What's Happening in Room 34...

Things You Should Know...

• If you have not reviewed, signed and returned your child's Mid-Quarter Report, please do so as soon as possible. Thank you!

• We will be going on our field trip on Thursday to Grant's Home.  Please make sure your child is at school on time because we will be leaving by 9:15.

• We will have an author visit on Thursday!  Here is more information about the author, Ryan Nusbickel, and his books.

• Looking for new ways to practice multiplication facts?  Click on the "FUN MATH SITES" above and scroll through to find multiplication games.

Dates to Remember... 
            Wednesday:  Library 
            Thursday:  Field Trip - a.m. 
                             Author visit at 1:15
            Friday: Math Test 
     
What's Going on in Our Classroom...

Shout-Outs!

• Ollie completed 18 topics on ALEKS last week!
• Cullen & Claire each completed 11 topics! 
• AND Isaac completed 10 topics!!

Keep up for hard work and determination!  I can't wait to see who our ALEKS topic leaders are this week!

Reader's Workshop:

• Your child should show you his/her completed Reading Log (the back of the Week in Review yellow sheet) for the week.  Please review, sign and return on Monday.

• As we continue reading Tiger Rising, we will focus on character change.  We will take a close look at the main characters and talk about how they are changing in the book.  We will also be reading a couple picture books, Chrysanthemum, Enemy Pie, and Recess Queen whose main character changes from the beginning of the story to the end.

Writer's Workshop:

• The students will begin publishing their personal narrative this week as they learn how to punctuate dialogue, learn when to start a new paragraph and edit for spelling and punctuation errors.  We will have our 1st Writing Celebration on Friday, October 12th at 9:10 - 9:45. We hope you can make it! Invitations will be coming home soon!

Math:

• We will continue working with multiplication this week as the students prepare to learn the process and steps to multiplying large numbers in the next chapter.  This week, the students will learn the properties of multiplication, how to find the factors and multiples of any given number, know how to identify a prime or composite number and work through word problems using multiplication.  The students will be prepared to take a test over this material on Friday.

• During math stations, the students are working on ALEKS, reviewing place value, addition and subtraction and mastering their facts.

• Many students will begin working with 5's this week as they master their multiplication facts.  If your child needs to be re-assessed on the 8's, 9's or 3's, or 6's, they will retake the test on Wednesday.  

Social Studies:

• We will continue to learn about the natural resources, climate, major landforms and landmarks of the West region. 

We had a fun time at the kickball game.....

Our Superstar of the Week!

What's Happening in Room 34...

Things You Should Know...

•  Mid-Quarter Reports will be coming home on Tuesday.  Please review, sign and return as soon as possible.

• The students will be assigned to complete at least 3 topics on ALEKS at home this week.  They will record the completed topics on a form that will be due on Thursday.  If your child needs assistance with a topic, please support him/her by assisting him/her with the examples rather than the actual problems or help him/her choose a different topic he/she is ready to learn.  If he/she advances to the next topic without full understanding, it will hinder his/her progress. The students will need to complete ALL Knowledge Checks at school.  If your child is on a Knowledge Check, he/she has been asked to tell me so I can make sure he/she have time at school to complete it.

• Looking for new ways to practice multiplication facts?  Click on the "FUN MATH SITES" above and scroll through to find multiplication games.

Dates to Remember... 
            Tuesday:  Mid-Quarter Reports coming home! 
                            Library Day
            Wednesday: Picture Day! 
            Friday: NO SCHOOL - Teacher Professional Learning Day
     
What's Going on in Our Classroom...

Reader's Workshop:

• Your child should show you his/her completed Reading Log (the back of the Week in Review yellow sheet) for the week.  Please review, sign and return on Monday.

• We will continue to read Tiger Rising as we study the characters.  We are learning a lot about the characters by what they say and do.  We are learning to put ourselves in the "shoes of the character" as we read.  The students are learning to identify character traits of the characters by looking closely at their actions, thinking, dialogue and feelings.

Writer's Workshop:

• Wow!  The students are doing a wonderful job with their personal narratives.  This past week, the students included creative leads, transitions and "show not tell".  They are having fun showing the reader how they feel in their story without telling them.  (ie:  A tear fell from my eye and my heart started to beat like a drum as I left my friend for the summer. instead of:  I was sad when I left my friend.)
• This week, we will focus on IADD.  We will be adding inner thoughts, action words, description and dialogue to our story to help it come alive.  Be ready for some great stories to read soon!

