I Can't Believe It! The Last Week In September! (09/28-10/02)

This month flew by so quickly, but we are looking forward to an exciting October! Check out what is happening in your child's classes this week.

Math - With Unit 1 coming to an last Friday, we have started moving into Unit 2 which concentrates on concepts such as factors, multiples, and multiplicative comparisons. It is crucial that the students start memorizing their basic facts. We did a lot of drill and practice today in school, but they also need to continue to practice at home. I will be sending multiplication strips home with students who need extra practice. It is obviously not graded, but I do want them practicing, even if it is for five minutes a night. I can not emphasize this enough. Your child will have a much easier time understanding the concepts in this unit and units to come. Please make sure that they are completing their homework each night, Monday-Thursday. No homework on Tuesday, September 29th!

Science - Last week we concluded our unit on Matter and we begin to move into our next unit on the Solar System. This unit will be short and sweet, which means the quiz will be next week! We have been creating vocabulary windows in class to help the students with their studying methods. Two nights before the test, the students will be bringing this home. Please help them study to ensure that they are mastering these science concepts. Also, we will be having a "Season" party sometime next week. The students will be grouped and each group will be given a season to master. We will then be having students bring in foods that coordinate to their season! (This will be optional, but if you can help that would be great!)

Reading- We are identifying story elements in fiction text. Next week we will start a unit on inferencing. Making an inference involves using author's clues and your background knowledge.

Writing- We are working on drafting our realistic fiction stories and coming up with powerful endings. Next up the students will revise their last draft to get it ready to publish.

Vocabulary- Stay tuned for our next Word of the Day quiz!

Word Work- Students are struggling to complete their Tic Tac Toe spelling homework. Please encourage your child to do their homework each week using their latest word sort.  The word sort and spelling homework sheet with the activities should both be found in their binders in a plastic sleeve.  Our homework will be due again on DAY 6- Tuesday, Oct. 6th.

IMPORTANT DATES!

• 2 Hour Delay - October 7th
• Parent Visitation Day - October 8th
• Please Pre-Register at the main office for this day!
•  Field Trip - October 5th (Please wear old sneakers and clothes!)
• Please wear old sneakers and clothes
• Bring an extra pair of sneakers
• Don't forget your lunch if you are packing
• Cross Country - October 2nd 
• Rain date is October 6th
• Wear sneakers and athletic Attire

Newsletter Week of 9/21-9/25

Hello parents! Check out what is going on this week in fourth grade!

Math - We continue to work through the rest of Unit 1, which we will be finishing tomorrow. On Wednesday, we will be reviewing for the Unit 1 test by playing Jeopardy. I will send home a study guide that will be optional for the students to complete. If the study guide is completed, they will receive two extra credit points on their Unit 1 test which is scheduled for Thursday and Friday. With the new Everyday Math program, each test takes up two days. One of the days is for the regular test and the other for an open-ended assessment. Also, we will be taking our first fact fluency assessment this week in class. It is crucial that students work on their fact fluency both at school and at home.

Science - Today, we finished up our unit on Matter. We will be reviewing all day tomorrow for their Science quiz on Wednesday. Please look out for a study guide that will be coming home tomorrow. The students should study it to ensure that they do well on this quiz. Thursday and Friday, we will begin our unit on the Solar System.

Reading- Today we found out why nonfiction text features are so important.  This week we will add a strategy to Expand Vocabulary on our CAFE menu.  We will also begin a unit on literary elements and how they impact fiction text (setting, character, plot, climax).

Writing- The students continue to draft their realistic fiction writing pieces.  Today we looked over a checklist so the students are familiar of the 4th grade writing expectations.  We will be revising, working on effective leads, and connect action and dialogue to the setting.

Vocabulary- The first Word of the Day quiz was a success! We started a new sheet today and will keep going until we get 10 more interesting words. Please encourage your child to jot down in the Word Collector any interesting words they may find at home.

Social Studies- We will begin a unit on Map skills this week. Please keep in mind that the Social Studies curriculum is now integrated in language arts so you will not see much work or homework in that subject coming home.

