Updates: Week of September 11

Updates: Week of September 11

Thank you for taking the time to read our blog! We will update this blog every couple weeks with some important information, as well as what we are learning in the classroom. 

If you were unable to attend Curriculum Night, please see the previous blog post. Here is the link to the presentation that was shared that evening.

Things Happening at TCE:

• Tonal Texans: Mr. Miller will have auditions for the 4th Graders interested in Tonal Texans this Tuesday, September 12th, before school. Last week, your learner was given a handout with information about the Tonal Texans. Here is the link to a copy of the handout. Please contact Mr. Miller (pmiller@coppellisd.com) if you any questions.

• Book Fair: "Share your talents and join us in creating memories for our learners! Our TCE Book Fair is right around the corner and we're looking for volunteers to help make it a huge success. Please sign up at: tinyurl.com/TCEBF17"

The learners will be attending a "Book Fair Preview" later this week, and will have the opportunity to purchase items from the TCE Book Fair during the week of September 18th-22nd.

• Texan Town Popcorn Subscription: The learners have the option to purchase popcorn on Fridays during Texan Town, which will begin this week. They can pay $3.50 for a popcorn subscription for the entire fall session, or they can bring $0.50 for a single purchase.

• Special Friends Day: Special Friends Day at TCE is right around the corner! On Friday, September 22nd from 12:30-1:30 learners may invite special friends (such as family members or close family friends) to visit during this time. During their visit, the learners' special friends will have the chance to visit our classroom, the book fair, and other areas of our school. Please let us know if you have any questions!

• Fall Family Picnic: TCE's Annual Fall Family Picnic will be Friday, September 22nd at 5:30 PM at the Town Center pavilion right next to our school. This is a fun event for the whole family, and we hope to see you there!

Curriculum Tidbits:

Math: 

The 4th graders have been learning about place value of whole numbers to the billions place by engaging in a variety learning experiences. The learners will understand that patterns in our place value system inform how numbers are formed, written, and expressed, and that rounding gives us an approximate number that is useful for estimating and solving problems.

Science:

In Science, we will be exploring matter. The learners will learn how to measure mass, weight, and volume. They will also be learning the differences between solutions and mixtures.

ELAR:

In reading, we will continue to discuss and learn about what real reading looks like, sounds like, and feels like. We will practice strategies to be metacognitive while we read.
Here is the link to the reading requirement presentation. You can also find this presentation on Miss Peccarelli's and Miss Natherson's websites. Please let us know if you have any questions.

In writing, we will continue to practice building our writing stamina with a variety of brainstorming strategies. We will also begin to explore the Six Traits of Writing.

Social Studies:

In SS, we will continue our study on the different regions of Texas. In addition, we will be participating in Celebrate Freedom Week this week with different activities.

Updates: Week 29

Thank you for taking the time to read our blog.  There is a lot of important information in this post. As always, please let us know if you have any questions. 

Important Announcements

Field Trip

• As you know, we will be going to the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History on May 18th. As a reminder, all field trip permission slips and money were due Friday, April 1st. This includes chaperone money and forms. If you have not turned in these items, please do so as quickly as possible. If you are unable to return these items for any reason, please email your child's teacher. 
• Please click this link for more information regarding our field trip. Please let us know if you have any questions regarding our trip. 

STAAR Testing

• Our first round of STAAR testing was successful. The kids completed their writing tests and everything went smoothly. Thank you to PTO for providing our snacks. 
• We will take our Math STAAR on May 9th and Reading STAAR May 10th. 

Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast - April 7th

• We are so fortunate to have many parent volunteers at Town Center, and we are abundantly grateful. As a token of our appreciation, we'd like to invite all of our volunteers to our annual Appreciation Breakfast on April 7th. If the image doesn't show below, you can click this link to see the invitation. We hope you're able to make it! 

Texan Town 

• Our last session of Texan Town will start on Friday, April 8th. 

•  As always, l
  

  earners can purchase a popcorn subscription for $2.50, which will cover the cost of popcorn for 5 weeks of Texan Town, or they 

  can purchase weekly for $.50 a bag. 
  
  
• The dates for the last session of Texan Town will be 
  

  April 8, 15, 22, and 

  
  

  May 6, 13.

Spring Conferences

• We do not get a designated day for spring conferences like we do in the fall, but we will be able to offer conference times (either face to face or via phone/email) to those that are interested. 
• We will be sharing information regarding spring conferences this week. Be on the look out for a handout!  

Upcoming Dates

• Thursday, April 7 - Volunteer Breakfast 
• Friday, April 15 - TCE Hoedown
• Thursday, April 21 - Engineering Extravaganza (More Info to Come)
• Friday, April 22 - Spring Spirit Run
• Friday, April 29th - Holiday Coupon: A Picnic Outside for Lunch
• Friday, May 6th - Mother's Day Marathon
• Monday, May 9th - Math STAAR
• Tuesday, May 10th -  Reading STAAR
• Friday, May 20th - Field Day
• Tuesday, May 24th - Recorder Concert (AM and PM) 
• Thursday, May 26th - Holiday Coupon: A Movie & Popcorn

Character Education
The citizenship quality for April is Effort. 

