Welcome back...now let's get to work!

Welcome back!  I hope you all had an enjoyable week off with your precious children...now it's time to work!  Here is a break down of what is going on in Room 25 this week:

Social Studies/Science
This week will be a busy one in terms on these two subjects.  We will be finishing up our Social Studies Chapter (the Southeast) with a project regarding the importance of international trade (imports and exports), as well as a test over all the content on Thursday.  I will give the students a study sheet on Monday that we will review in class on Tuesday together.  Look for the study sheet to be signed on both Tuesday and Wednesday for preparation for the test.  Here is the study sheet for your convenience.

We will also be starting our next Science Unit this week:  The Rock Cycle.  On Monday we will create our own sedimentary rock models for better understanding of how these rocks are formed (and they will be edible!).

Math
We are now fully engaged into Chapter 3:  Multiplying Two-Digit Numbers and more strategies are yet to come.  As I explained in our conferences, the students will be exposed to many different ways to solve a multiplication problem; where a strategy that works best for them will be covered.  I'm including some videos this week to help them (and you) with at-home support.  The strategies we are covering this week are:

• Monday/Tuesday:  Multiplying using the Area Model:  Kahn Academy Video
• Wednesday:  Using the Partial Product Method:  Everyday Math Video
• Thursday:  Multiplying using Regrouping:  Kahn Academy Video
• Friday:  Review and Quiz

Language Arts

Word Study

Monday we will take a little time reviewing our List 11 words from before break (compound words) and have a quiz over them on Tuesday.  Without skipping a beat, we will start our new words the same day and begin our in-class word study activities on Tuesday as well.  This week's words focus on the end spelling patterns /er/, /ar/, and /or/.  Many of these words do have some tricky spellings, so I will expect correct spelling on a portion of the test next Monday.  Additionally, the students will be incorporating their understanding of the part of speech each word belongs to (noun, verb, adverb, or adjective).  I'm adding Mad Libs to our Reading Workshop to support this (as well as have a little fun).  Here are the words for the week.

Reading Comprehension

By the end of this week, the fourth grade will take the assessment associated with our Fiction unit we have finished as a grade level.  In preparation for this, your students will have many opportunities this week to review all of the amazing topics, ideas, strategies, and skills learned throughout the past few months.  I am proud of all of the students' progress in regards to our Fiction Unit.  The writing, note-taking, discussing, and strategy practice has supported them throughout the Unit and I look forward to the upcoming Nonfiction Unit.  This week in particular we are focusing on Theme, Conflict, and Mood/Tone.  

So...while you sign your child's assignment notebook this week, a few questions to break the silence could be:

• "What type of conflict is going on in your book?"
• "What's the tone of what you read today?  Find some evidence in text to prove it to me!"
• "Give me an example of another story/movie/show that has a similar theme.  Why?"

Writing

As I discussed at our conferences, we will be doing much more writing this marking period.  We will be finishing our persuasive essay this week to be put on display on our newly-acquired hallway bulletin board (it's a pretty big deal!).

Have a great week!  As always, if you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact me.

The countdown is on!

Including this week, we have four more instructional weeks of learning until Winter Break!  No worries...your kids will be working hard between now and then.  Here is a breakdown of what is going on this week:

Math

Friday we took our Chapter 2 tests.  Due to the schedule being slightly interrupted today with the power-outage, our activities were bumped back a little bit.  A few students needed to finish their tests today, so the graded tests will be returned to the students tomorrow.

Chapter 3 builds on the strategies learned from the previous chapter, and continues onto multiplying two-digit numbers.  This week we will cover multiplying by multiples of ten, as well as estimating products.  Due to the early dismissal on Wednesday, there will be no Math homework that day.

Social Studies

Last week we took a practice Southeast Region states test that was returned today.  I did not put this in the grade book, but rather gave it back to the students with the understanding that many of them need to prepare for the "real test" on Wednesday.  Wednesday's test will include all 14 Southeast states and their capitals.  A study sheet can be found right here.  Keep in mind that Maryland and Delaware are a part of this map as well (above West Virginia).  You can also access Sheppard Software for an interactive game to practice at home as well.

