Dear fourth grade families,
Please enjoy these updates from our classroom.
Open Classroom Day
We are excited to invite families to join us in the classroom Wednesday, March 21 and 28th for morning meeting (8:30-9:10) and class meeting (2:15-2:50). We'd love for you to see the classroom during our regular activities. We will continue to offer open classroom days on a regular basis throughout the school year.
Reading
We continue to read Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor and Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis. In addition to the social issues in the stories, we are using the texts to practice defining new vocabulary in context. We read the section around the new word and figure out a reasonable definition. This is an important skill in reading more difficult texts and is an area that's tested in the ELA exam. When you read books with your child at home, pause at difficult words, and ask you child to use context clues to figure out the meaning.
Math
Students have completed a practice math test for all three days of the test. We identified measurement, fractions, and decimals as the areas where students need the most improvement. This week, we'll begin working on measurement. Students will be expected to use rulers to measure line segments and objects, and choose the best tools units of measurement for different situations. Students should be familiar with both metric and US units. Talk about units of measurements at home though cooking projects, weighing items on a scale, and estimating the mass, volume, and length of various objects.
ELA Test Prep
In recent weeks, we've been studying strategies for reading both fiction and non-fiction passages and answering questions. This week, we'll begin working on the listening section. Students will practice taking notes on the characters, setting, problem, and solution of passages as well as answering questions about the passage including extended responses. Students will practice organizing their answers around thesis statements and using details from the texts to support their positions.
Word Study
We concluded our study of parts of speech by looking at prepositions, words that show relationships in time and space. Now, we are beginning an individualized study of spelling patterns. Students are looking at their spelling try sheets, selecting words they'd like to practice, and making a list of words with similar spelling patterns. This tailored approach will help students improve in the areas where they need to improve the most. We will also begin weekly individualized spelling quizzes.
Social Studies
We are excited to invite families to join us on the morning of Tuesday, April 3rd as we share our social studies projects. We'll begin the day in the library where students will present three reader's theater stories from West Africa. The share will continue in the classroom as students present skits, songs, posters, and art projects about the three West African Kingdoms of Songhay, Mali, and Ghana. We expect the presentation to end by 10:00.
Best,
Nancy and Stephanie
