Dear Fourth Grade,
This week in fractions we worked on equivalencies, improper fractions, and mixed numbers, mostly through games and straight practice. I may or may not have tried to lift a student above my head in order to demonstrate what an improper fraction is…
While fractions is what we are actively working on, I’ve been feeling like I’m actually teaching a triple block. Alongside fractions there is the class play work we’ve started, and this week we’ve also had some really interesting discussions relating to Dr King. During lunch time, I’ve been reading a biography written for children, and this has sparked lots of talk about slavery, civil rights, right and wrong, and race relations. It has been very interesting to be a part of these conversations.
The highlight of the week was hands down our King celebration at the retirement home. It is actually the highlight of the year for me so far. Your budding interviewers did an amazing job. The residents were so happy to have them, and many of them were great storytellers, telling the students what it was like to live during the time of Dr King. At the end we sang We Shall Overcome in 2-part harmony for them. Only we didn’t sing alone! The residents joined in right away, with several of them standing to hold hands with the students. I don’t know how anyone survived that without crying. It made me fall in love all over again with this class of enthusiastic, rascally, magic-makers. I hope they share with you some of the stories they heard. Thank you to Alina, Claudia, Megan, Maureen, Cathy, Mx Miller, and Mx Bala for coming with us.
UPCOMING EVENTS
- Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service – Monday, January 21. Want to serve but don’t have another project in mind? Come help us prepare the kitchen space on Monday morning. (no school Monday)
- Gr 4 Evening – Wednesday, February 6, 7:00pm. Save the date. This will be an important Parent/Guardian meeting in which we talk about the upcoming projects and expectations.
