Welcome Back!

Welcome back!  I hope everyone had an enjoyable Spring Break last week.  We are in our last quarter on fourth grade and will be hitting the ground running.  Here is what's happening in Room 25 this week:

Math
Before break we took the week to introduce adding and subtracting fractions with like denominators (look for a graded quiz to come back on Monday).  Here is what is in store for this week in Math:

• Monday - Review of Adding and Subtracting Fractions
• Tuesday - Renaming Fractions and Mixed Numbers - Kahn Academy video

also, a trick I will show them is:

• Wednesday - Adding and Subtracting Mixed Numbers (adding like-denominators with whole numbers)
• Thursday and Friday - Subtracting Mixed Numbers with Renaming -"borrowing" with fractions video

All the lessons this week obviously focus on mixed numbers, which is a new concept for 4th graders. I am introducing them all to the Front Row online practice program this week in the computer lab, as well as practicing throughout our Math workshop.  I am encouraging the students to practice at home as well.  I will also be sending you access to the program via email so you can stay updated with your child's progress throughout the rest of the school year.

Language Arts

Word Study

This week's words use the Latin roots "aqua" (water), "pop" (people), "port" (carry), and "art" (to create).  The quiz will be Friday, the 8th, and a take-home list will be given on Monday as well.  When studying the words, make sure to focus on the meanings of the words, the words used in sentences, as well as the spellings.  Here is the word list for the week.

Reading

Before break we completed a week-long overview of poetic devices (hyperbole, personification, simile, metaphor, onomatopoeia, rhyme scheme, and imagery).  This week we will review the meanings behind poetry (specifically metaphors and similes) on Monday through Wednesday (with some fun projects), and then take a summative test over poetry on Thursday and Friday.  

Writing

The beginning of the week we will be writing "I am" poems; where the writer takes on the perspective of an inanimate object (i.e. a pencil, tree, leaf, chair) and explain what it is like to be that object on a given day.  We will also work on Haiku poems to add to our poetry portfolios.  Look for the graded persuasive essays about ear "buds" to come home this week as well.

Science

This week we start our Human Body unit.  This is not "the health talk" that will come eventually to all the 4th graders, but rather an in-depth look at some of the major systems in the body and how they work and interact.  The systems we are focusing on this week are the skeletal and muscular systems.

Have a fantastic week!  Remember that all field trip forms are due by Friday, April 8th, and if you are paying for an Arbor lunch, the money is due by Wednesday, April 6th!  Thank you again for all of your support so far this year, and I'm looking forward to the next couple months as we get ready for 5th grade!  If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please feel free to contact me.  Thanks!