*Our Environmental field trip is next Monday, Sept. 28th. (rain date: Oct. 5th) Please be sure to send in a signed permission slip ASAP! We are still looking for one more parent volunteer. If you are available and have the necessary clearances please contact us.

Coming up.... Oct. 2nd- Cross Country Meet
                      Oct. 7th- 2 hr late arrival for students
                      Oct. 12th- No school

What's Happening During the Week of 09/14-09/19

Hello parents and guardians! We are looking forward to another awesome week of school! During this week the following will be happening in each of their classes.

Math - Students will be taking their fact fluency baseline testing. This will help us determine whether their fact fluency has improved by the end of their fourth grade year. Also, we will be working through lessons 1.8-1.11. Please look out for any homework that may be sent home!

Science - We are continuing to discuss Matter and its different properties. Students will be taking a quiz at some point in the next two weeks, to assess their knowledge on this subject. Look out for this notification and make sure they are studying for their assessments.

Reading - This week we will be questioning, summarizing, predicting, and inferring.  The students have added several Good Fit books to their book bin so they will continue to build stamina during Read to Self and Read to Someone.  We will launch the Word Work Daily 5 station this week.

Writing- Now that the students have developed their characters' traits, motivations, and struggles; they will begin to plot their stories using a story arc.  They are learning that problems keep the story interesting and sometimes need to get worse before they get better or the characters are able to solve them. We will begin drafting our realistic fiction stories this week!

Word Work- Every Day 2 the students will get their individualized word sorts.  They will be cutting them up and sorting them into specific word pattern categories. These words sorts must be kept in an envelope which will be located in their binders. It is important that the students bring these to schoole EVERYDAY. Also, TIC TAC TOE Spelling homework starts this week! The students were given a sheet last week and the choice activities have been explained thoroughly. Their 3 activities must be completed and handed in every Day 6. This week their homework will be due on Friday, Sept. 18th. Please encourage your child to have this work done every cycle week.

Vocabulary- We have been collecting interesting words since the beginning of the school year.  The students will see some of these words again during Word of the Day.  You may have noticed this sheet in their binders.  After we reach 10 words the students will be given a quiz on them. Please be sure that they keep their word of the day sheets in their binders and encourage them to use these words in sentences at home.

Events:
Ice Cream Social - Monday, Sept. 14th  6:30-7:30pm
Picture Day - Wednesday, Sept. 16th

Third, Thrilling Week of School! (09/08-09/11)

Hello parents and welcome to our fourth grade weekly news blog! Here you will find all the necessary information for the upcoming week in both of our classes. Also, please feel free to access any of the links or tabs we have attached to this blog.

Here is what we have been doing so far!

Math - Students have been working their way through Unit 1 of the new Everyday Math addition. They have been focusing on specific content such as rounding, place value, adding, and subtracting. In addition to them completing their homework assignments each night, I really want them to focus on practicing their fact fluency. They are able to practice using their Xtra Math login. If you do not have access to a computer, but are interested in having the students practice at home, please let me know and I will print out extra worksheets.

Science - This week, we started our unit on matter. The students have learned what matter is and the different ways to observe and measure its physical properties. Please keep checking the blog for upcoming quizzes for this unit.

Reading - The students have been getting accustomed to the routines of CAFE and Daily 5.  So far we have launched the stations, Read to Self and Read to Someone.  They are doing a fabulous job at working independently!  Our CAFE (Comprehension, Accuracy, Fluency, Expand Vocab) Menu is growing as we add various strategies to it.  We are practicing the following strategies: Pick a good fit book, Check for understanding, Back up and reread, Monitor and fix up, and Use prior knowledge.  We've also discussed accuracy strategies we can use when we are stuck on a word.

Writing- We are learning how to look for story ideas to create a realistic fiction writing piece.  The students are basing their idea off of a small moment story that happened to them in real life. Currently we are focusing on developing a realistic character.

Please remember to check back to our blog weekly for upcoming information and events.


Thanks a bunch!

Ms. Duke and Miss Harlacker