Dear Parents,
Now that AZMerit is behind us we will be getting back to a more normal schedule. We pretty much have a straight shot to the end of the year, so make sure you are working with your students to finish it out strong! A big thing to remember is to keep them practicing Paul Revere's Ride. They need to have the whole poem memorized by April 22nd!
This week
1) In History we will be learning more about the checks and balances of the three branches of government and about the advantages of Federalism. We will also be learning about the earliest Amendments to the Constitution and the debate over the Bill of Rights.
2) In Writing we will start writing our first persuasive essays! They will be working on this for homework and for several students the experience will be new, so expect some frustration at home. Their essays will be far from perfect, but we will go through an editing process to make them better.
3) In Reading we will be finishing up The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and having a discussion about several themes explored in the book including the importance of self-confidence and community. Feel free to ask your students to tell you what they think about the book and their discussions.
Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.
Best,
Mr. Ohbayashi
Monday, April 4, 2016
Monday, March 28, 2016
Q4Week2
Dear Parents,
AZ Merit this week! Don't panic. Standardized tests are a part of reality today, but at Great Hearts we do not believe in making our students lives about them. They will do well, and there is no need to stress them out about a test that cannot really determine their value or abilities. They may come home a little exhausted from the testing this week, but they will have little homework so you can let them rest.
This Week
1) In History we will use our experiences last week to understand the difficult choices the American congress had to make when drafting the Constitution.
2) In Reading we will be finishing up The Wizard of Oz and beginning our discussion about community and self-knowledge.
3) In Writing we will be writing an essay together in class and learning the structure of a persuasive essay.
Best,
Mr. Ohbayashi
AZ Merit this week! Don't panic. Standardized tests are a part of reality today, but at Great Hearts we do not believe in making our students lives about them. They will do well, and there is no need to stress them out about a test that cannot really determine their value or abilities. They may come home a little exhausted from the testing this week, but they will have little homework so you can let them rest.
This Week
1) In History we will use our experiences last week to understand the difficult choices the American congress had to make when drafting the Constitution.
2) In Reading we will be finishing up The Wizard of Oz and beginning our discussion about community and self-knowledge.
3) In Writing we will be writing an essay together in class and learning the structure of a persuasive essay.
Best,
Mr. Ohbayashi
Monday, March 21, 2016
Quarter4Week1
Dear Parents,
Welcome back! I hope you had a wonderful Spring Break with your students. We are now entering the final quarter of their 4th grade year at Archway Trivium East. This quarter will contain several milestones for them. They will finish their poem Paul Revere's Ride, they will begin to actually write summaries and short essays in class, and they will take their AZ Merit exams. My advice for approaching standardized tests is not to stress your students too much. We want to avoid the anxiety that can distract and overwhelm our students. We are preparing them, they will be successful.
This Week
1) In History we will be talking about the principles of forming a good government and then trying to create one as a class.
2) In Reading we will be continuing to read the Wizard of Oz. As always it is a huge benefit to have your student read to you if you can.
3) In Writing we will be continuing to memorize Paul Revere's Ride and learning the fundamentals of writing a short essay.
Thanks so much for your time and effort!
Best,
Mr. Ohbayashi
Welcome back! I hope you had a wonderful Spring Break with your students. We are now entering the final quarter of their 4th grade year at Archway Trivium East. This quarter will contain several milestones for them. They will finish their poem Paul Revere's Ride, they will begin to actually write summaries and short essays in class, and they will take their AZ Merit exams. My advice for approaching standardized tests is not to stress your students too much. We want to avoid the anxiety that can distract and overwhelm our students. We are preparing them, they will be successful.
This Week
1) In History we will be talking about the principles of forming a good government and then trying to create one as a class.
2) In Reading we will be continuing to read the Wizard of Oz. As always it is a huge benefit to have your student read to you if you can.
3) In Writing we will be continuing to memorize Paul Revere's Ride and learning the fundamentals of writing a short essay.
Thanks so much for your time and effort!
Best,
Mr. Ohbayashi
Tuesday, March 1, 2016
Q3Week9
Dear Parents,
Announcements:
1) Our field trip to the Musical Instrument Museum is March 8th! If you have not turned in your students parent permission slip and $10 bus fee do so ASAP.
2) We will have a history and writing test at the end of NEXT week (the last week of the quarter). Make sure your students are studying for it.
What are we learning this Week?
1) In History we will be learning about the end of the American Revolution! Students will learn how Washington trapped Cornwallis in Yorktown and ended the war. On Friday students will hear from a guest teacher on the early attempts to form a new American government. Ask them about the Articles of Confederation and its strengths and weaknesses. They will have a quiz on Thursday.
2) In Writing students will learn about the use of helping verbs and we will have a diagramming quiz on Friday. Ask your students to diagram some simple sentences for you and watch them impress you!
3) In Reading we will be finishing Carry on Mr. Bowditch! Our next book will be the Wizard of Oz, so make sure your student has a copy!
Best,
Mr. Ohbayashi
Announcements:
1) Our field trip to the Musical Instrument Museum is March 8th! If you have not turned in your students parent permission slip and $10 bus fee do so ASAP.
2) We will have a history and writing test at the end of NEXT week (the last week of the quarter). Make sure your students are studying for it.
What are we learning this Week?
1) In History we will be learning about the end of the American Revolution! Students will learn how Washington trapped Cornwallis in Yorktown and ended the war. On Friday students will hear from a guest teacher on the early attempts to form a new American government. Ask them about the Articles of Confederation and its strengths and weaknesses. They will have a quiz on Thursday.
