Dear Parents - 4th Grade is off and running - the students are really getting settled into their daily routines and responsibilities. I'm very proud of how they're adjusting to being more independent and focused. We have gotten a lot of compliments as a class from the specialists, so this week I will be implementing a class "Compliment Jar," so the students can work together to earn a whole class reward for their behavior. I can't believe we've already reached the mid-point in the grading period. Time sure flies!! There are a lot of announcements this week, so please scroll all the way down, and again - thanks for checking in.
Progress reports will go home next week with students who are receiving a C or below in any subject area. If your child does not receive a progress report, they are making satisfactory progress at this time. Please remember to review graded papers that go home in the Friday Red folder for a clear picture of how they are doing, and feel free to ask any questions you may have.
What we are studying across the subjects
Reading: Comprehension strategies, such as predicting, making connections, and visualizing. Each child is also working on a small group literature circle book, and taking notes in their Reader's Response Journal. As a class, we read 2 new "Poems of the Week," and responded to them. Please review your child's mid-point AR report. I have quite a few students who are not taking very many AR tests, and I don't want to see anyone miss out on our celebration at the end of the 9 weeks. I want everyone to reach their goals! Also, by this point in the school year, every child should be well on their way to meeting the standard in the 25 books campaign. In order to count towards this goal, the students must fill in a story map or write a book review, and later a Reader's Response letter. This week we will be sending home story maps with any child who has not yet completed one on a book they've recently finished. This should be a step that they take right before or right after an AR test. I expect all students to have at least one sticker on the 25 books chart by Friday, Sept. 19th.
Writing: How to create an engaging beginning for narrative writing, responding to what I read. I have been quite impressed with our budding authors! I LOVE to write and teach writing, and these kids really have a passion for it as well. I've been quite impressed with their creative imaginations, and can't wait to see what stories they produce this year. My class last year published a class book ( a year-long project) and I'd love to see this group do the same!
Grammar: Dividing a sentence into complete subjects and complete predicates, types of nouns. We will begin Sitton Spelling Units 3 and 4 ('s, ss, sc, ce cy and ci sounds) on Wednesday. I've had quite a few questions about the Sitton program and how it works, so let me just remind you of these tips: 1.) Review the 4th Grade "Core Word List" from the Open House packet. The words with (*) will be introduced this year on a spelling list, but the ones without a (*) will continue to reappear on spelling tests throughout the year as "recycled" words from 1-3rd grade. We do not pre-study all 20 words for the test, because some are supposed to be retained from earlier years. Any words your child misses go in a "Words to Learn" notebook that they keep up themselves, and use for practice when they are finished with their work. The skill tests under the regular test review the patterns learned in class and from the Take-Home spelling task. This next time, I am going to require that every child complete their Tic-Tac-Toe homework in a row that includes this center square activity for extra practice before the test.
Math: Using rounding to estimate sums and differences; analyzing data in tables and graphs; algebraic equations; properties of multiplication; strategies for problem solving. In addition, 4th grade students are expected to already be fluent in their multiplication facts, and will periodically be tested using a 7 minute timed test. (100 facts) We are having one coming up this Tuesday. Please encourage your child to practice their facts several times a week using flash cards, websites, or any other means necessary. Knowing these facts will help tremendously with double-digit multiplication, as well as becoming fluent in the division facts that we will be moving towards in the near future.
Social Studies: Scarcity, specialization, trade, resource types, and opportunity cost in economics. We will complete a performance task on these concepts on Tuesday, and have a vocabulary test on Wednesday. Please review the index cards with definitions on them that your child brought home last week to study. Coming up: Map skills, then Science: The Water Cycle!!
Our Week in Review 9/12
