This Week in Fourth Grade...

We hope you enjoyed the vacation week!  It is always nice to see the kids rested and ready to get back to working hard!  

Homework
Homework will now be emailed out to families each week.  There is a link to the packet in the email in case your child forgets or loses the homework.  This week's homework is due Thursday.  This is different than it has been, so please help your child plan out when he/she will get the work done.

Math Workshop
We will be starting our next unit in math this week.  We will be learning about fractions.  This is huge building block for future math!  We will be spending a lot of time using manipulatives as we become more comfortable with fractions.  Putting these manipulatives (fraction tiles) in the hands of the kids will help to deepen their understanding.

We have also been spending a lot of time explaining our thinking around the math problems that we are solving. Our focus has been on using specific math vocabulary and trying to be specific in the steps that we are taking towards solving a problem.  

A great way to incorporate both fractions and explaining your thinking at home would be when you and your child are cooking.  Having discussions around doubling a recipe and how your child would do that will help to reinforce both skills.  Another way to reinforce this would be if you are measuring out an ingredient that requires 1/2, you could ask your child other measuring cups that could be used that would also equal 1/2.  

Reader's Workshop

We wrapped up our unit on fiction and are moving into non-fiction this week.  Students will review strategies they learned in earlier grades to support non-fiction reading and will learn new strategies to help them grow as readers this year.  We will also be integrating our non-fiction learning into our social studies unit on the regions.  Students will be utilizing what they learn to help them with some mini research projects on various regions of the United States.

Journey to Ellis Island
We recently wrapped up our unit on immigration.  Students worked in groups to write a journal entry from the perspective of an immigrant traveling from Russia to Ellis island in the early 1900's.  Each group focused on a different aspect of the journey.  After the entries were finished, students "antiqued" them and hung them in the hallway for all to enjoy.  Below are some pictures of the finished products!

Valentine's Day

We had a great time exchanging valentines and participating in the newspaper dance!  Below are some pictures of the festivities.