Dear Parents and Students,
I hope everyone finds themselves and their loved ones doing well and having a happy week thus far. As all of you already know, I was in the hospital for 3 days due to my ill gallbladder that acted up at 2am on Thursday morning. The pain was so intense that I had to go to the emergency room where shortly after some tests they decided to go through with the surgery and remove it. The rest of the days I was out I spent recovering from the surgery. I wanted to thank all the parents and students that sent me "get well" emails, birthday cards and gifts, and my beautiful enormous Birthday and Get Well cards from the entire class. They really brightened my day when I wasn't feeling well at all. I am back in school and we are working diligently as always focusing on important concepts and skills.
We are currently working learning various forms of Figurative Language devices to use in our essays. So far we have learned how to write similes, metaphors, and hyperboles. This week we are focusing on the use of idioms. Students are creating "Idiom Interpretations" Charts with a partner. They have selected 5 idioms and are using the idiom in a sentence, explaining the actual meaning and visualizing the literal meaning of the idiom by drawing it on their charts. Writing Wednesday begins this week where we will focus on our writing assignments all day concluding with our weekly "Writing Hotshots" program. Every Wednesday, each teacher in 4th grade will select 3 students that have written outstanding essays or have shown tremendous improvement to visit another 4th grade class to share their essay with the students.
During reading we are currently using our Social Studies book and learning about how Florida became a state. We created an outline to summarize main ideas and supporting details in the lesson.
In Math, we are working on long division with remainders. Students will be practicing this week with various problems and activities.
As you can see we have had very busy weeks full of lots of learning and plenty of activities that students enjoy and benefit from.
***Homework is due on Monday!! Please make sure it is complete, we will be having "Homework Champs" again this year and students must have 100% of their homework turned in on time in order to qualify. I have the names of the parents that have signed up to purchase our pizza for us on the Homework Champs Pizza page. We have had several "Chance Board" students so far. Students get a sticker on the "Chance Board" every time they earn a 100% on any class test. Once that happens they can chose between a "Brainbuck" or a chance card. Everyone seems very excited about this incentive and I hope students focus and try their very best to earn their high marks. Graded work was sent home on Friday, please make sure you have signed and returned these tests to me.
Our "Roving Reporter" this week was 
Caitlin P.
Please visit the Roving Reporter's page so you can see what is happening daily in our class from a child's point of view (which can be interesting and fun at times).
I'd like to announce our first gold star winner on the "Are You Smarter Than a Fourth Grader" academic club program. 
Manny R. has won 12 gold stars!! Check out the webpage and see how your child can also participate.
We are in need of a few things.... first "Treasure Box" prizes. Please feel free to send in small dollar store prizes for the students to have in their "Treasure Box." I am also looking for a class "cookie jar" with a lid. If anyone has a spare and would like to donate it, please send it in!
Our Star Student for the month of September was John A. He received this award for working hard, behaving, striving above and beyond what's expected and trying their very best. I will be selecting October's star student tomorrow!
Congrats to Nikki Z. he is our Patriot of the Month for November... the character trait of citizenship. Good job!
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Thank you so much for donating to our class through the "Adopt a Classroom" program. I'd like to thank Nikki's, Manny's, Ishaan's, John's, Aditya's, Alannah's, Seth's, Jacobs parents and Nikki's aunt and uncle for helping me purchase much needed items for our class! I'd also like to thank Luis' parents for donating a color printer for our classroom.
I am now saving for other materials, supplies and learning games as well for our classroom!! If you haven't donated and would like to please visit the "Adopt a Classroom" page on our website! I can not express how grateful I am and fortunate to have such wonderful parents that are so involved in our classroom and work as partners with me to provide our kids with the best education possible.************Thank you....Thank you....Thank you.....!
****BOOK ORDERS FROM SCHOLASTIC WERE SENT HOME YESTERDAY. ********I have posted 5 new magazines up on our site. Visit our "Scholastic Books" page and purchase your books online!
As always if you have any questions or concerns please feel free to email me or send a note with your child.
Warm hugs!
*Have your child vote for their favorite subject!!
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*************PARENTS + TEACHERS + STUDENTS WORKING TOGETHER= SUCCESS**********
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