Each week, Town Center focuses on one life principle, or guiding character quality. The life principles for each week are discussed on the morning announcements and will be posted on our agendas. 

What are we learning?
Math & Science

In math the learners are finishing up our unit over measurement. We will be taking a test at the end of this week covering area and perimeter, relative size of measurement within the customary and metric systems, and measurement conversions. 

*NEW MATH WEBSITES*
The learners were introduced to two new Math websites that they can use at school, as well as at home. The websites are listed below:
Prodigy- prodigygame.com/play
Khan Academy- khanacademy.org

In science we have started our new unit in life science, beginning with energy in ecosystems. The learners will be exploring how living organisms within an ecosystem interact with one another.

Language & Literacy

In reading, we will continue to focus on comparing and contrasting texts by analyzing the main ideas, points of view, authors' purposes, and text structures. We will also continue to focus on thinking critically and analytically about various texts. 

Social Studies

In social studies, we are continuing our study of the Texas Revolution. Throughout our study of the various battles in the Revolution, learners will be thinking about the following big questions: 

How does the past shape our present and future? 
Could the Revolution have been avoided? 
_____

Thank you, again, for taking the time to read our blog. We are looking forward to another great week with our fourth graders! 

Updates: Week 11

Thank you for taking the time to read our blog. There is a lot of important information in this post. As always, please let us know if you have any questions. 

Important Announcements

• The learners participated in the JDRF Walk during Specials on Monday, November 2nd. Thank you to those of you that donated to this service learning project! 

• Our annual Spring Creek BBQ Night will be Tuesday, November 3rd at Spring Creek BBQ on Round Grove Road in Lewisville. Join us as we have a fun night of eating with our TCE families and help fundraise for new resources for TCE. (Plus, as an added bonus, you will be served by TCE teachers and staff!)

• We will have our annual Turkey Drive again this year. You may go online to donate a turkey, or you may bring one during our Turkey Drive on November, 20th. For more information, please see this flyer from 2nd Grade. 

• We will have a Veteran's Day Ceremony during the day on November 11th. We will share more information about this ceremony in the near future. During this ceremony, we will honor the Veteran's that are close to our TCE Family. If you have a relative or loved one that is a veteran, you may fill out the RED Veteran's Day form that your learner will be bringing home this week. 

Texan Town!

As a reminder, Texan Town takes place most Fridays from 7:50-8:40. (When we have a Spirit Rally, we do not have Texan Town.) The dates for Texan Town during the Fall Session are: October 2nd, 16th, & 30th, November 6th, 13th, & 20th, and December 4th & 11th. 

In addition, every Friday we have a modified "Texan Town" schedule. Therefore, on Fridays, we have Specials (Move & Groove) from 9:30-10:20 AM. Our lunch and recess times stay the same. 

Popcorn Money

Ms. Seifert is in need of some helpers to help her pop the popcorn. If you would like to volunteer to sign up, please view this sign up sheet. There are spots available on Friday, November 20th, and Friday, November 27th. Thank you to the wonderful parents that have already signed up! 

If your family is new to Town Center and you have any questions about Texan Town, please don't hesitate to ask. 

Upcoming Dates

• Tuesday, November 3rd - Spring Creek BBQ Night
• Friday, November 6th - Pansy Planting 
• Wednesday, November 11th - Veteran's Day Ceremony 
• Friday, November 20th - Turkey Drive & TCE Turkey Trot 
• November 23-27 - NO SCHOOL 

Character Education
The citizenship quality for November is Cooperation. 

Each week, Town Center focuses on one life principle, or guiding character quality. The life principles for each week are discussed on the morning announcements and will be posted on our agendas. 

What are we learning?
Math & Science

In Math, the learners will be investigating different ways to represent data. They will be learning about Frequency Tables, Stem-and-Leaf Plots, Line Plots, and Bar Graphs. 

In Science, the learners will be investigating the different states of matter. They will also be investigating mixtures. 

Language & Literacy

In reading, we will begin our nonfiction unit. Throughout this unit, learners will think about three key essential questions: 

• How do readers make meaning from facts, details, and evidence?
• How does the organization of the text help readers understand the author’s message?
• How do I use the information I learned to support my thinking?

Throughout the unit, we will be reinforcing these enduring understandings:

• Expository and nonfiction texts provide facts, details, and evidence.
• What we read helps us make sense of the world.
• Text features help the reader locate evidence to support understanding.

In writing, we will continue our unit that focuses on building strong sentences and using descriptive language to add depth to our ideas and meaning to our writing. 

