Happy New Year!  We are ready to tackle the third quarter of fourth grade!

In Math:  This month we will be reviewing long division and double digit multiplication.  In between reviewing, we will be studying  ordered pairs, coordinates, line plots, different kinds of graphs, area and perimeter.  We will continue to use Simple Solutions as a math review as it spirals through concepts already taught. Lessons will be checked and quizzes taken.  We will take our WINTER STAR MATH test on Thursday, Jan 23.

Language Arts:  Using the basal reading series we will be reading the folktale The Emperor’s Kite, and nonfiction stories about a penguin and an orangutan. Comprehension skills reinforced will be summarizing and cause and effect. Compound words, pronouns, adjectives, adverbs, and figurative speech will be reinforced along with learning how to write a proper paragraph with a main idea and details. Our first Accelerated Reader book was due on Jan. 21, with the next book due on Feb. 3. The kids are working on their AR reading point goal which is due at the end of the Winter Library Quarter, March 1. Being accountable for outside reading for homework has been a big part of our reading program and growth this year. Spelling words lists will continue with tests being given every two weeks.  We hope to start the novel Shiloh after Catholic Schools Week.

Catholic Schools Week:  There will be many fun activities for the kids the last week of January to celebrate Catholic Schools week.  A special mass and a middle school musical are planned for the kids to enjoy. There is a door decorating contest that we will be entering.  Our theme is “Saints the we LOVE” . Students will be picking a favorite saint and illustrating it with colored pencils to put on our door.  Our students are artistic and should enjoy this challenge.

Religion:  We will continue in our Grade 4 Religion book on the chapters  that review the Ten Commandments and will  begin our study on Lent.

Social Studies and Science:  Students are wrapping up Nebraska Agriculture, Natural Resources and will be studying Native Americans soon. Gravity concepts are being studied in Science.

Thank you for reading my REMIND messages and responding if needed.  I find it really handy to send quick messages that will be helpful to your child.  It also helps me keep a record of our communication if I need to be sure I didn’t miss sending a message.  Please reach out! I know that I can sometimes send too many messages, but just want success for all of our students:) More news is better than no news I feel.

Happy Catholic Schools Week!! January 26-31, 2025

Dear Parents,

As we finish up our second quarter of fourth grade, I would like to wish everyone a joy filled and meaningful Christmas time with your families and loved ones. I know I have said it before, but I have been blessed to get to know your children and your families by coming to SPSL

During November and December we researched a famous athlete, made a trading card, and gave small presentations.  The first time researching for a report can be challenging, but the students had fun and enjoyed using the research engines provided.

Another challenge was learning how to multiply large numbers and begin the process of working long division problems. January will be filled with  review of both of these math concepts. If there are struggles, please know that we are all on the same page with learning happening day by day.  Thank you for the help you gave learning math facts!

We continued to meet in  Literature Circles to read and discuss our current books and read about Lou Gehrig and Amelia Earhart as a whole group while reinforcing comprehension, english, and study skills.

Our class has collectively read over 3 million words thus far through Accelerated Reader.  Your child has a new point goal to make during January and February.  The winter quarter of AR reading ends on March 1. They will be in their planner on a sticker next week.

In the spirit of giving,  a few of you have asked about what we need at school.  These items  could double as a gift to the classroom or anyone. Some ideas for you are:

A ream of white copy paper (used to create work papers for math, reading, and language arts)

Gluesticks (used for projects and interactive notebooks)

Skinny colored markers (used as learning markers when writing in math, and

These would be shared with everyone and would make a fine gift:)

Thank you again, for your constant kindness towards me….it has made my move to SPSL wonderful!

Keep the Faith ….Laura Zabloudil

I hope to be done grading and entering our final tests next week in Black Baud.  Thank you for your patience.

Have a great Christmas Holiday!!

• October in 4D will be a busy one!
• Along with learning how to multiply multi digits, we will be completing a biography research project in writing  and a creative book report on their October book. 
• Please, if your child is struggling in remembering math facts, take a few minutes each night to review.  Thank you:)We plan to take a x fact test each Friday this month to check progress.  
• In Reading we will be finishing our whole group book Double Fudge while completing comprehension questions.  We will also continue on reading our library books for comprehension and taking the Accelerated Reader quizzes that go along with them to make our easy AR point goals due on November 11.
• Spelling pretests and tests will continue on a bi weekly basis. Please create a study spelling word routine for homework time.  You can use the computer program SPELLING TRAINER at home if you would like.
• Language Arts skills will include verbs, contractions,  and possessives along with constant reinforcement of writing complete sentences. 
• Parent teacher conferences are on October 30. Conference schedules are coming home on 10/10.
• Orange October Home Reading Log records are due on Oct. 29.  They are in the expandable file under reading. These logs will be used as a Reading Effort grade. 
• We cleaned out our expandable files and reorganized. 
• We decided to put our LEARNING  HELPERS under the miscellaneous file so not to confuse them with any homework. 
• Thank you for helping your child look through their assignment book, share what they did each day, and check in on their expandable file.  Taking these two items home and back to school  each day is helpful for them to learn responsibility for their school work now and in the future. 
• Please do not work on any reading, spelling words, or finishing up work for more than an hour each night. 
• Please bring unfinished work back to school.  If needed, please write a note in their planner for communication if needed. 
• Our class made their 50 point goal for good behavior and is receiving a movie/popcorn party on Friday 10/11 for an hour. 
• ANY PAPERS THAT ARE SENT HOME ON FRIDAY CAN BE RETURNED TO OUR CLASSROOM TO BE PUT IN OUR NEW RECYCLING TUBS!!
• RECYCLE THE PAPER, SAVE THE TREES, OUR SPSL KIDS CAN TO IT!!

We are off to a great start!  Thank you to everyone who has jumped on the REMIND app as this is the way that we will communicate this year!  We have been to mass, have had our first Reading and Spelling test, and have been practicing our procedures and routines.  My next step is to begin learning the Black Baud system for assignments and grades. Thank you for your patience.  I’ve been  trying to touch base with parents the past two weeks.  I will also be sharing our classroom behavior plan soon.

Welcome to the 2024-2025 school year!