This Week in Fourth Grade

Prezi Presentations

This week students started taking their research on topics in the Southeast and turning it into Prezi presentations.  As experts on their topics, students needed to consider what information was most important for others to know and how they were going to structure this information so that it was easy to understand.  We will wrap up this project next week and hopefully students will be able to share their presentations with you soon.  Below are some pictures of students working on their presentations.

Zones of Regulation

On Monday we launched a new mini unit during Morning Meeting that teaches students to better identify their feelings.  We explained to students that it is normal for our feelings to fluctuate during the day.  The photo of the poster below explains the "zones" or categories of feelings that are common for students to experience.

We also explained that if students understand how they are feeling, they can better regulate those feelings and help themselves return to "green" which include the feelings that are conducive to learning.  To practice identifying our feelings and to introduce strategies that we could use when we are not in "green" we shared some scenarios with students and had them brainstorm strategies they could use in those situations.  We also taught the "Stop, Opt, Go" strategy as a way of preventing students from doing something in the heat of the moment.  There is a picture explaining this below.

Math Workshop

We spent some time last week learning about line plots.  We started off with a game of Minute to Win It- Dice Stacking.  We took our learning outside last week while playing our Minute to Win It game which became a little more challenging with the wind!  Partners tried to see how many dice they could stack in 1 minute over 5 trials.  We then placed all of this data onto a class line plot.  

To get some more practice with creating line plots we also held our own Standing Long Jump competition.  The kids were divided into 4 groups and they practiced jumping and measuring the length of each person's jump.  We then began the task of placing all of this data on a line plot.  For this task the students also needed to think about how they would plot the fractions on the line plot.

Writing Workshop

We began our Nonfiction writing unit last week.  We used our writing time to build our background knowledge about whales and dolphins  We tried to learn as much as we could about each mammal so that the kids would be able to make a decision about what animal they would like to learn more about through our research project.  This week the students will choose either whales or dolphins to become more of an expert on.  

                       

Math Homework

Just a reminder about math homework....it is okay if your child struggles with the math homework.  This topic came up a lot at conferences a few weeks ago.  If your child seems to be stuck or struggling with a topic you could ask your child to think about the strategies that he/she has learned in school.  We have spent a lot of time answering the question, "Where do I start?" during class this year.  This is what your child can ask him/herself when starting the math homework.  If your child is still struggling after trying out a few strategies just have your child finish as best they can.  We always talk about the strategies in class for solving the math homework.  During this time the students are able to learn from their peers which can make a difference.

Have a great week!

Jen and Jaime

This Week in Fourth Grade

Poetry

Students have been working on a poetry unit.  They have been learning how to better comprehend poetry by utilizing strategies such as chunking the text, visualizing and stopping and jotting.  Students were also able to apply their new learning of context clues to help them infer the meaning of unknown words which poetry often has.

The discussions that students had around the meanings of the poetry they have been reading were really impressive.  They really enjoyed sharing their thinking and expanding upon their ideas.  Below are some pictures of students working through some poetry.

MCAS

The ELA MCAS test will take place on Tuesday and Thursday of this week.  We have been telling students all along that they are prepared and that we believe in them.  They have seen what the test will look like and know what to expect.  Please encourage your child to do their best and let us know if you have any questions.

Writing Workshop


This week we will be starting our nonfiction writing unit.  The students will be researching Whales or Dolphins to go along with what we have been learning about in science.  This week students will start to read about different whales and dolphins and find one that they are really interested in learning more about!  

We hope you have a great week!  

Jen and Jaime

This Week In Fourth Grade!

We are looking forward to meeting with families at conferences this week.  If you haven't had a chance to sign up for a conference, please do so soon as possible.  If you have trouble signing up, please let us know and we can sign you up.
                               Parent Teacher Conference Sign Up

MCAS Prep

The ELA MCAS is coming up right after April vacation so we have been reviewing strategies and previewing different elements of the test this week.  We have discussed that we do this so that when they get to testing day, they will be confident and ready.  The attitudes towards the test have been really positive!

When we are talking test prep, we keep the mood light and fun.  My main message to students is that they have been working hard and learning the right things all year.  Their job the day of the test is to work hard and pull out all of the "magic" that they have been putting into themselves all year.  Below you can see pictures of a multiple choice game we played on Friday to allow students to become familiar with the types of multiple choice questions they may encounter on the day of the test.

On Friday students turned themselves into emojis ready to take the test.  In the pictures below you will see student emojis that are ready to "beat the test" are "excited to show off their strategies" and are "determined."

Math Workshop

We are about halfway through our fraction unit. On Friday the kids took a mid-module check-in.  Your child will be coming home with the Mid-Module check in and a page for you to sign stating you have seen the assessment.  Please sign and return by Wednesday this week.

We have Spirit Week coming up at Farley this week!  Here is the Spirit Week schedule:

Monday-

• Class Color Day- Wear Red for 4th grade

Tuesday-

• Pajama Day

Wednesday-

• Silly Sock or Silly Shoe Day

Thursday-

• Crazy Hat Day

Friday-

• Favorite Boston Sports Day
• 4th Grade Panoramic Picture

Have a great week!
Jen and Jaime

This Week in 4th Grade...

Hopefully you enjoyed the long holiday weekend!  

Parent/Teacher Conferences

Last week a link was set up to sign up for Parent/Teacher Conferences.  The link can be found below.  Just a reminder that next Wednesday, 4/11 and Thursday, 4/12 are half days.  Since we are looking to meet with all families, we have day times available on both Wednesday and Thursday morning.  Please let us know if you have any trouble accessing the link.

Parent Teacher Conference Sign Up

Report Cards

Report cards went home last Thursday.  Please sign the report card envelope and have your child return it by this Tuesday.  

New Homework Assignment

This week students will be bringing home a new homework assignment that will support the learning that they have been doing during Reader's Workshop.  It is a booklet where they will be able to take notes on a non-fiction text that they have chosen to read at home.  They will be expected to read non-fiction for their 20 minutes at home for at least 2 nights during the week.  For both of these nights, students should also take notes as they have learned to do so here at school.  In the booklet are resources and examples of potential notebook structures that students have learned.  The booklet will be due back at school on Friday to be checked.  Please let me know if you have any questions!

Celebrating Authors

We spent time on Thursday celebrating our Realistic Fiction writing.  We talked about all of the hard work that went into our stories, and how this happened over several weeks....just like "real" authors!  Then the kids got a chance to share their story with a small group.  Be on the lookout for your child's realistic fiction story to come home at some point this week!

   

Math Workshop

We spent the week working on comparing fractions.  We learned a lot about the strategies that can help us really think closely about the 2 (or more) fractions that we are comparing.  On Thursday we got to put our knowledge into action as we were "construction workers" that were trying to build sturdy bridges with fraction posts!  The kids got to work together to discuss, struggle, discuss some more, and eventually solve the problem!  

This week we will be moving onto adding and subtracting fractions.  

Have a great week!

Jaime and Jen