Math:

• The students did a wonderful job on your math test on Friday.  After reviewing and making corrections, the students will bring them home to share with you on Monday.

• We will begin multiplication this week!  We begin this unit by understanding the relationship between multiplication and division and practicing division by repeated subtraction.

• Many students will begin working with 6's this week as they master their multiplication facts.  If your child needs to be re-assessed on the 8's, 9's or 3's, they will retake the test on Wednesday. 

Science:

• We had a lot of fun with our earthquake STEAM activity.  Take a few minutes to look through the pictures posted on this blog.

• We will take a break from Science and begin Social Studies this week!  Our first unit will be learning about the United States regions.  

Our Latest STEAM Project.....

The students were challenged to design and create a 3-story building that can withstand a 15-second "earthquake" using marshmallows, toothpicks and cardboard.

They began by researching to find out what type of structure will work best in an earthquake.

Next, the students worked together to design their building.

Now the FUN begins... creating their design and running into a lot of challenges...

This group's design completely stayed intact during the earthquake!

Chandler created a challenging problem and taught the class today!

Mapping coordinates of volcanoes along the Ring of Fire

A Very Successful Fun Run!!

What's Happening in Room 34...

Things You Should Know...

• We had a very successful fundraiser and a GREAT time during the Fun Run!  Thank you for all of your support!  We are excited about new technology in our classrooms!

• Scholastic book orders came home on Friday.  If you are interested in ordering any books, please do so by Friday.

• We will have our 1st field trip on October 5th to Grant's home at Grant's Farm.  It is a completely free field trip to introduce the students to Every Kid in a Park!  All 4th graders get free passes to all national parks for the year (and following summer) they are in 4th grade.  This is a great time to start thinking about summer vacation!  Your child will come home with the information the day of the field trip.  Permission slips will be coming home on Monday!

• Our class will be buddies with Mrs. Dupree's 1st-grade class this year!  We will be meeting them on Wednesday to read a book together.  Look for pictures this week! 

• Looking for new ways to practice multiplication facts?  Click on the "FUN MATH SITES" above and scroll through to find multiplication games.

Dates to Remember...  
            Wednesday: Early Release Day
            Friday: Math Test
     
What's Going on in Our Classroom...

Reader's Workshop:

• Your child should show you his/her completed Reading Log (the back of the Week in Review yellow sheet) for the week.  Please review, sign and return on Monday.

• This week, we will continue to read Tiger Rising as we study the characters.  We are learning a lot about the characters by what they say and do.  We are learning to put ourselves in the "shoes of the character" as we read.  The students are learning to identify character traits of the characters by looking closely at their actions, thinking, dialogue and feelings.

Writer's Workshop:

• The students have picked great ideas for their personal narratives!  They have carefully thought about and told their stories aloud to help prepare their writing.  This week, we will focus on creating leads to hook our readers, creative transitions and learn how to "show and not tell" a character's feelings and thoughts.  This type of writing ties nicely to our character study in reading!

Math:

• The students will continue to work with addition and subtraction this week.  They will be subtracting across zeros and solving multi-step word problems.  They will review on Thursday and test over addition and subtraction on Friday.

• Many students will begin working with 3's this week as they master their multiplication facts.  If your child needs to be re-assessed on the 8's or 9's, they will retake the test on Wednesday. 

Science:

• Wow!  The students did an incredible job preparing for their 1st science test!  My hope is for each of them to realize preparing and studying pays off!  Thank you for your support in helping them study at home!

• We will be focusing on volcanoes and earthquakes this week!  The students will be doing a fun lesson using Mystery Science as they learn about the Ring of Fire. They will also do a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) activity.  They will be challenged to create a 3-story "building" that can withstand an earthquake using cardboard, marshmallows, and toothpicks.  This will be a group project where they each share their ideas and work to create.  Keep an eye out for some pictures!

What's Happening in Room 34...

Things You Should Know...

• Intake conferences are scheduled for this Thursday, September 13th.  This will be a time for you and I meet so I can learn more about your child.  It will be a time for us to begin building a partnership and set goals for your child this school year.  

• To help prepare for conferences, please complete this questionnaire. 

• If your child has not yet registered for the fundraiser, they still have this week!  We are raising money to purchase more technology in our classrooms!  If you have any questions, please let me know.

• If you have not yet signed up for Seesaw, click on this LINK, find your child's name, create an account and you will begin seeing your child's work!

