September 2011

 

Dear Parents/Guardians,

 

Another school year is upon us! What fun and excitement there is to the first days of school.  It is great to have many of the same students back and build upon all that we have learned. The new roof is done, desks have been dusted, pencils sharpened to a point, names have been noted, projects are being planned and the room is ready for learning.

 

Fourth grade is a great year of learning. Students continue to build on their 3rd grade skills. As the year progresses they will be writing longer passages emphasizing ideas & content, organization, and conventions.  Students will continue to read passages and books that develop their reading comprehensions and fluency. Math will be exploratory, hands on approach as we explore the concepts of multiplication, division, algebra, and measurement as well as reinforce addition and subtraction.

 

Homework for this year is focusing on reading, which is an important area for students and it has life long rewards. Students are expected to read regularly using variety of reading material. The ultimate goal is to be exposed to different reading genres and find topics that motivate their own reading. Near the beginning of September, they will be coming home with a reading log to record at least 20 minutes of reading, five days out of the week. Parents are to initial each day, acknowledging the time read, and then the reading log will then be brought back to school each day. Other homework that could come home is spelling, math, and unfinished schoolwork.

 

Social skills are another area that is emphasized in the classroom. For kids getting along with a brother or sister is one thing, but 26 peers with individual wills and desires can be a bit of a challenge. Therefore, there are natural opportunities to learn to be respectful, helpful, follow directions and appreciate differences in others. Students are taught in ways to work with other individuals and have some latitude in making decisions and experiencing the rewards and consequences of those decisions. Other times students need a break from their peers or just need a different learning environment for a while. This can be in the classroom or another location in the school.  A note or call home is used when behavior patterns become consistent or disrespectful. As issues continue or are of a serious nature, a Notice of Concern and/or a District Referral could be warranted. Three guiding principles behaviors are measured by are; Being Safe, Being Respectful, and Being a Learner.

 

I teach because I care and enjoy teaching kids how to learn. It is seeing their faces light up when they have discovered something new, or they finally “got it.” After a few years in small business management, I went back to school to earn a master’s in teaching and have been in the classroom for 14 years. I learn with the kids and they teach me. My desire is to meet every kid’s needs, I’ll do what I can, using the time and resources we have available. Parents are teachers too, and I encourage your comments and involvement in your child’s education.

 

I can be contacted through e-mail or phone. My e-mail address is

adams_kerick@salkeiz.k12.or.us or the school’s phone number is 503.399.3141

If you have an e-mail address to receive notes or contact from school, please e-mail it to me.

 

Sincerely,

 

Kerick Adams