June, 2011

Dear 4th grade Families,

We would like to take a moment to welcome you to the 4th grade. It will be a busy and exciting year. You will find it somewhat different from primary grades, as we are moving farther away from “learning to read” and moving towards “reading to learn.” Students will be expected to be more independent in getting their class work and homework completed in a timely manner. Finally, there will be more novel reading and take home projects.

We invite you to preview as many things as possible over the summer. This will help your student access curriculum goals, as well as peak your child’s interest in these new topics. Then the information will be familiar to them, and they will be able to build connections between the world and their own lives more easily.

We have provided a list of things we think will enhance your student’s 4th grade year academically and including donations:

*Haveyour childread out loud dailyto someone trying to make connections to other books you’ve read, movies you’ve seen, or to your own experiences.

*Know your math facts (x, /, +. -) ~ practice for 5 mins. a day – play card/dice games, look on-line for other fun ways to practice:

Review math concepts:

Math Textbook online: 4th grade: you can access math book by visiting my website on our school site. Ixl.com – review 3rd grade work and check out 4th grade concepts as well.

Some places you may wish to visit are:

(Please check out availability due to state budget constraints)

*AngelIsland, San FranciscoBay

*Benicia Capitol, Benicia

*BidwellMansion, Chico

*Bodie, MonoCounty

*Casa del Oro, Monterey

*Casa Soberanes, Monterey

*Columbia, TuolumneCounty

*CrockerArt Museum, Sacramento

*Custom House, Monterey

*DonnerMemorialState Park (near Highway 80)

*Empire Mine, GrassValley

*First Theater, Monterey

*FortHumboldt, Eureka

*FortRoss, (State Highway 1, 11 miles north of Jenner)

*FortTejon (36 miles south of Bakersfield)

*Governor’s Mansion, Sacramento

*Gutierrez Adobe, Monterey

*Ide Adobe, Red Bluff (off Highway 99)

*IndianMuseum, Sacramento

*JackLondonState Park, Glen Ellen Highway 12)

*Junipero Serra Landing Place, Carmel

*Knight’s Ferry

*Larkin House, Monterey

*Los AngelesOldPlaza, Los Angeles

*Los Coches Rancho, Monterey

*Los Encinos, Encino

*Lummis Memorial Home, Los Angeles

*Missions (any of the 21 Mission in the chain)

*Pacific House, Monterey

*Petaluma Adobe, Petaluma

*PioPicoMansion, Whittier

*San Francisco Maritime Park

*San Pasqual Battlefield

*Shasta Courthouse, Shasta (off Highway 299)

*Sonoma Barracks

*Stevenson House, Monterey

*Sutter’s Mill, Coloma

*Weaverville Joss House

*WillRogersState Park, Pacific Palisades

*California Historical Museum, San Francisco

*Casa de Vallejo

*MareIsland Historic Park, Vallejo

*Roaring CampRailroad, Felton

*Black Diamond Mines, Antioch

*RailroadMuseum in Old Sacramento

*To get a head start, our first novel for the upcoming year will be

Danny, Champion of the World.by Roald Dahl

Also along with practicing your math facts, it will be important to keep up on your writing skills as well. Practice writing a paragraph.

On the Fourth Grade Website:

  • Go to
  • Click on school links
  • Click on 4th grade
  • Click on Mrs. Roque’s name

There are a variety of links to access to get an idea of 4th grade curriculum. Every Monday, students will be required to write a “Weekend News.” One link will give you what the requirements will be for this assignment as well as an example. There will also be a link to access this letter.

These are just a few fun ways to spend time together as a family and build prior knowledge of many new things to come. Enjoy your brief break and we’ll see you in August.

Below is a list of donations for classroom use. The following items will be available to all students throughout the school year.

  • Kleenex
  • White glue sticks
  • Twistable crayons (large tip, not fine tip)
  • Black sharpies (regular and fine tip)
  • Sanitizing wipes
  • Colored pencils
  • Red correcting pens
  • Highlighters (yellow, orange, blue or green)
  • Paper towels