Welcome to fourth grade and an exciting year of learning and growing. I am ready to get started on an amazing year together! ~Mrs. Vairo
Monday, May 25, 2026
Language Arts: As a culminating activity for our unit on inventions and innovations, students are writing about an invention of interest to them. We will be wrapping up this writing piece this week. We will also begin a novel study this week. The text will either be Hatchet by Gary Paulsen, or My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George. Students will choose.
Math: We took our final math test on Thursday. We will spend our remaining math blocks reviewing concepts learned this year, and previewing some fifth grade concepts.
Social Studies: We are wrapping up final concepts in social studies as well. We are learning about Indiana's move into the twentieth century following the Civil War. Last week we learned about Lincoln and his ties to Indiana and impact on our country.
Miscellaneous: Mark your calendars for the annual board meeting tomorrow in the CAC at 7 pm. Also, 8th grade graduation will happen on Thursday, May 28th at 7 pm also in the CAC auditorium.
Friday, May 15, 2026
Language Arts: This week we have been learning about inventions and innovation. We learned about the innovation cycle and discussed the innovations that we learned about previously including LED lights and the Play-a-Grill (Be sure to ask your child about this one!). If you want to read the article, there is a copy in your child's email inbox. We talked about the three ingredients for innovation being 1. collaboration, 2. creative thinking, 3. improved technology. Then we talked about the innovation cycle: identify a problem -> develop an idea -> test a prototype -> refine.
Math: This week we have continued to work on word problems that incorporate many different computational skills. We have also been working a fair amount with line plots. This week on Wednesday, when we have third grade with us, we played with circular puzzles. Kids played I have, who has as a group, then they worked in partner pairs to solve a circular puzzle. Finally, I had the partner pairs make their own puzzle for others to solve. None were right the first go, but were quickly fixed with collaboration and mathematical thinking.
Science/Social Studies: This week we have been learning about some famous Hoosiers. We were introduced to Madam CJ Walker in our CKLA unit this week as our entry point. Then students learned about American writer and nature photographer, Gene Stratton Porter. They also learned about landscape artist T.C. Steele. Finally we learned about Ernie Pyle, WWII journalist.
Miscellaneous: Please note that next Thursday, we will dismiss at 1:00 in observance of Shavuot. We will also not have school on Friday, May 22, or Monday, May 25. The Talent Show will be next Tuesday, May 19 at 2:00.
Friday, May 8, 2026
Language Arts: This week we wrapped up our unit about tales around the world and took our test on Wednesday. The students did well overall. On Thursday, we began our newest unit - American Innovation. We will be learning about innovations in science, medicine, and music. Also, students will be writing a research essay about an invention or innovation of their choosing.
Math: We are using all of the skills we have learned this year to solve multi-step word problems. We have worked with the concepts of perimeter, fractions, line plots, decimals, and area. We will wrap this unit the week of May 18 and take a test later that week.
Social Studies/Science: We are bouncing back and forth between and social studies and science wrapping up any standards we have not covered yet. This week we watched Valiant and talked about the events of WWII. Next week we will be learning about famous Hoosiers: Gene Stratton Porter, T.C. Steele, Ernie Pyle, and Madame CJ Walker.
Miscellaneous: We had an amazing Lag B'omer field day on Tuesday. Ms. Blaine, Ms. Halperin, and the Judaics staff created a fun day for all despite the rain. A reminder that we will dismiss early on May 21 at 1 pm in observance of Shavuot. There will be no school on Friday or Monday (Memorial Day) as well. I hope you all have a fantastic weekend!
Friday, May 1, 2026
Language Arts: This week we have wrapped up unit 8 in CKLA about storytelling. The kids have written the most amazing modern takes on traditional tales. Their voices shine in their writing, and I am so proud of their hard work, creativity, and courage in sharing their writing with others.
Math: We are working on our final unit in our math series and will be wrapping it up in mid-May. Students are working on multi-step problems that incorporate all the learning we have covered this year. For example, one set of problems this week dealt strictly with addition/subtraction/multiplication/division, while another one required students to make a line plot and answer questions about the line plot including computation with fractions.
