Weekly Update

Writing

We have finished our journalism mini-unit.  Mr. Schoenekase even came in to act out a scene for the students to write a news story about.  Students did a great job in listing the important details first!  We will resume with spelling after break with homophones before starting our regular word sorts.  

Reading 

Here are our class magazines.  Students did a great job in researching and writing interesting weather articles!  After break, we will start historical fiction book clubs!  

Math

We finished Chapter 7 with order of operations.  After break, we will start fractions in Chapter 8!   We begin with factors and multiples, prime and composite numbers, and equivalent fractions.  We will also review big topics from previous chapters.  Students will take their Volume I math consumable textbooks home to practice past topics.  Chapter 8 starts the Volume II math textbook.  

Science/S.S. 

We have finished our rocks unit and will resume with Social Studies.  Chapter 3 starts off with the Civil War.  

Winter Party 

THANK YOU to all parent volunteers that helped to make the winter party a success!  The students had a blast!

Other Important Info. 

• Congratulations to Hannah and Michael!  They will represent our class in the school spelling bee on January 20th.  
• Six Flags Read to Succeed reading logs went home.  These are due Friday, February 24th for your child to earn a free Six Flags ticket!  
• Students have two (optional) winter challenges, one from Coach Blake and Coach Small and a reading challenge from Mrs. Leighton.  Notes with more information went home.  
• Report cards will go out at the end of the week of January 2nd.  
• Have a nice Winter Break!  School resumes Wednesday, January 4th.

Weekly Update

Writing

Last Friday we celebrated our persuasive essays!  In groups, we shared our essays and our group members would hold up a green candy cane if they agreed with the argument/thesis or a red candy cane if they did not.  Students had a lot of fun with it!  Right now we are in the middle of our journalism unit.  We have read many different articles and have discussed how to summarize a news story with the "5 W's" and "1 H."   We also talked about the inverted triangle of journalism.  As a reminder, students won't have another spelling test until January because of the class spelling bees this Friday and next Monday (see details below in "Other Important Info.") . 

Writing celebration 

Summarizing news articles

Using the inverted triangle

Reading 

We have finished our text structures/natural disasters project.  See the next blog post for pictures of the magazines!  After break, we will start historical fiction book clubs!  

Math

So far in Chapter 7 we have extended numeric and nonnumeric patterns, described patterns in a sequence, and worked with patterns in word problems.  We will finish the week with addition, subtraction, multiplication and division patterns with in/out tables and order of operations.  There is no Chapter 7 test.  After break, we will start fractions in Chapter 8!

Science

In our rocks unit, we have read about topics such as the different types of rocks, the rock cycle, and weathering and erosion.  The Chapter 5 Rocks Test is this Friday.  It is an open book/note test.  Extra credit and practice activities are available through the online textbook, and they are due next Tuesday. 

Other Important Info. 

• The class spelling bees will take place this Friday, December 16th and Monday, December 19th.   The winner from each bee will represent our class in the school bee on January 20th.  
• The Winter Party is Tuesday, December 20th from 2-3pm. 
• Winter Break starts Wednesday, 12/21, and school resumes Wednesday, January 4th.
• All tests and essays should be signed and returned.  

Weekly Update

Writing

In Writing, we are currently revising and editing our persuasive essays. In these essays, we have added counterarguments and facts!  Persuasive essays are due Friday, 12/9.  Then, we will have a mini journalism unit until the end of the year.  Students won't have another spelling test until January because of the upcoming class spelling bee (see details below in "Other Important Info.") .  

Reading 

In reading groups, we are continuing to work on our natural disaster projects.  All groups are typing and putting their magazines together.  I can't wait to see the finished products! 

Math

We have finished all the lessons in Chapter 6 on long division.  The Chapter 6 Test is Wednesday, 12/7.  Study guides went home on Friday and are due Tuesday.  Students should continue to work in their froggy packets and keep up with homework to review.  It is still very important that students continue to practice those facts- many errors are made in long division when the multiplication is wrong.  On Thursday we will start Chapter 7 on patterns and sequences.

