Dear 4B Families,
I am so excited to begin this school year with you and your child! It is such an honor to be on this journey with you and your family as your precious one navigates the fabulous year of fourth grade. As we get ready for the first day, I wanted to take a moment to introduce myself and share a little bit about what you can expect in the year ahead.
My name is Mrs. Estep and this will be my 17th year in the classroom. I have taught a range of grade levels within the early childhood and elementary domains; however, the 9-10 age band is one of my favorite ages to teach! Many fourth graders enter the classroom in September as a bit timid and unsure of his/her own skill set. They are on the cusp of switching from learning to read to reading to learn, and in fourth grade, the perfect storm of knowledge, curiosity and confidence bursts forth bringing so much excitement, collaboration and creativity into each learning experience! The fourth-grade classroom becomes abuzz with life as the children settle into what the Gesell Institute for Human Development calls a stage of equilibrium.
Here are some things to expect this year as your child moves from the nine-year-old developmental stage of disequilibrium to the smoother ten-year-old developmental stage of equilibrium. I want to also invite you to check out the weekly classroom newsletter for additional developmental tid-bits, as I am always researching information on the wonderful brain of the child and the best practices for teaching them.
This year your ten-year-old will be…
1) More confidence
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Your fourth grader may have a growing interest in trying new things, such as playing an instrument, trying a new sport, or wanting to expand upon a skill they have only been introduced to. While being mindful of not over scheduling, this is a great year to lean into your child’s budding interests and encourage him/her to ‘jump in and try’ something new.
2) More social and talkative
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Fourth graders love to talk and be social! As they become more expansive, they will often also want to expand their peer group. We do know; however, that navigating friendship changes can feel like big moments in their small world, which is why we do hard work in the classroom to build a strong class community and strengthen individual social and emotional skills.
3) More active
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The ten-year-old delights in physical activity! A bit of active recreation can really go a long way to help reset your sweet one as they transition from the school day into their afternoon activities. We also reset often in our own classroom through purposeful movement, and student ‘voice and choice ‘ is always available so that your child can choose to learn in a way that honors their desire for movement through flexible seating options.
On the first few days of school, we will take time to get to know one another and create shared classroom rules that help every student feel safe, included and ready to learn. I will also be inviting students to reflect on their hopes and dreams for their fourth-grade year, and I’d also love to hear from you as well! What are your hopes and dreams for your child this school year?
I look forward to being with you all on Parent’s Night Thursday, September 3 beginning at 6:30 p.m. In the meantime, please don’t hesitate to reach out. The best way to contact me is through email (mestep@holyrosaryws.org) and I typically check messages between 7:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. each day.
I look forward to partnering with you as we all journey together through this fabulous fourth grade year!
Blessings,
Mrs. Estep