Teachers:

Judith Durham

Lucy Gurton

Casey Cougar

April News

By the Fourth Grade Team

We are right in the midst of our Maryland School Assessments! Thank you for your help in getting your children to school rested, fed and on time. There will be limited homework for the remainder of the week, but please encourage your son/daughter to make wise after school decisions. In fact, we would strongly suggest that they continue to work towards earning blue ribbons on Study Island. The Study Island Program is Cashell's latest online resource made available to students both at home and in school. The lessons are designed to support both our language arts and math state curriculum. The students have been very excited about it!

In language arts we have begun our unit on poetry. Students have been investigating and analyzing different literary techniques poets use in their writing. They are learning how white space in a poem is used as punctuation and to establish stanzas or refrains. They have discovered the difference between alliteration and onomatopoeia. Additionally, students have been comparing different types of figurative language such as idioms, similes and metaphors which are often used in poetry. On March 17th, students experimented with writing their own poems using the specific format of a limerick. Their creativity is impressive! By the end of the unit, students will have analyzed eight self-selected poems independently.

We are working hard on unit 4 in math. In this unit we are multiplying REALLY big numbers, solving problems using long division, interpreting remainders, and telling elapsed time. Please continue to involve your children in solving everyday math problems at home, so they see the connection to real life.

The science experiments abound as we observe different states of matter. We are testing and recording factors that influence the melting, evaporation, and condensation processes. The students are tasked with determining a "testable" question, following a scientific procedure, and summarizing results.

In social studies, we are learning about the beginnings of the Maryland colony at St. Mary's City. The students will be taking on the role of either an indentured servant or wealthy landowner to describe their journey to the "new world" and what life is like in Terra Maria. The docents on our annual field trip to St. Mary's are always so impressed with the knowledge and behavior of the Cashell students. We're certain to WOW them again this year as well. As you know, our field trip to St. Mary's is April 23rd. Students have received their permission slip forms. We appreciate your cooperation in getting the necessary signed forms and money back to school as soon as possible.

Thank you,
Mrs. Durham and Ms.Vigil-Gurton

Updated April 10, 2008 by Damon Riley

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