it in school by reading aloud and having the students each present one person in Jesus' family tree. Students will be responsible for reading the Bible verses, summarizing them, and creating a symbol for their person or story. Some of the stories can be hard to understand due to the language the Bible is written in, and if students are having trouble, they are welcome to come to me for help in the days before their story is due.