Celebrating Learning, Creativity, and Collaboration in Our Classroom!
Happy Holidays! December has been a month full of learning, creativity, and growth. Here is a look at what students have been working on in Writing, Reading, Math, and beyond.
✏️ Writing Update – Argument Essays (Bend 1 & 2)
In December, students began an exciting unit on Argument Essay Writing. This unit helps students learn to write structured essays in which they:
During December, students focused on Bend 1 and Bend 2:
- Bend 1: Learning how to make a claim and support it with reasons
- Bend 2: Adding evidence from texts and experiences to strengthen their argument
This unit is about more than writing; it’s about empowering students as changemakers. Students are learning that their voices matter and that writing can make a difference when they notice something that needs attention.
Students also practiced writing in more sophisticated ways, including:
- Organizing ideas clearly
- Using transition words to connect reasons and evidence
- Expressing their opinions with confidence and purpose
It has been inspiring to see students begin to channel their passions and ideas into essays that aim to better the world!
📚 Reading Update – Heroes in Fairy Tales and Myths
In December, students explored heroic feats through fairy tales and myths. They read texts and watched videos to discover what makes someone a hero—their qualities, actions, and challenges they overcome.
As part of this unit, students began writing expository essays about heroes. In their essays, they:
- Describe the personal qualities that make someone heroic
- Explain the actions that demonstrate heroism
- Use examples from the texts to support their ideas
Through these activities, students are learning to think critically about character traits, recognize courage and perseverance, and express their ideas clearly in writing.
➗ Math Update – Grade 3 & Grade 4
⭐ Grade 3 Math: Unit 2 – Area and Multiplication
Students explored area and its connection to multiplication and addition. They learned to:
- Calculate the area of rectangles
- Connect multiplication facts to area
- Use addition to find total area
- Solve real-world problems involving area
⭐ Grade 4 Math: Unit 3 – Extending Operations to Fractions
Students deepened their understanding of fractions. They learned to:
- Represent a fraction (a/b) as a product of a whole number and a unit fraction ((a/b = a \times 1/b))
- Multiply a fraction by a whole number ((n \times a/b = (n \times a)/b))
- Add and subtract fractions with like denominators
- Add and subtract tenths and hundredths
Students practiced solving problems, explaining their reasoning, and applying fractions in real-world contexts.
🌍 Project-Based Learning – Collaboration
This month, students worked together in Project-Based Learning (PBL) to explore Planet Red. Through teamwork, research, and creativity, they learned about:
- The environment, geography, and unique features of the planet
- Collaboration and communication skills
- How to share ideas and solve problems as a team
We want to thank families for supporting collaboration at home—your encouragement helps students thrive in PBL activities!
🎭 Winter Holiday Performance
Students also celebrated the season with a Winter Holiday Performance! They showcased their talents, creativity, and confidence through music, movement, and acting. It was wonderful to see their joy and teamwork shine on stage.
🏠 Ways to Support at Home
Your support at home helps students grow and succeed! Here are some ideas:
✏️ Writing
- Ask your child to explain their claim and reasons in everyday conversations.
- Encourage them to provide examples or evidence to support their opinions.
- Practice using transition words like because, for example, and therefore.
📚 Reading
- Read together daily and discuss the qualities of heroes or characters.
- Ask questions like:
- What makes this person a hero?
- What challenges did they face?
- What did you learn from their actions?
- Encourage your child to use details from the text to support their answers.
➗ Math
Grade 3:
- Practice calculating area of rectangles and other shapes at home.
- Use multiplication and addition in real-life examples, like measuring space for projects.
Grade 4:
- Review fractions at home using everyday examples (slices of pizza, pieces of chocolate, etc.).
- Practice adding, subtracting, and multiplying fractions with like denominators.
- Encourage your child to explain their thinking aloud when solving problems.
We are so proud of all the hard work, creativity, and collaboration students have shown this month. Thank you for your continued support at home, and we look forward to another exciting month of learning in January! 🌟