Social Studies: This week students divided into two groups (House and Senate) and came up with a new law they would like for our school. The new 'law' was for school to dismiss at 3:00. The House added some language to allow for after school clubs. I acted as the governor and signed the bill into law. Additionally, we have been watching Valiant and talking about World War II.
Miscellaneous: Remember that Tuesday is Lag B'omer and we will have Field Day outside in the afternoon. Please have your child dress accordingly for the weather. You may want to send sunscreen as well depending on the forecast. Many thanks to Mallory Levin for driving to for us last Friday! Have a great weekend!
Friday, April 17, 2026
Language Arts: This week we began our new CKLA unit, A World of Tales. In this unit, we are learning about traditional folktales from around the world. So far our stories have had us in Cape Verde and Sierra Leone in Africa; Argentina and Brazil in South America; and Japan in Asia. As we read each story, we find a story similar from American traditional stories. This further shows how we are globally connected in so many ways.
Math: We started unit 8 in math, but have not gotten far due to testing this week. We are working on solving multi-step math story problems predominantly, but also reviewing angles and working with symmetry.
Miscellaneous: Today we had the unique experience of packing care packages for holocaust survivors. Grades 4-8 worked to pack 75 care packages in conjunction with JFS that will be delivered to survivors over the next few weeks. We will be finishing our science Ilearn test on Monday morning, but will NOT be testing the rest of next week. We will finish our testing the week of April 27 with the language arts portion of the test. Thank you to Mallory Levin for driving with us next Friday to the Alex Kor program at the Booth Tarkington Theater!
Friday, March 27, 2026
Language Arts: This week we attempted to wrap up reading Crenshaw. Some students finished, but a few were still reading and had the option of bringing a copy of the book home over break. Be sure to ask your child what he/she thought of the book.
Math: We wrapped up unit 7 and took the test over it today. Scores were not where I would have like them to be so we will come back and review fraction operations before beginning our next unit in math.
Social Studies: This week we took a test over the Constitution. Students were given a study guide to complete to prepare for the test. Then, we went over correct answers for the study guide as a class. Finally, students were able to use their study guides to answer the questions on the test. Students either did very well, or below performed below where they should have with the tools at their disposal.
Miscellaneous: I hope you all have a wonderful, restful, rejuvenating break with lots of family time. When we return, we will be jumping right into state testing. Make sure your child has a good night's sleep and a good breakfast every day. I will be checking email periodically if you need to reach me.
Friday, March 20, 2026
Language Arts: Students took their CKLA unit 7 test this morning and did very well overall! We will be working on finishing our narrative writing projects next week.
Math: We are working hard to wrap up unit 7 in our math series. I am planning to test students on Wednesday over the unit. We will review prior to that.
Social Studies: Students are working on a study guide to review the Constitution in preparation for a test next week. We will likely take the test on Thursday.
Miscellaneous: With our upcoming break, I know some families leave a bit early. Please let me know if you are going to miss any days next week, so I can make sure we get everything completed before your departure.
Friday, March 13, 2026
Language Arts: This week we finished reading the novel, From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. Most of the class really enjoyed the book and solving the mystery of the Angel statue. Students have also been working on books they wrote in Book Creator. We are working to finish those by the end of next week and are excited to share them with you. Next week we are going to start another novel, Crenshaw by Lois Lowry. This will take us up to Pesach break. Once we return from Pesach break, we will embark on our last 2 CKLA units around testing times.
Math: This week we worked primarily on multiplying unit fractions by whole numbers and mixed numerals multiplied by whole numbers. We have worked on several word problems related to the multiplication of fractions and whole numbers as well as conversions in time and capacity. We will wrap this unit and test before Pesach break.
Social Studies: We are continuing to learn about the Second Continental Congress and their meetings in Philadelphia to attempt to correct the weakness of the Articles of Confederation. Ask you child if he/she can tell you what the problems were with the Articles of Confederation. (They lacked the ability to tax people and were therefore very weak as they could only ask for colonies to contribute.)