Social Studies 

This past week students finished Chapters 1/2 and created a class study guide.  We will work on the study guide on Monday and students will have an open book/note test on Thursday, 12/8.  We will resume with Chapter 3 in Social Studies after our Science unit.  

Science

This week we will also start our new Science unit on rocks.  We will learn about metamorphic, igneous and sedimentary rocks!  It's a fun unit!   The Rocks Test will be Friday, December 16th.  

Other Important Info. 

• Classroom spelling bee practice words went home on Friday on the back of the Great American SpellCheck newspaper.  There will be two classroom spelling bees, and the winner from each bee will represent our class in the school bee on January 20th.  The class bees will be Friday, December 16th and Monday, December 19th.  
• Scholastic book orders were passed out Friday.  They are due Monday, 12/5.  Click here to order online!  (Our class code is L8V73.)  You may also return the paper order form with a check made out to "Scholastic Reading Club." 
• Wednesday, 12/7, is an Early Release Day with dismissal at 1:40.  Please make sure your child knows how they are going home.
• The Winter Party is Tuesday, December 20th from 2-3pm. 
• Winter Break starts Wednesday, 12/21, and school resumes Wednesday, January 4th.
• XtraMath is a great resource to help students with their multiplication and division facts.   
• All tests and essays should be signed and returned.  

Weekly Update

Writing

We continued in our persuasive unit this past week.  Students participated in debates and chose their persuasive topic!  This week we will begin drafting our essays.  The next Spelling Test is Friday, December 2nd.

Reading 

In reading groups, we are continuing to work on our natural disaster projects.  Many students have begun typing their articles for their group's magazine.  Students are working hard and their work is turning out great!  I can't wait to show you the finished product!  Just take a look at some of the awesome resources that the groups have used in putting together their magazine!

Also this past week, we started our new read aloud, "No Talking" by Andrew Clements.  Andrew Clements is a great author for fourth grade students!

Math

This past week we learned long division!  Students are doing well with it so far.  Ask them what they were taught to help them in remembering the steps!  It is important that students continue to practice their facts and keep up with math homework to stay on track!  

Social Studies 

Students are working on their Famous Missourian reports!  These are due this Tuesday, 11/22!  Check out one student's progress!

         

          

Other Important Info. 

• There will be no school Wednesday, 11/23 - Friday, 11/25 for Thanksgiving Break! 
• Remember, XtraMath is a resource to help students with their multiplication and division facts.   
• All tests should be signed and returned.  

Weekly Update

Writing

This week we will start our persuasive essays!  It will be nice for students to use the same structure and organization as our opinion piece.  Because of Thanksgiving break, we will not have another spelling test until Friday, December 2nd! 

Reading 

In reading groups, we are continuing to research natural disasters.  Group members are working to create a "magazine" with articles using different text structures and text features.  They're doing a great job researching! 

Math

We finished Chapter 5 with our test on Friday!  This means that we are moving on to division in Chapter 6!  So, it is still very important that students study their multiplication and division facts!

Social Studies 

In Chapter 2 this week we talked about Missouri becoming a state and important cities in Missouri.  We also briefly discussed important events such as Lewis and Clark and the Oregon and Santa Fe Trails.  We will revisit these big events in our history!  Right now we are currently researching famous Missourians.  

Other Important Info. 

• I hope everyone had a great Veterans Day!  Thank you to all who have served our country! 
• Picture Retakes are this Friday, 11/18. 
• There will be no school Wednesday, 11/23- Friday, 11/25 for Thanksgiving Break! 
• Remember, XtraMath is a resource to help students with their multiplication and division facts.   
• All tests should be signed and returned.  

Weekly Update

Writing

This past week we edited our personal essays.  These are due by this Friday.  Then, we will work on our persuasive essays.  The next Spelling Test is Friday, November 11th. Students should have their words in their binders.  

