Weekly Update

Writing/Spelling

This past week in writing, we made sure to add persuasive words and transition words in our essays.  We also discussed that we need to add facts that will persuade our audiences.  We will continue to work on these things and editing as we continue to develop our essays.  We will finish these persuasive essays by our celebration date of Friday, December 4th.  The next Spelling Test will be Friday, December 11th.

Reading

In reading this past week, we continued to study the structure of nonfiction texts.  We will begin to look at more challenging texts that use multiple text structures.  Again, this is helping us to better read and understand nonfiction texts.  

We practiced identifying text structures by highlighting clues
and key words in short passages with our reading partner!  

Math

This past week we learned the steps of long division!  This is still challenging for some students, and we will continue to work on learning and correctly using the multiple steps.  Below is a picture Division Man, who helps us to remember those steps!  It is important that students keep up with the math homework pages that are assigned a couple times each week during the months of November and December.  It is also vital that they know their facts!

Social Studies

In Social Studies, we have finished Chapter 3 and have started Chapter 4.  Students find Chapter 4 pretty interesting as it explains westward expansion and Lewis and Clark!

  Other Important Info.

• Tomorrow students will take home The Great American Spell Check newspaper to help them in studying for the classroom spelling bee and possibly the school-wide spelling bee.  Our classroom spelling bee will be held in December before winter break.  Our classroom winners will then participate in the school spelling bee on January 15th!  Good luck, students!  
• Don't forget to be filling out the Six Flags Read to Succeed Reading Logs.  If a student is wanting to participate, they need to read 6 hours in addition to their class reading log minutes.  As a reward, they will receive a free admission ticket to Six Flags theme park. These reading logs are due Friday, February 12th.  
• Thanksgiving Break starts Wednesday, November 25th.  School will resume Monday, November 30th (an "E" day).  Have a great break!  

Weekly Update

Writing/Spelling

This past week in our writing unit we participated in debates!  Students came up with some pretty persuasive reasons and evidence for their assigned point of view.  Check out some of our debates below- and don't miss the captions that provide information on the winning opinion!  New spelling words won't be passed out until after Thanksgiving break.  The next Spelling Test will be Friday, December 11th.

Most students voted, "NO."

Most students voted, "Yes."

By ONE vote, "Yes" won the debate!

The majority voted, "NO."

Reading

In our reading unit, we are studying how nonfiction texts are organized.  We are studying texts that are structured by chronological order, cause and effect, compare and contrast, and problem and solution.  This is helping us to better read and understand nonfiction text.  

Math

This week we will start Chapter 6, "Divide by a One-Digit Number."  Again, it is important that your child knows their multiplication and division facts.  They should be practicing facts for fluency on a nightly basis.  

Social Studies

In Social Studies, we are currently studying timelines in Chapter 3.  We will continue with Chapters 3 ("The First People of Missouri") and 4 ("The Arrival of Europeans") before resuming in our science units.  

Other Important Info.  

• This Wednesday, November 18th is an early release day with dismissal at 1:40.  Please make sure your child knows how they are getting home.  

• The contest is almost over!!  Don't forget to click here to vote for Long Elementary to get new playground equipment!   

Weekly Update

Writing/Spelling

This past week we started our persuasive essays by brainstorming opinions in which we would want to persuade either our parents, teachers, or friends.  In this part of the unit, we will also hold debates!  The Spelling Test will be this Friday, November 13th.

Reading

This week we finished our read aloud, The Tiger Rising!  Check out the graffiti wall we made below! (Unless you want to read the book- there are some spoilers!)

We started our nonfiction unit that will further support our essay unit and our upcoming nonfiction book unit in writing.  We are reading a lot of nonfiction.  As fourth graders, students should read 1/2 nonfiction texts and 1/2 fiction texts.  

Math

Students have been doing a good job in solving 2-digit by 2-digit multiplication problems this past week.  Below you will find a video that we watched to help us with the many steps!  The Chapter 5 Test is this Friday, November 13th.  Students will be working on the study guide this week.  Instead of the regular Standardized Test Prep. or Reflection Journal Friday Homework for the month of November, students will have math homework on an almost nightly basis.  You can check the blog's "Homework" tab against your child's assignment book to find the nights that homework was assigned.  

Social Studies

In Social Studies, we will continue with Chapters 3 ("The First People of Missouri") and 4 ("The Arrival of Europeans") before resuming in our science units.  

Other Important Info.  

• Class t-shirt money is due by Friday, November 13th!
• Six Flags Read to Succeed Reading Logs were passed out this past week and are due Friday, February 12th.  If a student is wanting to participate, they need to read 6 hours in addition to their class reading log minutes.  As a reward, they will receive a free admission ticket to Six Flags theme park.   
• Don't forget to click here to vote for Long Elementary to get new playground equipment!   

Weekly Update

Writing/Spelling

Students are doing a great job with their personal essays, and we will finish them this week! Then, we will move on to our persuasive essays!  It will be nice to have the same structure and organization for both pieces.   The Spelling Test will be next Friday, November 13th.

Reading

In reading groups, we practiced fluency by reading The Legend of Sleepy Hollow play this past week!  Then, we watched a video of the story told by Glenn Close!  We will continue to read debates from our StoryWorks magazines to support our essay unit. 

Math

We will start Chapter 5 tomorrow.  It is very important that students know their multiplication facts because we will multiply by 2-digit numbers in this chapter!

Social Studies

The Chapter 2 ("Our State Today") Test will be this Friday, November 6th.  Students will recieve the study guide tomorrow in class.  They will need to know the surrounding states of Missouri, the capital of Missouri, famous Missourians, how to find location using latitude and longitude, and how to read a population map.  We will continue with Chapters 3 ("The First People of Missouri") and 4 ("The Arrival of Europeans") before resuming in our science studies.  

The Halloween Party!
A big THANK YOU to all parents who brought in party supplies and volunteered at the Halloween Party!  Students had a blast!

Other Important Info.  

• Don't forget to click here to vote for Long Elementary to get new playground equipment!   
• This Friday, November 6th is Long's Picture Retake Day!