Miscellaneous: We will be taking the 3rd Ilearn checkpoint next week. I am aiming to give the tests on Tuesday and Wednesday. Please make sure your child has a good night's sleep and a healthy breakfast to help them do their best. I hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Friday, March 6, 2026
Language Arts: This week we began reading From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. The book is a mystery centered around two siblings who run away from home and unwittingly end up investigating the origin of a marble sculpture at the Met. Ask you child to tell you about how Claudia and Jamie are getting by living at the Met and what they are doing to solve the mystery of the angel statue. In conjunction with reading this novel, students are also creating their own narrative stories. I have seen the beginnings of them, and the are quite good!
Math: We took our math test over unit 6 on Monday. On Thursday we began unit 7 and worked with converting between the imperial system of capacity. So, 1 gallon = 4 quarts = 8 pints = 16 cups. Students worked with changing pints to cups and vice versa with each of the measurements.
Social Studies: While we have finished our unit on the American Revolution, we are taking it a bit further and are learning about the origins of our Constitution and the reasons our forefathers wrote it the way they did after the Intolerable Acts.
Miscellaneous: The Purim Carnival and costume parade on Tuesday were awesome! We will be having our third ilearn checkpoint the week of March 16. I will let you know next week which days specifically we will be testing. Remember that Pesach break is March 30-April 13. Here's to a great weekend and more spring weather!
Friday, February 27, 2026
Language Arts: This week we wrapped up our CKLA unit about the American Revolution. Students took the test today, and scores are reported on index cards in your child's Friday folder. Our next unit is a novel study of From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. It is a fantastic novel about a brother and sister who run away from home and live in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC. In conjunction with this novel, we will be writing our own narrative pieces.
Math: We are planning to take our math test over unit 6 on Monday. Today students completed study guides that mimic the test in format. They all did very well and should do well on Monday. The study guides are in your child's Friday folder and will come home today.
Social Studies: We will be learning about our Constitution over the next few weeks and about the constitution of Indiana. We will also be looking closely at the three branches of government and what each branch's job is.
Misecellaneous: Don't forget to wear your Purim costume on Tuesday! We will have our annual Megillah reading and carnival. School dismisses at 11:30 on Tuesday. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!
Friday, February 20, 2026
Language Arts: This week we have worked on writing cause and effect paragraphs. Additionally, we have worked with the prefixes im/in and the suffixes -able/-ible, and subject/verb agreement. We continue to grow our vocabularies. I hope you were able to take a look at the activity book when the kids had them home on Monday.
Math: This week we spent the bulk of our time measuring and drawing angles. Students did a great job using rulers and protractors to draw angles matching specific measures. We also worked with patterns this week and number riddles.
Social Studies: Our CKLA unit currently is lending itself beautifully to our social studies standards. We have a timeline going on the wall of the classroom to track all the events that led to the start of the Revolutionary War and we continue to add events as we learn about them.
Miscellaneous: Thank you all so much for coming in on Monday for our Rosh Chodesh program. It was so great to see all of you! Have a wonderful weekend!
Friday, February 6, 2025
Language Arts: We were able to complete many assessment that needed to be done this week. Students took the second ilearn checkpoint this week in math and in language arts. Information will be coming from Ms. Halperin about how to access those scores if you have forgotten. We were also able to accomplish 2 lesson in our American Revolution CKLA unit and have read about the French and Indiana War, Treaty of Paris (1), Boston Tea Party, Boston Massacre, Intolerable Acts, The Stamp Act, and the First Continental Congress. In the coming weeks we will be learning more about the Revolutionary War.
Math: We took our unit 5 math test and the students did exceptionally well. We will begin unit 6 on Monday. In unit 6 we will be learning about solving area problems with missing side lengths, beginning division (partial quotients), division with remainders, measuring angles, and fraction number stories.
Social Studies: In conjuntion with our CKLA unit we are learning about Indiana's place in the Revolution. We talked about the French fur trading posts that existed near Terre Haute and Lafayette.
Miscellaneous: Please mark your calendars to join us on February 17 at 2:45 for our Rosh Chodesh presentation. We will be presenting in the classroom. We look forward to seeing you!
Friday, January 30, 2026
Language Arts: Not much has changed from last week since weather interfered with our time at school. We did take our CKLA unit test on Friday and will begin our next unit as soon as we wrap up our ilearn checkpoint and our mid-year assessments. Holes will be watched next week.
