4th grade Monday Letter
Week #2: September 16th – September 20th
1. K-5 Open House: Driscoll Open House is on Thursday, September 19th from 6:00-7:30pm. This is a different format from last year, so please take some time to review the schedule and format that was sent home in an email from Dr. Talukdar. We strongly encourage you all to attend. If you are unable to attend Open House, we will send information home to you with your student. Please see the complete K-5 Open House schedule below:
2. A Note About Homework: In 4th grade we use what we call the “RMT” (“Reading, Math, Typing”) to help students log daily practice. We expect students to complete their RMT, fill it out and get it signed, every day of the week (including weekends). As discussed with students, the RMT can be signed by any adult who’s “in charge” – it can be done by a parent, family member, babysitter, after school teacher, etc. Students should already be in the habit of reading for 30 minutes and practicing math for 10 minutes and logging this information.
In the next couple weeks Mr. Kirdahy will help us send home login information for accessing Type to Learn at home. Once this information is home, we will also expect students to practice keyboarding for 10 minutes two times per week outside of school (in addition to practicing once a week in school). On a typical weeknight, students will be asked to complete a quick Word Study activity and a math sheet in addition to their RMT. Students’ only homework on weekends will typically be to complete their RMT.
3. A Note About Math Homework: Families often ask about the level of difficulty of students’ nightly math homework. We want to clarify that math homework is usually meant to be practice of skills we are working on during the school day. We expect that students can usually complete it independently in approximately 15 minutes or less. If students are taking longer than this or feel they cannot complete their homework because they do not understand the content, we view it as their responsibility to explain this to their teacher before school the next morning so that we can help them master the concept. If students are finished with math homework more quickly, they can use extra time to work on one of the various extension projects or problems we will have available in class (starting within the next couple weeks).
*Also please note that the 10 minutes of math practice required for students RMT is in addition to any other math homework given that night.
4. Friday Folders: We want to remind families that each week, student’s Friday Folder will contain parent notices in one pocket and completed student work in the other. It is important to read and take everything on the “Parent Information” side and complete all necessary forms. You may choose what to do with material in the “Student Work” side - keep it, recycle it, … Friday Folders must come back empty.
**Please sign and return this folder, on the provided sheet, with your student by the Monday following the day the folder is sent home.
- 6:00-6:30PM-Welcome and Introductions in Theater
- Introduction of all K-2 teachers, specialists, special education staff and administrators.
- Visiting classrooms, greeting staff in classrooms or in theater, mingling with other parents
- 6:30-7PM-K-2 Teacher Presentations in classrooms
- 6:30-7PM-Welcome and Introductions in Theater
- Introduction of all 3-5 teachers, specialists, special education staff and administrators. (Similar introductions that are at 6PM, allowing parents to remain at K-2 classroom presentations).
- Visiting classrooms, greeting staff in classrooms or in theater, mingling with other parents
- 7-7:30PM-3rd-5th Grade Teacher Presentations in classrooms
2. A Note About Homework: In 4th grade we use what we call the “RMT” (“Reading, Math, Typing”) to help students log daily practice. We expect students to complete their RMT, fill it out and get it signed, every day of the week (including weekends). As discussed with students, the RMT can be signed by any adult who’s “in charge” – it can be done by a parent, family member, babysitter, after school teacher, etc. Students should already be in the habit of reading for 30 minutes and practicing math for 10 minutes and logging this information.
In the next couple weeks Mr. Kirdahy will help us send home login information for accessing Type to Learn at home. Once this information is home, we will also expect students to practice keyboarding for 10 minutes two times per week outside of school (in addition to practicing once a week in school). On a typical weeknight, students will be asked to complete a quick Word Study activity and a math sheet in addition to their RMT. Students’ only homework on weekends will typically be to complete their RMT.
3. A Note About Math Homework: Families often ask about the level of difficulty of students’ nightly math homework. We want to clarify that math homework is usually meant to be practice of skills we are working on during the school day. We expect that students can usually complete it independently in approximately 15 minutes or less. If students are taking longer than this or feel they cannot complete their homework because they do not understand the content, we view it as their responsibility to explain this to their teacher before school the next morning so that we can help them master the concept. If students are finished with math homework more quickly, they can use extra time to work on one of the various extension projects or problems we will have available in class (starting within the next couple weeks).
*Also please note that the 10 minutes of math practice required for students RMT is in addition to any other math homework given that night.
4. Friday Folders: We want to remind families that each week, student’s Friday Folder will contain parent notices in one pocket and completed student work in the other. It is important to read and take everything on the “Parent Information” side and complete all necessary forms. You may choose what to do with material in the “Student Work” side - keep it, recycle it, … Friday Folders must come back empty.
**Please sign and return this folder, on the provided sheet, with your student by the Monday following the day the folder is sent home.
