Newsletters

Fourth Grade News
February 25, 2011  || Dear Parents: I guess the picture on the newsletter says it all. Are we ready for spring? My apologies to the skiers, but I am through with winter! We have had an incredible two-month focus on African Americans. We have read powerful books and had great discussions in class and in Meology. Two weeks ago we shared Desmond Tutu’s story and talked about South Africa and Apartheid as well as Nelson Mandela. While prejudice and racism are words that came up often, discrimination has come up the most. Last week in Meology we listed six forms of discrimination on the board and asked the children which was the worst. While most said that racial discrimination and making fun of someone with a mental disability were “the worst”, in the end we all agreed that discrimination in any form was awful. As Christopher Paul Curtis said at the end of his great book, __The Watsons Go to Birmingham – 1963__, that “if one person is being treated unfairly, then we all are.” We are reading the follow-up book to __The Cay__, titled __Timothy of the Cay,__ which is a prequel/sequel. In the book, the chapters alternate between Phillip and his decision to have surgery that will hopefully restore his sight, and Timothy, the black native who saved his life in __The Cay__, but died doing so. Timothy’s chapters chronicle his life before his death in __The Cay__. Ask your children about these two unforgettable characters. In social studies we are beginning our study of how the United States became a country. For starters we are reviewing colonial times. The class has broken up into three groups, each representing a different section of the colonies. Their charge is to write a “commercial” trying to convince their friends in England why the southern colonies, middle colonies, or New England colonies are the place to relocate. ||       After the spring break we will read a number of books both in guided reading and orally that bring the incredible struggle for independence into a framework that is really appropriate for 4th graders. We are continuing our study of fractions by looking at addition and subtraction with unlike denominators. It is important as we move into areas of math that are more challenging, that if your child has difficulty with any of the homework that they put it away and bring it to Heather or me in the morning so we are able to review the skill. Mark you calendars for Thursday, March 31, at 8:30am. Pam Glasser will be sharing a presentation on the Lower School's Social Curriculum. Have a great weekend! **__ Important 4th Grade Dates __** : 3/5 Pirates of Penzance 7:00 3/6 Pirates of Penzance 2:00  ||