Math: We are working on wrapping up unit 5 and still anticipate a test over this unit, though it will be later next week than originally planned.
Social Studies: With our new CKLA unit we will be learning about the American Revolution. In social studies we will be looking at how the American Revolution impacted life in Indiana.
Miscellaneous: Please be sure to fill out the permission slip regarding watching Holes in the classroom.
Friday, January 23, 2026
Language Arts: We continue to learn about Earth and the many forces that shape it. Students have learned about earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis, plate boundaries, hydrothermal vents, and sea mounts. Ask your student to tell you what he/she has learned about these topics. We have also worked a great deal with adjectives, appositives, and quotation marks. We are planning to review all infomation about geology on Monday and take our unit test on Tuesday. Next week is also our next ilearn checkpoint testing week. I am planning to administer the language arts test on Monday and Wednesday mornings, and the math checkpoint on Thursday morning. We will also be working on our mid-year assessments to look at growth and any areas that we need to address to support your child.
Math: We have been focusing a great deal in this unit on adding and subtracting fractions with like denominators as well as mixed numbers with like denominators. Students also reviewed multiplicative comparison. We will be wrapping up this math unit and testing early the week of February 2nd.
Science: Our CKLA test covers the science standards as well as language arts standards. Questions from the CKLA test related to scientific principles will be used as a test grade in science.
Miscellaneous: Our Rosh Chodesh for 4th grade is coming up on February 17. We look forward to seeing you then. More details to follow. Monday, February 16 is Presidents' Day and we will have an asynchronous learning day that day. As a reward for all the testing next week and the class's hard work, we are planning to watch Holes on Friday. Please fill out the permission slip since the movie is rated PG. Finally, Global School Play Day is coming up on Wednesday, February 4. Click here to learn more about it.
Friday, January 9, 2026
Language Arts: We started our newest CKLA unit in which students will learn about geology. This week we worked on vocabulary associated with the study of geology, worked with defining similes, charting knowledge about each chapter, using commas (city/state, date/year, items in a list), and pamphlet writing.
Math: This week we began chapter 5 in Everyday Math. In it, we learned about unit fractions (1/b), decomposing fractions (1/4 + 1/4 +1/4 = 3/4), and adding fractions. We continue to work on multi-digit multiplication as well.
Science: Geology is part of our 4th grade science standards so our ELA unit and science unit are dovetailed nicely. This week we saw some videos about earthquakes and tsunamis, made a simulation of the tectonic plates floating on the mantle of the earth, read How to Dig a Hole to the Other Side of the World, and made a construction paper representation of Earth.
Miscellaneous: The spelling bee will be held Friday, January 26th at 2:45 pm. I will be out of the classroom from Thursday, January 15 through Tuesday, January 20 to attend a hockey tournament with my daughter. As always, please let me know if you have questions! I hope you all have a lovely weekend!
Friday, December 12, 2025
Language Arts: This week in CKLA we researched inventions, wrote skits to pitch those inventions to Thomas Edison, learned about simple machines, and developed a trash removal system to meet the criteria set forth by George Washington Carver. Additionally, we learned a great deal of vocabulary, made diagrams, and learned about compound/expanded sentences.
Math: We have wrapped unit 4 in math and took the test today. We will begin unit 5 upon our return in January. Next week we will be solving a Freckle real world math challenge during our math time!
Science/Social Studies: This week we were able to watch a video about the beginning of Indiana's statehood. Indiana became a state on December 11, 1816. We learned a bit about the writing of Indiana's constitution, as well as the Underground Railroad in Indiana.
Miscellaneous: Happy Hanukkah! Looking forward to next week, I hope you will join us for lunch on Tuesday. You are welcome to come even if you don't eat - I know your student would love to see you! Also, the annual Hanukkah songfest is on Thursday, December 18 from 2:30-3:25. ALL are welcome! Here are a few other announcements/events to remember!
Menorah Lighting at JCC
Monday, 12/15 at 5:00 PM
Join our HHAI community in front of the JCC for a beautiful menorah lighting. Our 2nd and 3rd graders will be singing!
