Art:
To say we have started off with a bang would be a bit of an understatement. The fourth grade artists have an hour long studio class each week and they consistently use every second (and maybe a few extra seconds) to create authentic artwork. We continue to explore art education through the philosophy of Teaching for Artistic Behaviors, giving each student everything they need to think and act like an artist. Simply put, we are making artists rather than simply making art. We started the year by opening the drawing and painting studios using a new method called “Around the Room”. For example, when we opened the drawing studio we took one studio class and explored 6 different drawing materials (crayons, prismacolor pencils, drawing pencils, oil pastels, chalk pastels, and alcohol markers). With a handout to guide them, the students spent about 5 minutes with each material. We did a similar activity for the painting studio, giving students a chance to explore materials they don’t usually gravitate towards and in turn helping them widen their arsenal of art materials. As the year continues, we will open more studios (clay is next!), giving artists a wider range of materials and techniques to create personal and powerful artwork. Feel free to check out the TES Art Department Blog (which will be updated soon!). If you have any questions do not hesitate to ask:).
Thanks,
Jen Rankey
([email protected]) and
Mary Ann O’Sullivan
([email protected])
Faith Studies
Fourth grade faith studies is off to a great start! We are studying the gospels this year and began our studies with the gospel of Mark. They really enjoyed reading some of the miracle stories in the gospel and acting them out in small groups front of the class. This year we will also have a hymn study with Mrs. Williams once a trimester. The first hymn we studied was, “I Sing a Song of the Saints of God.” The students enjoyed learning the historical context behind the well-known song. Fourth graders also have a faith studies reflection journal and we have started reflecting on one of our essential questions, “Who is my neighbor and what am I called to do?” by making connections to our service learning partners at Metro School and Epiphany. In this discussion your students shared that we see God on the face of our neighbors at Metro School and that these students are a blessing to us, as they welcome us into their school. I am really enjoying the focus and depth your fourth grade students bring to faith studies each week. Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions you have.
Grace and peace to you,
Lindsey Peery ([email protected])
Spanish
Welcome to Spanish at Trinity 2016/17! We are excited to start a new program this school year!
Trinity’s K-5 Spanish Language Program explores language and culture through explicit presentation and integration of the five Cs: Communication, Cultures, Connections, Comparisons, and Communities; supporting students, from beginners to heritage speakers. Every level contains units organized a particular theme: Unit 1: Nos Conocemos - Greetings, and goodbyes, family, and friends; Unit 2: ¿Cómo vivimos? - clothing, colors, homes, people and places in community; Unit 3: Vamos a aprender - games, school, and school activities; Unit 4: Los animales - pets and farm animals, and taking care of pets.
Children have access to a personal online account that offers several tools such as: El Libro del Estudiante (Student Book), El Cuaderno de Práctica (Practice Book), Descubre Online (Online Activities), Biblioteca Temática (Thematic Library - 3 levels), Letras de canciones (lyrics-Songs), and Vídeos (videos). Each link contains audio for students to read along or just listen to the conversations, and songs. Join your child to use and practice together this amazing resource that supports this great learning experience in a second language! Just follow the steps that are explained in a letter sent home with your child's online account information.
More news coming soon!
Choir
The 4th Grade Choir has been busily preparing for our holiday performance on Thursday, December 8th at the Wells Fargo Atrium at 12:00pm! All are invited for our performance. You may be hearing classic holiday songs at home. We have several pieces of music we are reviewing and learning for this performance. Our choir students are also learning the process of ear training and tuning. You may note students are reviewing solfeggio-a technique for learning to read music!
Band:
The 4th grade Band class has been amazing so far! All students have their instruments, and are playing the first five notes! We have done a good deal of practice reviewing rhythms that students learned in 3rd grade and before, as well as reviewing note identification. We have also begun learning simple songs by ear without printed music, which is a very important skill for all musicians to have regardless of age. We will begin working in our method books this week, and continue to expand our rhythm and note vocabularies as we progress forward. Students can practice their first five notes and the simple songs we have been learning by ear at home, and should practice 15 minutes at a time around 3-4 times a week. Encourage them to perform a song we learned for you at home!
Strings:
The 4th grade Strings class is on track! We have mastered our posture and bows holds, and are working hard on note-reading and bow strokes. We can play not only quarter notes but eighth notes as well, and are becoming adept at combining the two into lots of different combinations. Our musical vocabulary continues to increase; our Word Wall is filling up with terms like pizzicato, arco, down bow, and up bow. Your child will feel even more comfortable with all these new skills if he/she makes a point of practicing them 4-5 times each week at home – aim for about 15 minutes each time.
Wellness:
The fourth graders have been enjoying a wellness lesson every other week. We began by discussing mindfulness practices and ways that we can calm ourselves when we experience strong emotions. The children enjoyed doing a full body scan, which taught them to tense and relax muscles when they are feeling overwhelmed. As promised to a few eager students, you can find a similar script here. We spent time exploring our character strengths and ways that we can promote these virtues in school. Most recently, the students engaged in an insightful discussion about being different and what that means for them as fourth graders. I was blown away by the depth of the conversation and the students desire to embrace the uniqueness and gifts of others. We will continue to build upon this topic as students become more aware of their own abilities and differences in the classroom.
