This Week in Fourth Grade

Homework

The participation rate for homework improved greatly this week!  A separate email with the homework for this coming week will be sent via email.  Students will also copy the homework down at school so that they are able to take ownership of the expectations.

The character trait vocabulary booklet will have an added expectation this week.  Students will be asked to illustrate the character they choose that represents the trait doing, saying or thinking something that matches the trait.  They will also still be expected to write the sentences that they were doing last week.


Reader's Workshop

Last week students learned to envision (make a movie) in their minds as they read.  We talked about how if the movie in their mind is clear and full of detail, then they are most likely understanding the book they are reading.

When you are reading with your child at home, pause at one point and ask them what they are envisioning.  Ask them what the character is doing, how that character might be feeling and what the setting looks like.  Encourage your child to use their schema to add details to their envisioning that might not be in the text.

Water Bottles


Students are encouraged to bring water bottles into the classroom to stay hydrated.  Bottles of gatorade, lemonade, juice or soda are not allowed.  Thank you so much for your support with this!

Writing Workshop


Last week, we focused on building stamina as writers.  We did a couple of quick writes.  This activity was to help kids quickly get their ideas down on paper with a brainstorm about a particular topic or prompt.  Then they typed their stories or answered the prompt on the computer.  We also talked about how we edit our work.  When we edit, we focus on just ONE goal at a time as a writer.  Our goal last week was to focus on writing complete sentences. 

This week we will begin our Realistic Fiction writing unit.  Students will be able to use what they have been learning about in reading and apply it as a writer. Students will think about the arc of a story or how a story typically goes.  

Math Workshop

Last week, students learned about rounding numbers.  Students focused on skip counting by 10, 100's, and 1000's to help us think about larger numbers.  Rounding is a topic that can be tricky for fourth graders, so we are spending some extra time thinking about the "why" behind rounding.  Students will begin a project to apply their knowledge of rounding this week.

This Week in Fourth Grade...

                                                  

Don't forget school pictures are tomorrow!

Red Homework & Communication Folder

Please continue to check your child's folder every day after school.  Important notices are sent home in this folder.  Starting this week, we will also be having students record their homework each week and keep it in their folder.  

Open House
Thank you to all the families able to come out to Open House last week.  If you weren't able to attend, your child came home with the handouts from our presentation.  

One handout was asking you to tell us what topics you are interested in learning more about to support your child in school.  Please send that handout back as soon as possible.  We are hoping to create videos on Seesaw that we can share with you that will help you support your child at home.  

Here is a link to the letter that was sent home last week after Open House:
What are you wondering? Parent Form

Math Workshop

We had some VERY excited Million Dollar Winners last week!  The kids were so excited to learn that they had "won" a million dollars on Monday.  This led the way for our first math project of the year.  The kids could buy a house, a car, and plan ahead for college.  They used their winnings to purchase these items.  This project allowed the kids to practice reading and writing large numbers.  They also were able to practice writing numbers in different forms, such as expanded form, word form, and standard form.  Students who finished the practice part of the project were able to create a Seesaw video to share what they bought with their money!

Writing Workshop
We are continuing to work on our personal narratives in school.  Last week, the kids also learned about writing complete sentences.  Fourth graders tend to write all of their thoughts down and forget about the punctuation to make sentences complete.  We focused on what goes into a complete sentence.  

This week your child will need to complete his/her personal narrative at home for homework.  Some students have already finished in school, but many have not. This homework will be due on Wednesday!

Reader's Workshop

This week we learned how to cement our comprehension by pausing and retelling at times while we read.  Students practiced this with our read aloud novel, The Tiger Rising by Kate DiCamillo and with their own "just right" books.  

As discussed at Open House, students are expected to read every night for 20 minutes.  They will not have to fill out a reading in the edges sheet this week, but are still required to read.  I will check in with families in a couple of weeks to find out how things are going and to see if there is any way that I can support you.

This Week In Fourth Grade

Just a reminder.... we have Open House on Tuesday this week starting at 6:30.  We hope to see many of you there!

Reader's Workshop

This week students began a reading challenge called Battle of the Books in the classroom.  16 different picture books were introduced and students were challenged to read all of them.  In a few weeks students will begin to vote on their favorites in a bracket similar to March Madness.  At the end only one winner will be left!

Coupled with this challenge, students have been learning to read with intensity.  This means that they read as if every detail matters and they take time to grow ideas as they read.  Next week students will begin to learn about character traits and how to infer these traits as they read about different characters.

Reading At Home

We talked a lot about reading at home and fitting our reading into our busy schedules.  It is expected that every student read for at least 20 minutes every day.  We spent some time in the classroom brainstorming how to be successful with this.  

The Reading in the Edges homework assignment was due on Friday.  We will have the same assignment this week with the hope that it encourages students to think about how they can fit reading into the edges of their day.  Please let me know if your child is struggling with this.

THANK YOU!

I cannot thank everyone enough for their generous donations from my (Mrs. Leger's) wish list on Amazon.  There are a number of books on the list that I can't get from Scholastic, and it has been exciting to know that students will have access to them because of your support!


Math Workshop


Last week, students learned how to read and write large numbers.  They were able to use Seesaw and practice reading larger numbers.  This week we will work on a project to give them more practice with writing numbers in different forms (expanded, standard, and word form).  After school tomorrow, ask your child what they "WON" in math!

We also talked about using specific math vocabulary when we are talking about the problems we are solving.  It is important for students to practice talking like a "mathematician."  For example, I introduced students to the word digit.  We will focus on using that vocabulary word instead of saying that we have written a number with 3 numbers, we would say that we have written a 3 digit number or we could talk about the value of a particular digit in a number.  As we come across important math vocabulary, your child will be introduced to the words and be expected to use them in their discussions.