All are welcome, no RSVP necessary
Latkes & Lights at Newfields
Monday, 12/15 from 5–9 PM
Experience a magical Hanukkah night at Newfields.
All School Menorah Contest
Last day to submit, 12/16
Students are encouraged to create a unique menorah at home and bring it in. All entries will be shared and celebrated! Flyer attached.
IQE Donations
This month is also an opportunity to support HHAI through the Indiana Qualified Education (IQE) program, offering significant tax benefits. All donations qualify for a full 50% Indiana state tax credit. If you want to make your donation with a credit card, you can do that here. If you prefer to send a personal or DAF check, please complete the attached form and include it with your check. IQE donations keep Jewish education accessible and directly secure the stability of HHAI.
Friday, December 5, 2025
Language Arts: We began our new CKLA unit entitled Eureka! Inventors. We are learning about inventors and their inventions, research, opinion writing, and collaboration. Students are in the process of writing letters to Thomas Edison to thank him for inventing the light bulb. Students have also worked on a challenge from Jacques Cousteau involving a ping pong ball on Monday.
Math: This week we have continued working on unit 4 in EDM. We worked on converting g to kg and vice versa, multi-step word problems, strategies for adding (moving closer to standard algorithm), and some decimal review. The plan is to finish this unit mid-week next week and test late in the week.
Science/Social Studies: This week has provided us a chance to engage in both science and social studies. We began talking about Indiana statehood this week as our Statehood Day is December 11 (1816). Additionally, students tackled the Jacques Cousteau challenge this week with many attempts. We will wrap this challenge up next week.
Miscellaneous: Thank you all for scheduling conferences and meeting with me this week. It was great to talk to you about your amazing kids! Parents are invited for lunch on Tuesday, December 16. Our annual Hanukkah Songfest will be on Thursday, December 18 from 2:30 until dismissal.
Friday, November 21, 2025
Language Arts: This week we finished reading Number the Stars. Students took a comprehension quiz over the book and did very well. They also wrote a summary of the book that we will be editing next week. When we return we will begin our next unit of CKLA about inventors.
Math: We have been working with conversions from cm to m and back as well as ml to l and back. Additionally, students have been learning about area and its difference from perimeter.
Social Studies/Science: We wrapped up our energy unit with our egg drops yesterday. The devices worked well and we only had 1 completely cracked egg. We are planning to repeat this activity in the spring with new parameters. As we have finished up this science unit, we will be moving back in to social studies and learning about Indiana history from pioneer times until it achieved statehood in 1816.
Miscellaneous: I am looking forward to seeing many of you on Wednesday at Friends and Family. I hope to see some of you Monday as well at our Readers' Theater. I hope you all have a wonderful, relaxing weekend!
Friday, November 14, 2025
Language Arts: We have finished our Poetry unit and taken our test over the unit. Overall, the students did a nice job. We are going to take the time from now until Thanksgiving break to read Number the Stars by Lois Lowry. The book is about to young girls in Copenhagen, Denmark during the German occupation in the 1940s. The main theme of the book is the compassion shown toward Jewish Danes during this time and the risks Danish people took to make sure almost all Jews from Denmark were saved during WW II.
Math: We have finished unit 3 and are moving into unit 4 where we will begin to work with the standard multiplication algorithm. Our first steps will be reviewing both area model multiplication and partial products. We will then transition to the full algorithm.
Science: The kids have been so creative in their egg drop creations. My goal is to drop them next week and record the outcomes.
Miscellaneous: I am so looking forward to seeing many of you on Friends and Family day on November 26!
Friday, November 7, 2025
Language Arts: We continued on our journey through the world of poetry this week learning about extended metaphors and free verse. We read Fog by Carl Sandberg and Words Free as Confetti by Pat Mora. Students also found alliteration, similes, and metaphors in poems. On Wednesday, we wrote cinquains (which were very good). We will continue with poetry next week with a goal of wrapping on Monday, and reviewing. Then, we would take a test over the material on Tuesday. We are going to take a short break from CKLA after this unit and work on a Thanksgiving Readers' Theater that we would like to perform for parents and read Number the Stars by Lois Lowry. If you have not read this book, it is one you might want to check out. For a summary of the book, click on the title above.
