This Week in 4th Grade...

Reader's Workshop

This week we wrapped up the character change portion of our fiction unit.  Prior to the wrap up students learned about the language we can use to help us write about character change and practiced this sort of reading response.  They looked at responses they had previously written and assessed their own writing and lifted the level of their work.  

We ended the week by developing debatable ideas about the books we are reading.  We will continue this instruction next week and then head into theme.  As you read with your child at home, ask them about lessons that they think their books are teaching.  The more they talk at home about the books they read, the more they will be able to write at school!

Mystery Readers Wanted!

Friday, December 22nd is a full day of school and is also our annual Mystery Reader Day!  Each year we invite families to sign up for a time in the afternoon to come and read a picture book to our class.  The fun part is, we keep the readers a secret!  Students will not know who has signed up until you walk through the door!  We are happy to provide a book for you to read, or you are welcome to bring your own family favorite in.  Grandparents, aunts, uncles, older siblings or family friends are also welcome.

We will be doing this activity by homeroom, so there will be separate sign ups for Mrs. Leger and Mrs. Lewis' homeroom.  If you are interested and able to come in for a 15 minute block between 12:30 and 2:30 on December 22nd, please let us know!

Math Workshop

Last week we continued to practice multiplying larger numbers.  By the end of the week the kids were learning how to multiply 2 digit by 2 digit numbers.  Many of the kids felt prepared for this because they were able to take what they know about multiplying 3 and 4 digit numbers by a 1 digit number.  

We also started to take a closer look at our Math Errors. The kids learned about the 3 types of errors that they can make in math.  Here is an example of the chart that we have in our classroom.  Along with each type of error, the kids learned about what they need to do to fix each type of mistake and how to revise their thinking.  We will continue to use this chart as we move forward.

This week we will start our work with division.  We have already been preparing for division at the beginning of each math lesson for the past couple of weeks.  I am hoping the kids will start to see the benefits of all of this practice!  

New Math Homework

We have officially finished all of the multiplication fact practice pages!  I am certainly seeing a difference in fact fluency in the classroom.  This week we will change up the homework a little bit.  I will be explaining this new homework to the kids tomorrow. They will need to access Google Classroom for this homework.  Children that don’t have access to the internet will be given an alternative homework assignment.  This homework will still be due on Friday.

We hope everyone enjoyed the snow this weekend!  Have a great week!

Jen and Jaime