From+the+desk+of+Mrs.+Hansen

// From the desk of Mrs. Hansen // Dear Parents and Guardians, Fourth grade is the time when students are being prepared for Middle School and dive deeper into independence and responsibility to their own learning. The expectations of fourth grade can be overwhelming for some students, but you will be amazed at how much our students will learn and grow by the end of the year! Just a little about myself, I have been a teacher at Timbercrest since 2006 in 4th, 4th grade gifted and 5th grade. A graduate from the University of Miami, I am originally from Minnesota. My two sons have also attended Volusia Schools. Chancellor is a junior at New College of Florida, majoring in Psychology and International Relations. Matthew, is a freshman at the University of South Florida in Tampa majoring in Pre-Law and Criminal Justice. Your students will hear stories about my sons and most likely meet them several times through the year as they help in science when home on break. My teaching style is very "hands on". We will raise butterflies, grow flowers, vegetables and learn responsibility through the science of taking care of plants and caterpillars. We will have "classroom money" and a classroom checkbook in which students will learn to write checks and make deposits to their classroom account. We have a classroom store which they can shop at during the school year. Nightly homework will be given and students will be expected to read nightly to increase their fluency and understanding. Fourth graders are expected to know all multiplication facts through 12's and complete a 3 minute timed multiplication test by Thanksgiving break. Being fluent in multiplication facts is a necessity through out school. Parent participation is an important part of children's learning. Ask questions and be supportive. If you have any questions and would like to meet, please feel free to contact me by email or through the school office (386-575-4221). Please remember to sign up for Remind 101, on a smart phone open your web browser and go to rmd.at/growingbr then follow the instructions or you may get text notifications by messaging 386-492-9596 and text @growingbr. After lunch our students are practicing being "Mindful"; calming our busy minds through understanding how our brain works and to become more "mindful" and aware of what is going on around us. We spend at least 3-8 minutes practice being completely quiet and still, calming our mind, it is a brain break of sorts before math. Ask your child what the prefrontal cortex, Amygdala and Hippo-campus are responsible for..... You will be amazed! Mrs. Hansen Fourth Grade Portable 5 We are "Growing our brains"