I hope everyone is enjoying their Thanksgiving holiday and long weekend. As a reminder, there is no school tomorrow, November 28th. School will resume on Tuesday, and the winter festivities will be on everyone's minds. I even changed my Apple Watch face to a Christmas countdown!

In language arts, we will be starting a mini-unit on text features. We will focus first on fact versus opinion and then jump into text structures on Wednesday. In math, we will review the topics covered in class from the start of the year through last week. Your children did some problems for us before the break, and we will work in small groups to ensure we fill any learning gaps they may have from the start of fourth grade. Please note there will be no spelling or math homework this week. ​

Science will be spent a little differently for the next week and a half. We have the opportunity to connect with two fourth-grade classrooms around the United States next week to guess where they are located based on the Yes or No questions we ask. They, in turn, will do the same with us and our location. As a result, we will be looking at maps a little differently than we did earlier this year. It is an excellent opportunity to learn where Ohio is compared to other states in our great country. 

Finally, Mrs. Oboczky will finish her student teaching this week as she teaches a couple more social studies and guidance lessons. She has done an excellent job with the class, and we are thankful we will still see her daily in our rooms (Mrs. Hetman's and Miss Sokolowski's). If your child has a moment, it would be adorable if they could create a card for her, thanking her for her knowledge and wishing her luck next year. She will take her state licensure tests this spring and move on to get a classroom of her own at the end of the year. 

Important Dates to Know:
11/29/22 - Students return / Mrs. Hetman at a meeting
11/30/22 - Gaming Club (Note needed if you're staying!)
12/7/22 - PTA Holiday Shoppe
12/12/22 - Bath Orchestra Performance at RHS
12/20/22 - Winter Party in classrooms 
12/21 - 1/3 - Winter Break

We will hit a high of 50° this week, which will oddly feel warm to your kids. Despite their perceptions, please make sure they leave the house with a coat, gloves, and hat. We had a lot of red hands and rosy cheeks last week. In the future, the recess monitors may not let them go outside unless they borrow a coat from lost and found for an hour. They need to have the appropriate gear now that winter is here. 

Last week was a lot of fun! Between the movie day and some fun hands-on activities, everyone enjoyed themselves. Here are some photos of the children while Ms. O led a demonstration of the tax laws the British King enacted upon America before the Revolutionary War. 

This week we will focus on the early colonists, some fun STEM activities, and a couple of holiday-themed tasks in language arts and math. If you are planning on your child not being at school Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday because of travel plans, please let me know. If appropriate, we can send work home with your child ahead of time. It also helps us to plan for the number of children that will be in class.

As a reminder, spelling homework is due for everyone tomorrow. Mrs. Hetman's class also has math homework due. Because it is a short week, no new homework will be assigned for the following week. Also, the holiday break is from Thursday through Monday, and students will return on Tuesday, November 29th. 

​Important Dates to Know:
11/21/22 - Girls' STEM/Coding Clubs (Note needed if you're staying!)
11/22/22 - Last day for Caring For Kids donations
11/23/22 - Buckeyes for Booth Shirt (or other Ohio State Gear) Day
11/24 - 11/28 - Thanksgiving Break
11/29/22 - Students return / Mrs. Hetman at a meeting
11/30/22 - Gaming Club (Note needed if you're staying!)
12/5 - 12/9 - PTA Holiday Shoppe
12/20/22 - Winter Party in classrooms 

I am not sure if you spotted any this weekend, but I saw the first flurries outside my house. I know I am a minority, but I was excited. I love winter. Well, I love the start of all the seasons. But I am that Ohioan that appreciates the cold, loves the white landscapes, and enjoys playing in the frozen precipitation. So that being said, I am glad that winter is around the corner! Your children, however, need to be ready for it! Feel free to send a spare pair of boots for your child to keep in their locker. If not, they should wear them on wet, snowy days. We will leave wet boots in the hall and wear our warm shoes in the classroom. 

In language arts this week, we will wrap up our novel study for Sign of the Beaver. This will include the movie on Wednesday. As a result, your child is welcome to bring a small stuffed animal or pillow to snuggle with during the film. It is only an hour and a half so they won't need extra snacks. We will have our normal morning, healthy snack in the middle of it.

The children did well on the long division quiz last Friday. Thank you! We could tell how many of them worked with you at home, and your time and patience with them were invaluable. We are moving on to factors, multiples, and prime and composite numbers next. Remember to keep practicing multiplication facts at home. Whether it is flash cards or just random facts once in a while, it helps!

We are studying the Revolutionary War in social studies. The kids had a great time making their own tea crates last week. This week we will study events like the Intolerable Acts and Stamp Act. And in science, we are starting our unit on rocks and minerals. The children always like this unit!

I also wanted to tell you what a fantastic job your children did on Tuesday. They were all excellent listeners, asked good questions afterward, and were truly Bath Team Heroes. I was so proud of our administration and your fourth graders. 

​Important Dates to Know:
11/14/22 - Girls' STEM/Coding Clubs (Note needed if you're staying!)
11/16/22 - PTA Meeting and Parent-Teacher Conferences
11/18/22 - ​Bath Team Hero Shirts / Popcorn Friday​
11/21/22 - Girls' STEM/Coding Clubs (Note needed if you're staying!)
11/24 - 11/28 - Thanksgiving Break
11/30/22 - Gaming Club (Note needed if you're staying!)
12/5 - 12/9 - PTA Holiday Shoppe

Can you even believe how lucky we have been with this weather? I have been soaking up the sun this weekend! I hope you and your family have gotten to enjoy it as well! We will keep the sun for the next few days, not the 70-degree temperatures. I will still take it!

This week, we will finish the novel Sign of the Beaver at school. The class has enjoyed the adventures of Matt and Attean. If you are unfamiliar with the story, the main character, Matt, is not much older than your fourth grader. But back in colonial times, it wasn't unheard of to leave a twelve-year-old alone at a new homestead while the father returned for the rest of the family. We have been reading about how Matt has matured and even become friends with a Native American tribe. It is inspiring and endearing! 

In math, we will continue to practice long division. If your child needs a fun reminder on the steps, please click this hyperlink for a good video to watch at home. A story and song behind a process are always helpful! The test will be Wednesday or Thursday this week.

In social studies, we will be studying the beginning of the American Revolution with some fun activities. We will explore the Boston Tea Party through a STEM challenge and examine the first 13 colonies. We hope to make the events come alive for the class!

And in science, the class did well on the Fossil Quiz Friday! We will have some fun with fossils this week before moving on to rocks and minerals. Mrs. Oboczky has stations planned where the students can investigate everything from million-year-old trees to how feathers evolved. It should be interesting! 

Halloween was fun last week. It was so lovely seeing families lined up outside. The class enjoyed the parade, and we even had time afterward to relax with some Bingo during our snacks! Thank you to everyone who donated food, drinks, and goodie bags! 

Important Dates to Know:
11/7/22 - Girls' STEM/Coding Clubs (Note needed if you're staying!)
11/7/22 - Dewey's Night - 20% of purchases donated to BES
11/8/22 - Student Council Elections
11/10/22 - Parent-Teacher Conferences
11/11/22 - Veteran's Day
11/14/22 - Girls' STEM/Coding Clubs (Note needed if you're staying!)
11/16/22 - PTA Meeting and Parent-Teacher Conferences
11/18/22 - ​Bath Team Hero Shirts / Popcorn Friday​
11/24 - 11/28 - Thanksgiving Break
11/30/22 - Gaming Club (Note needed if you're staying!)
12/5 - 12/9 - PTA Holiday Shoppe