Monday, February 6, 2017

February 6-10

Happy Monday!

Reminders:
*1/2 AR goal is due this Friday, the 10th- Progress reports will come home this day, please get those signed and returned as soon as possible

This week in spelling, we are having a review week. This means there is not a new rule, they'll just need to study the words and how to form them correctly with cursive. You'll notice we've been sneaking the days of the week on our lists... we've seen our students are struggling to spell those correctly and these need to be worked on, hopefully continuing to put them on the lists will help!

In math this week, we will begin subtracting mixed numbers, multiplying whole numbers with fractions, and will review for the unit test. The unit test will be next Tuesday and will cover adding and subtracting like fractions, adding and subtracting mixed numbers, simplifying fractions, converting improper fractions to mixed numbers and vise versa, and multiplying who numbers and fractions. We will have a review sent home on Friday to help them prepare.

In reading, we will wrap up our unit on First and Secondhand accounts and move on to a new group read aloud. We will read Mr. Tucket, by Gary Paulsen. We will use several different comprehension and vocabulary strategies as we read this story which blends well with our Social Studies unit on the westward expansion.

In writing, we are slowly drafting narratives. This week students will really get into building and drafting their stories. We're focusing on story elements and having original and organized ideas with this piece. We will also finish our stories up with a fun 3D cover that will be made in art class.

In Social Studies this week, students will continue working on their Lewis and Clark projects. With these projects they are using nationalgeographic.com to "discover," and journal new life along with Lewis and Clark. They will also be creating a map of the territories, just as they did. They are having a lot of fun with this project! We are hoping to wrap this up on Thursday.

Have a great week!

Friday, January 27, 2017

January 30- February 3

It seems as though winter is calming down, allowing us more time in the classroom!  But sickness has not been on our side.  We hope that everyone gets to feeling better soon.  And remember, you are always welcome to come pick up any assignments missed from the school day if your child is feeling up to completing them. Of course, our first priority is making sure your child is healthy!

In reading this week, students will be learning to compare first hand and second hand accounts of the same event.  We will use several short articles to help students learn the difference between someone who is writing that has experienced the event, someone who is writing that has only researched the event.

In writing, students will work on creating a narrative paper.  We are looking at adding in all of the details that a narrative can contain, without losing focus by the end of the story.

Math this week is more work with fractions.  We will continue to work on subtracting fractions with like denominators, problem solving with fractions, and always SIMPLIFYING when possible.

Social studies this week continue to look at Missouri in the 1800's and westward expansion.  Students will begin an in class group project learning about Lewis and Clark and their expedition.

Look for our new spelling list coming home on Monday.  From now on, tests will be written in cursive.  Some students are really working hard on their handwriting!  Impressive!

As always, continue to encourage reading independently at home.  50% of AR goals will be expected by February 10!  100% of their goal will be expected by March 16.

Tuesday, January 17, 2017

January 16-20

Reminders: With all the snow days, we wanted to remind you that we will pick up on the number that the snow day was supposed to be. For example, since Friday was supposed to be a day 1 and we were snowed out Friday and Monday, today is a day 1. 

In spelling this week, we decided that instead of starting a new list, we will continue to work on last week's list and will have the test for that list on Friday. 

In reading, we will continue working on reading and understanding poetry. We will do poetry passes and discussions to help students further understand poetry. 

In writing, we will be finishing up our poetry booklets. We are focusing on figurative language and word choice in our Winter poetry. We will share poems on Thursday. Friday we will begin a short unit on Quotations using Martin Luther King Jr. quotes and books. 

In science, we will be finishing up our unit on Changes to the Earth's surface. The test will be on Friday. On this test, students will only be able to use their study guides. They will do the study guide in class, take it home as homework, and then review it together the next day to check that their answers are correct. 

In math this week we will continue working with fractions. We are comparing and ordering fractions this week by using our knowledge of equivalent fractions. We will then move to improper fractions and mixed numbers. This is a challenging unit (especially with so many breaks and snow days!) so we may use a couple extra days to review. 