Reading 

In reading groups, we are continuing to research natural disasters, study text structure, and notice different text features as we prepare for an upcoming research project.  Stay tuned for more details.  

Math

This past week students learned how to multiply two-digit by two-digit numbers using the traditional method.  Students watched the video below to help them with "Turtlehead Multiplication." The Chapter 5 Math Test is this Friday, 11/11.  Study guides should be in students' binders.  As a reminder, students should be coming home with math worksheets with either checks (all correct) or "Fix #s..".  

Social Studies 

In Chapter 2 this week, we learned about Native American tribes and The French who used to call Missouri home.  We will continue in this chapter this week.  

Halloween Party

Thank you to all parents who volunteered for the Halloween Party!  The students had a blast!  

Other Important Info. 

• Remember, XtraMath is a resource to help students with their multiplication facts.  All students came home with a username and password.  
• All tests should be signed and returned.  The Chapter 4 Math Test did not have a stamp on it, but it should still come back to school with a signature if possible.  
• Long's Music Program is this Thursday, 11/10.  
• There is No School November 7th and 8th. Enjoy the 4-day weekend!

Weekly Update

Writing

This past week we added interesting ministories, a great lead, and a reflective conclusion to our personal essays.  These will be finished in class by this Friday, and then we will move on to our persuasive essays.  The next Spelling Test will be Friday, November 11th. 

Reading 

Last week we studied text features like bold print, pictures and captions, headings and subheadings, charts and diagrams, and many more!  In reading groups, we are researching natural disasters such as tornadoes, hurricanes, blizzards, volcanoes, earthquakes, and tsunamis for an upcoming project.  

Math

In Chapter 5, students multiply a two-digit number by another two-digit number.  We are currently rounding numbers before multiplying (ex. 50 X 30).  However, this week we will learn to multiply two numbers such as 73 X 45 to find an actual answer.  

Social Studies 

We are almost done with Chapter 1 and will soon be moving to Chapter 2!  We will have a test over both chapters after finishing Chapter 2, so be on the look out for an upcoming test date.  

Other Important Info.

• A BIG THANK YOU for attending conferences this past week!  I appreciate your partnership in your child's education! 
• The school-wide Halloween parade starts at 1:35 tomorrow.  The classroom Halloween parties will follow.  Students are to bring their costumes to school in a bag.  They will have enough time to change for the festivities after recess.  
• XtraMath passwords and logins have gone home with students.  This is an optional way for students to study their multiplication facts.  
• There is No School November 7th and 8th. 

Weekly Update

Writing

This past week we were busy drafting the bones of our personal essays.  We will be adding in ministories to support our thesis, captivating leads, interesting word choice, and more in our upcoming minilessons.  The next Spelling Test will be this Friday, October 28th. 

Reading 

Last week we studied text structures.  In our minilessons and reading groups, we underlined key words to help us in determining if a text was organized as a description, order and sequence, compare and contrast, cause and effect, or problem and solution.  Students did great with it!  This week we will continue to discuss text structures while adding text features to our nonfiction study! 

Also, THANK YOU parents for your spare change donations last week!  We were able to buy A TON of books for our class library!  Students were super excited to pick out the classroom library books!  On Friday, we raffled them off to see who would get to read them first.  It was a lot of fun, and I love that books excite them! 

Math

This past week we started multiplying a one-digit number by a multi-digit number.  It is important that students continue to study the steps in long multiplication as well as study their multiplication facts on a nightly basis.  The Chapter 4 Test is this Wednesday, October 26th.   We are working on the study guide and reviewing early this week.  In Chapter 5, students will by multiplying a two-digit number by another two-digit number.  

Social Studies 

So far in Chapter 1 we have discussed landforms in Missouri.  We will continue with regions of Missouri, famous Missourians, and big cities in Missouri. 

Other Important Info.

• Fall Conferences are this Monday 10/24 and Wednesday 10/26.  
• There is No School November 7th and 8th.