Weekly Update

Writing/Spelling

Students are continuing to draft, revise, and edit their literary essays about the picture book, "Fox."  The Homophones Sort #2 Spelling Test is this Friday, April 22nd. 

Reading

We are continuing to close read and dig deeper into the text.  We are also adding in some MAP review so that we feel confident in taking the test next week! 

Math

Today we finished Chapter 12 on the metric system with the test.  The rest of this week we will be working on Chapters 13 and 14 on area/perimeter and geometry, respectively.  However, we will not test on these topics until after MAP testing.  Following MAP testing, we will have a area and perimeter quiz.  Then, we will review and test Chapter 14.  Of course, a study guide will be sent home closer to the test date.  Chapters 13 and 14 are the last chapters in the textbook!  

Social Studies 

The Social Studies quiz over the three branches of government will be this Friday, April 22nd.  Students received the study guide today.  

Other Important Info.

• This Wednesday, April 20th is an Early Release Day with dismissal at 1:40.  Please make sure your child knows how they are going home.  
• Fourth grade starts MAP testing next week!  ELA (Reading) will be tested April 25th-26th and Math will be tested April 27th.  Please try not to schedule any appointments on these days.   Students should get a good night's sleep and eat a healthy breakfast!
• Among many other notes, students brought home a permission slip for our last field trip of the year.  We will be going to the Daniel Boone Home on May 19th!

Weekly Update

Writing/Spelling

This past week students brainstormed their thesis about the book "Fox" for their literary essays.  We will continue to work on these essays this week.  On Monday, students will get their second and final spelling words on homophones.  The Spelling Test will be Friday, April 22nd. 

Reading

To help students in thinking deep about texts in writing a literary essay and in book clubs, we have started close reading.  With close reading, we reread texts multiple times in order to dig deeper (ex.find the main idea and supporting details, identify cause and effect, describe the author's craft, explain the moral/lesson of the text, find figurative language, etc.).  Look at the thinking we came up with for the poem, "Victory."

Math

We are in the middle of Chapter 12, metric measurement.  On Friday we learned how to convert metric units, and students are doing well with it so far.  Our notes help us in remembering how to convert these foreign units.  

Social Studies 

We are currently working on a Social Studies mobile project to help us in understanding and differentiating the three branches of government.  The government test will be next week (more details in this coming Weekly Update). 

Other Important Info.

• You should have received an email from Dr. Parker last week regarding MAP testing.  Fourth grade plans on testing April 25th-26th.  Please try not to schedule any appointments on these days.   Students should get a good night's sleep and eat a healthy breakfast!

Weekly Update

Writing/Spelling

This past week students amazed me as we started our literary essay unit!  We are reading and analyzing a picture book called Fox, and so far we have almost read it twice.  We keep stopping after every page, or sometimes even paragraph, to discuss all that the book has to offer.  Look at some of the awesome thinking we have documented so far. 

This past week we also received new spelling words.  We all have the same words as we study homophones.  The Spelling Test is this Friday, April 8th.  

Reading

We have started our new read aloud, "Matilda!"  Students love it so far!  As a reminder, book clubs meet every Wednesday and Friday.  Students should be prepared to meet by reading the assigned pages and filling out a book club role sheet.  

Math

We finished Chapter 11 on customary measurement on Friday.  On Monday we will move on to metric units of length, capacity and mass in Chapter 12. 

Social Studies 

We have been reviewing the three branches of government and learning the Preamble of the Constitution.  Look at the previous blog post for helpful and catchy Social Studies videos! 

Other Important Info.

• You should have received an email from Dr. Parker this week regarding MAP testing.  Fourth grade plans on testing April 25th-26th.  

Video and Website Links!

Social Studies
The students really liked this video to help them review the 3 branches of government.  (Click on the pictures to get to the links.)

Students can get extra credit in Social Studies by memorizing the preamble to the Constitution.  Here is a School House Rock video to help them learn it!

Math
Quizlet has two measurement sets of digital flashcards and games that will help students on the test this Friday, 4/1!

Remember the username for Quizlet is long-leighton and the password is leighton.  

Weekly Update

Writing/Spelling

I can't wait to have the students' famous Missourian pages printed!  They worked so hard.  We will have our very own copy of the published book in our classroom library!  After spring break, we will move on to our literary essay unit.  Spelling will also resume after spring break.

Reading

We finished our class read aloud "Rump," so we will start our new read aloud after spring break.  Analyzing our main character Rump (or Rumpelstiltskin) will help us with our next reading and writing unit on literary essays and digging deeper into the text in book clubs.  As a reminder, book clubs meet every Wednesday and Friday.  