Have a great week!  

Monday, January 9, 2017

January 9- 13

We're Back!

Welcome back! We hope that everyone had a long and restful winter break.  Now that we are back into the swing of things, let's hope that the weather doesn't interfere...too much, anyways!

In reading this week, we will be working on poetry and how to read it.  We will not only look at how to identify the parts of a poem, but look deeper into what the poet is trying to tell us.  We will use the strategy of close reading to help determine the meaning of the poem.

In writing, we will be working closely with reading!  Students will be learning about figurative language, and how to use that to enhance their writing.  Students will be creating a book of poetry with this unit. 

In math, the class will look more closely at fractions.  Students will be learning new ways to find equivalent fractions, simplest form, comparing and ordering fractions, and how to problem solve using fractions.  

Science this week will focus on rocks and how they form and change.

We are encouraging students to bring their independent reading books home every day, in the case we may have a day home due to weather conditions.  Please help them to remember to bring them back each day.  

Grade cards went home last Friday.  Please make sure to sign and return them by Wednesday.
   

Friday, January 6, 2017

Welcome Back!

After a short, cold, and rather crazy week back, we wanted to remind you that grade cards will be sent home with your child today.  Please look them over, sign them in the quarter 2 box, keep any papers inside of the envelope, and return the grade card with the envelope by Wednesday of next week.  Thank you.

As always, please let us know if you have any questions.

Monday, December 12, 2016

December 12-16

2nd quarter is winding down and we are only a short week and a half from Christmas break! There are so many things to remember to help wrap up a great semester!

Reminders:
*Christmas Concert is tonight at 6:30. Mr. Goodlet would like the students there around 6:20 so we can organize them and have them ready to go at 6:30.
*AR points are Due December 19 (Tests taken after this will go toward 3rd quarter.
*Book projects are due Friday. If your child needs wrapping paper please let us know!
* Holiday mart is this week in the library
*Social Studies test on Wednesday- students may use their packets for part of the test

In reading this week, we wrap up our Best Christmas Pageant Ever discussion. We will continue working on theme and begin studying drama. We will use A Christmas Carol to study drama and theme together. This will be fun as they will get to act the story out and watch the movie during their AR parties next week!

In writing, we will continue working on our Christmas Around the World projects. Students are working on researching, citing sources, and presenting. This is always such a fun project as they learn about how other cultures celebrate Christmas, the teachers always learn something new too!

In math this week, we will study perimeter and area. We will work on this with word problems and also compare the two concepts to each other. We will practice these two skills all week.

In spelling, our list focuses on plurals this week. Our plurals follow the "add -es" rule on this list. The test will be Friday.

In Social studies we will wrap up our unit on The First Missourians. We will have a test on Wednesday over this unit. Then we will begin a quick review of the Scientific Method before break.

Have a great week!

Monday, December 5, 2016

December 5-9

Dear Fourth Grade Parents,
      We are drawing near to winter vacation, with only 12 1/2 days to go we are busy getting things done. We are currently reading The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson. It is a very funny story about a family called the Herdman's and their experience of being in a Christmas Pageant for the first time. In writing this week we are starting a new in class project called Christmas Around the World. The students will each get a country from around the world that will research to discover their Christmas traditions, gift giving methods, day that they celebrate, the way that they dress for Christmas and more. The students usually really enjoy this project. Make sure to ask your student what country they are researching. Math is all about patterns this week. We are looking at input and out put tables where the students must follow a math rule to complete a pattern. Then, as we lead up to Christmas break we will be looking at area and perimeter as a review before we start fractions when we return in January. Last, but not least, we are working on a social studies unit currently. The students are learning about Native Americans. We are looking at the things they did when our country was being founded as well as looking at the artifacts they left behind. We are discussing the importance of both primary and secondary sources as well. We are having a great fourth grade year and looking forward to the fun leading us into break. If you have any questions or concerns please contact your students teacher!
Sincerely,
Fourth Grade Teachers