It’s our last week before break!

This week…

In Math, students are digging into the relationship between models, fractions, and decimals.  We started this briefly on Friday, and students seemed a little overwhelmed.  We will take this slow and get in as much practice as we can before break, we’ll review all skills after break, and will then test at the end of the week we get back from Spring Break.  It’s not ideal to wait to test until after break, but I want to give the students as much time to practice these skills as possible.  After break, we will begin teaching double math in order to get all math units taught before M-STEP.

In Writing, we are finishing up our informational paragraph writing this week by writing about the economy of our states.  Students will then have multiple days of revisions and editing, as well as publishing, once we return from break.

In Reading, students are moving nicely through our study of the different regions.  We’ve completed the Northeast, Southeast, and Midwest regions already.  Today we will begin the Southwest region.  Students are loving all the connections they can make to their state research projects as we learn about the different regions.

For Science, we will be taking a break for the month of April.  We are doing this because we will be teaching a 2nd math unit during this time in order to ensure students are ready for M-STEP, which will take place the first week of May.

 

Looking Ahead…

• Tuesday, March 27 – Beach Day (wear beach attire and bring a beach towel for independent reading)
• Wednesday, March 28 – 4th Grade Field Trip (9-2)
• Thursday, March 29 – Guest Readers, Alward TEAMS, Recycling Truck
• Friday, March 30 – Sunday, April 8 – SPRING BREAK – No School!
• Monday, April 9 – School Resumes
• Tuesday, April 10 – 5th Grade M-STEP Begins
• Friday, April 13 – Early Release for Students at 12:15
• Monday, April 16 – Family Genius Night 6-8pm (Please turn in your family RSVPs by Wednesday)
• Tuesday, April 17 – Riverbank Fun Run During Lunch Recesses
• Tuesday, April 24 – 4th Grade Recorder/Symphony Field Trip (9-2) and PTC Meeting at 7pm
• Friday, April 27 – Popcorn Friday

This week:

In Math, students are working on comparing fractions with unlike denominators.  This will require them to use the skill of writing equivalent fractions, or number lines, to compare the fractions.  Both strategies will be taught in class.  They will also have the unit’s 2nd Quick Quiz on Wednesday.

In Writing, students will be working on the body paragraphs for their informational state essay.  Last week, students wrote their introductions and their paragraphs for Land and Location.  This week they will work on their Climate and Plant & Animal Life sections.  On Friday, we will type up the portions they’ve written thus far.

In Reading, student will continue reading about and exploring the regions of the US.  Last week we studied the Northeast Region and began the Southeast Region.  This week, we will finish up the Southeast Region and begin the Midwest Region.

In Science, students will continue working on investigating how their sense work together to develop their perception.  Students have had many hands-on opportunities to explore this, read articles, and completed a WebQuest.  This week they will develop a model that explains how the sense receptors communicate information to the brain.

Looking Ahead…

• Tuesday, 3/20 – Running Club and Jets Pizza Night
• Wednesday, 3/21 – Fire Drill at 3pm
• Thursday, 3/22 – Running Club and Lock Down Drill at 10:10am
• Friday, 3/23 – Fire Drill at 9:15am
• Saturday, 3/24 – Carnival 11am – 2pm (Our basket theme: Does it Roll?)
• Wednesday, 3/28 – 4th Grade Field Trip to the Science Museum (Chaperone papers coming home today)
• Thursday, 3/29 – Guest Readers, Alward TEAMS, Recycling Truck 1-3pm
• Friday, 3/30 – Sunday, 4/8 – SPRING BREAK
• Monday, 4/9 – School Resumes
• Friday, 4/13 – Early Release for Students at 12:15pm
• Monday, 4/16 – Family Genius Night from 6-8pm (Look for family RSVP sheets coming home this week)
• Tuesday, 4/17 – Riverbank Fun Run during Lunch Recesses

***For appointment/vacation scheduling – 4th graders will be taking the M-STEP the first week of May from 9:15am – 12pm.  Please refrain from taking your child out of school during these times if possible.***

Welcome to Conferences Week!  Please remember that we have conferences this week.  If you do not remember your assigned time, please check the Sign Up webpage, or feel free to email me.  I look forward to speaking with all of you.

This week…

In Math, we are digging into our second fractions unit.  This week we will focus on fractions on a number line, benchmark fractions, and finding equivalent fractions.  The students are excited for this unit.  They did very well with our last fractions unit, and I believe they can do just as well with this unit, if they stay focused during class.

In Writing, students will begin writing their informational essays for their state research projects.  We will be working on writing an engaging introduction today, followed by working on the body of the essay for the rest of the week.  As students are writing, they will be given opportunities to complete additional research.  Students often find while writing that there are some sections that are not as complete as others.  We want to begin writing however so that they know where they need to focus the rest of their research.

In Reading, students will continue researching their states during our independent reading time, but they will also be learning about the various regions of the US during instructional time.  The study of regions will also cover our last social studies unit: geography.

In Science, we are exploring the affect our sense have on different aspects of life.  These lessons are hands-on explorations, and will be very difficult to make up if they are absent.  They will be responsible for getting the information they miss from a classmate upon their return.

***The Alward Carnival is quickly approaching (see date and times below).  Our classroom basket is “Things that Roll.”  If you can donate any items to our basket, please bring it to conferences, or send those items to school with your child.  Thank you in advance!

***Congratulations to ALL students in our class!  Every student earned their 60 Reading Counts points and therefore got to duct tape Mrs. McClure to the wall last week.  It was a very fun experience for all students.  Our end of the year goal is 75 points, which many students have already reached.  If they haven’t, please remind them to take those quizzes as soon as they finish a book.  They can also take quizzes on books that are read aloud or read together.

***Our first field trip of the school year is March 28th to the Grand Rapids Science Museum.  Lunch order forms and permission slips were sent home last week.  Please return the permission slip, money for the field trip, and any lunch orders to school as soon as possible so you don’t forget.  We will be sending home information regarding chaperones on Friday, so check your child’s folder over the weekend.

***We also have the Symphony/Orchestra/Recorder field trip at the end of April and then a field trip the a Recycling Plant at the end of May.  We have a lot of fun planned for these last few months of the school year.

 

UPCOMING DATES:

• Monday, 3/12 – Parent-Teacher Conferences
• Wednesday, 3/14 – Parent-Teacher Conferences
• Thursday, 3/15 – Tornado Drill at 3pm AND Tarry Hall Skating Party at 6:30pm
• Friday, 3/16 – Fire Drill at 11am
• Tuesday, 3/20 – Jet’s Pizza Night
• Wednesday, 3/21 – Fire Drill at 3pm
• Thursday, 3/22 – Lock Down Drill at 10:10am
• Friday, 3/23 – Fire Drill at 9:15
• Saturday, 3/24 – Carnival 11 – 2
• Thursday, 3/29 – Guest Readers, Alward TEAMS, and Recycling Truck 1-3pm
• Friday, 3/30 – Spring Break!
• Monday, April 8 – School Resumes