Dates to Remember...  
            Wednesday:  Library 
                                 PTO meeting at 6:30
             Thursday:  Science Test (see details below under Science)
                               Intake Conferences
             Friday: Fun Run!  - 4th grade at 1:15
     
What's Going on in Our Classroom...

Reader's Workshop:

• Your child will begin keeping track of their reading at home starting this week!  On the back of the Week in Review, your child will complete the reading log as they read on their chosen 5 days for the week.  You will need to sign it next weekend before it is turned in next Monday.

• This week, we will continue to read Tiger Rising as we study the characters.  We are learning a lot about the characters by what they say and do.  We are learning to put ourselves in the "shoes of the character" as we read.  

Writer's Workshop:

• The students will be studying a few wonderful personal narrative books including Owl Moon, Fireflies, Peter's Chair, and Thunder Cake before diving into their personal narrative.
• They will be selecting their story topic and begin planning it this week.

Math:

• The students will begin our next chapter on addition and subtraction.  In this unit, the students will review and learn to add and subtract large numbers, subtract across zeros, estimate to add and subtract, add and subtract with patterns, and problem-solving using diagrams and pictures.  

• Many students will begin working with 9's this week as they master their multiplication facts.  If your child needs to be re-assessed on the 8's, they will take the test on Wednesday. 

•  I can not stress the importance of your child mastering the multiplication facts early in the school year.  We will begin learning how to multiply large numbers in a couple of weeks and having the facts mastered will make the process much more enjoyable. Most importantly, it will keep the confidence high in math!

Science:

• We will be focusing on volcanoes this week!  The students will be doing a fun lesson using Mystery Science as they learn about the Ring of Fire.

• We will review for our 1st science test this week.  The students have been taking notes and will be using a review that I will hand out on Tuesday to help them prepare.  We will also talk about how to study and prepare for tests. The students will create study cards using the review and their notes.  We will also discuss the importance of preparing for a test over a couple of nights rather than just studying for one night.  I strongly believe that good study habits must be taught, modeled and practiced early to help prepare them for upper grades.  You should see the review and notecards Tuesday night.  (LEAP parents:  I will work with your child individually to make sure they are prepared).

Our Superstar of the Week, Ollie!

Learning About Plate Tectonics Today...

We used graham crackers (Earth's plates) and whipping cream (molten lava) to demonstrate how mountains, earthquakes and volcanoes are formed!

What's Happening in Room 34.....

Things You Should Know...

• Intake conferences are scheduled for this Wednesday and next Thursday, September 13th.  This will be a time for you and I meet so I can learn more about your child.  It will be a time for us to begin building a partnership and set goals for your child this school year.  If you have not yet signed up for a conference time or you need to check on your scheduled time, please use this LINK.  

• To help prepare for conferences, please complete this questionnaire. 

• If you have not yet signed up for Seesaw, click on this LINK, find your child's name, create an account and you will begin seeing your child's work!

• If you have not yet sent in $8 to cover the cost of the Scholastic Storyworks magazine we will be using in school this year, please do so this week.  Thank you!

Dates to Remember...  
            Wednesday: Intake Conferences 
                                Retake of 4's multiplication test, if needed 
             Thursday:  Math test over place value
             Friday: multiplication test over 4's or 8's (depending on your child's progress)
             Saturday:  Crestwood's Fun Fair!

What's Going on in Our Classroom...

Reader's Workshop:

• Your child should have put his/her at home reading plan in place and began reading at least 5 times a week for at least 20 minutes.  I have told the students that if you require your child to read every day, he/she will go by your requirement at home rather than my required 5 times a week.😊

• The students have been sharing their chapter books on Seesaw!  I hope you are signed up and enjoying what your child is sharing.

• We will begin a class read aloud called Tiger Rising.  We will focus on learning how to read intensely as we dive deep into learning about the characters.  The students will participate in a lot of class/partner discussions as we enjoy the book.

Writer's Workshop:

• The students are showing wonderful progress with creating well-developed paragraphs!  We will continue with writing one more this week before we begin planning our 1st writing piece, a personal narrative.

Math:

• The students will continue learning about place value this week before reviewing for a test on Thursday.  On Thursday, the students will come home with a completed review that they can use to practice more before the test on Friday.

Science:

• The students will learn how the Earth has changed over the years as they are introduced to plate tectonics and Pangaea.