Class Newsletter- September 17, 2012

Mr. Hauptmann’s Class Newsletter

September 17, 2012

Unit 1, Week #1

This week we are reading “Because of Winn-Dixie” by Kate DiCamillo.  We will focus on some vocabulary words in this story.  It would be helpful if you will reinforce the meaning of these words at home with your child.  Also, on this newsletter you will find our spelling words for the week.  Please practice these words at home as well. Please sign the bottom of the newsletter and return the lower portion with your child on Tuesday. I look forward to meeting everyone Wednesday night! Let’s have a great week!

Vocabulary Word	Meaning
memorial	monument
selecting	choosing
prideful	vain
peculiar	strange
recalls	remembers
positive	certain
grand	wonderful

Spelling Words (the first 7 words follow the VCCV pattern): happen, method, accident, soccer, sudden, parallel, different, about, beautiful, trapezoid

Important Upcoming Dates:

Tuesday, September 18: Picture Day

Wednesday, September 19 @ 7:45pm: “Meet Your Teacher” Night

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Mr. Hauptmann’s Class Newsletter 9/17/12 Unit 1, Week #1

Student’s Name: _______________________________________________

Parent Signature: _______________________________________________

Weekly Trivia #1

What is the difference between a hurricane and a cyclone? Email me at jhauptmann@falmouth.k12.ma.us before Thursday, September 13 to be eligible for a great prize.

Class Newsletter- September 10, 2012

Mr. Hauptmann’s Class Newsletter

September 10, 2012

Welcome to Fourth Grade!  The start of a new school year is always such an exciting time of year!  Hopefully you received the summer letter that was sent home in August.  Our class theme is “Stand”, which will be reinforced throughout the year.  My hope and dream is for each student to recognize how strong they can be when believing in themselves.  In class, we will do a lot of teambuilding.  The students will learn to always lend a hand to a friend and in return accept help from others.  With this goal in mind, the first few weeks of school will be focused on creating a caring community in our classroom.

Here is some important information to know about our classroom…

Our Classroom Specialist and Lunch Schedule

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
Music	Library	Art	PE	PE
PE

*Remember library books on Tuesdays and sneakers on Mondays, Thursdays,

 & Fridays!

Your child will have a snack time sometime in the morning most days.  Additionally, s/he may keep a water bottle on his/her desk.  Please send a small, healthy snack each day.  Lunch is each day at 12:45.

Homework Folders/Agenda Books

Each student will have a sturdy, two pocket Homework Folder.  Students should keep all notices and homework assignments in the folder.  The Agenda Book is used to write daily homework assignments.  Please check the homework folder daily with your child to ensure that you have seen all important notices and papers that go home.  Please sign/initial the agenda after you have checked in with your child regarding the homework.  Getting your signature is part of your child’s nightly assignment.  This is a great support system and communication tool between school and home.  Our classroom blog has great links that may help with topics that we are learning about.  The address is http://mrhauptmanngrade4.blogspot.com

 Homework Policy

Homework should take about 40 minutes each night (Monday-Thursday) plus at least 20 minutes of reading time (make sure you fill out your Reading Log).  Along with your nightly Math Study Link, students should complete the following in their Writing Journals (return journal each day):

Monday: Write a personal narrative (1-3 paragraphs) about something you did over the weekend.

Tuesday: Complete a creative narrative of your choice (fiction or non-fiction, 1-3 paragraphs).

Wednesday: Complete a Reader’s Response journal entry about something we have read in class this week.

Thursday: Write each of your Spelling Words in your journal, and pick three words and write three strong sentences.

To help your child…

Talk about what the homework routine will be for your family.  This will be different for every family.  Some students do well when they have a snack and small break after getting home and then start their homework right away.  You can help by setting up a homework area.  It is usually good to have a quiet area that is in close proximity to an adult.  Make sure the area is well equipped with good lighting, extra pencils, crayons, etc. so that there are no distractions during homework time.

Talk with your child about the book that s/he is reading.  Better yet, get a copy of the book and read it along with your child!  Have a discussion about the book and make predictions about what you think will happen.  You may also be able to help your child make connections from your own family life to the text.

Important Upcoming Events:

Tuesday, September 18- Picture Day

Wednesday, September 19- “Meet Your Teacher Night”

Sincerely,

Mr. Hauptmann

(please cut on dotted line and return on Tuesday)

Mr. Hauptmann’s Class Newsletter 9-10-12

Student’s Name: _______________________________________________

Parent Signature: _______________________________________________

Mt. Washington Trivia Question

In my "Welcome to 4th Grade" letter I mentioned we drove up the Mt. Washington Auto Road this summer.