Math

This week we converted units of weight and time. After spring break, we will continue in Chapter 11 by making line plots and solving measurement word problems.  Our Chapter 11 Test will be Friday, April 1st.  

Social Studies 

When we return from break, we will resume with our government chapter in Social Studies (Chapter 9).  

Other Important Info.

• Spring Break is March 21st-25th! 
• Spring conferences are optional. Invitations were sent last week to parents with whom I am requesting a spring conference.  If I had not requested a conference but you would like to meet, you may sign up via SignUpGenius using this link: SignUpGenius.  Spring conferences are held on Thursday, March 31st from 3:45-7:00 PM.
• We have a half day on Friday, April 1st with dismissal at 11:40.  Please make sure your child knows how they are going home.  No lunch will be served.  

Weekly Update

Class Book!

Remember, you have a chance to buy a copy of the class book that we are making!  Students are doing a great job on these!  Congratulations to Bella, Jill and Caroline who will be working on the illustrations on the cover and Table of Contents pages!  Please reference the order form and envelope your student brought home. The form must be returned for ALL students, either marked "YES" at the top or "NO" at the bottom for purchasing a book. Below is a picture of the form that went home.  These forms are due this Thursday, March 17th.  

You can learn more about these books at http://www.studentreasures.com/.  

Other Important Info.

• Spring Break is March 21st-25th! 
• Spring conferences are optional. Invitations were sent last week to parents with whom I am requesting a spring conference.  If I had not requested a conference but you would like to meet, you may sign up via SignUpGenius starting this Friday, March 18th.  I will be emailing the link that day with the Weekly Update.  Spring conferences are held on Thursday, March 31st from 3:45-7:00 PM.

Here is an updated class picture! 

Writing/Spelling

Students are doing an awesome job in researching their famous Missourian and writing a page about their importance and accomplishments.  Great job, students!  Next week we will move on to our literary essay unit.  Spelling will resume after Spring Break.  

Reading

Book clubs meet every Wednesday and Friday.  Students are having some awesome conversations!  

Math

Right now we are converting units of capacity. Next, we will work with units of weight.  In class we are making minibooks that will help us with these conversions.  

 We have 10 students that have completed their 4th Grade ALEKS pies and are working on 5th Grade topics!  Congratulations Isabella, Nora, Sarah, McKenzie, Blake, Tyler, Alvin, Vanessa, Jill and Caroline!  

Science

Our science test on electricity is this Thursday, March 17th.  Students came home with the study guide today.  However, they need to bring these back so we can work on them in class.  I will also check them for correct answers.  Don't forget that students can access our online textbook and complete the practice activities and games for extra credit.  Extra credit is due this Friday.  

Weekly Update

Class Book!

On Friday I sent home order forms for our classroom book that we are currently making!  Our next writing project is for students to research and write a page about a Famous Missourian.  They will then draw a corresponding picture to go with their writing.  This will all be completed in class.  Each child will produce two pages, and these pages will then be turned into a nice, color, hardbound class book that will be featured in our school library.  Each class in each grade level at Long is working on a class book, and every one will be unique.  You also have a chance to buy one of these class books.  Please reference the order form and envelope your student brought home The form must be returned for ALL students, either marked "YES" at the top or "NO" at the bottom for purchasing a book. You can learn more about these books at http://www.studentreasures.com/.  

Also, our book will have other text features, such as a cover page.  There is only one cover page, but we have 25 students in our class.  So, we are holding a Cover Page Contest!  This means that we will hold a vote this Friday to determine our cover page winner.  Good luck, students! 

Other Important Info.

• This Friday, 3/11 is Spring Pictures Day! 
• You will receive 3rd Quarter Report Cards sometime this week via email.  
• Spring Break is March 21st-25th! 
• Spring conferences are optional. I will be sending out invitations to parents with whom I am requesting a spring conference this Friday (3/11) via an email from SignUpGenius.  If I had not requested a conference but you would like to meet, you may sign up via SignUpGenius starting March 18th.  I will be emailing the link that day.  Spring conferences are held on Thursday, March 31st from 3:45-7:00 PM.

Writing

Last Friday we celebrated our informational books by getting to read students' books in all fourth grade classes!  We learned so much! 

Reading

Book clubs meet every Wednesday and Friday.  Students are having some awesome conversations!  Keep it up!  

Math

We took the Chapter 10 Math Test on fractions and decimals on Monday.  We will now start customary measurement with length, capacity, and then weight.  

Science

Last week we built circuits!  Check out the fun we had!  We will be wrapping up this chapter this week.  Stay tuned for the test date in the next Weekly Update.