October News

In many ways, it seems like we were just returning to a steamy, hot classroom from summer vacation.  Yet, when I look at what has been accomplished, it's clear that kids have become true fourth graders already.  

ELA: Students began switching for ELA.  New routines were established as students became familiar at times with a new teacher, as well as with new reading groups and routines, reading homework, and vocabulary expectations.

Math: Fourth graders completed Topic 1, which was an overview of the ways multiplication and division are related.  We are finishing up a focus on identifying and extending patterns in Topic 2, and will soon begin Topic 3.  Topic 3 looks at comparing and ordering whole numbers based on an understanding of place value.

Writing: Our personal narrative writing was kicked off with oral story telling- an exciting activity for the kids in class!  We have moved from brainstorming our ideas to planning and writing our first essays of the year.  Most students are in the process or revising and editing these this week, with final publication copies coming soon.  Our focus has been on adding personal details and sensory details that make their essays interesting.

Grammar: The structure of sentences has been our focus thus far.  We have spent time identifying and fixing run on sentences and fragments as well as using the correct punctuation to match a particular sentence type.

Science: With Mr. Daley, students have learned about the various states of matter.  They have performed experiments and attended a special presentation by Mr. Musselman from the Burlington Science Center.  Next after matter is force, motion, and energy.  This unit culminates with kids building and launching their own rocket- always a 4th grade highlight!

Social Studies: We have completed our study of map skills and have begun learning about immigration.  This unit begins with an overview of the five major groups that helped to settle the United States.  We then discuss why people choose to immigrate in more current times.  Part of this study will include a field trip to the Lowell Mills later this month for a tour called Yankees and Immigrants.

Instruments/chorus: Some students have begun taking instrument lessons during school to be part of our band.  Students are instructed to check with their teacher to see what they missed while at their lesson and to ensure that they make up the work at home.  All students are part of the 4th grade chorus.  Work has already started on the winter concert for December!

In addition to all of this, kids have learned the expectations of their behavior in school in terms kindness, responsibility, safety, and respectfulness.  We have completed the i-ready assessment for ELA and the Symphony assessment for math benchmarking purposes.  We have begun going to library and borrowing books, and last but certainly not least..... we started book buddies!  If you haven't heard already about your child's book buddy, I encourage you to ask him/her.  Our first grade reading partners are always an entertaining way of learning to be a leader and a role model for younger students.

Welcome Back!

After just over a week in room 19, students are becoming very familiar with the routines to be followed all year long.  We have spent time getting to know one another, greeting old friends and making new ones, and establishing the how's and why's of what is expected each day.  This week, we have begun following a typical fourth grade schedule complete with switching for ELA as well as science and social studies.  

Curriculum Overview:

In ELA this week, my room is simply learning about the structure of our class.  For instance, today we discussed how to choose a book for independent reading and when it is acceptable to abandon a book that we are not enjoying. 

Social studies began with a review of map skills learned in 3rd grade, moving towards more complex 4th grade map reading such as using the concepts of latitude and longitude to read the global grid.  Today, students worked with an authentic Mt. Wachusett map to complete a map key activity with partners.

Math is focused on understanding the meaning of multiplication.  We will relate multiplication to repeated addition, find patterns for facts, as well as look at the inverse relationship between multiplication and division.  An overview went home last week that included suggestions for games that can be played as support if desired.

Don't be surprised to hear about some silly stories I have been sharing with the class!  Believe it or not, this all relates to writing.  Our first genre of writing will be personal narrative writing, or writing stories about our personal experiences.  To generate ideas, we have been telling each other stories.  I start by sharing a personal story, they brainstorm similar experiences they have had, then they share their story with a partner.  I believe that after a few days of oral story telling, students will find it easy to choose a topic to write about and be able to really describe it in detail.  

Homework:

Students will have math homework most nights Monday through Thursday, due the next day.  I have sent home the student workbooks to be kept at home.  Each afternoon, students write in their planner what they need to tear out at home for homework.  For the most part, lessons go sequentially with infrequent interruptions.  As I get to know students better, you may find that I alter the homework a bit for different students.  There is work that is not in the workbook that may be sent home for your child.  If that happens, it will be written in their planner.

Grammar homework will be given to my homeroom as well, beginning next week.  I will give a lesson on Monday, send home the grammar book then, and it will be due on Friday.

Vocabulary is going to be done with each student's ELA class.  Students bring their planner to ELA and will be writing down any homework for that class during that time.

Science and Social Studies occur on alternating days.  There is not always homework in these classes.  When there is, it is typically due the next day they have the class which gives them two nights to complete it.  This also will be written in their planners.

All homework can be found here on the blog under the homework tab so that if there are any questions you will have somewhere to look.  I try to check planners every day, but there are times when that isn't possible.  For instance, yesterday the kids had a fabulous presentation by the science center on Matter at the end of the day.  They got back to class so late, I printed the planner for them and sent it home.  If that got lost somehow, you can always check the blog here.

Please call me or email anytime with questions!