Weekly Update

Writing

This week students continued to add descriptive details to their writing.  We also focused on writing dialogue, making sure it was correctly punctuated.  Also within editing, we learned when to create new paragraphs.  We will continue to study dialogue and paragraphing this week.  Students are making good progress with their stories!  

Reading

This week we are going to focus on using the story arc and characters to develop significant ideas about the book, as well as find meaning in repeated details.  We are a little over halfway through with "The Tiger Rising," and students are loving it!

Math

On Monday we will review Chapter 2, and students will bring home their study guides.  The Chapter 2 Test is this Tuesday, 9/19.   It is important that students continue to study multiplication facts at home. 

Here we are playing a favorite multiplication game in class!

Social Studies/Science

Below are some of the students' US region/states suitcases!  They will get their graded rubrics and suitcases to take home tomorrow.  They did an awesome job presenting their suitcases last week!  This week we will look more into ecosystems and food chains in science.  The vocabulary quiz will be next Monday, September 25th.  

This week we will discuss the website Quizlet as a means of studying vocabulary words.  Everyone uses the same class account:

Username:  Long-Leighton

Password:  leighton

(The username and password are case sensitive!)

Other Important Info.

• There is no school this Friday, September 22nd. 
• Students received a permission slip for our first field trip last week!  Fourth grade students will be headed to Babler State Park on October 11th for Missouri Heritage Days, where we will find out more about the pioneer days. 
• Mid-quarter Reports will go out this week to parents of students with a C or below in any subject. However, please note that we have just started our first science unit, writing grades will not be posted until students finish their first writing assignment (realistic fiction narratives), and reading grades will not be posted until the end of the quarter as they reflect students' current reading levels.   

Weekly Update

Writing

This week students worked on adding details to their writing!  We also focused on writing captivating leads!  In doing this, we looked at many different mentor texts.  This week we will work more with adding details while we draft, while also looking at grammar- specifically within dialogue.   

Reading

This past week we continued to study the characters in "The Tiger Rising," noticing their patterns and how that affects the story.  We also continued to discuss the story scenes and retell the story by synthesizing.  This means that we used backstory and character traits to help us in summarizing what we read.  We will work on these big ideas this week as well. 

Math

In Chapter 2, we have worked with addition and subtraction rules and patterns as well as estimating sums and differences. This week we will continue with a review of regrouping and subtracting across zeros.  The Chapter 2 Test is set for Tuesday, 9/12.  Students took home the Chapter 2 "Math At Home" family letter on Tuesday.

Social Studies/Science

Students are presenting their US Regions project tomorrow!  That is when I will be capturing all of their hard work and can post the final products on the next Weekly Update!  Because we switch with social studies and science instruction, we will start our first science unit on Ecosystems after social studies presentations this week.

  

Other Important Info.

• This Wednesday, September 13th is an Early Release Day with dismissal at 1:40.  Please make sure your child knows how they are getting home.
• Scholastic book orders were sent home this week!  Click here if you would like to order online!  (Our class code is L8V73.)  You may also return the paper order form with a check made out to "Scholastic Book Clubs."  Orders are due Tuesday, September 12th.  
• As a reminder, all notes and graded work going home can be found in the very front pocket of your child's accordion file.  This is also where the assignment book is kept. 
• Chapter 1 Tests went home last week, and all tests need to be signed and returned.  Tests will be marked with a "parent signature" stamp.  
• Current grades can be viewed using SIS.  Grades are updated weekly.  

Scholastic Book Orders!

On Tuesday, students received the first Scholastic book order!  Click here if you would like to order online!  (Our class code is L8V73.)  You may also return the paper order form with a check made out to "Scholastic Book Clubs."  Orders are due Tuesday, September 12th.  
Happy Reading!  

Weekly Update

Writing

We worked hard this past week in writing!  We created believable characters for our writing unit.  This means that we thought about our characters' external and internal characteristics, including positive and negative character traits to balance our characters.  We also met our first writing partners of the year and started our story plots to brainstorm our five realistic fiction story scenes! 

Reading

This past week we took a closer look at the characters in our read aloud, "The Tiger Rising."  Students also did a great job visualizing the story scenes, which is a great strategy to help with reading intensely and understanding the story!  We will continue to focus on characters and retelling certain chapters this week. 

Math
We have finished Chapter 1 and will start Chapter 2 tomorrow!  Chapter 2 is a review of addition and subtraction.  We will start with addition and subtraction rules and patterns as well as estimating.  Students will take home the Chapter 2 "Math At Home" family letter and vocabulary flashcards tomorrow.   It is also important that they practice their multiplication facts at home!  

Social Studies

This past week we chose a region to study further with a partner!  Students are currently decorating a "suitcase" (manila folder) to represent the climate, resources and vegetation, landforms, attractions, and symbols of their state!  I can't wait to share the final products!   

Other Important Info.

