Mrs. Follin’s 4^th Grade ~ Winter Break and week of January 5^th 

 

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 4^th 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 15^th 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 5^th! 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!