4/24-4/28

Good morning!  This week was very busy.  One student said, "We are on such a tight schedule!"  The MAP test took up a lot of our time Monday thru Thursday, but take a look at what we've been up to...

Reading
We started a new read aloud, Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief to kick off our new reading unit of study, Mythology!  Students are very excited to begin.  We will be studying the impacts mythology has on our contemporary texts today.  We spent this week introducing our new read aloud and building our background knowledge of Greek and Roman mythology.

Please remember to read 30 minutes nightly!! 

Writing
In our Literary Essay unit, students stayed busy with their pieces.  We worked to...

• revise our leads to state a claim and three reasons
• include a "mini-summary" of our books
• elaborate upon our evidence

Math

This week we worked on reviewing basic fourth grade math concepts such as addition, subtraction, division, and multiplication.  Next week we will continue our Patterns and Measurement unit by focusing on area, perimeter, and multi-step word problems.

Please remember to practice your math facts nightly.  Students may also complete any unfinished EnVision work in their online accounts.  This would be excellent review!

Science

We are excited to start our new science unit of study, Water!  This week we focused on...

• previewing the basics of the water cycle
• weather measurement tools

Upcoming Dates

• 4/29: Barretts Blast
• 5/4: Fishing Day
• Our class is desperately still in need of 4 volunteers to chaperone student groups from station to station.  These spots must be filled!  Please consider volunteering in order to make Fishing Day fun and safe!  Sign up here: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0c4aabaf2fa5ff2-fishing
•  5/21: Barretts Day at the Ballpark
• 5/25: Last Day of School

4/17-4/21

What a week!  We had a 4th grade orchestra concert, 4th grade musical, and a multi-cultural assembly all on one week.  We still were very productive in class.  See what we've been working on...

Reading
In reading this week we have been focusing on testing strategies to prepare for the MAP next week.  Students learned how to become confident test takers!  Please remember to read 30 minutes nightly!

It was too beautiful not to spend a day reading outside this week!

Writing
In out Literary Essay unit we...

• learned how to cite strong evidence from our books
• developed reasons to support our claims
• planned and drafted our literary essays 

Math
In Patterns and Measurement we...

• learned to follow rules and look for features in a pattern
• used rules and features of a pattern to predict numbers or shapes in a pattern
• learned how to convert customary units of length, capacity, and weight
• learned how to convert metric units of length, capacity, and mass
• solved area and perimeter problems

Please remember to practice your math facts nightly!  These are the foundation to 4th grade mathematical concepts.  In addition, Online Practice Buddies are assigned nightly.  Although optional, the Practice Buddies are highly encouraged.

Upcoming Dates

• 4/24-4/27: MAP testing for 4th grade
• Please do not schedule appointments for your child during these day if possible.
• Make sure your child has a good night sleep and breakfast!
• 5/4: Fishing Day
• We are still in need of MANY volunteers!  Each class needs 4 chaperones in order to split students into groups.  If you are interested, please use the link to signup.  Thank you in advance!
• http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0c4aabaf2fa5ff2-fishing

4/10-4/13

Good morning!  We had a wonderful week.  Check out what we've been up to...

Reading
This week we've been focused on reviewing concepts taught throughout the year:

• identifying main idea
• supporting the main idea with key details
• working with inference questions

Please remember to read 30 minutes nightly!

Writing
In our Literary Essay unit we...

• studied characters to develop ideas and claims about them
• elaborated upon our ideas with thought prompts to deepen our thinking
• tested and developed claims to write about in our essays

This unit will require additional homework.  You child should be bringing their notebook and literary essay book home nightly.  They should be working to reread their books to mark spots where they can support their reasons and claims with evidence from the text.

Rational Numbers
We wrapped up our Rational Numbers unit by...

• placing decimals and fractions on a number line
• comparing decimals
• solving word problems involving money

Please remember to have your student practice math facts nightly!  These are the foundation of mathematical concepts.  In addition, students are assigned Online Practice Buddies daily.  Although optional, they are a great way for students to practice the concepts taught in class.

Geometry
We wrapped up out Geometry unit by...

• identifying line symmetric figures and lines of symmetry
• drawing shapes with line symmetry 

Upcoming Dates

• 4/14: No School
• 4/19: 4th Grade Evening Strings Performance
• 4/20: 4th Grade Musical Performance; arrive at 6:40
• 4/24-4/27: MAP Testing
• If possible, please do not schedule any appointments for your child during this time.
• 5/4: FISHING DAY!
• Please make sure your child returns their permission slip ASAP.

Geometry Review

Marshmallows,

Use these games and activities to help you review for your Geometry Assessment tomorrow.