Math: We are continuing to work with fractions and decimals and will test early next week over this material. I will send a study guide home that mimics the test format to prepare students.
Science: Students learned this week that with greater speed = greater force. We did a small experiment with a bouncy ball to confirm our hypothesis. We have a few more chapters to read about energy and then we will be constructing a device that will allow an egg to be dropped from a significant height and survive uncracked.
Miscellaneous: As I said above, we are working on a Thanksgiving Readers' Theater that we would love to have you come watch. I am tentatively planning this for Tuesday, November 25, in the afternoon. More details once I have things solidified.
Friday, October 31, 2025
Language Arts: We are continuing to work on our poetry unit and should wrap it up late next week or early the following week. We have been talking a lot this week about how poets use repettition, rhyming, spacing, and figurative language to create emphasis on the important themes in poetry. This week we have read poetry from Langston Hughes, Sherman Alexie, and Walt Whitman.
Math: This week in math we have been working diligently on equivalent fractions, ordering fractions, comparing fractions, and writing fractions as decimals. We should be testing late next week over this unit.
Science: This week we used dominoes again to talk about energy transitioning and collisions. We also read about the transfer of heat, light, sound, and electrical energy. Students learned that energy can not be created or destroyed. It can only be trasferred.
Miscellaneous: Remember to sign up for after school clubs that will be coming out soon. The trimester wraps next Wednesday. Picture retakes are on November 21. Friends and Family Day is November 26.
Friday, October 24, 2025
Language Arts: This week we worked with poetry learning about rhyming, alliteration, repetition, and the architecture of poetry (lines, stanzas, stanza breaks). We have started experimenting with writing our own poems. I shared with students different kinds of poems they might consider writing (haiku, cinquain, acrostic, concrete).
Math: The bulk of our math work this week has been finding equivalent fractions. Students need to be able to recognize equivalent fractions to prepare them for finding common denominators when adding and subtracting fractions. Students had math homework this week with factor trees and prime factorization. Some students are still struggling with the difference between composite and prime numbers as well as the difference between factors and multiples. The factors of 8 are 1, 8, 2, 4. The multiples of 8 are 8, 16, 24, 32...
Science: In science this week we learned about and played with energy of motion using Matchbox cars and ramps. We also learned about how energy can be transferred from one object to another using marbles. Ask your child what he/she learned.
Miscellaneous: Reminder that we will be going on a field trip to the Palladium on Monday, November 3. Please make sure you fill out the permission slip linked here. The end of the first trimester is November 5. Picture retakes will be on November 21. Friends and Family Day is November 26.
Friday, October 17, 2025
Language Arts: This week we started on our CKLA unit about poetry. We will be learning a lot about figurative language and will be writing our own poetry as well.
Math: Our newest unit in math has us learning about equal shares (beginning concept for long division) and fractions. Next week we will be working with fractions quite a bit learning how to order them and place them on number lines.
Science: We just started our unit about energy this week and learned that energy is the ability to cause change. We will be learning about potential and kinetic energy as well.
Miscellaneous: We have a field trip coming up on Monday, November 1. Grades K-5 will be attending the Bugs Bunny symphony performance there that morning. Picture retakes will be on November 21. Friends and Family day will be November 26.
Friday, September 26, 2025
Language Arts: During our short week this week, we learned about the Magna Carta, The Battle of Hastings, Henry II, the Bayeaux Tapestry, the Crusades, and Robin Hood - was he real or not?? Students have also been working with transition words in their writing, vocabulary, and sequencing of events. We will be wrapping this unit up early next week and I am planning on giving a test over the material on Wednesday of next week. I have shown students both versions of the tests and they have opted to try the digital version this time. I will monitor outcomes and make future test decisions based on those outcomes.
Math: This week we worked with attributes of quadrilaterals, in and out boxes (what's the rule/), and triangles attributes. We also looked at shape patterns and related them to mathematical equations for determining the pattern several steps ahead. We will also be wrapping up this unit prior to Sukkot break and taking a test early next week - likely Tuesday as well.