Language Arts

Word Study

Tuesday we have a quiz over List 9 words (see last week's post for the words).  We have been focusing on the use of synonyms and antonyms to help define words and use them in sentences.  The quiz will focus on antonyms and synonyms, as well as spelling a few of the tough ones.  This week's words are all compound words.  This list will spill over into the week after Thanksgiving break, but I wanted to get them started on it this week.  We will be focusing on synonyms and antonyms, as well as parts of speech (nouns, verbs, adverbs, and adjectives).  Here are the new words for the week.

Reading

We plan to perform our play, Pandora's Box, tomorrow after lunch.  This will conclude our Greek Mythology study.  Our next focus moves on to Mood and Tone.

Writing

We will be writing another persuasive essay this week focusing on an article entitled, "Should Kids Get Paid to do Chores?"  We read the article today, and tomorrow we start debating our positions.  I apologize in advance if anyone gets hit up for $10 this week for making their bed or doing the dishes.  Just make sure to encourage them to provide evidence to support their ideas!

Remember that we have early dismissal on Wednesday (12:30).  Also, please fill out and return your conference sheets that were sent home last Friday.  You keep the top copy and return the yellow copy to me.  Thanks, and have a great week!

States, Capitals, and a Math Test!

This week marks the third week of the new marking period, and we are working hard in Room 25! Don't forget that we have Wednesday off for Veterans Day.  Here is a breakdown of this weeks news:

Math

Monday and Tuesday we will be focusing on the last lesson in Chapter 2 - Using Algebra to Solve Word Problems.  Most of this lesson targets the Order of Operations; where the students need to know how to solve a problem with multiple operations (addition, subtraction, and multiplication).

This will call on a many of the skills they have focused on during this chapter, as well as give them the opportunity to solve multi-step word problems.  The test for Chapter 2 will be on Friday, and we will have a thorough review on Thursday for preparation.  Look for homework on Tuesday and Thursday targeting all the skills from Chapter 2.  Take advantage of Think Central, especially the Student Edition for the Chapter 2 review problems.

In addition to the test on Friday, we will continue to focus on our Math Facts as a class.  We have used Sheppard Software to practice in class.  This can be used at home as well.

Language Arts

Word Study

We took the List 9 Word Study quiz on Monday.  This weeks words are focusing on r-controlled vowel sounds.  I am also introducing the students to antonyms (a word that has an opposite meaning) this week to further their understanding of some new words.  Due to the Wednesday holiday, we will have our Word Study quiz next Tuesday.  Here are the words for the week.

Reading

The past few weeks we have really targeted making inferences through character analysis and using text evidence as support.  Last week we finished a constructed response using a short story and the class did an amazing job!  These will be posted in the classroom for you to see at conferences.  This week we will continue studying character traits within the context of Greek myths.  Another book report will come home next week to work on over the Thanksgiving break.

Writing

Most of our writing this month will be constructed responses.  Along with filing-out graphic organizers and taking Cornell Notes during reading, the students will be expected to write a 4-5 paragraph essay each week; answering questions from a common passage, using evidence from the text to support the ideas presented.  I hope to make sure their hands hurt by the end of each week!

Additionally, we have been reading the play Pandora's Box this week and last and are preparing for two performances this week on Friday.  Some of your kids may ask you for some props or costumes to make their performances more professional.  I will video tape the performances on Friday and post them to the blog for your viewing pleasure!

Social Studies

Last week we started our next Social Studies chapter, which focuses on the Southeast region of the United States.  This chapter consists of two sections:

1. The States and Capitals:  The students created puzzle-maps last week as a preview of the region.  I have dedicated a little bit of time each day for the kids to review the states and capitals.  The quiz for this map will be Friday (for the states and locations only) and next Wednesday (the 18th) for the states and capitals all together.  The students have been having fun competing with each other using the quizzes on Sheppard Software.  A copy of the region with blanks for the capitals is here for your reference as well (they don't need to know Texas or Oklahoma).
2. The history of the region:  This includes the Native American tribes, the European settlements, the Civil War, and Reconstruction following the war.  We will be watching many videos to build background knowledge, as well as reading some additional informative articles about slavery and important abolitionists.

I will be sending home reminders this week for your scheduled conference times.  Please let me know if you are still able to attend during your slot, or if you need to reschedule for any reason.  For those parents and family members that are veterans, I want to thank all of you for your service and sacrifice.  Have a great week!