Fractions, Circuits, and Poetry!

A short week is upon us, but we have three new units of study beginning!  I have a meeting at Central Office on Monday, so I obviously absent.  Thursday is an early dismissal and Friday there is no school.  So, with the remaining days this week, this is what's happening in Room 25:

Math
Due to the retest of Chapter 5, we only had a preview on Friday of equivalent fractions.  Monday will further review of the area models of equivalent fractions and Tuesday we will focus on generating new equivalent fractions.  Here's a breakdown of the week in Math:

• Monday and Tuesday - Identifying and Generating Equivalent Fractions - video
• Wednesday - Simplest Form (reducing fractions) - Kahn Academy Video
• Thursday - No Math (Early Dismissal)

Language Arts

Word Study

Due to the shortened week, there will be no Word Study words this week.

Reading

This week we start our Poetry Unit.  The lessons this week will include a general comparison among poems (what many have in common) and figurative speech (onomatopoeia, alliteration, simile/metaphor).

Writing

We will be using our writing time this week to finish up our Harlem Renaissance projects with mini biographies with accompanying Cotton Club advertisements (they are looking really cool so far!).

Science

Science is back!  We start this week with learning about electricity flow and circuits.  This will include building a circuit with a battery and light bulb.

On Wednesday we have another PBIS celebration!  This coincides perfectly with Dr. Seuss's birthday and Read Across America  Day, so students can wear pajamas that day and I'll have some cool Theodore Geisel activities.  Remember there is an Early Dismissal on Thursday and Friday there is no school.

Have a great week and let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

Getting ready to Show Off!

Thursday is our Open House and we will be putting finishing touches on some projects to show off for all of you to see.  In addition, this is what else is happening in Room 25 this week:

Social Studies

As a conclusion to our Midwest Region chapter, instead of a traditional test, we will be completing our Pioneer letters; written in the point-of-view as a pioneer just moving to a new plot of land on the Great Plains.  As a cool addition, we will be using a green screen to superimpose our own pictures into an actual pioneer scene; making it seem as though we were actually there (it should turn out really cool!).

Additionally, most of our Social Studies time this week will be dedicated to creating biographical timelines of an important entertainer during the Harlem Renaissance.  After discussing the historical significance of this time period on Monday and Tuesday, each student will research an influential person and create a digital timeline of the important events in his/her life.  

Math

Friday we started the Chapter 5 test, and Monday we will finish it.  Tuesday we start Chapter 6: Fraction Equivalence and Comparison.  Tuesday will be a pretest to see what the kids remember from last year and a little preview of Lesson 1: Equivalent Fractions (using models).  Here is the breakdown of out week in Math:

• Monday - finish Chapter 5 Test
• Tuesday - Pretest for Chapter 6 - Show What Your Know
• Wednesday - Lesson 1 - Equivalent Fractions
• Thursday - No Math (school-wide assembly)
• Friday - Lesson 2 - Generating Equivalent Fractions (same video, just 2nd half)

Language Arts

Word Study

Last week the class was exposed to our words for this week on Thursday.  All the words this week are synonyms for either the word laugh or cry.  Some of the work we will be doing this week involves writing sentences using similes (comparisons using the words "like" or "as") and identifying the degree of a word (ranking the words from happiest to saddest).  Our spelling/meaning test will be on Thursday.  Here are the words for the week.

Writing

This week we will be using most of our writing time to finish up our Pioneer Letters, Wonder Essays, and State Reports in preparation for Thursday's Open House.  I look forward to having you see all the hard work we have been doing in the past few weeks!

Reading

We conclude our Nonfiction Unit this week with a two-part assessment on Wednesday and Thursday.  Monday and Tuesday we will be reviewing how to compare texts on the same topic, as well as using text features and structures to find out new information in nonfiction texts.

Remember that our annual North Open House is scheduled for Thursday, February 25th from 6:30-8:00 p.m.  We will be browsing through the Book Fair on Tuesday, so look for "wish lists".  Those that bring money can shop on Thursday.  The Book Fair will also be open during the Open House for your shopping pleasure as well.

Have a great week.  Lots of graded papers are coming home tomorrow, so make sure to look through the take-home folders.  Additionally, make sure you sign your student's Assignment Notebook each night to ensure they are reading and completing the assigned homework.

Another week of 4th grade fun!

Welcome back after the long weekend!  Hopefully you all enjoyed your extra day of rest...but now it's time to get back to work!  Here is what's going on in Room 25 this week:

Language Arts

Word Study

Due to the shortened week, we will not have new Word Study words this week.  I will send them home on Friday for a preview.  I am noticing that as the words get longer with more complicated spelling patterns, more students are not doing as well on the spelling portion of the tests.  Although I am teaching for meaning and understanding HOW the words are used in context, I do want to make sure the students are paying attention to the intricate spellings of these studied words.  Please help support these efforts by studying with your student each night.  Starting next week, I will send an "at-home" list for studying purposes.

Reading

Since we are not focusing on any specific words this week for Word Study, I will be incorporating new, and already-studied prefixes and suffixes into our nonfiction lessons daily.  This will also include daily centers focusing on using context clues and finding meaning through word parts (root words, prefixes, and suffixes).

Writing

Last week we began a writing project incorporating the Chinese zodiac to describe the main character from the book Wonder.  We will finish this by Wednesday and move on to our next research project involving African American history; specifically artists, singers, poets, and thinkers of the Harlem Renaissance.  Look for a research packet to be posted here by Friday.

