This Week in the Fourth Grade

Celebrating Lilly
A dog named Harley, a first stuffed animal, and a bunch of silly bands were among the items Lilly shared with her class during her Student of the Week celebration. Harley, the perfect gentlemen, allowed himself to be hugged, petted, and fawned over by the students of the Fourth Grade. Thanks for sharing Lilly!

Convection Currents

Greg Bartus, my PISA2 advisor, and Stevens Professor, visited the class to share a lesson on models. As a part of the lesson, using food coloring, ice, water, and hot tea, he showed a model of how convection works and causes a current. This is part of our study of earth movements. Modeling is an essential strategy in teaching, and particularly important for understanding science.

Midterm Conferences

Scheduling for conferences will start tomorrow. Midterm conferences will take place Thursday, October 21, from 3:30 to 8, and Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Please contact the office to schedule the appointment. There is no school for the 4th-8th grade on Friday. The lower school and Nest will be in session.

Interested in Math at Mustard Seed? Come on October 28!

On Thursday, October 28 at 7pm, Mustard Seed invites all parents in Grades 3 - 8 to come to "Conversations with Parents, Math Night". This will be the first of a few "Conversations with Parents" on academic topics that are planned for this year. [On November 16, we will do "Conversations with Parents, Science Night", so mark that date as well.]

The focus on October 28 is Fostering Algebraic Thinking.

We will send home more information next week, but the night will include:

-- looking at how algebraic thinking is fostered in the early years, and how it develops through a student's career at Mustard Seed.
-- listening to graduates to speak about their high school experiences in math. Were they well prepared? In what ways? What might have been stronger?
-- speaking with parents, teachers, and alumni guests on the subject of mathematics at Mustard Seed School. (This is the perfect time for parents to ask questions and share thoughts.)

Melissa McCallihan, Abby Choi, Sam Choi, Gary Lawrence and Kathy Hanson will be on hand to guide the evening and participate in the conversations. We have invited several alumni and their parents to join the conversation as well.

Look for more information next week, mark your calendars, and please plan now to come!