Science/Social Studies: We have wrapped our unit on Native Americans of Indiana prior to statehood. We are now working on a short science unit about waves. Be sure to check the picture carousel at the top of the page to see pictures of our wave machines. Sukkot break is October 6 (1 PM dismissal) through October 15.
Friday, September 19, 2025
Language Arts: This week we have worked on writing comparison paragraphs. We wrote a paragraph together comparing the lives of monks and nuns against knight in the middle ages. We continue to work with nouns and adjectives and have dabbled a bit with appositives. Students have been able to read about what life was like for townspeople, manor folk, nobility, and serfs.
Math: This week we have focused mostly on multiplicative comparison. Example, I have 5 cookies, my friend has 3 times as many cookies. How many cookies does my friend have? Students have also worked with multiples and factors this week.
Social Studies/Science: We are wrapping up our native American informational pieces and the students have done an amazing job! If you are in the building, these will be displayed outside our classroom. We are moving into a science unit about waves next.
Miscellaneous: Remember that we will be dismissing at 1 pm on Monday for Rosh Hashanah. We will return to school on Thursday, September 25. Shana Tova! We will also dismiss early (@ 1 PM) on Wednesday, October 1 in preparation for Yom Kippur. Students will return to school on Friday, October 3. Finally, we will dismiss at 1 PM again on Monday, October 6 for our Sukkot break. Students will return to school on Thursday, October 7.
Friday, September 12, 2025
Language Arts: This week students took the first unit test in our new reading series. We are all learning as we go, and I learned this time around that there are two versions of the test for each unit. After finding the written test (I printed and used the online test this time), I have decided to use the written version going forward. I felt that the reading passage and some of the subsequent questions from the digital version (they did not take it digitally) were not fair to students. The written format is more succinct and still addresses all the skills covered in the unit. I have shared this with students as well due to the length of the digital version. I am not sending the tests home with students since I opted not to count all of the questions, but I am sending home a paper with your child containing his/her score for this test. We have also started our new unit about the Middle Ages. Students are learning about the feudal system, Charlemagne, the break up of the Roman Empire, nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, comparing, and contrasting.
Math: This week in math we have worked with square, prime, and composite numbers; and learned about factors and multiples. We will be working with triangles, quadrilaterals, lines, line segments, points, and rays next week.
Social Studies: Students are diligently working on writing informational reports about one of the Native American tribes present in Indiana prior to statehood. Students have chosen to learn and write about the Lenape, Delaware, Potawatomi, or Shawnee tribes.
Miscellaneous: Please note that this is the last call to order mums. You can click here to order. The new HHAI PTO is looking for volunteers. Please check out this week's Shabbat Shalom/Weekly 5 for more information. School pictures are on Monday. Your child was given a paper order form, but you maychoose to use this link to order school pictures. We will have our annual ram visit on Thursday, September 18.
Friday, September 5, 2025
Language Arts: This week we are wrapping up loose ends on our Personal Narrative unit and will be taking a test and submitting a writing project next week as our culminating event. The kids have done a really nice job writing personal narratives as well as learning about literary conventions (similes and metaphors, descriptive language, showing the reader instead of telling the reader). Our second unit in CKLA is about the Middle Ages in Europe.
Math: We took our first unit math test today. The test covered the concepts of traditional addition and subtraction algorithm, yards to feet and feet to yards, identifying the value of digits in numbers with place value to the hundred thousands, rounding to a specific place value, right angles, solving word problems, and perimeter. We will start unit 2 on Monday and will be learning about square, prime, and composite numbers, area, factor pairs, multiples, units of time, line segments and rays, symmetry, quadrilaterals, triangles, shape patterns, and units of time.
Social Studies: Students have been working hard learning about Native Americans in Indiana both pre-historic (Adena, Hopewell) and those recorded by history. Students have chosen a tribe that lived in Indiana and will be researching the tribe and presenting information about the tribe he/she has chosen.
Miscellaneous:
Remember that the last day to order mums is September 16.
Some reminders about upcoming holidays:
September 22 - 1 pm dismissal
September 23 & 24 - no school
Friday, August 29, 2025
Language Arts: This week in our CKLA unit we have learned about synonyms and antonyms, timelines, verbs, polio, and many new vocabulary words, We continued to work on writing personal narratives with particular attention to writing an introduction. The students are really invested in the story, and have been eager to read ahead.
