fredag 12 december 2014

Newsletter Week 51


Dear Parents
Time has really flown to a final week with the children. It has been a challenging yet very rich with new experiences for me as a Class Teacher. I have been profoundly captured by the engagement of parents towards the children performance welfare and leisure. This kind of engagement terrifying as it may have been sometimes is very ideal if a child is to succeed.
For the highest majority of parents it has been a great and valuable exchange focused on direct engagement with the children`s academic work at school. Parents have been helpful directly, prompt when consultation was needed on an issue respectful and kept their boundaries. This has been great teamwork. For areas that did not work we will try to engage the right gears for next term.
English
The children have written reflections about their favourite book this Term. They have also had book talk with each child giving information about a book that they borrowed from the Library 10 days ago. The reflections were very healthy as children related their stories in a away that was stimulating for others to want to read the books.
I have managed to find a source of class sets for the class. Where there is a will there is always a way. The first sets have already been delivered and issued to students. It will be quite high responsibility if we will use the Circulation Library for class sets since if we lose a book, we will not be able to borrow books. I have borrowed Matilda and Charlie Chocolate Factory by Roahl Dahl. I may be compelled to let the children read one of them over Christmas this will initiate mixed reactions but I tender my apologies. I have done yet another LUS test and a lot of progress in reading has been made by the children
Mathematics
We have focused a lot on Multiplication using Number Sense to 3 digit numbers.
Homework
The children are free from homework next week. However I have issued them with Matilda of Roahl Dahl. They can read the book until they finish. I will have activities to do with the book in the first 2 weeks next Term.
Lucia
There was a beautiful ceremony for the Lucia today. William, Yessenia, Olivia and April represented our class in the choir. A very great gesture!
End of Term
The 18th Dec is the last day of school. Children will have a great closure that will involve full day school activities. We will have some refreshment in the afternoon before the final closure. There will be a ceremonial closure at the schoolyard. Fireworks will be excluded this year, as it is not suitable for the environment. There will be no formal school on the 19th December.
We will communicate some more before Christmas. Enjoy a memorable Lucia with your precious children.
Kindest Regards

 Jacqueline Zettergren

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

tisdag 9 december 2014

Christmas Songs

Christmas Songs

Newsletter Week 50

Dear Parents
The term is drawing to a close as we are. The Christmas season is on and will have a grand ceremonial opening tomorrow during the Christmas Bazaar, which is a grand gesture by parents to make an occasion great for children. Unfortunately due to pressure of time, I will be against my wish and will,  be compelled not to attend the Christmas Bazaar. I have tendered my apologies to the children.

Agnes and I are cooperating strongly to avoid strained relations between the children. We are committed to approaching it on a daily basis if there is a requirement for it.

Important Dates
The 12th of December will be a Lucia date. Children will have their Lucia tag at 8:45. The term ends on the 18th of June for the children. The children will have a prolonged day at school in order to have a closure at 16:30. That means that they will not need to turn up in school on Friday the 19th of December. More details will be given later.

Mathematics
The children have learnt two ways of calculating multiplication. By using Number Sense (talsorter) and uppställning. Focus was on page 110 and 111. If the children who have completed Addition, Subtraction and Multiplication can continue with pages 112 to 115 for next week for homework, it will be absolutely in order. The mathematics test results were great. 98% pass for the class. I strongly believe that the children could have managed a 100% pass if time if there was adequate time allocated. It is still important to groom children into making quizzes a natural part of a learning process if failure is a positive aspect of success and if mistakes are made only to be a part of letting us learn what we have to do differently to lead to success then it is so wonderful for the children. 13 out of 19 children had over 90% passes in the exam. You must remember that the majority of parents who have walked this stride with us to generate these results have done a great job for their children.
English/NO
The children are to continue to read for book talk on Wednesday week 51.
In the coming weeks we will do more Chemistry on Matter, Elements and Compounds and scan through the periodic table. I will base more energy on revision to see to it that whatever skills we learned have been mastered.
Lucia Day
On Lucia day the children will start school as usual. However Grade 4 b`s are scheduled to have their celebration at 8:45. The school will be closed at 7:55 and all light turned off for the first moment of the Lucia Tåg. Our class will enter the building at 8:20 and at 8:40 the main building will be closed again and lights turned off for another celebration.
I hope you enjoy the Christmas Bazaar. I hope to be less busy another occasion to be together with the childrens`parents on a fun activity. I appreciate especially the class parents who have taken an active role in letting children enjoy this. Appreciation to Linda, Sara, Katarina, Katarina Rauch and all the parents who make positive contributions in one way or another to boost positive energy and aura in to our very precious 4b`s whose performance give us a lot of pleasure.

Have a splendid Christmas Bazaar and a great weekend.

 Kindest Regards

Jacqueline Zettergren

 

 

söndag 30 november 2014

Newsletter Week 49


Newsletter Week 49

 Dear Parents,
 
This week has been fun week for the children. The trip to the opera was great. The visit to the Ungdomenshus in Rinkeby was fun too. It was quite crowded as it was a meeting between so many schools.