To say we have started off with a bang would be a bit of an understatement. The fourth grade artists have an hour long studio class each week and they consistently use every second (and maybe a few extra seconds) to create authentic artwork. We continue to explore art education through the philosophy of Teaching for Artistic Behaviors, giving each student everything they need to think and act like an artist. Simply put, we are making artists rather than simply making art. We started the year by opening the drawing and painting studios using a new method called “Around the Room”. For example, when we opened the drawing studio we took one studio class and explored 6 different drawing materials (crayons, prismacolor pencils, drawing pencils, oil pastels, chalk pastels, and alcohol markers). With a handout to guide them, the students spent about 5 minutes with each material. We did a similar activity for the painting studio, giving students a chance to explore materials they don’t usually gravitate towards and in turn helping them widen their arsenal of art materials. As the year continues, we will open more studios (clay is next!), giving artists a wider range of materials and techniques to create personal and powerful artwork. Feel free to check out the TES Art Department Blog (which will be updated soon!). If you have any questions do not hesitate to ask:).
Thanks,
Jen Rankey
([email protected]) and
Mary Ann O’Sullivan
([email protected])
Faith Studies
Fourth grade faith studies is off to a great start! We are studying the gospels this year and began our studies with the gospel of Mark. They really enjoyed reading some of the miracle stories in the gospel and acting them out in small groups front of the class. This year we will also have a hymn study with Mrs. Williams once a trimester. The first hymn we studied was, “I Sing a Song of the Saints of God.” The students enjoyed learning the historical context behind the well-known song. Fourth graders also have a faith studies reflection journal and we have started reflecting on one of our essential questions, “Who is my neighbor and what am I called to do?” by making connections to our service learning partners at Metro School and Epiphany. In this discussion your students shared that we see God on the face of our neighbors at Metro School and that these students are a blessing to us, as they welcome us into their school. I am really enjoying the focus and depth your fourth grade students bring to faith studies each week. Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions you have.
Grace and peace to you,
Lindsey Peery ([email protected])
Spanish
Welcome to Spanish at Trinity 2016/17! We are excited to start a new program this school year!
Trinity’s K-5 Spanish Language Program explores language and culture through explicit presentation and integration of the five Cs: Communication, Cultures, Connections, Comparisons, and Communities; supporting students, from beginners to heritage speakers. Every level contains units organized a particular theme: Unit 1: Nos Conocemos - Greetings, and goodbyes, family, and friends; Unit 2: ¿Cómo vivimos? - clothing, colors, homes, people and places in community; Unit 3: Vamos a aprender - games, school, and school activities; Unit 4: Los animales - pets and farm animals, and taking care of pets.
Children have access to a personal online account that offers several tools such as: El Libro del Estudiante (Student Book), El Cuaderno de Práctica (Practice Book), Descubre Online (Online Activities), Biblioteca Temática (Thematic Library - 3 levels), Letras de canciones (lyrics-Songs), and Vídeos (videos). Each link contains audio for students to read along or just listen to the conversations, and songs. Join your child to use and practice together this amazing resource that supports this great learning experience in a second language! Just follow the steps that are explained in a letter sent home with your child's online account information.
More news coming soon!
Choir
The 4th Grade Choir has been busily preparing for our holiday performance on Thursday, December 8th at the Wells Fargo Atrium at 12:00pm! All are invited for our performance. You may be hearing classic holiday songs at home. We have several pieces of music we are reviewing and learning for this performance. Our choir students are also learning the process of ear training and tuning. You may note students are reviewing solfeggio-a technique for learning to read music!
Band:
The 4th grade Band class has been amazing so far! All students have their instruments, and are playing the first five notes! We have done a good deal of practice reviewing rhythms that students learned in 3rd grade and before, as well as reviewing note identification. We have also begun learning simple songs by ear without printed music, which is a very important skill for all musicians to have regardless of age. We will begin working in our method books this week, and continue to expand our rhythm and note vocabularies as we progress forward. Students can practice their first five notes and the simple songs we have been learning by ear at home, and should practice 15 minutes at a time around 3-4 times a week. Encourage them to perform a song we learned for you at home!
Strings:
The 4th grade Strings class is on track! We have mastered our posture and bows holds, and are working hard on note-reading and bow strokes. We can play not only quarter notes but eighth notes as well, and are becoming adept at combining the two into lots of different combinations. Our musical vocabulary continues to increase; our Word Wall is filling up with terms like pizzicato, arco, down bow, and up bow. Your child will feel even more comfortable with all these new skills if he/she makes a point of practicing them 4-5 times each week at home – aim for about 15 minutes each time.
Wellness:
The fourth graders have been enjoying a wellness lesson every other week. We began by discussing mindfulness practices and ways that we can calm ourselves when we experience strong emotions. The children enjoyed doing a full body scan, which taught them to tense and relax muscles when they are feeling overwhelmed. As promised to a few eager students, you can find a similar script here. We spent time exploring our character strengths and ways that we can promote these virtues in school. Most recently, the students engaged in an insightful discussion about being different and what that means for them as fourth graders. I was blown away by the depth of the conversation and the students desire to embrace the uniqueness and gifts of others. We will continue to build upon this topic as students become more aware of their own abilities and differences in the classroom.