Math: In math this week we worked with place value, patterns in numbers, standard subtraction algorithm, measuring length with customary units, points, lines, line segments, rays, angles, types of triangles (right, acute, and obtuse)m and quadrilaterals.
Social Studies: On Thursday we began learning about the Native Americans that lived on Indiana soil in the past. We are focusing first on prehistoric mound building tribes in Indiana, and will later be completing an informational writing project about one of the tribes that called Indiana home in the past. Students are gathering information using a Padlet I created for them. Feel free to click the link and check out the Padlet.
Miscellaneous: Please remember that Monday is Labor Day and we will not have school. Sign up is available for fall enrichment classes. Click here to register. I hope you all have a safe and relaxing weekend!
Friday, August 22, 2025
Language Arts: This week we continued to learn about personal narratives and read several stories including one written by Beverly Cleary herself. We talked about character traits, learned about writing dialogue, and using sensory details to enhance our writing pieces. Students are also building vocabulary knowledge as we read our student readers.
Math: We are working on place value, rounding, inequalities, standard algorithm for both addition and subtraction with regrouping. Next week we will add the concepts of measuring with customary lengths, geometry terms: (point, line, ray, line segment), and finally angles (obtuse, acute, and right), triangles (acute, obtuse, right), and quadrilaterals (squares and rectangles). I am projecting a test over this unit on Friday, September 5.
Social Studies: This week we continue to work on map skills exploring map scale and finding places using latitude and longitude. We are beginning to talk about the major rivers and cities in Indiana, and wrapped up the week discussing the three major physical regions of Indiana - the northern lakes and moraines, central till plain, and southern lowlands.
Miscellaneous: Thank you all for having your kids to school on time and ready to learn. It makes their days so much more calming and consistent which leads to better learning outcomes. I think we have figured out homework and it should work similar to this: Monday - general studies and Hebrew; Tuesday - general studies; Wednesday - Hebrew; Thursday - Judaics. We are still collecting items for Popsie's Pantry per the flyer in my signature. I was able to go get some shampoo, conditioner, and toothpaste from the Dollar Tree to add to our contribution. As always, feel free to email me any questions or concerns! I hope you all have a restful weekend!
Friday, August 15, 2025
Language Arts: This week we have been working on many skills with our new reading series. We are learning about personal narratives and have explored some of Patricia Polacco's books, as she is a prolific personal narrative writer about her childhood growing up in Michigan and California. The students explored character traits while reading The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind. We have written personal narratives, and explored six word narratives.
Math: In math we are working on place value, inequalities, and rounding. Students learned that number are divided into periods and also worked on reading numbers to the millions. We will continue to work with place value next week learning about front-end estimation and close-to estimation as well as beginning to look at addition strategies. Students are taking the Prodigy placement test as well.
Social Studies: In social studies we are learning about maps, globes, hemispheres, lines of latitude, lines of longitude, equator, and Prime Meridian. We have also talke about cardinal directions and worked with map keys. We will be talking about physical, political, and topographical maps. We will then learn about the landforms found in Indiana.
Miscellaneous: It was so nice to see many of you on Wednesday evening. As I said in my email, please reach out if you have any questions about the material covered at Parent Night. You should have all received an email with the material I shared. Also, please go ahead and delete the REMIND app as it does not work as it has in the past. It previously delivered text messages directly to folks rather than to email or the app. Therefore, it isn't super beneficial to us. I will not use it the rest of the year.
Wednesday, August 13, 2025
ELA: Our first unit in our reading series is about narrative texts. You can help your child with this unit by re-telling your family stories. They may be memorable in a myriad of ways, but those stories, that students know well, make the best personal narratives.
Math: Our first unit in Every Day Math (EDM), is computation,
Science/Social Studies: We will alternate between science and social studies units. We will begin the year with a social s tudies unit about maps, lattitude, longitude, equator, primer meridian, keys, etc.
Miscellaneous/Updates: Thank you so much for being here tonight! Your attendance silently shows your child that you are invested in his/her learning and academic growth.