Weekly Update

Writing

The due date for students' second informational book is Tuesday, 3/6.  Students are making amazing progress, and I know you will be impressed with their hard work.  We will be publishing our books and making sure they are ready for our writing celebration in which YOU are invited!  See the details below! 

Reading

Students are doing great in book clubs and are having awesome conversations about their books!  Keep up the good work, students!  This week we are starting our new read loud, A Wrinkle in Time! 

Math

This week we will start our measurement unit.  We will start with reviewing and then converting customary units of length, capacity and weight.  Students need to have units of measurement memorized, and can use Quizlet to help in studying.  The username is Long-Leighton and the password is leighton.  The set to study is called, "Measurement- Length, Weight, Liquid Volume."

Science

We will continue in our electricity unit.  So far we have discussed static electricity, current electricity, series circuits, and parallel circuits.  We are currently making circuit boards, and we can't wait to show you how they work!  Don't forget that students can complete extra practice and extra credit activities on the online Science textbook: Pearson.

Other Important Info. 

• Spring pictures (candid and group) are this Friday, 3/2.

Weekly Update

Writing

Students have researched their topics and will begin writing this week!  They have found some important and interesting facts about their topics! 

Reading

Students are doing great in book clubs and are having awesome conversations about their books!  Keep up the good work, students!  

Math

The Chapter 10 Test will be this Friday, 2/23.  This week we will focus on adding and comparing decimals. 

Science

We will continue in our electricity unit.  Don't forget that students can complete extra practice and extra credit activities on the online Science textbook: Pearson.

Valentine's Day 

On Valentine's Day, we engaged in a STEM activity in which students had to make a heart-shaped box out of construction paper to hold 12 candies.  Students did a good job in designing and decorating their boxes!  

We had a blast at the Valentine's Day party!  A big Thank You to all parents who volunteered to make this party a success! 

Other Important Info. 

• Six Flags Read to Succeed forms are due THIS Friday, February 23rd!  Your child can use the same minutes read outside of class on our reading log!  Students can turn in their form when they've read 6 hours to get a free Six Flags pass!  

Weekly Update

Writing

Students finished their Revolutionary War chapters books (see below!) early this past week and have already begun researching for their second book.  Topics include World War II, History of the Winter Olympics, Civil Rights, Mythology, Trojan War, Tornadoes, Civil War, etc. 

Reading

Students are doing great in book clubs and are having awesome conversations about their books!  Keep up the good work, students!  

Math

In Chapter 10, we will focus on decimals.  The chapter moves fast.  First, we will convert fractions with denominators of 10 (tenths) or 100 (hundredths) into decimals.  Then, we will add those fractions and write the answers as decimals, order and compare decimals, and work with word problems involving decimals.

Science

We will continue in our electricity unit.  Don't forget that students can complete extra practice and extra credit activities on the online Science textbook: Pearson.

Other Important Info. 

• The Valentine's Day party is this Wednesday (2/14) from 2-3pm.   Please remember that each student should receive a valentine if your child passes them out, and we have 22 students. Also, we are making bags in class that students can use to hold their valentines.  
• There is no school this Friday, 2/16.  
• Six Flags Read to Succeed forms are due Friday, February 23rd!  Your child can use the same minutes read outside of class on our reading log!  Students can turn in their form when they've read 6 hours to get a free Six Flags pass!  

Weekly Update

Writing

Our Revolutionary War chapter books are due this week.  Then, we will start our second books on our own topic.  Students' books are turning out great! 

Reading

Book clubs are off to a nice start!  As a reminder, students are responsible for reading an agreed upon number of chapters outside of book club time.  In this first book club, students will use role sheets (i.e. predictor, connector, summarizer, clarifier, characterizer, and discussion director) to help guide them in having conversations about the chapters' events and characters.  These book club role sheets are completed outside of the book club meeting time along with reading the assigned chapters, so that all students are prepared!  Each group chose two days to meet each week.  

Math

In Chapter 9, we have added and subtracted fractions and mixed numbers.  We will multiply fractions this week.  The Chapter 9 Test will be this Friday, 2/9.

Social Studies

Below are students' colonists!  They were assigned "Loyalist" or "Patriot,"  and then chose a specific colonist to write about the Revolutionary War events from his or her perspective.  I am so proud of their hard work!

Science

We kicked off the new science unit with a lab!  Students were given a piece of foil, a lightbulb, and a battery.  Their job was to get their light bulb to light.  Then, they were given other materials such as wires and a switch.  They loved making circuits! 

Other Important Info. 

