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! 

January 3-5

Happy New Year! We hope that you and your family had a wonderful winter break. Here is a look at the short week ahead.

In reading and writing, we will begin our poetry unit. In this unit, students will become more familiar with the structural elements and figurative language that we often find in poems. Beginning next week, students will start creating their own poems.

In math, we will continue working on fractions. One focus this week will be on identifying equivalent fractions and being able to explain their equivalency. The second focus will be on converting fractions into their simplest form.

We will begin a new social studies unit about the arrival of the Europeans.

There will be no spelling test on Friday due to the short week.

Report cards will be sent home Wednesday, January 3rd. As always, please let us know if you have any questions. We look forward to being back and having a great second half of the school year!