Weekly Update

Writing/Spelling

This past week we gathered many "seed story" ideas by prewriting and drafting in our writer's notebooks.  We learned that we can use our memories and stories from our own lives in creating realistic fiction stories.  Next week we will start to gather story plot ideas for our first writing unit, realistic fiction narratives.  We will also start to develop our characters.  As a reminder, we start Spelling this week.  Students will spend a majority of their time studying for spelling outside of class.  Our first Spelling Test will be Friday, September 11th.  

In one prewrite activity, we drew a map of our house to gather writing ideas.  

Seed stories are small moment stories.  If we stretch our seed ideas, we can create long stories with great details!

Reading

In reading this week, we discussed what it means to "read intensely."  We came up with some great ideas!  We even practiced visualizing during our read aloud, "The Tiger Rising" by Kate DiCamillo.  

We also reviewed books that would be "within our reach" as we tried the "5 finger rule" to determine if books are too easy, too challenging, or just right.  Students also became familiar with our class library and added many books to their "books to read" list.  Most students have chosen a good chapter book that they can read at home and school.  We also brainstormed ways to suggest classroom books to our peers.  Students decided they wanted to create a book bin of recommendations, and they got right to work in making it!  We are able to read intensely when we choose books that are within our reach and ones that we think we'll love.  

Math

We had a great week in Math!  We practiced every rotation that will be in full swing next week!  Students will all start math with a minilesson in which they will learn and practice the objective.  Then, they will be involved in one rotation a day (Computers, Activity, Math Games or Problem Solving), rotating daily so that students have the chance to work in each rotation.  Finally, students will be pulled from their rotation to dig deeper in the day's lesson at the back table in a small group setting.  This week we will continue our chapter on place value with rounding.   The Chapter 1 Test will be Friday, September 4th.  Students will receive a study guide this week.  You should have already received the Math At Home family letter and vocabulary flash cards for chapter one on Monday.  These are great resources to use in practicing at home and in supporting students in the chapter concepts.  You will receive these resources when we start each chapter.  You will also see math worksheets coming home in the folder in your child's binder on a daily basis.  If the worksheet has a check at the top, all problems were solved correctly on the first try.  Otherwise, a paper will note the problem numbers that students had to rework for accuracy.  

We learned how to play the "Math Noodlers" game in the Games rotation.

Students practiced logging on to XtraMath and ALEKS.  Students can use these websites at home!

Students got to "clip up" on our recognition chart for completing blue challenge/enrichment worksheets!

Social Studies

So far in social studies we have started with a review of cardinal directions and the 7 continents and 5 oceans of the world.  Students' first quiz will be Thursday, September 3rd.  Using a word bank, they will label a blank map with the 7 continents and 5 oceans.  Students will receive their corrected maps on Monday and they will be kept in the social studies tab of their binders.  Students can also use these websites to study: World Continents and Oceans Level I and Continents Memory Game.  This week we will add the study of landforms to our first social studies unit. 

We practiced cardinal directions by creating a castle floor plan.

Other Important Info.  

• Thank you to all parents who could make Curriculum Night!  An electronic copy of our class handbook can be found  here. 
• Students' first Friday Homework assignment was passed out today.  This week we have a math packet, Standardized Test Prep Chapter 1.  Friday homework is always passed out on Fridays and due the following Friday, so this first assignment is due 9/4.  We alternate with math and writing Friday Homework.  This week students will set up their reflection journals.  More information on reflection journals can be found in next week's Weekly Update
• Spirit Wear orders are due Friday, 9/4.
• LEAP starts this Tuesday, 9/1.  

Weekly Update: The First TWO Days of Fourth Grade!

Thursday, August 20th 

We had an awesome first day of fourth grade!  It was a ton of fun getting to know our classmates and building community.  First, we acted as journalists by interviewing our classmates.  After students interviewed a partner, they introduced him or her to the rest of the class!  

We also practiced Habit 6: Synergize by working in small groups to take on the Marshmallow Challenge, our first STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) activity!  Students could only use 20 pieces of spaghetti, 1 yard of tape, 1 yard of string, and a large marshmallow in constructing the tallest tower in 18 minutes.  Check out the group below with the tallest tower at 45.5 cm!  All students did a fantastic job with this challenge!    

                                       

In the afternoon, we had our first Responsibility Recess.  Normally this extra recess will be held at the end of the day (2:50-3:10) on Wednesdays and Fridays for students who have turned in all homework and had great behavior! 

Finally, we set up our binders.  The binder contains the assignment book, classwork and homework by subject, the take home folder, and a data section for record keeping.  Starting Monday, assignment books should be signed by a parent on a nightly basis in order to verify your child's reading minutes, check for any homework or upcoming tests, and view behavior.  The take home folder is organized with a leave at home (left) and a come back to school (right) side.  Notes to go home and graded work will be sent with students on a daily basis so it is also important to check the take home folder nightly.  Students took some notes home on Friday and will be taking more home next week.  

Other Important Info.

Finally, I want to let you know that we eat lunch at 12:40, so it is recommended that students bring a healthy snack to school.  We eat snack around 11:00 during our reading time.  Students are also welcome to bring a water bottle and a jacket to our classroom.  


Friday, August 21st

We had a wonderful second day of fourth grade!  We continued to build community and practice classroom routines and expectations.  First, we practiced sitting in a circle for our first class meeting.  We reviewed the 7 Habits, applied for classroom leadership positions, and learned more about the clip chart.  Students will start their classroom leadership positions on Monday! 

                         

                                                                                                       

       

Above is our leaders clip chart.  This is used as a type of student recognition system.  Students will "clip up" whenever they are caught doing something great.  We made an ongoing list of ideas together, including helping our classmates or a teacher, being on task, keeping a clean desk, meeting a personal goal, etc.  Students will be rewarded for landing in pink at the top of the chart.  You will know where your child landed at the end of the day by looking at the colored circle in the assignment book. The colored circles correspond with the colors on the clip chart.  More information can be found in our class handbook, which will be available on Curriculum Night this Wednesday, August 26th.  We will start using the clip chart on Monday. 

Next, we participated in our second STEM activity, the Tiny Cups Challenge.  Students used 48 tiny cups to see which group could build the tallest tower in 20 minutes.  The winning group's tower with a height of 75.5 cm is shown below.  Great job, Sarah, Elliot, Tyler, Logan and Jonathan!  

In the afternoon, we started our first read aloud, "Gaby, Lost and Found!"  This is a Mark Twain Nominee.  The purpose of the Mark Twain Award is to provide Missouri students in grades 4-6  with a recommended reading list.  After reading the nominees, students can vote to choose the Mark Twain Award winning book! 

For homework this weekend, students are to bring back any forms that need to be signed and returned in the manila envelope and the $10 classroom money.  Also, students should bring in magazines and/or pictures they are interested in to decorate their writer's notebooks on Monday.  Reading logs, practicing math facts, and other subject assignments will begin on Monday.  

Other Important Info.

• Weekly Updates will continue next week and throughout the school year.  That means that I will hold most blog posts and updates until Friday or sometime over the weekend to recap the week.  
• Curriculum Night is this Wednesday night from 6:30-7:00 in our classroom (Room 34).  You will find out more about our classroom and the fourth grade curriculum.   I hope to see you there! 
• If at any time you have a question or concern or need to contact me, you can do so by emailing me at kleighton@lindberghschools.ws.  Email is the best way to reach me.