April 9-13

Happy Monday! Here is a look at the week ahead.

In writing, we will be preparing for the MAP test by taking a practice test. Toward the end of the week, students will take a look at the rubric in which they will be scored on by the state and then score their own writing.

We will be wrapping up chapter 6 in social studies and begin science fair projects. A couple weeks ago, the students chose their top three favorite science fair topics. They were placed into groups. This week, they will begin developing questions that they want to answer about the topic and begin formulating their hypothesis. 

In math, students will be classifying, measuring, and drawing angles. They will be classifying acute, obtuse, and right angles. By the end of the week, students will be using protractors in order to measure and draw angles.

In reading, we will finish reading and summarizing Little House in the Big Woods. Students have been summarizing each chapter of this book by using multiple different summarizing strategies.

A letter was sent home today in regards to the Missouri State Assessment. This letter includes tips to ease pre-test jitters and has the testing dates. There are a few changes this year for testing that are referenced in the letter.

As always, please let us know if you have any questions or concerns. Have a great week!

March 19- 23

Happy Monday!  Quarter 4 is underway.  It is hard to believe we are already 3/4 of the way complete!

Our week ahead looks something like this:

In science, we will start the week with electrical circuits, how they work, and then try to test our theories on how they work.  We will also begin looking into Science Fair next week, but don't worry- that isn't until May!

In reading, we will work on reading information texts, and how to summarize our reading.  We will use our TFK magazines to do this.  This will go nicely with our writing.  We are using writing time to work on state testing preparations.  This year, we will begin a new portion of the test that involves reading several nonfiction articles, and then writing a statement piece addressing all of the articles to support their thoughts or opinions.

Math starts the week wrapping up metric measurements and conversions and we will test over that on Tuesday.  Wednesday, we will begin our unit on customary measurement.  We plan to test before Spring Break.

As the spring gets busy, please make sure you are encouraging your child to read at home.  20 minutes a day makes a HUGE difference!

You may have noticed a note coming home about our field trip in May.  That was NOT our permission slip.  Those will come home closer to the date, when we have a more detailed itinerary.

Please don't hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns.  

February 25 - March 2

Wow, can you believe that February is coming to a close? Here is a look at the week ahead.

In reading this week, we will continue reading Mr. Tucket as a class. Along with this, students will be defining vocabulary, making summaries and connections, and identifying point of view and the theme of Mr. Tucket.

We will wrap up the social studies unit on Missouri becoming a state. The test will be on Wednesday, February 28th. A new science unit will start on Thursday. This unit's focus will be on Natural Resources.

In math, students will continue to learn about decimals. We will practice displaying fractions as decimals and vice versa. One of our main objectives this week will be comparing and ordering decimals.

Previously in writing, we have been focusing on character development and using plot diagrams to plan out narrative stories. This week, students will begin drafting and revising their narratives!

Since we had multiple days off last week, the List 16 spelling test will be on Friday, March 2nd.

We are extending the AR deadline to March 14th since the quarter has been extended.

As always, please let us know if you have any questions or concerns. Have a great week!

February 19-23

Happy President's Day!  We are in school today to help make up our snow days earlier, rather than later.  Here is a look at our week ahead:

In math, we will continue our work with decimals.  Students seem to have a really good grasp on the concept.  We will look closer at problem solving, comparing and ordering, and adding decimalsbefore our test.  We plan on a test next Friday, March 2.

In social studies, students will look deeper at Missouri becoming a state, and all of the amazing pieces of history that our state holds.  We will have a test on Friday, February 23.

Writing allows students more time to look into writing narratives.  We will ask students to look deeper into their word choice.  Drafting of their own narratives will begin this week.

As a reminder, quarterly book projects are due on March 2.  That means that the end of the quarter is near!  Make sure your child is working on reading their independent reading books and working towards 100% of their goals!

February 12-16

Dear Fourth Grade Families,
     We have a special event this week. On Wednesday, February 14 we will be having a half day. This is also the day of our friendship parties that will begin in your child's classroom at 9:30 a.m. Today your child's progress report will be coming home. Please make sure that you sign and return it to their teacher as soon as possible. This week is also the kiss-a-critter fundraiser if your child would like to bring money to put in the piggy bank of the teacher that they would like to see kiss-a-critter. Also Monday February 19 is Presidents' Day please remember we will be in session that day. 
     This week in class they are starting their decimals unit in math. In social studies we are going to be studying Missouri becoming a state.In writing we will continue to create their narrative pieces. I reading we are continuing with point of view. Also spelling for this week is list 16 if you will please help your child study as we like to see them all succeed and do their best. As always we thank you for everything that you do! If you have any questions or concerns please contact your student's teacher.
Sincerely,
The Fourth Grade Team

February 5-9

We hope that you and your family had a wonderful weekend! Here is a look at the week ahead.

In math, we will be wrapping up the fractions unit with a test on Wednesday. On Thursday and Friday, we will begin a new unit on decimals. To kick of this unit, students will explore using place-value charts and grids to model decimals and describe tenths as part of the base-ten system.

In writing, students will begin brainstorming ideas in order to begin writing a narrative piece. Toward the end of the week, students will begin to flesh out their events and plot on a plot diagram.

Reading this week, will be focused on Point of View. Students will be looking at various examples of the three different Points of View and then determine which Point of View each example is written in.

In science, we will be conducting experiments and discussing Plate Tectonics and Topographical maps. On Friday, we will finish up this science unit with a test.

Please let us know if you have any questions. Have a great week!

January 29- February 2

Happy Monday!  We hope that you all have enjoyed your weekend.  Here is a look at our week ahead.

In science, slow and rapid changes to the Earth's surface.  In this, we will look closely the Earth's systems, weathering and erosion.

In math, we will continue work with fractions.  We will review adding mixed numbers and begin work with subtracting fractions.  By the end of the week, student will be introduced to multiplying a fraction by a whole number.

In reading and writing we will be combing our efforts.  In the 4th grade we have a new standard of looking at the positive and negative impacts of advertisement in various forms of media.  We will begin by looking at poetry from both a positive and negative aspect using the poem "The Jabberwocky" by Lewis Carroll.  This poem was made into songs by many, so we will also be looking at the tone that certain tunes can add to change the feeling of the words.  From here, we will begin looking at advertisements and how they can be portrayed either positively or negatively, whom they are geared to target, as well as the different techniques used to send these messages. 
On Monday, we will be sending home an assignment for you to do together with your child.  All of the directions are in the letter, but here is a run down.  We ask that you and your child sit down and watch a bit or television.  Whenever is convenient for you both.  You will record the time that you watch, and various other things.  We are looking at the commercials, mainly.  We are hoping to have a good discussion on Wednesday about what time they watched TV, what channel, what commercials they noticed, what advertising techniques were used, and a few other things.  Please set aside at least 30 minutes one evening to help us with this assignment.  Send the paper back with your child by Wednesday, January 31.  Thank you with you help with this.  After this assignments, students will work in teams to advertise a book that we have chosen.  They will follow similar techniques and targeting. 

Please let us know if you have any questions.  Thank you for your support in your child's education.

As always, keep working on independent reading at home.  Progress reports go home next week.  They should be halfway to their goal by February 9!