2) In Writing students will learn about the use of helping verbs and we will have a diagramming quiz on Friday. Ask your students to diagram some simple sentences for you and watch them impress you!
3) In Reading we will be finishing Carry on Mr. Bowditch! Our next book will be the Wizard of Oz, so make sure your student has a copy!
Best,
Mr. Ohbayashi
Monday, February 22, 2016
Q3Week8
Dear Parents,
In Class This Week
1) In History we will be learning about the Battle of Saratoga, which turned the tide of the war in America's favor. We will also be learning about the betrayal of Benedict Arnold and why that was so devastating to Washington and the Americans.
2) In Writing we will be learning about the use of quotation marks in sentences. We will also continue practicing commas. You can help your students by checking their homework and see if their use of punctuation marks looks correct. Ask them to explain why they put punctuation where they did.
3) In Reading we will be continuing to read Carry on Mr. Bowditch. This book is going to be mostly one we simply enjoy, so there will be no focus questions as homework. Its always beneficial to read with and to your students and we encourage you to do so whenever you have the opportunity.
Best,
Mr. Ohbayashi
In Class This Week
1) In History we will be learning about the Battle of Saratoga, which turned the tide of the war in America's favor. We will also be learning about the betrayal of Benedict Arnold and why that was so devastating to Washington and the Americans.
2) In Writing we will be learning about the use of quotation marks in sentences. We will also continue practicing commas. You can help your students by checking their homework and see if their use of punctuation marks looks correct. Ask them to explain why they put punctuation where they did.
3) In Reading we will be continuing to read Carry on Mr. Bowditch. This book is going to be mostly one we simply enjoy, so there will be no focus questions as homework. Its always beneficial to read with and to your students and we encourage you to do so whenever you have the opportunity.
Best,
Mr. Ohbayashi
Tuesday, February 16, 2016
Q3Week7
Dear Parents,
I hope you had an excellent President's Day weekend! As your students close out the third quarter these last few weeks, make sure you are checking their agenda on a nightly basis. This will help you keep up to date with your students homework and make sure you see any infractions or virtue codes they have received during the day.
This Week
1) In Writing we will be reviewing commas and learning the correct use of quotation marks in sentences.
2) In History we will be learning about the course of the American Revolution and the battles that decided the outcome. Ask your students how the Americans were doing at the beginning of the war. How do they think American managed to survive with all the disadvantages they had against England?
3) In Reading we will continue to read Carry on Mr. Bowditch. If you have not gotten this book for your students yet, please do! They will need it for homework.
4) In Poetry we will be working on the 6th stanza of the Midnight Ride of Paul Revere. Make sure your student is practicing the poem every night!
Best,
Mr. Ohayashi
I hope you had an excellent President's Day weekend! As your students close out the third quarter these last few weeks, make sure you are checking their agenda on a nightly basis. This will help you keep up to date with your students homework and make sure you see any infractions or virtue codes they have received during the day.
This Week
1) In Writing we will be reviewing commas and learning the correct use of quotation marks in sentences.
2) In History we will be learning about the course of the American Revolution and the battles that decided the outcome. Ask your students how the Americans were doing at the beginning of the war. How do they think American managed to survive with all the disadvantages they had against England?
3) In Reading we will continue to read Carry on Mr. Bowditch. If you have not gotten this book for your students yet, please do! They will need it for homework.
4) In Poetry we will be working on the 6th stanza of the Midnight Ride of Paul Revere. Make sure your student is practicing the poem every night!
Best,
Mr. Ohayashi
Monday, February 8, 2016
Q3Week6
Dear Parents,
Its Valentines Day! Well...almost. This Friday is a half-day and we will be celebrating friendship in class. With that in mind, please remember that it is Great Hearts policy not to give out Valentines day cards, which tend to learn toward pop-culture.
In class this week:
1) In Writing we are going to continue learning the many uses of the comma. If you have the opportunity, ask your students to tell you the different ways they have learned to use commas. See if they can write several sentences that use commas different ways.
2) In History we will be learning about the 2nd Continental Congress and the beginning of the Revolutionary war against England. The early war went poorly for the Americans, ask your students about how George Washington kept the army together and the dream of American independence alive.
3) In Reading we will be having a seminar on The Princess and the Goblin, specifically focusing on the question "What virtue is MOST important to being a good prince/princess?" We will then be starting a new book, Carry on Mr. Bowditch".
4) In Poetry we will be working on memorizing the 5th stanza of Paul Revere's Ride. Make sure your student is practicing the poem every night! The best way to memorize the poem is in pieces, if they let it wait to long it will be a daunting task.
Best,
Mr. Ohbayashi
Its Valentines Day! Well...almost. This Friday is a half-day and we will be celebrating friendship in class. With that in mind, please remember that it is Great Hearts policy not to give out Valentines day cards, which tend to learn toward pop-culture.
In class this week:
1) In Writing we are going to continue learning the many uses of the comma. If you have the opportunity, ask your students to tell you the different ways they have learned to use commas. See if they can write several sentences that use commas different ways.
2) In History we will be learning about the 2nd Continental Congress and the beginning of the Revolutionary war against England. The early war went poorly for the Americans, ask your students about how George Washington kept the army together and the dream of American independence alive.
3) In Reading we will be having a seminar on The Princess and the Goblin, specifically focusing on the question "What virtue is MOST important to being a good prince/princess?" We will then be starting a new book, Carry on Mr. Bowditch".
4) In Poetry we will be working on memorizing the 5th stanza of Paul Revere's Ride. Make sure your student is practicing the poem every night! The best way to memorize the poem is in pieces, if they let it wait to long it will be a daunting task.
Best,
Mr. Ohbayashi
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