Quizzes
The quizzes have been administered. The biology results were quite good. I will give the children feedback for Mathematics as soon as I get it.

Homework
The children will start with multiplication. There is a link with a multiplication song on the school blog. For homework the children who have completed Addition, Subtraction and Multiplication can do page Matte Borgen pages (106-109).

English
Each child will borrow a book from the of their choice. Read the book and prepare to talk about it. Parents can steer what books they recommend for their children to read since the class sets we have at school may evoke reactions.
 
Natural Sciences .
 We continue to study Chemistry. If I find an interesting and valid link then I will put it on the blog for he children.

Extra Errands.
Extra errands outside our responsibilities may be difficult for teachers to run due to booked high priority lists of things to do.

Kindest Regards

Jacqueline Zettergren

måndag 24 november 2014

The Royal Opera












 
 
 


Newsletter Week 48


Newsletter Week 48

 Dear Parents
The mathematics test has already been administered. The results will be delivered soon. Children will embark on activities that are more fun next week.
Opera and Chess
The children will go for Opera on Monday between 9:30 to 12:00. Please note that school will start at 8.20 a.m on Monday. The school will organize packed lunch for children on that day.
On Tuesday between (10-14) The children will meet Knutby skolan at Rinkebyskolan, (ungdomenshus Rinkebystråket 13) quite near the subway station, We request the parents to kindly prepare packed lunch for the children. Do not forget water for drinking.
Science Quiz
On Wednesday the children will have a science quiz. I am sure the results will be ok. We continue with studying Chemistry and identifying how different elements have their protons, electrons and neutrons are arranged. We will have a phase 2 experiment to make yet another observation. I will soon show them the periodic table so that they can create molecules and atoms of different elements and compounds.
 Chess (Schack 4)
There is a possibility for children to get trained for chess once a week by Ingvar. If a child registers before Christmas then they can be involved for free until Christmas and they is after pay a fee.
Homework
I will still lie low with homework until the coming week. I have issued to children information about Matter, States of matter and on Atoms. The children can take the work home to read. I have gone through the information with them. I will have several repetitions, as Chemistry can be mysterious sometimes.
Mathematics
The Geometry test score was a great pleasure to me as a teacher. 100% pass for all the children and that most of the children had outstandingly high scores is pure pleasure. It is now a guarantee that I do not have to go over the topic again. I asked the children to show their quiz results to you for a signature before it is put in their portfolio files.
Some children have already started to do Multiplication and division. We will carry on to do that however those who have not completed the work on addition, subtraction and problem solving have to finish the work.
The Christmas Bazaar
I can see correspondence going on for the Christmas Bazaar. It is great that the class parents are taking an active roll in this. All that is done to make the children happy is always a pleasure.
Football Rules
The security of children is taken very seriously in Johannes skolan especially when they are playing football randomly during break time. The school has made certain rules meant to ensure that children are safe and happy while playing football. I enclose the football rules.
Have a great weekend.

Kindest Regards

 Jacqueline Zettergren

 

måndag 17 november 2014

Multiplication

Multiplication

Newsletter Week 47


Newsletter Week 47

Dear Parents,
The week has consisted mainly of school work. The children and I are more acquainted with one another and are establishing more platforms in having influence over their homework, classroom environment and having a better relationship with one another. I also appreciate the influence of parents towards the childrens` academic work geared towards improving our learning environment and supporting children in their academic pursuits.

Purpose of Homework
The purpose for homework is to give children a chance to manage to accomplish the amount of work required of them within a period of time. The other purpose is to groom the children into the ability to plan, execute and develop good study habits that will lead them to be able to work independently. While the children do their homework parents have an opportunity to get know what the children are engaged in with in their learning process. With the follow up of homework, the result has been great after follow up of the children`s work.

 Homework week 47
Children are to prepare for Science (Plants)and Mathematics (Addition, subtraction and Problemsolving) tests.

Mathematics
The Geometry test results are out.  The children are quite mathematical. I will just give them a chance to patch up the gaps they may have missed so that the knowledge sits a little tighter. They have all redone the test.

Preparation for Science and Maths Test
The children will have a science test on Wednesday week 48. Mathematics test will be on addition, subtraction and problem-solving. It will be on Friday week 47. The children will start a new topic in Mathematics. I have given no homework as children need to prepare for the tests.

I have established that the children require knowledge in Multiplication and Division.

It is essential for the children to learn how:
  •        Addition and multiplication relate
  •         How to multiply guided by Number Sense
  •       tens and hundreds eg 5x60 or 5x 600
  •         Understand the relationship between multiplication and division.
  •         Be able to utilize short division to divide
  •      To choose the right strategy to solve problems with instructions from texts.
Natural Sciences
Chemistry has been introduced to the children. We have examined the analysis of matter in different states as solids, liquid and gases.  There has been a requirement of introducing the smallest particles of elements and compounds (atoms and molecules). We will work parallel with Swedish classes who have already explored magic in the periodic table. Our class will start with common gases like Oxygen, Carbon dioxide which we have mentioned in the process of photosynthesis. However an observation of the effect of Sodium Chloride (common salt) on frozen water will be observed. The children were quite enchanted by the introduction of chemistry.