Social Studies

The fourth graders will finish the Midwest unit this week with an in-depth look at what pioneer life was like soon after the Louisiana Purchase.  We will research the specifics of what everyday life was like as a Plains pioneer and write postcards in the first-person to our "families" in the east, explaining to them how life has changed.  This projects should be fun!

Math

Believe it or not, Chapter 5 - Factors, Multiples, and Patterns will be finished this week!  Last week we covered factors, divisibility, and common factors.  This week we move on to multiples, prime and composite numbers, and finding number patterns (using some algebra).  As you may have figured out, this chapter is setting the kids up for Chapter 6...FRACTIONS!  Here are some supports to help out at home:

• Tuesday - Factors and Multiples - A video that compares the two.

• Wednesday - Prime and Composite Numbers

Remember:

• Thursday - Patterns using Algebra
• Friday - The big TEST!

Have an great week.  As always, if you have any questions, feel free to contact me.  

As a reminder,  this Friday, February 19th, the PTA will be hosting our Annual Frosty Fest! Each year, every grade level provides a silent auction basket for bidding, and the 4th grade theme is STAR WARS!  We will be collecting donations to the basket this week and next.  If you are interested, send a little something to school to add to our basket.

The Force is with Us!

Well, we made it through two big tests last week and we survived!  Now, on to another week.  Here is what is going on this week in Room 25:

Social Studies
We completed the Midwest States and capitals test last week and we are continuing on; focusing on the  history, economy, and modern day life in the Midwest region of the United States.

Additionally, our state research reports are coming along nicely.  The completed projects are tentatively scheduled to be finished this Friday.  The Google Slides presentations will be on display during Open House on February 25th.

Language Arts
Writing
Last week we completing our "Mystery Candy" descriptive writing which will be on display tomorrow!  This week we will be writing more descriptive, informational writing using the Chinese New Year as a reference.  Students will be using the Chinese zodiac to identify character traits that best describe the main character, "Auggie", from Wonder.

Reading
Now that we have covered all of the text structures found in nonfiction texts, this week we are focusing on comparing texts written about the same subject.  Along with comparing these texts, we will also focus on common prefixes and suffixes in order to find meaning in new or unfamiliar words (re-, fore, -y, and -ly).

Word Study
All of our words this week are adverbs (words that describe how something is done).  The students will be focusing on how the words are used correctly in a sentence.  Here are the words for the week.

Math
The Chapter 4 Test was finished Friday and they are Coming home on Monday (make sure to look it over and sign it!).  Chapter 5 - Factors, Multiples, and Patterns will be building upon everything we have learned with multiplication and division, and will set us up for upcoming units on fractions.  The lessons we will be covering this week are:

• Tuesday - Modeling Factors 

• Wednesday - Factors and Divisibility

• Thursday - Problem Solving with Common Factors
• Friday - No Math - Valentine's Party!

Friday will be our Valentine's Party at 1:30.  I will send home class lists on Tuesday for your students to use if needed.  Also, next Friday, February 19th, the PTA will be hosting our Annual Frosty Fest! Each year, every grade level provides a silent auction basket for bidding, and the 4th grade theme is STAR WARS!  We will be collecting donations to the basket this week and next.  If you are interested, send a little something to school to add to our basket.

Have a great week.  If you have any questions, feel free to contact me.  Thanks!

State Reports, Capitals, and Division...oh my!

I know...the title is a little corny, but here is what's going on in Room 25 this week:

Social Studies
State Reports
Last week we began the research phase of our state reports.  Each student has been given a packet with specific information to be researched about their chosen (or assigned) state.  The research needs to be complete by Monday, February 8th so that we can move to the presentation phase of the project. Students are being taught how to present their projects through Google Slides and will have them ready to show at Open House on February 25th! This research is being done primarily at school, but a little at-home support would definitely help.

The Midwest Region
Maps of the 13 Midwest states were created two weeks ago in preparation for the states and capitals test this Friday, February 5th.  We are reviewing every day in class, but studying at home would help in the memorization of the states locations and the capital cities.  A map of the region, as well as a fun matching game are attached for at-home support.

Blank Maps for quiz practice can be found here as well:

• States with blank capitals
• Capitals with blank states

Language Arts
Word Study
This week we will start our new list of words on Tuesday (due to a PBIS celebration on Monday).  Dependent on the flow of the class, we will probably still have our quiz on Friday.  If anything changes, I will make sure the students update the quiz date in their assignment notebooks.  Word work this week will revolve around the prefixes dis-, re-, and un-.  Here are the words for your convenience.

Writing
As an extension of our nonfiction unit, we will be writing descriptive essays this week.  The twist will be that a certain word (chocolate) cannot be used to describe a popular object (a Hershey's Kiss). These projects will be added to our bulletin board for your enjoyment at Open House as well.

Reading
Continuing with our nonfiction unit for another week, we will be reviewing the different text structures that are used in nonfiction writing (cause/effect, compare/contrast, description, sequence, and problem/solution).

Math
This week we will be concluding our Division of 1-Digit Numbers unit (the test will be tentatively scheduled for Friday).  All week will be filled with review lesson and practice regarding division.  Please keep in mind that some of your students prefer to divide using a strategy that is different from what you were taught, and that is fine (as long as they get the answer correct!).  As a review, two of the strategies I have taught them are:

• Repeated Subtraction (video) - this usually takes a little longer than the other method, but if done correctly, it still works!
• Regrouping (video) - Divide, Multiply, Subtract, and Bring Down...what WE were taught!  I am showing how this method works quicker than other methods, especially when faced with problems with higher dividends.

Have a great week!  Happy dividing, map studying, and researching!