October 7-19
I hope everyone is enjoying the beautiful fall colors.
Mid Trimester Reports were sent home on Friday. You'll notice there is a section for comments. Comments were given to students who were marked as Needs Improvement in the academic section or Developing in the learner quality category. Please do not be alarmed if your child's comment section was left blank. Please sign and return only the envelope as soon as possible.
The summary should be clear enough for us to understand the story. I tell the students that they
are usually the only ones reading this book so summaries must be clear.
Longfellow's fourth grade is participating in the Global Read Aloud 2018. We have LOVED our book, Amal Unbound so far. Longfellow's awesome PTO purchased books for the fourth grade classes. More information is found in the letter below.
Word Work:
Our next set of spelling and vocabulary words are from our life science unit.
Reading
Over the next two weeks, our focus skill will be on finding story elements; more specifically, the following: conflict, plot events, and resolution. It is an important skill for fourth graders to master as it will help your child not only understand and appreciate the author's work, but it will help him/her with understand the requirements for Book Talks this year.
October Book Talks:
Our mystery book talks are due on October 31st. Students should be following the Book Talk
Organizer when preparing for their presentation. A common mistake students make is giving a
"retelling" of the book. I am looking for specific elements: a creative hook, characterization
(complete with traits, actions and motivations of one MAIN character), summary (conflict, plot
events and solution, not a long summary of the book), one additional reading word with TEXT
SUPPORT, a closing and an object brought in that connects to the book in some way.
Additionally, students should be between 2-3 minutes total. In order to master this, practicing and
timing are a MUST! A sample Book Talk of the book Odd Velvet was sent home last week.
Organizer when preparing for their presentation. A common mistake students make is giving a
"retelling" of the book. I am looking for specific elements: a creative hook, characterization
(complete with traits, actions and motivations of one MAIN character), summary (conflict, plot
events and solution, not a long summary of the book), one additional reading word with TEXT
SUPPORT, a closing and an object brought in that connects to the book in some way.
Additionally, students should be between 2-3 minutes total. In order to master this, practicing and
timing are a MUST! A sample Book Talk of the book Odd Velvet was sent home last week.
These book talks support oracy in the classroom. I am looking for good public speaking skills:
making eye contact, using good expression, and pacing. This is might be a challenge and many
students initially rely solely on their notes and have a difficult time looking up. Again, practicing
multiple times while being timed is an absolute must. One last word: when your child practices
his/her book talk with you, please take note if you can understand the story in general terms. making eye contact, using good expression, and pacing. This is might be a challenge and many
students initially rely solely on their notes and have a difficult time looking up. Again, practicing
multiple times while being timed is an absolute must. One last word: when your child practices
The summary should be clear enough for us to understand the story. I tell the students that they
are usually the only ones reading this book so summaries must be clear.
Also, please continue to fill out the RAH calendars. RAH calendars are due on Oct. 31st.
Students get graded on correct total minutes, parent signature, and filling out the calendar
correctly with minutes totaled up weekly and monthly.
Global Read Aloud:Students get graded on correct total minutes, parent signature, and filling out the calendar
correctly with minutes totaled up weekly and monthly.
Longfellow's fourth grade is participating in the Global Read Aloud 2018. We have LOVED our book, Amal Unbound so far. Longfellow's awesome PTO purchased books for the fourth grade classes. More information is found in the letter below.
Word Work:
Our next set of spelling and vocabulary words are from our life science unit.
Math:
We began Unit 2 learning about square numbers, area, factors, and multiples. With all of these
topics, it is important for students to have automaticity with their multiplication and division facts.
Please continue to have your child use Reflex Max 2-3 times a week to help with this skill. This
program is available to us through the generosity of our PTO, so I want to stress the importance
of students spending time on the program both at school and at home. The goal is to achieve the
"green light circle" as much as possible. Also, here is the Everyday Math link for your convenience as
you help your child with Unit 2. Remember, home links can be printed at home if anything is
forgotten at school.
topics, it is important for students to have automaticity with their multiplication and division facts.
Please continue to have your child use Reflex Max 2-3 times a week to help with this skill. This
program is available to us through the generosity of our PTO, so I want to stress the importance
of students spending time on the program both at school and at home. The goal is to achieve the
"green light circle" as much as possible. Also, here is the Everyday Math link for your convenience as
you help your child with Unit 2. Remember, home links can be printed at home if anything is
forgotten at school.
Coming up during the next few weeks: prime and composite numbers, units of time,
multiplicative comparisons, and classifying triangles and quadrilaterals.
multiplicative comparisons, and classifying triangles and quadrilaterals.
Science:
Students were really excited about our bird beak simulation and learning how animals have specific body structures that help them survive and thrive in a particular environment. Along with animals, plants also have specific internal and external structures that help them survive in an environment. Students will study various plants this week to identify plant structures. We will also observe celery stalks soaking in water with various food dye. The objectives covered in these lesson are:
- describe internal and external structures that serve various functions in growth, survival, behavior, and reproduction
- compare and contrast different structures and functions of a plant
We will also be studying sensory receptors. The students will eventually be building their own animals to survive in a specific habitat. This will be a big project grade with specific requirements. More on this soon!
Social Skills:
Our next lesson in our Second Step Program is on listening with attention. Being able to listen with attention is one way to be respectful toward others. It's also an important skill for learning. There will be an optional Home Link sent home this week. Students that complete it will get a bonus ticket.
If you would like more information on what is covered in this program please see Second Step's
scope and sequence for Fourth Grade.
scope and sequence for Fourth Grade.
Important Dates:
- Friday, October 12: School Improvement Day; Grades 1-5 dismissed at 12:00; No Kindergarten
- Tuesday, October 16-Thursday, October 18: Scholastic Book Fair. Our class will go to the book fair on Tuesday afternoon.
- Thursday, October 18: Board of Education Meeting at Gill Administration Center, 7:30 PM
- Friday, October 19: Language Arts Assessments
No comments:
Post a Comment