How tall is Mt. Washington and what is the current Auto Road driving record?

Email the correct answer to jhauptmann@falmouth.k12.ma.us before the first day of school and you will earn a prize.

EFES Bike-to-School Article in the Falmouth Bulletin

PHOTO-GALLERY-Bike-Falmouth-promotes-a-cycling-lifestyle

Class Newsleter- May 21, 2012

Mr. Hauptmann's Class Newsletter

Unit 5, Week 4- May 21, 2012

This week we are reading “Antarctic Journal” by Jennifer Owings Dewey.  We will focus on some vocabulary words in this story.  It would be helpful if you will reinforce the meaning of these words at home with your child.  Also, on this newsletter you will find our spelling words for the week.  Please practice these words at home as well.  The words in italics are our challenge spelling words.  Let’s have a great week!

Vocabulary Word	Meaning
anticipation	act of anticipating; looking forward to; expectation
continent	one of the seven great masses of land on Earth.  The continents are North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, and Antarctica
convergence	act or process of meeting at a point
depart	to go away; leave
forbidding	causing fear or dislike; looking dangerous or unpleasant
heaves	rises and falls alternatively
icebergs	large masses of ice detached from glaciers and floating in the sea.  About 90 percent of an iceberg’s mass is below the surface of the water

Spelling Words: dictionary, abrupt, predict, import, locally, verdict, locate, portable, transport, bankrupt, dictate, location, erupt, passport, export, contradict, rupture, interrupt, disrupt, dislocate, vindictive, portfolio, jurisdiction, corruption, interruption

Monday, May 28- Memorial Day, No School

Friday, June 1- Bike trip along the Canal

Tuesday, June 5- 4^th grade classes visit Morse Pond

 Friday, June 8- Field Day

Tuesday, June 12- 4^th Grade Graduation @ 6:00pm

Tuesday, June 19- Last day of school

I have created a website for our classroom. You can access the site by going to “Teacher Sites” on the school’s website, or you can type www.mrhauptmanngrade4.blogspot.com in your browser’s window. I will be updating the site each week.

Please sign, cut on the dotted line, and return on Tuesday:

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Mr. Hauptmann’s Class Newsletter

Unit 5, Week 4- May 21, 2012

Student’s Name: _______________________________________________

Parent Signature: _____________________________­­­­­__________________­­­­­

Class Newletter- May 14, 2012

Mr. Hauptmann’s Class Newsletter

Unit 5, Week 3- May 14, 2012

This week we are reading “Amelia and Eleanor Go for a Ride” by Pam Munoz Ryan.  We will focus on some vocabulary words in this story.  It would be helpful if you will reinforce the meaning of these words at home with your child.  Also, on this newsletter you will find our spelling words for the week.  Please practice these words at home as well.  The words in italics are our challenge spelling words.  Let’s have a great week!

Vocabulary Word	Meaning
aviator	person who flies an aircraft; pilot
brisk	keen; sharp
cockpit	place where the pilot sits in an airplane
daring	bold; fearless; courageous
elegant	having or showing good taste; gracefully and richly refined; beautifully luxurious
outspoken	not reserved; frank
solo	without a partner, teacher, etc.; alone

Spelling Words: telephone, biography, telescope, photograph, microwave, diameter, barometer, microscope, headphones, microphone, autograph, microchip, telegraph, perimeter, paragraph, phonics, symphony, saxophone, periscope, megaphone, stethoscope, xylophone, cacophony, microorganism, microbe

Important Upcoming Dates:

Tuesday, May 15- Town Elections

Friday, May 18- EFES Bike-to-School Day (see attached flyer for more info.)

Monday, May 28- Memorial Day, No School

Wednesday, May 30- 4^th grade classes visit Morse Pond

Friday, June 1- Bike trip along the Canal

Friday, June 8- Field Day

Tuesday, June 12- 4^th Grade Graduation @ 6:00pm

Tuesday, June 19- Last day of school

I have created a website for our classroom. You can access the site by going to “Teacher Sites” on the school’s website, or you can type www.mrhauptmanngrade4.blogspot.com in your browser’s window. I will be updating the site each week.

Please sign, cut on the dotted line, and return on Tuesday:

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Mr. Hauptmann’s Class Newsletter

Unit 5, Week 3- May 14, 2012

Student’s Name: _______________________________________________

Parent Signature: _____________________________­­­­­__________________­­­­­