We’re Off to a Great Start!

By Mrs. Rudin

            Starting fourth grade has meant setting new goals, mastering new routines, taking on more responsibilities and making new friends. The students in Mrs. Rudin’s class have done a very fine job in all these areas.

            Each day we are becoming more independent as readers and writers. We are learning to apply strategies such as making connections, asking questions, and visualizing as we work to understand the main idea and author’s purpose. We’ve been analyzing character traits as well as examining how characters may change from beginning to end of stories. As we write about what we read, we search for evidence to support our ideas.

            As mathematicians, we have been adding numbers large and small, and using them to solve problems. We’ve demonstrated our understanding of place value by reading and writing numbers into the millions. Now we are having fun exploring algebra. Say, if 3x + 1 = x + 5, do you know what x is? We can tell you!

            Our junior scientists have explored the forces of magnetism and electricity with great enthusiasm. We are learning, as Thomas Edison believed, that success requires a little inspiration and lots of perspiration! Now we are Metric Measurers. Although we’re handy with rulers and measuring tape, in a pinch we know that the width of a pinky is about a centimeter, the distance from the floor to the top of a doorknob is about a meter, and the distance from school to Wally’s is about a kilometer!

            In social studies we are exploring New York State and its history. We’ve been learning about the culture of the Iroquois and Algonquin groups who lived in our state before the arrival of the European explorers.

            Did you know that Cottage Lane has its very own postal service? We’ve been writing friendly letters to classmates and teachers in the building. Then, we address the envelopes, stamp them, and put them in our mailbox. It sure is hard to wait for a response! Thumbs up for the Wee Deliver program!

            Our class is off to a great start! Stick around—we’ll keep you informed of our progress.