• This Wednesday, 2/7, is an early release day with dismissal at 1:40.  Please make sure your child knows how they are going home.  
• Six Flags Read to Succeed forms are due Friday, February 23rd!  Your child can use the same minutes read outside of class on our reading log!  Students can turn in their form when they've read 6 hours to get a free Six Flags pass!  
• We had two special events this past week!  On Monday, we got to meet Miss Missouri, hear her read a picture book she wrote, and ask her questions!  On Friday, the high school students came in to teach us about topics such as the Great Migration, Josephine Baker, and Booker T. Washington.  The fourth graders enjoyed the interactive rotations that the high schoolers prepared!

Weekly Update

Writing

Most students are working on Chapter 2 of their informational books.  Again, I am impressed with all they have learned about the Revolutionary War!  They are so intrigued, and I can't wait to see the final books.

Reading

As we continue to read "The Wild Robot" together, we will also be starting book clubs this week!  During book clubs, the students will be responsible for reading an agreed upon number of chapters outside of book club time.  In this first book club, students will use role sheets (i.e. predictor, connector, summarizer, clarifier, characterizer, and discussion director) to guide them in having conversations about the chapters' events and characters twice a week.  These book club role sheets are completed outside of the book club meeting time along with reading the assigned chapters, so that all students are prepared!

Math

We are continuing with fractions in Chapter 9. Students who do not know their facts should continue to spend extra time each night studying.  We will begin this chapter with adding and subtracting fractions and mixed numbers.  Also, check out some of our awesome fraction pictures from last week below!

Social Studies/Science

We are studying more about the Revolutionary War in social studies to compliment our writing unit.  Early this week, we will be finishing a Patriot and Loyalist project that I can't wait to show you!  They are amazing!  Later this week, we will start our next science unit on electricity with a lab!  

Other Important Info. 

• Make sure you are seeing math worksheets coming home in the front pocket of the accordion file.  We do either even or odd problems, so it would be good practice for students to do the other problems on their worksheets at home!
• We are currently collecting Box Tops for Education! 
• Six Flags Read to Succeed forms are due Friday, February 23rd!  Your child can use the same minutes read outside of class on our reading log!  Students can turn in their form when they've read 6 hours to get a free Six Flags pass!  

Weekly Update

Writing

This past week we made great progress with our informational books!  We have started writing Chapter 1: All About the Revolutionary War.  Next, we will focus on our small war topic in Chapter 2. 

Reading

Students are doing a great job practicing for book clubs while reading, "The Wild Robot."  We are having some awesome discussions about the book, and students are impressing me with their ideas!

Math

We continued in Chapter 8 with equivalent fractions, simplest form, and comparing and ordering fractions. This week we will focus on mixed numbers and improper fractions.  The Chapter 8 Test over fractions will be this Friday, 1/26.

Social Studies

We are currently studying more about the Revolutionary War in social studies to compliment our writing unit! 

Other Important Info. 

• Cecelia and Jacob did awesome in the school spelling bee, coming in the top 3!  Our class had SO much fun watching them on Facebook Live!  
• Make sure you are seeing math worksheets coming home in the front pocket of the accordion file.  We do either even or odd problems, so it would be good practice for students to do the other problems on their worksheets at home!
• A class list with student names will be sent home to aid students in making valentines!  
• Six Flags Read to Succeed forms are due Friday, February 23rd!  Your child can use the same minutes read outside of class on our reading log!  Students can turn in their form when they've read 6 hours to get a free Six Flags pass!  
• This Wednesday, 1/24, is an early release day with dismissal at 1:40.  Please make sure your child knows how they are going home.  

Weekly Update

Writing

This past week we started our Informational Unit!  As a class, we will write a four chapter book on the Revolutionary War.  Right now we are researching about the war and all the important events surrounding it, including the Boston Tea Party, Boston Massacre, Intolerable Acts, Stamp Act, etc.  After writing this informational book together, students will then choose a social studies or science topic to write a second informational book on their own.  

                                                

Reading

Before break we finished "I Survived," and our next read aloud is "The Wild Robot."  We will be doing some STEM activities that relate to this book!  Also, soon we will be starting book clubs!  Students will pick their top book club book and be put into groups.  Students will be responsible for reading an agreed upon number of chapters outside of book club time.  During book clubs, students will have a conservation about the chapters' events, characters, setting, etc.  

                                                                          

Math

We started Chapter 8 with factors and multiples as well as prime and composite numbers.  This week we will continue with equivalent fractions, simplest form and comparing and ordering fractions.  Then, we will get to mixed numbers and improper fractions.  Students took home volume I of their math textbooks, and it is important that they review big topics like long division and multiplication at home.  

Social Studies

We are currently learning about the colonies of Jamestown, Roanoke, Plymouth, and Williamsburg.  Then, we will move into further studying the Revolutionary War to compliment our writing studies.  

Other Important Info. 

• There is no school on Monday, January 15th in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. 
• The school spelling bee is Friday, January 19th at 1:30.  Good luck, Cecelia and Jacob!