• As a reminder, all notes and graded work going home can be found in the very front pocket of your child's accordion file.  This is also where the assignment book is kept. 
• Graded math tests will be coming home this week, and all tests need to be signed and returned.  Tests will be marked with a "parent signature" stamp.  
• Current grades can be viewed using SIS.  Grades are updated weekly.  

Weekly Update

Writing

This past week we started our first writing unit, Realistic Fiction!  So far, 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.  This week we will continue prewriting and drafting, focusing on creating believable characters in our stories.  

Reading

This past week we started our read aloud book, "TheTiger Rising!"  Students seem to really like the book so far, as they beg for me to read more chapters!  I am amazed at the "intense" thoughts they are having while reading.  As we read, students are writing their thoughts and ideas on sticky notes and keeping those in their reader's notebooks.  Instead of writing an important event, naming a new character, or making a connection, students are digging deep!  They are asking questions and wondering why the author would include certain details in the text.  They are giving character traits to our characters and using evidence and clues from the text to support their ideas.  And this is week one!  While we familiarized ourselves with the classroom library and discussed ways to read intensely this past week, we will really study characters this week.  

Math

This week we started our first chapter on place value- identifying place value, writing numbers in expanded and word form, and comparing numbers.  

Earlier this week, students brought home a "Math At Home" letter that describes what they will learn in the current chapter and details extra activities for further practice.  Students also bring home their practice pages done in class on a daily basis.  A check mark means the student got the entire worksheet correct the first time.  If it says "Fix #" and those numbers are checked, the student worked on these problems with me.  If there are no checks on the "Fix #," then the student needs to correct them at home.  

                                      

 

Also this past week, we practiced all of our math rotations.  We took a pre-assessment on ALEKS, a program that tailors math topics to your child's needs.  Students can work on ALEKS at home!  We also completed two place value activities and one is shown below.  

Students made their own place value charts!

We do move quickly in Math. This coming Friday, September 1st, we will have our first math test over Chapter 1.   Students will be working on a study guide in class.  

Social Studies

This past week we reviewed cardinal directions.  Those will help us this week as we begin our study of the US regions!  

Eclipse

WOW!  What an amazing experience!  A big thank you to parents who came and enjoyed totality with us!  We enjoyed having you a part of our exciting day. 

Other Important Info.

• Thank you to all parents who made Curriculum Night!  An electronic copy of our class handbook can be found  here. 
• LEAP begins this Tuesday, 8/29.
• Students did well in filling out their Reading Logs in the Assignment Book and getting it signed every night this past week! 
• All notes and graded work going home can be found in the very front pocket of your child's accordion file! 

Our First Week!

We had a FABULOUS first couple of days in 4th 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.  They did an awesome job in taking notes and presenting!  

A favorite working space! :) 

In addition to class procedures, we also learned a lot about staying positive and keeping a growth mindset this year.  Look at some of our beginning of the year goals!  #goalgetters 

Students also applied for leadership positions in our classroom, and they will start their leadership job on Monday!  Every student will be a leader, which includes a class secretary leader, technology leaders, messenger leaders, and a celebration leader.

On Friday afternoon, we had our first Responsibility Recess.  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 accordion files.  The file contains 6-7 tabs depending on the file, and the assignment book in the front pocket.  The assignment book includes a reading log and parent signature box to verify your child's reading minutes and check for any homework or upcoming due dates.  In the very front pocket, or "home" tab, students will take home any notes or graded work.  Please check the front section of your child's file on a regular basis.  

On Monday, we are decorating our writing notebooks.  Students were told that they can bring in pictures and magazine cut-outs.  

Other Important Info.

• Weekly Updates will continue throughout the school year to help in keeping you informed. I will hold most blog posts and updates until Friday or sometime over the weekend to recap the week as well as preview the upcoming week. 
• Many students need to return forms passed out on Ice Cream Social night- an early release note and Crestwood Park/Gempp and movie permission note.  Please turn those in on Monday. 
• Please remember all fourth grade students need a sack lunch on Monday as we are eating lunch at the same time as another grade level in order to watch the Solar Eclipse!  You are welcome to come and eat with us at 12:10 and stay through the totality around 1:18.  We have multiple safety videos and discussions planned for Monday, and students will be provided protective glasses.  Monday is a "no letter" (no block) day.  Please let me know if you have any questions about this day.  
• Curriculum Night is this coming Wednesday, August 23rd from 7:00-7:45pm 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 or calling 729-2450, ext. 5034.  Email is the best way to reach me.  

Meet Your Classmates!

Henry B. 

Alexis B.

Molly C.

Ethan C.

Jeff D. 

Nathan E.

Hannah F. 

Matthew G. 

Cecelia H. 

Jessie H. 

Emma J. 

Vivian J. 

Samantha P. 

Jacob P. 

Asahi P. 

Krystal S.

Emma S. 

Beatrice S. 

James T. 

Xavier T. 

Mia V. 

Wyatt W. 

Brianna W. 

Morgan W.