Social Studies

In social studies, the learners will begin to learn about the early history of Texas and the lives of the Native Americans that lived here. Throughout this unit, learners will think about the following essential question: 

• How do people adapt to where they live?

In addition, we will be enforcing these enduring understandings throughout the unit: 

• Where people live affects how they live.
• Native Americans in Texas developed different ways of life based upon the geographic region in which they lived.

This will be learners first opportunity to use our new online textbook, and we are excited to see how the learners like the curriculum. They will be able to access the text, listen to an audio version, and make notes using their iPads. 

Thank you, again, for taking the time to read our blog. We are looking forward to another great week with our fourth graders! 

Updates: Week 6

Thank you for taking the time to read our blog. There is a lot of important information in this post. As always, please let us know if you have any questions. 

Important Announcements

• We had lots of visitors on Special Friends' Day! We would like to give a special thanks to our PTO volunteers and Room Moms for helping to coordinate that special day. 

• If you have not yet returned the BLUE Emergency Contact cards, please do so at your earliest convenience.

• Please click here to view a flyer about Destination Imagination. This is an after school opportunity for any learner in 3rd-5th grade. 
  
  

Texan Town!

Our first session of Texan Town will begin this Friday, October 2nd. Texan Town is a great opportunity for our learners to explore their passions and interests and to learn more about a variety of engaging topics. Texan Town takes place most Fridays from 7:50-8:40. The dates for Texan Town during the Fall Session are: October 2nd, 16th, & 30th, November 6th, 13th, & 20th, and December 4th & 11th. 

This week in class, the learners had the opportunity to choose their top five clubs/jobs from our Fall Catalog which features a variety of options. The learners will find out later this week which club or job they have been assigned. 

In addition, every Friday we have a modified "Texan Town" schedule. Therefore, on Fridays, we have Specials (Move & Groove) from 9:30-10:20 AM. Our lunch and recess times stay the same. 

Popcorn Money

One of our Texan Town clubs is Texan Treats. Ms. Seifert leads this club, and she and her learners work to pop and deliver popcorn to our Town Center Texans. Learners can purchase a subscription for $4.00.  It will cover the cost of popcorn for 8 weeks of Texan Town. Alternatively, learners can also purchase popcorn weekly for $.50 a bag. 

Ms. Seifert is in need of some helpers to help her pop the popcorn. If you would like to volunteer to sign up, please view this sign up sheet. Thank you in advance for your help! 

If your family is new to Town Center and you have any questions about Texan Town, please don't hesitate to ask. 

Fall Conferences 

• Fall Conferences will be Friday, October 9th at Town Center. In addition, we will be offering more conferences during the weeks of October 12th & 19th. You only need to sign up for one conference. However, in order to fit in all of our learners, we had to create two forms per classroom family. For more information regarding conferences, you may visit our previous blog post: Fall Conferences and the following sign ups: 
• 4A/4B Sign Up - Option One (October 9th) 
• 4A/4B Sign Up - Option Two (Weeks of October 12th & 19th)
• 4C/4D Sign Up - Option One (October 9th) 
• 4C/4D Sign Up - Option Two (Weeks of October 12th & 19th)

Upcoming Dates

• Friday, October 2nd - First Day of Texan Town 
• Friday, October 9th - NO SCHOOL/Parent-Teacher Conferences
• Monday, October 12th - NO SCHOOL 
• Friday, October 23rd - Spirit Rally 
• Monday, October 26th - Friday, October 30th - Red Ribbon Week

*On Monday, October 19th, the school will use a Friday schedule. This means that our fourth graders will have specials from 9:30-10:20. 

Character Education
The citizenship quality for October is Responsibility. 

Each week, Town Center focuses on one life principle, or guiding character quality. The life principles for each week are discussed on the morning announcements and will be posted on our agendas. 

What are we learning?
Math & Science

In Math, we will be discovering how to read and write decimals. We will also be discovering how to compare and order decimals using real world numbers. Please make sure that your learner is working on Reflex Math three times a week for at least 15 minutes. 

In Science, we will be investigating the difference between conductors and insulators. We will also be investigating different forms of energy.

Language & Literacy

In writing, we are working on the narrative writing process. The learners have been using the kernel essay strategy to plan their stories. They have loved this quick and easy way to add structure to their stories. We are loving their creativity and detail!

In reading, we are reviewing a variety of strategies to monitor our comprehension while we read. The learners have focused on checking for understanding, cross checking, and backing up to reread. In addition, we are continually working on building up our reading stamina. 

Social Studies

In Social Studies, we are wrapping up our unit on the Regions of Texas. The learners have been working on a blog post to compare our region of Texas to another region in our great state. The learners have been using their writing skills to show what they have learned in Social Studies. 

Thank you, again, for taking the time to read our blog. We are looking forward to another great week with our fourth graders!