We have been very busy in fourth grade the past couple of weeks! I apologize for not posting for a while.
In MATH, we have been focusing on Chapter 5. This chapter covers Data and Probability. We are still working in our math leveled groups and will bring you up to date on your students progress in these groups at Parent/Teacher Conferences next month. Students have been learning about averages, mean, median, mode, range, stem and leaf plots, and probability. We will continue with this chapter next week.
In our math groups, we will also be MAP testing some of the students to get a new MAP score to share with you at conferences. Not all students are tested in the Spring for MAP tests, so if we have new data, we'll be sure to share it with you then.
We will also begin giving students some of the formative state assessment tests. These are practice tests for state assessments so the students can see how the computer program for state assessment works and to get used to taking it on-line. These are great practice tests for them and do not count towards their grades.
In READING, we have learned many new vocabulary words and are working to use these more at home. If your student uses one of the vocabulary words in the two weeks when they have that word, please note this in their planners and they can receive extra credit. It's super important that they give you their new vocabulary words every two weeks so you can be listening for them and perhaps using them in your conversations with your students so they can hear the words used correctly.
We have also continued leveled reading groups in our classroom. The students will be reading a short story on a natural disaster since the story we just finished this week was about a wildfire.
Just a reminder to be studying those vocabulary words with your student and reading the story with them each week when we have comprehension tests. We read the story at least twice in class, but they more they read it or hear it, the better they will do on the comprehension test.
In SCIENCE, we have started a new unit on Sound. Students have learned about sound discrimination, vibrations, volume, sound sources, and sound receivers. Next week, we will focus on pitch. The students are really enjoying this unit so far!
In SOCIAL STUDIES, we have started a pop up book on the regions of the USA. This is a great tool for the students to use to begin learning their states and capitals. They will begin having state and capital tests in the next couple of weeks, so I have told them that they need to start learning these. We have talked about a couple of the regions already, so they should know those states and capitals. Hopefully, by the end of the year, they will have a pop up book on the entire USA!
In LANGUAGE ARTS, we have been focusing on possessive nouns and plural nouns. These are both difficult due to having to know the rules in order to spell these words correctly and put the apostrophe in the correct place. We will continue to practice these next week as well.
I look forward to meeting with all of you at conferences in February. I will be sending home a note next week to see when we can get these scheduled. They will take place on February 13 from 4-7:00pm and February 14 from 8:30am - 5:30pm. I hope to have 100% turn out at spring conferences, so let's work together to find a time that is convenient for you.
I hope you all have a great weekend! As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to e-mail or give me a call.
Friday, January 25, 2013
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Back to Work...and Routine
Hello Parents! It's so nice to see the students back from Winter Break well rested and ready to get back into their learning routine.
I would like to introduce you to our new intern for the semester. Her name is Amy Burns. She is from Overland Park, Kansas. She has been a camp counselor and enjoys dancing and musical theater.
In MATH, we have started a new chapter. We are continuing our leveled math groups, as they seem to be working very well for the students. Chapter 5 covers data and probability, including average (mean), median, mode, range, stem and leaf plots, outcomes, probability as a fraction, and real world problems with data and probability. The students have all done a great job with this chapter so far and seem to really be enjoying it. It's quite a long chapter that we will be taking slowly, since a lot of this information is tested on the state tests. Students have homework assigned periodically from their respective math teachers, so please be checking their planners to make sure they are getting this done on time. We've had a lot of missing assignments and incomplete work lately.
In READING, we began a new nonfiction story this week about mountains. The students have been learning about how mountains are formed and seem to find it very interesting. We will continue with this theme next week as we do leveled reading groups.
In LANGUAGE ARTS, we will be covering plural nouns this week and next week. We will be talking about how plural nouns are spelled, discussing the rules of making plural nouns. These rules include dropping the 'y' at the end of a noun and changing the 'y' to an 'i' and adding 'es, etc. Hopefully, this will help students with spelling as well.
In SCIENCE, we will be starting a new unit on the Physics of Sound. The students will be conducting experiments on vibrations, pitch, amplification of sounds, how sound travels through air, solids, and liquids, as well as how the pitch is related to the length of an object. This is a very fun and exciting unit!
In SOCIAL STUDIES, we will also be starting a new unit on the West. This region includes the states of California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Washington, and Oregon. We will be learning about the different landforms in this region as well as the human characteristics, natural resources, states and capitals, climate, and industries. We will be making a pop-up book to go along with the regions, going back and catching up on the regions we've already learned.
Please be aware that state assessments will be quickly approaching. As we set the dates and times for these assessments, I will relay that information to you. Please make sure your students are keeping up with there homework, it would be appreciated.
I would like to introduce you to our new intern for the semester. Her name is Amy Burns. She is from Overland Park, Kansas. She has been a camp counselor and enjoys dancing and musical theater.
In MATH, we have started a new chapter. We are continuing our leveled math groups, as they seem to be working very well for the students. Chapter 5 covers data and probability, including average (mean), median, mode, range, stem and leaf plots, outcomes, probability as a fraction, and real world problems with data and probability. The students have all done a great job with this chapter so far and seem to really be enjoying it. It's quite a long chapter that we will be taking slowly, since a lot of this information is tested on the state tests. Students have homework assigned periodically from their respective math teachers, so please be checking their planners to make sure they are getting this done on time. We've had a lot of missing assignments and incomplete work lately.
In READING, we began a new nonfiction story this week about mountains. The students have been learning about how mountains are formed and seem to find it very interesting. We will continue with this theme next week as we do leveled reading groups.
In LANGUAGE ARTS, we will be covering plural nouns this week and next week. We will be talking about how plural nouns are spelled, discussing the rules of making plural nouns. These rules include dropping the 'y' at the end of a noun and changing the 'y' to an 'i' and adding 'es, etc. Hopefully, this will help students with spelling as well.
In SCIENCE, we will be starting a new unit on the Physics of Sound. The students will be conducting experiments on vibrations, pitch, amplification of sounds, how sound travels through air, solids, and liquids, as well as how the pitch is related to the length of an object. This is a very fun and exciting unit!
In SOCIAL STUDIES, we will also be starting a new unit on the West. This region includes the states of California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Washington, and Oregon. We will be learning about the different landforms in this region as well as the human characteristics, natural resources, states and capitals, climate, and industries. We will be making a pop-up book to go along with the regions, going back and catching up on the regions we've already learned.
Please be aware that state assessments will be quickly approaching. As we set the dates and times for these assessments, I will relay that information to you. Please make sure your students are keeping up with there homework, it would be appreciated.
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