Room 22 Newsletter for March & April 2024

Dear Room 22 families,

    To begin, I would like to again send a heartfelt “THANK YOU!” to our parent chaperones for the annual Collins 4th grade California Mission field trip to Mission San Juan Bautista.  Literally, we could not have gone without you!   While it was exciting knowing a movie was being filmed there, that did limit access to many fascinating locations at the Mission.  If you’re wondering about activities for Spring Break, going back to visit Mission San Juan Bautista, and letting your 4thie be a “tour guide” is a wonderful day trip!

    Speaking of Spring Break, in years past, to add a deeper layer of understanding & dimension to our 4th grade Social Studies curriculum, I would take a group of 4thies over to Sacramento (after many years, the tour company’s prices just became too expensive.).   While in Sacramento we would tour the State Capitol, visit the “Old School House”  and the students would have a school lesson as they would have during the California Gold Rush Era, visit the Children’s  Discovery Museum where kiddos can pan for (not real) gold, and of course visit the world famous, California Train Museum!  These are all just a day-trip away!  A little longer of a trip would be to travel a bit farther to Coloma and the site of Sutter’s Mill where gold was first discovered by James Marshall.

        In the coming weeks we will begin practicing for the CAASPP tests.  Although we will practice at school, some parents like to help their kiddo practice at home, too, so be on the lookout for emails from me with details on how to access practice tests at home.

    It is my goal to complete all math chapters before CAASPP testing begins, and we’re on track.  Students will be completing their informational essays, and we’re back to science after February Break.  Currently, students are working on reading comprehension with one of my favorite books, The Cricket in Times Square - did you know it missed receiving the Newbery Medal because Island of the Blue Dolphins won the medal?

    The coming weeks look to be beautiful spring weather, and we only have three months until the end of the school year  - I can’t believe it!   We still have much learning to do, and another field trip coming up in the beginning of April.  You’ll be receiving information about the Peralta Adobe - the oldest building in San Jose, built in 1797!  This will be a hands-on, activity-based field trip and we’ll need seven to eight parent volunteers.  Information will be coming home from both “Permission Click” (Parent Square) and a few emails from yours truly!

    Clocks “spring forward” for Daylight Saving Time, Sunday, March 10th, & the Spring Equinox is Tuesday, March 19th!  We need the rain, but I’m ready for spring!

Best regards,

    Mrs. Bednar, MA Ed.

I’ve been to several California Missions.

Click here for some of my California Mission photos.

   As the famous adage goes, “How do you get to Carnegie Hall?  Practice, practice, practice!”  My expectation is if your child doesn’t understand or know something your upper grade kiddo needs to ask for help, search out answers, and practice, practice, practice.  It could be multiplication facts, studying for a spelling test, or reading - practice at school and reinforce at home.

    If you would like to know more about the California Department Education’s response to COVID-19, the Common Core Curriculum, here is the link to the California Department of Education  https://www.cde.ca.gov