Fourth Grade Newsletter- Week 1

Please reach out if you have any questions!

9/1 (Monday) - Parent Coffee

9/3 (Thursday) - IXL Math Assessment

9/4 (Friday) - IXL Reading Assessment

What a Week!

We have officially completed our first full week of school, and what a great week it has been! Our fourth graders are beginning to settle into their new routines, learning our classroom programs, and getting comfortable with the expectations of fourth grade.

We were also excited about our schedule change, which has made our days even better!

Our fourth graders have already been showing great responsibility and leadership through Flag Duty, and they are doing an amazing job! Next week, students will begin Chapel Duty. Please be sure to refer to the weekly schedule for your child's assigned day.

Fourth Grade House Cup!

Our fourth graders have officially been placed into their Houses for the Fourth Grade House Cup! Our first House Challenge took place today, and the students were excited to begin earning points for their teams. We can't wait to see their teamwork, leadership, and school spirit throughout the year!

Thank You, Parents!

Thank you to everyone who was able to attend Parent Night of Classes. It was wonderful to see so many of you, and we truly appreciate your support as we begin this new school year!

For those who were unable to attend Parent Night of Classes, please take a moment to review the presentation pinned at the top of this newsletter for the information that was shared.

We are so excited about this year and all the learning, growth, and fun that are ahead! We are looking forward to another fantastic week with our fourth graders!

Here's to a wonderful year ahead!

Miss Eckert and Mrs. Perkins

Math Focus for Next Week:

This week, we will focus on understanding place value to 1,000,000.

Learning Objective(s):

4th Grade students will be able to 4th Graders will be able to:

Home Support:

Any way you can help support our learning is greatly appreciated. Here are some ideas to support this weeks learning objectives:

1. Use Real-Life Numbers (Comparing and Ordering Numbers)

• Ideas: Prices, temperatures, sports scores, time, measurements

• Activity: Ask your child:

• "Which item costs more?"

• "Order these 3 temperatures from coldest to warmest."

2. Rounding in Real Life - Use prices at the store:

• This costs $7.89, what is it rounded to the nearest dollar?”
• “The temperature is 73°F. What’s that rounded to the nearest 10?”

Focus for Next Week:

This week, we will continue our study of sentences by learning about fragments and run-ons. Students will practice identifying and correcting these errors. We will also practice reading stamina – reading continuously for up to 20 minutes. This will begin to prepare the students for independent reading at home.

Learning Objective(s):

Students will be able to:

• Recognize and correct fragments and run-ons.
• Read for fifteen consecutive minutes.

Home Support:

You can encourage your child to read for greater lengths of time by setting up a quiet and comfortable space for reading (free from distractions such as screens). Ask your student to share about what they read: For example: "What was your favorite part?", "Does this remind you of any other stories you have read or movies you have watched?", and "What do you have in common with one of the characters?".

Focus for Next Week:

Students will explore the Four Regions of Texas and their physical features, landmarks, natural resources, and livelihoods.

Learning Objectives:

Students will identify and locate the four regions of Texas, describe their characteristics, and compare how geography and resources influence how people live and work.

Academic Vocabulary:

Region, Physical Features , Landmark , Livelihood , Natural Resources , Climate and Landform

Home Support:

Ask your child to name the four regions of Texas and share one feature, landmark, resource, or livelihood found in each region. Use a map of Texas to locate the regions.

What is Happening in Science/STEM?

What a great beginning of the school year! The students did an excellent job learning that they can describe themselves using science academic language. Students traveled through stations that included measurement, learned what the moon phase was the day they were born, inherited traits, learned behaviors, favorite use of electricity and their favorite science topic to create a scientific tool.

This week in science students will begin their first unit on Forces and Motion. Students will explore how mass affects the rate at which an object falls and record their observations through a lab setting. Students will then compare their predictions to their observations to complete their inquiry activity.

Academic Language

prediction, investigation, observation, communication, variable, speed

A huge Hilltop THANK YOU to our wonderful parent volunteers for serving as your grade-level Class Captains! Please be sure to join the 4th Grade Group on the St. Luke’s App to stay connected and receive important updates and communication throughout the year.

Elizabeth Stephens - ela2883@gmail.com

Christie Thunell - christiethunell@gmail.com