Upcoming events
On week 48 on Monday the children will watch Opera and will be fully sponsored by the school. On Tuesday week 48 too the children will have yet another Chess meeting with Knutby skolan. More information about the upcoming activities will be on coming Newsletter.

 Kindest Regards

 Jacqueline Zettergren

tisdag 11 november 2014

Goals for Mathematics

Goals for Mathematics
In years 4–6
Understanding and use of numbers
• Rational numbers and their properties.
• The positioning system of numbers in decimal form. The binary number system and number systems used in some cultures through history, such as the Babylonian.
• Numbers in fractions and decimals and their use in everyday situations.
• Numbers in percentage form and their relation to numbers in fraction and decimal form.
• Numbers in fractions and decimals and their use in everyday situations.
• Numbers in percentage form and their relation to numbers in fraction and decimal form.
• Main methods of calculating using natural numbers and simple numbers in decimal form when calculating approximations, mental arithmetic, and calculations using written methods and calculators. Using the methods in different situations.
• Plausibility assessments when estimating and making calculations in everyday situations.
Algebra
• Unknown numbers and their properties and also situations where there is a need to represent an unknown number by a symbol.
• Simple algebraic expressions and equations in situations that are relevant
for pupils.
• Methods of solving simple equations.
• How patterns in number sequences and geometrical patterns can be constructed, described and expressed.

Geometry
• Basic geometrical objects such as polygons, circles, spheres, cones, cylinders, pyramids, cuboids and their relationships. Basic geometrical properties of these objects.
• Construction of geometrical objects. Scale and its use in everyday situations.
• Symmetry in everyday life, in arts and nature and how symmetry can
be constructed.
• Methods for determining and estimating circumference and areas of different two-dimensional geometrical figures.
• Comparing, estimating and measuring length, area, volume, mass, time and angles using common units of measurement. Measurements using contemporary and older methods.
Probability and statistics
• Probability, chance and risk based on observations, experiments or statistical material from everyday situations. Comparisons of probability in different random trials.
• Simple combinatorial analysis in concrete situations.
• Tables and diagrams to describe the results of investigations. Interpretation of data in tables and diagrams.
• Measures of central tendency - average, mode and median and how they are used in statistical investigations.
Relationships and change
• Proportionality and percentage and their relationship.
• Graphs for expressing different types of proportional relationships in
simple investigations.
• The coordinate system and strategies for scaling coordinate axes.
Problem solving
• Strategies for mathematical problem-solving in everyday situations.
• Mathematical formulation of questions based on everyday situations.

Geometry



Newsletter week 46


Newsletter Week 46

Dear Parents

After a lot of relaxation for the children it is time again to start schoolwork. I believe the relaxation was good for all the children. They have been fully focused in their schoolwork. They are a few isolated incidents that have ensued between them of course however this has been when they have left classes and up at ”Klubben”.

I just managed to nominate my class as best class. We will strive to feel that way and be best in everything that we try to do.

Mathematics
During Geometry our central focus was on
  •   measurement of length in the past and at present.     
  •   ability to show understanding of different units of length, 
  •   identifying geometrical object
  •   ability to draw rectangles, squares, triangles with a given length
  •  ability to calculate perimeters and areas
A test was administered to identify if the children achieved these goals. The feedback is great however for the knowledge to be in their bone marrows they need more practise both at school and at home.
We have also focused on Addition, Subtraction and Problem-solving.
Our aim has been to:
  •   understand the relationship between addition and subtraction  
  •   demonstrate understanding of the = (equal sign)       
  •  to be able to add and subtract numbers between 0-10,000  and word problems that require higher cognitive abilities to solve.
After week 47 we will start with Number Sense (Talluppfatning). A test will be administered on week 47 on Addition, Subtraction and Problem-solving in order to identify if the children need repetition or if they have mastered the skills required. We are also winding up on the study of plants. There will be a test on Germination, Transpiration, Photosynthesis, Pollination and Dispersal of seeds on week 48 on Wednesday.
MatheBorgen (Pg 60-64) is for homework due this Friday. For next Week the children will do pages 66 and 67 due on Friday week 46. Most children now manage to do the homework very well. If it feels like it is too much then you can decide with your children how much homework works for your children. That also includes choosing if your children are to have homework or not. Since the majority of the children are ok with what they have are familiar with currently, I will not suddenly change routines for them. However, parents can, with all due respect have the freedom to choose if their children are to have homework or not.
The class atmosphere right now is purely great. The children are proud of their abilities to settle down and be productive students. Every parent who has been constructive enough to contribute to this harmony may accept my appreciation. Every parent who comes up with constructive ways to maintain this harmony is appreciated too.
Kindest Regards
Jacqueline Zettergren