Mrs. Watkins's  

                   Fourth Grade Class

                                                                                           

August 2009

  

Dear Parents,

 

      My name is Mrs. Watkins, and I will be your child’s teacher for the 2009-2010 school year. I am married and have four wonderful children.  I graduated from Trevecca Nazarene University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education. God has given me such a wonderful opportunity to use my education and talents for the past twenty two years.  Eighteen of those twenty- two years I have had the pleasure of serving my Lord and Savior here at Rainbow Christian Academy.  This year I am excited about having the opportunity to teach your fourth graders. My prayer is that God will lead me throughout this year as I guide your children toward a greater understanding of God’s word and His love for them.        

        As we begin this year together I would like to share with you some of the exciting experiences my family and I enjoyed throughout the summer. In late June my two younger children and I went to Alabama for our annual summer visit. We spent some time with my mom and dad and some time visiting my older daughter. We wrapped up the week with a family reunion celebrated on the fourth of July. I also had the opportunity to use some of my other God-given talents by sewing some clothing for my younger daughter, her friend, and making drapes for our churches new sanctuary. I had a very relaxing and enjoyable summer with my family.  I hope you had a wonderful summer too. I am looking forward to seeing all of you in a few days.                                                                                             

          This will be an exciting and busy year for your child. Fourth grade is a time of transition academically. Your children will be expected to accept more responsibility in their studies and review of material. They are also expected to accept accountability for themselves and their actions. This will be constantly emphasized in class as part of their character training. Your children will be reminded daily of how important they are to God, and how He blesses them as they love and serve Him.

             I am privileged to be partnering with Mrs. Pound this year. We will be team teaching. I will be covering Math, Creative Writing, and Language. Mrs. Pound will be doing Reading, Science, and Spelling. As homeroom, we will both be covering our own Bible and History. I think the students will benefit greatly from this experience.

 Following is a brief explanation of the first few weeks of fourth grade. In Bible, we will review the salvation series, creation series, and Cain and Able. Our memory verses will include Isaiah 53: 1-6 and Psalms 23 NIV.   

 Language will begin with strengthening the students study skills and optimum performance with grammar and punctuation usage. The children will utilize their language skills in creative writing class to write expository writing assignments.

  Saxon Math is an incremental learning system. We will be developing a strong base using drill and review including the mastery of multiplication and division. This year we will be using an e-book CD with our math books. 

 History and Geography begins with the study of “Years of Discovery” in the New World to Colonial America. Through the year we will review continents and oceans. We will also memorize important government documents such as the “Americans Creed”, “The Declaration of Independence”, “The Constitution”, and “The Bill of Rights”. Students will discover how God used many different men and women to help in designing our great nation we live in today.

 I am excited about the new school year and your child being in my class. May God bless our endeavors together to make this an awesome and productive school year. With school and home working together your children can be assured of a great school year ahead. Please mark your calendars for September 1^st .This is open house and your chance to visit fourth grade and observe all the wonderful things your child will be enjoying this year. In closing I would like to include my favorite Bible verse Isaiah 40:31.“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings of eagles; they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”

Teaching in Christ,            

  Mrs. Watkins