The Weekly Update #7

Dear Families,

I can't believe how quickly this year is going by! It is already time for parent-teacher conferences. Please sign up for a time using this link: Parent-teacher conference sign up

Homework:

Students are working on learning their mailing address as part of our geography unit. Please help your child learn this important personal information. We will test it on the week of Oct 5th.

Reading: Packets are given every Friday and due the following Friday.

Independent Reading: Students should read at least 10-20 minutes an evening or 60 minutes a week. Student reading logs are due every Friday.

Math: We have started our multiplication unit. Please practice multiplication with your child. They can practice using Thatquiz.org or just using flash cards are great ways to gain mastery.

Students will also continue to have math practice 3-4 nights a week. It is due the next day. However, if they forget their homework, please encourage them to complete it, and bring it in. I DO accept late work.

A HUGE THANK YOU to our PTO and those of you who have already signed up! On October 22nd students will get to view live animals and learn about their adaptations and habitats. Even though PTO has paid for the program, parents MUST still give permission on My School Bucks to participate. So please click on the provided link to sign your child up for this great program: Nature Educators Animal Program

Here is a brief look at our learning targets and what we did this past week:

Learning Targets:

I can read fluently and comprehend nonfiction texts.

I can sequence a story and understand sequence nonfiction text structures.

I can understand text features of nonfiction and a story.

I can write a summary of a text and apply sequencing skills.

I can write in complete sentences consistently.

I can accurately multiply.

I can learn and understand how we use longitude and latitude.

I can learn and understand about our changing Earth and how humans respond to it.

I can learn and understand about plate tectonics and its effect on Earth.

Social Skills: Students learned about grit. We had some great conversations about the value of waiting and working for what we want.

Reading: We started leveled novel groups. We are reading: Poppy, Mercy Watson, The Giraffe, Pelly and Me, and The Fantastic Mr. Fox. All of these stories have a food web element to them and literary elements. Students will be working on building knowledge of literary elements, vocabulary, and comprehension skills. I started reading The Tale of Despereaux to the kids as a model for recognizing literary elements, building comprehension skills, and understanding thematic elements.

We also continued to focus on sequencing skills. We practiced these strategies with nonfiction and fiction texts.

Writing: We continued to learn about written responses to questions, and how to construct sentences. We continued our study of understanding subjects and predicates. We will work on this for a few weeks.

We are working on applying our sequencing skills to writing a summary. The kids have made good improvements. We will continue with this for a few weeks.

Math: Students had their chapter test on addition and subtraction skills. We also started our multiplication unit. This unit opens with multiple digit multiplication. Fourth grade math is extra difficult if a student does not have mastery of multiplication facts. Please work on this skill at home to help build your child's success and confidence in math.

Here are some ways you can help your child in math at home:

1. Have your child practice multiplication facts.

2. Encourage consistent homework completion.

Social Studies: As part of our local geography lessons your child was pre-tested on the knowledge of his/her mailing address and parent phone numbers. This is an important safety skill at this age since kids start to go to friend's houses and become more independent. I will test them on their addresses in a couple of weeks. The test will be self-addressing an envelope. If they accurately address it, then they will receive something in the mail.

Thank you for your support and care in helping your child learn his/her mailing address.

Science: Students learned about volcanoes this week. We had a lot of fun learning about different types of volcanoes, their parts, and how they work. On Friday, the kids made baking soda and vinegar volcano models. We had a blast!

Next week, we will finish our lab reports and continue our study of our changing Earth.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

Best wishes,

Hope Crawley

Reminders:

September 28 - October 2 - Book Fair

September 28 - Class Picture Re-Takes

October 2 - Friday Late Start (first bell is 9:10am)

October 2 - Popcorn Friday

October 5-9 - Parent Teacher Conferences

October 12-16 - Fall Break

October 30 - Halloween Parade And Class Parties