Mrs. Follin’s 4th
Grade ~ Winter Break and week of January 5th
Homework: Always posted
on Edmodo
Homework over break:
Reading: Novel Study Reading- Students have a schedule in their
novel study bag. They need to make sure they have their work done by the
assigned date. Many groups have reading to complete over winter break.
Secret Garden reading over break: Chapters 19-24. They will have a couple
questions to answer Monday morning to make sure they have their work completed.
If anything comes up over break and your child is not able to do this, please
send me an e-mail so I am aware.
Homework the week back from break: (Jan. 5-9)
Word Study: One night- Sort your word study words for a family member and
explain your sort.
Read: Novel Study and Secret Garden Chapters 25-the end (All students
will write a summary for a chapter- they will use their class number to tell
them what chapter to summarize. -i.e. If their number is 5, they do the chapter
5 summary.)
Math: Hands-On-Equations- Students will choose a page they have
completed and are proud of. They will explain it to you and have you sign the
page.
Science: Paragraph review- make notes of what the author did to achieve
the tone and flow. (Paragraph will be handed to them 1/5 and posted on Edmodo.)
What We’re Learning
Reading/Language Arts: We have been working in the William and
Mary Language Arts Unit, Literacy Reflections. This unit develops skills while
reading rich literature. All of the selections have deep meanings and we have
spent some time discussing how there is a literal and figurative meaning in many
cases. Organizers such as a literature web help them move towards the abstract.
As we continue to move forward with these text selections, the hopes are that
students will become self-directed learners and provide evidence to support
opinions without prompting. Many do this on a regular basis, and take us into
the text. We have focused on this fourth grade objective as well as author’s
purpose and vocabulary. We will assess on author’s purpose the week back from
break and begin our focus on main idea and theme. All of this will be done
through the Secret Garden and other text selections. Here and there you will
see some multiple choice questions so that students practice showing their
knowledge in that type of format.
Math: We had a great time using Hands-On-Equations this week to target
our equation objective in math. This tool definitely took us deeper into the
concept and challenged our thinking. Students took the assessment on this
objective so look for that to go in over break. All students have taken an
assessment on division as well. The week back from break we will use a choice
board to frame our work. There will be remediation and enrichment options so
that students can look at their assessments and make careful choices as to what
they need to focus on for the week. I will work with small groups of students
who need to practice and re-assess as well as groups who want to go deeper into
some areas. We use flex grouping like this to make sure we are meeting the
needs of individual learners while also teaching students how to review their
work and increase their own understanding. By this time in fourth grade,
students should need minimal guidance looking at their assessments and then
choosing the related tasks that will allow for growth. We spend a lot of time
talking about how to make the right choice and have a growth mindset.
***As an important side-note- It is an expectation that students
know basic addition, subtraction and multiplication facts. Long division has
been difficult for some, not because of the process, but the lack of memorized
facts. The reality is that second grade objectives required the memorization of
addition and subtraction and third grade required multiplication. These aren’t
just going to go away, but are causing students many problems as we move on
into harder math concepts. Upcoming fractions and decimals will also prove to
be difficult. We recently met with fifth grade teachers and they couldn’t
stress enough the importance of memorized facts. Please spend some time working
with your child on these if they are not automatic. We want all students set up
for success. (Repeated from last week)
Science: Students worked in Arc GIS to create a map plotting ouster
data. This is another piece they can use on their summative performance task.
When we return from break, students will finish up their research and data
analysis so they can begin their task. A performance task is an open ended task
that allows students to make choices defended by evidence. They will not only
show their knowledge of the objectives, but their understanding since the task
requires them to apply what they have learned. Summative means it is coming at
the end and this one will count as science assessments for their report card.
Writing: We are continuing our work on expository writing. To move
students forward we will re-visit using transitions to make details flow. We
will also focus on leads (starting the story off strong) and conclusions
(ending on a strong note as well). We have spent a lot of time using a resource
by Michael Clay Thompson called Grammar Town. This has provided a foundation in
parts of speech and now parts of sentence that will enhance student’s writing
and help them move away from run-ons and fragments.
Parent Portal: It appears there is a still a glitch and you cannot see the
assessment scores I put into Synergy. I’ll keep putting them in and hope for
the best. In the meantime, review your child’s binder for the majority of the
assessments.
Behavior Update: Thank you for discussing this with your child I have had many
parents stop me to ask questions or just let me know they spoke to their child.
Students were much better in DARE this week and Officer Jose was very
appreciative. We will have some trouble keeping our voices down when we are
working in groups- the noise level rises very quickly and many students are
practically yelling over each other to be heard. We are working on
self-monitoring so that they feel the noise rise and can bring it back down,
rather than talk over each other. These are basic skills of conversation that
will prove beneficial.
Virginia Aquarium Field
Trip Update- We are still working on
the forms as the funding is coming from a number of places. We are grateful to
a VBEF Grant for funding the program we will see there and also to the PTA for
cutting back on the cost of the trip. As a heads-up the trip will have a
maximum cost of $5 per student. Please send me an email or text if you’d like
to join us. You will lead a group (that includes your student) around the
museum as they takes notes on an area of choice.
Regular
Schedule:
PE
Daily 10:35-11:20
Novel
Studies across 4th grade 11:25-12:10- Mon., Tues. & Thurs.
Lunch
Daily 12:15-12:45
DARE
Tuesdays 12:50-1:50
Music
Tuesdays 1:55-2:40pm
Art
Fridays 8:45-9:30am
Upcoming Events
December 22 – January 2 Winter Break (School Closed)
January 15th Field trip to the Virginia Aquarium.
Due:
DARE letters- now overdue
Community Service Forms- Please return ASAP
Thank you! A huge thank you all for your generosity this holiday season. I
appreciate all of the beautiful and delicious gifts I have received and greatly
value the support and kindness you all show me on a regular basis. I hope you
have a wonder, rejuvenating and relaxing break.
I’ll see the kiddos bright and early Monday, January 5th!
I know they will come ready for a new exciting adventure! The couple of weeks
back from break will include a field trip, work on the 3D printer, and wrap-ups
of two novels they are reading. Exciting times to come!
If you ever want to
come in and join us for an activity,
please send me an
e-mail or text.
We’d love to have you!