Science

We started our science unit on Sound.  We will be learning about how whales communicate with sound.  Students will also learn how to describe the different sounds that whales make to help them communicate.  Over the next few weeks, we will complete a variety of experiments to help us understand sound a little better!

This Week in Fourth Grade....

Team Building

Our focus this week continued to be getting to know one another, the routines, and expectations for the school year.  We spent time thinking about what we value as a community and determined which ones we will live by this year.  Students also honed their ability to transition from one classroom to the other with all of their materials.  They will certainly be very organized students by the end of the year!  It is wonderful practice for Middle School.


On Friday, we stressed the importance of teamwork within our community and practiced this with an activity in the gym during morning meeting.  The pictures below show circles of students attempting to pass everyone though a hula-hoop without breaking the circle.  The shouts of encouragement and sights of students helping one another were wonderful!

Writing Workshop

To start our beginning of the year writing unit and to get to know one another better, we told stories around the campfire last week.  Storytellers came up with stories about different topics such as summer stories, a story about a family member, a time they were brave, and stories about extreme emotion.  It was great to hear all the different stories being told around the campfire.  

While telling stories, the kids practiced telling specific details about their story as well as trying to add in action and dialogue.  Audience members practiced being a good listener and giving feedback or asking questions of the speaker.  

This week, the kids will choose one of their campfire stories to write about.

Seesaw

We have been using Seesaw to share our learning.  The kids also love to see the comments and compliments that they are getting from parents.  

Last week, we sent out an email about signing up for Seesaw as a parent.  Below is information about how to sign up!

Please Sign Up Now

1.    Click on this link: https://app.seesaw.me/s/417-811-458  

2.   Choose your child from the list.

3.   Create your account.

4.   Once I approve you, you can see content from your child.

After you sign up, download the free Seesaw Family app and sign in. You can also access Seesaw from a computer at https://app.seesaw.me.

Reading in the Edges

This week during Reader's Workshop we will discuss that that it is expected that they read for at least 20 minutes every day for homework.  We talked about how they will not have a reading log this year because we don't believe that having to fill out a reading log each night increases the love of reading.....which is my ultimate goal for all students.  We will also talk about how many students have hectic schedules after school which sometimes prevents students from finding a full, uninterrupted 20 minutes in which to read.

To solve this problem, we will talk about how students can read in the edges of their day.  They may only have 10 minutes to read before football practice or dance and then ten minutes before bed....that adds up to 20!  Any way in which students can get in their reading minutes is acceptable!  All of those minutes add up.

This week students will be asked to track where and when they read in their edges of their day.  They will also be asked to send in a picture of themselves reading in the edges of their day.  These photos can be emailed or printed and sent in.  We will hang them up in our classroom.  A letter explaining this further will be coming home tomorrow.

Book Orders

Book orders are due on Thursday of this week.  Our class code is H3M9C if you are ordering online.  You can also send in the order form with a check made out to Scholastic.

This Week In Fourth Grade

Off To A Great Start!

We had a fantastic start to the school year last week!  We spent time getting to know one another, our classrooms, and the expectations for the school year.  

Tell Us About Your Child....

Last week, we sent an email with a link to a questionnaire for your to tell us about your child.  Thank you to the parents that have already completed it.  If you haven't had a chance to yet, I am attaching the link below.  This questionnaire helps us to get a better understanding of your child.  Thank you for your help with this!

Tell Us About Your Child link

We Can Learn Anything!

This year we will focus on having a Growth Mindset or a "can do" attitude.  To get us thinking about this, we watched a video that shows how each of us has the ability to learn anything as long as we put in the effort and don't give up.  Here is a link to the video that we watched...

https://www.khanacademy.org/coach-res/reference-for-coaches/how-to/v/you-can-learn-anything

We also learned that our brains have millions of neurons that get stronger with practice.  We emphasized that our neurons can be weak when we first learn something new and that as we practice new concepts and skills, they will get stronger!

Keeping this in mind, students each chose a motto to live by this year.  They began to illustrate these last week and will finish them this week.  Once they are finished, they will be hanging around the building.  Keep an eye out during Open House!

Book Tasting

We dove into reading this past week by having a book tasting at "Leger's Lunch Spot."  It was a fabulous way to get books into students' hands and to give them a chance to try out genres that they may not have leaned toward in the past.  All students left with a book they are ready and rearing to read and a list of books that they are looking forward to reading in the next few weeks.  We also reviewed how students look for good books and how they make sure that they are choosing just right books.  

This week we will discuss expectations for reading at home and some information will come home about "reading in the edges."  Please let me know if your child ever reports that they are having difficulty finding a good book to read!

Wish List

Thank you so much for the donations of cleaning supplies and other much needed items!  Mrs. Leger has an Amazon Wish List with some additional items needed for our community.  If you are interested in making a donation, the link is below.

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2PX9TBZ14UZQ9?ref_=wl_share  

SeeSaw

Students were introduced to a new way to communicate their hard work and successes with you at home.  Information will be coming home this week about SeeSaw.  Please take a moment to read the notice and sign-up.  Students are excited to share with you this year!

Math Workshop

We started our math time last week with a number talk called "Which One Doesn't Belong."  We will start math this way each day.  Number talks are a fun way to have a discussion about math and learn from one another.  We focused on sharing our opinion and backing it up with a reason.  Students then learned about how to agree, disagree, or add on to the thinking of a classmate.  We used Accountable Talk sentence frames to help with this.  Here is an example of a number talk we did last week.  Ask your child which one he/she thought "didn't belong."

Which One Doesn't Belong?

Accountable Talk sentence frames