Parallel, Perpendicular, & Intersecting Lines

1. Quiz
2. Line Shoot

Measuring Angles

1. Measuring Angels
2. Measure Angels with a Protractor
3. Measuring Angels - ABCYa

Classifying Triangles

1. Triangle Splat
2. Drag & Drop
3. Study Stack

Classifying Quadrilaterals

1. Classifying Quads
2. Classifying Quadrilaterals - IXL
3. Call of Quadrilaterals

Symmetry

1. Shape Game
2. Complete the Pattern
3. Mission Symmetry

Classifying Shapes: Triangles and Quadrilaterals

Marshmallows, 

Today for Geometry you're going to work through these modules by clicking the links. There are videos, practice, assessments and games. Take your time as your work through each module.

Module 1 - How to Classify Triangles

Start by watching this Study Jams on Classifying Triangles. Begin with the "Step by Step". When you're done you can do the "Test Yourself" for more practice. Click here to begin.

Module 2 - Practice Classifying Triangles

This is your practice module. Play the game to practice classifying triangles. Feel free to use the notes in your math notebook. Once you feel good about your understanding of classifying triangles you can move on to module 3. Click here to begin.

Module 3 - Show What You Know

Log into Pearson and complete the Exit Ticket called (TRIANGLE) Exit Ticket.

If you score 3/3 correct on this assessment you may move on to Module 4.

If you do not score 3/3 correct you need to complete the (TRIANGLE) Practice Buddy on Pearson before moving on.

Module 4 - How to Classify Quadrilaterals

First things first, come to the circle table and get an anchor chart to glue into your math notebook. This will help you moving forward.

Start by watching this Study Jams on Classifying Triangles. Begin with the "Step by Step". When you're done you can do the "Test Yourself" for more practice. Click here to begin.

Module 5 - Practice Classifying Quadrilaterals

This is your practice module. Play the game to practice classifying triangles. Feel free to use the notes in your math notebook. Once you feel good about your understanding of classifying triangles you can move on to module 3. Click here to begin.

Module 6 - Show What You Know

Log into Pearson and complete the Exit Ticket called (QUAD) Exit Ticket.

If you score 3/3 correct on this assessment you may move on to "More Games" section. 

If you do not score 3/3 correct you need to complete the (QUADS) Practice Buddy on Pearson before moving on.

More Games

Classifying Triangles - 

• Math Play - Click here to begin
• Turtle Diary - Click here to begin
• Concentration - Click here to begin

Classifying Quadrilaterals - 

• Turtle Diary - Click here to begin
• Classify Shapes - Click here to begin
• Math Interactives - Click here to begin

4/3-4/7

Good morning!  We had a fun and busy week.  Check out what we've been up to...

Reading
We wrapped up our Views Values and Cultures of Others unit this week by talking about the authors' purpose of a text and how they impact our thinking.  We also started our test prep unit.  Students are learning test taking strategies in order to become confident test takers.

Please remember to read 30 minutes nightly!

Writing
We continue to work in our Literary Essay unit.  We are building our knowledge and thinking by...

• reading our books closely, noticing character traits, motivations, struggles, and relationships
• studying the characters in our books and brainstorming claims

This unit will require additional homework.  Students are expected to read the book they have chosen for their literary essay nightly.  Each night they are looking for possible claims and evidence to support those claims.  This homework will be used when students go to plan and draft their essays.

Rational Numbers
In our Rational Numbers unit, mathematicians...

• learned how to read, construct, and analyze line plots
• learned how to relate fractions with decimals

Please remember to have your child practice their math facts nightly.  Basic math facts are the foundation to fourth grade mathematical concepts.  In addition, students are assigned Online Practice Buddies daily.  Although optional, the Online Practice Buddies are highly encouraged, and they are a great way for parents to see what concepts their child is working on!

Geometry
In our Geometry unit, mathematicians learned to...

• add and subtract angle measures to solve for unknown angles
• describe relationships between pairs of lines
• i.e., parallel, intersecting, perpendicular
• classify triangles by angle measure and side length
• angle measure: obtuse, acute, right
• side length: isosceles, scalene, equilateral
• classify quadrilaterals
• trapezoid, parallelogram, rhombus, rectangle, square

Social Studies
In our Slavery, Civil War, and Reconstruction unit, students...

• reviewed slavery, Civil War, and Reconstruction concepts
• assessed their learning

Upcoming Dates

• 4/14: No School
• 4/19: 4th grade Strings Performance; 7:00
• 4/20: 4th grade Musical; students arrive to school at 6:40
• 4/24-4/27: MAP Testing
• Please avoid making appointments for your child during this time if possible.
• 5/4: Fishing Day