September 2008

 

Dear Parents,

Greetings! My name is Karen Ellard, and I am your child’s math, social studies and science teacher.  Please feel free to contact me at anytime. If you have an e-mail address, please send it in with your child. (If you already signed the e-mail list in your child’s classroom during open house, then I have it.)

We will be moving steadily through the fourth grade math curriculum. Your child will take a Standards of Learning (SOL) exam in math at the end of the year.

This year we will be studying Virginia history. I hope that you will share the excitement for this interesting subject. We live in an area rich in history. Much of Virginia’s history is vital to your child’s future study of United States history, as the two areas of history are intertwined. At the end of the year, fourth graders will take a Standards of Learning (SOL) exam in Virginia history.

In science, we will study a variety of topics. These topics include: scientific investigation, force, motion, energy, electricity, plants, animals, space, weather, and Virginia’s natural resources. Your child may have studied these topics in earlier grades. However, because each grade builds on the previous grade, we will be studying these topics in more detail. For most of the year, science and social studies will be taught at different times. Please check the fourth grade monthly calendar and your child’s agenda often for details.

We are now studying Virginia’s natural resources (chapter 1 and supplementary material). This topic is a science SOL (S4.8), as well as part of our social studies curriculum (VS 1 & 2). Grades for this unit will count for both science and social studies.

We will also be studying scientific investigation throughout the year. This includes the scientific method and experiments.  We will be having “Experimental Fridays” on most Fridays! We will conduct experiments as we learn about the scientific method.

You can help your child by……

 * Reviewing their vocabulary lists and study guides a little each night. Even if they just read them over for 5 minutes, this will help.

* Help your child stay organized. Keep everything in their binder.

* Use the study guide provided, as well as the text. Some of the tested material is   NOT in the textbook, but is on the guide and discussed in class.

 * Save all study guides. I will collect them after the test for later in the year.

* Be enthusiastic! Children are more excited to learn when they know their parents are interested!

Thank you for your time. I look forward to getting to know each of your children. I know that we will have a fantastic year!

Mrs. Karen Ellard