Dear Families,

Welcome back to Edison after all your adventures, activities, and rest. I am looking forward to hearing the students share their vacation favorites. Once we get in gear, there will be EZCBM tests in January and Writing Assessment. I know the students will be well prepared with all their hard work.

Topics for January

•  Writing: I was able to send the students’ thoughful poetry for the Honoring our Rivers anthology. Thank you to all those who returned a parent permission form. We will be starting on a few new topics for writing: “In 20 Years,” where students will imagine their road in education, careers, family, friendships, and of course dreams! We’ll also begin our State Writing Assessment, in which the students will compose and complete writing without peer or adult editing.

• Reading: This week, students will finish their last summary for the last animal book they finished. It’s disappointing when a novel doesn’t meet one’s expectations. Let me know what you think of The Underneath by Kathi Appelt. Our next class novel will be a time travel adventure set in Medieval Times called Castle in the Attic.

• Math : Our unit of study will be dealing with Perimeter and Area concepts, how they are different and how they are related. The multiplication unit that we have worked on will be such a strong foundation for students to use in problem solving with the array model and distributive law. Division drills are ongoing.

• Science: We packed up all the soil, sand, tubs, and now welcome Motion and Design unit using K’nex to build vehicles. If you have knowledge in physics, car mechanics or vehicle design, please come and share with us your interests.

• Social Studies: We will participate in the National Geography Bee with all four 4/5 classes this month. The student with the most correct answers during this bee, may be able to represent our school in the state  bee. So keep looking at maps, read the papers, and look at National Geography online. We’ll also start learning about the first people in Oregon and other American Indian nations.

• Nutrition and Yoga continue for the next month.

So wishing you a very Happy New Year!,

Debra, Cassidy, and Yanrun