Classroom Update

Reading:
Today, we read The Graves Family by Patricia Polacco.  While reading, I stopped to have students make inferences about the book.  Students made good inferences using context clues to support their thinking.  We will finish the rest of the week with summarizing.  We will discuss what makes up a good summary.  I will read another book written by Patricia Polacco to help us practice this skill.

Writing:
This week during Writing, students will finish their character map and begin planning the beginning, middle, and end of their narrative story.  The students are super excited about using their imaginative character in their narrative stories.  I know this seems like a long process, but we are writing like real authors, taking time to develop our character and scenes in our story.

Math:
In Math this week, we will finish up Topic 2.  Throughout Topic 2, students have learned how to extend shape and number patterns, continue number sequences, and find a rule given at least two pairs of numbers.  Students will take the Topic 2 test on Friday, October 11th.  We will start reviewing key concepts on Wednesday.

Please practice Math Facts at home with your child.  It is important that students have multiplication facts memorized.  Multiplication is the foundation for a lot of concepts we will study in Math this year.  To assist with this, you might try to purchasing flash cards or using one of the links below.

www.arcademicskillbuilders.com

www.multiplication.com

 

Science:
This week, we are switching from Social Studies to Science.  We will start our Science unit on Ecosystems.  We will discuss parts of an ecosystem, as well as, identify characteristics of 5 different ecosystems.  I think the students will really enjoy the switch from Geography to Ecosystems!


I look forward to another great week in Room 117! :)

Fall Party

The PTA Fall Party is on Friday, October 18th from 2 pm - 3 pm.

Donations are needed for the party.  Below is a link for SignUpGenius.

**Please Note:  If you volunteer to bring in bagged apples, please bring them in as soon as possible.  They need to be prepared before the day of the party.**

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/409054EAFA72BA46-fall3

 

 

Classroom Update

Reading:
This week during Reading, we discussed how to create a movie in your mind as you read, how to be empathetic with characters, and we noticed how author's change the image of characters throughout the text.  We finished reading Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, and we will begin reading Tiger Rising (during Reading) and The Whipping Boy (during Read Aloud).

Writing:
We finished publishing the Best Part of Me early in the week.  The rest of the week the students were allowed free writing time.  I wanted to give the students time to write without any stipulations.  I am impressed with how well the students have been working during independent writing time!

Math:
During Math this week, we talked about how multiplication relates to division.  We finished our first Math unit, and we will review and take the topic test on Wednesday.  On Thursday, we will start our second unit which focuses on patterns.  We will study both shape and number patterns.  I am eager for you to join our Math lessons during Mighty Math Week!  If you have not yet signed up using SignUpGenius, please do so this week.

Social Studies:
In Social Studies this week, students paired up and started a PowerPoint project.  The project covers urban, suburban, and rural areas.  Students are really excited about this project!  They will present their projects to their fellow students later this week. 

                            


I hope you enjoyed the beautiful weather this weekend with your family! 

We had another great week in Room 117!

Here is an update on what we are learning:

Reading:
In Reading this week, we worked on retelling stories.  We discussed retelling stories two different ways.  One way to retell a story is by starting at the beginning, and another way to retell a story is by starting with where you are at and backing up.  We also discussed how to be a good listener by listening intensely.  We created a list of ways to show you are a good listener.  We practiced these skills throughout the week in all subject areas.

Today, we met with our reading buddies in Mrs. Thompson's First Grade Class.  The students enjoyed eating skittles and getting to know their reading buddy. Here are some pictures from this morning:

Writing: 
All week, student worked on their Best Part of Me writing.  We brainstormed, drafted, revised and edited this piece of writing.  We started publishing, but we will finish next week.  The pieces of writing look great so far!

Math:
This week students reviewed the properties of multiplication (commutative, identity, zero, and distributive).  We discussed shape and number patterns.  Today, we talked about the meaning of division.  We will continue working on multiplication as it is related to division.

Social Studies:
This week in Social Studies, our emphasis has been on the four geographical regions of Missouri.  We have discussed the history, land, agriculture, and other facts about each region.  On Tuesday, the students will take a quiz on Missouri's cities, rivers, and regions. 


Have a great weekend! :)

Mighty Math Week

As we are beginning the new school year, I want to make sure you have had the opportunity to view our classroom's Virual Parent Orientation that I sent just before Back-to-School Night.

This year most elementary schools in Park Hill decided to try a "Virtual" Parent Orientation approach due to the significant decline in parent attendance maintaining an average of 60% attendance at English Landing during the past three years.  Before English Landing transitioned to this "Virtual" Parent Orientation approach, the English Landing Leadership Team facilitated two focus group meetings with PTA Executive Board members and spent much time in Leadership Team meetings preparing for this change collaboratively.

At the end of September we are excited to host a Mighty Math Week, so parents will have the opportunity to join their child for a math lesson in the classroom on September 30, October 1 or October 2.  Then on October 3 from 6:30-7:30pm, parents and their child are invited to come back to EL to participate in a math lesson if they were unable to attend the regular math lesson during the day.  Hopefully this event will give parents another reason to visit English Landing and spend time with their child in an academic setting.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Important Dates and Information

The following is a list of important dates and information:

4th Grade Musical

Mrs. Carney has asked me to share the musical's Sign-Up Genius with you electronically.  She will be sending home a hard copy of the link along with costuming information soon.

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/409084BACAC2FA46-4thgrade

 

 

Room Party Hosts



 

Our classroom is in need of at least one host for our Friendship Party on February 14th.  If you are interested, please sign up using the Sign-Up Genius link below.

www.SignUpGenius.com/go/409084CADA622A57-4thgrade/10688141

 

 

Room Parent

 

We are also in need of a Room Parent for this school year.  If you are interested, please sign up using the Sign-Up Genius link below.

 

www.SignUpGenius.com/go/409084CADA622A57-english/10688141

 

Weekly Update

We had a great week in room 117!


Reading -
In Reading this week, we discussed reading a book as a curmudgeon versus treating the book like gold.  We noted that welcoming books into our lives will make us better readers.  Yesterday, our minilesson was "Buzzing About Books".  Ask your child how he/she can "buzz" about a book in our classroom.  This week, we also reflected on the things that we were doing well during Reader's Workshop, as well as, the things we needed to improve.  We will be working hard to make our Reader's Workshop the best that it can be.

Writing -
Our main focus during Writing this week was decorating our writer's notebook.  We talked about how the notebook needed to reflect the writer's personality and interests.  Students used stickers, pictures, magazines, and many other crafty things as decorations.  Students had the opportunity to share their writer's notebooks with their writing partner.  Students enjoyed taking the time to personalize their notebooks!

Math -
We finished setting up Math Workshop this week and started our first topic.  Students participated in "Topic Opener Day" yesterday.  We watched a short video to introduce the topic, and they answered some essential questions for the topic.  Students also completed a topic pretest.  The first topic covers Multiplication and Division: Meanings and Facts. 

Social Studies -
In Social Studies this week, we discussed Missouri's location, neighboring states, plains, highlands, and rivers.  We also reviewed how to use a map grid.


Popcorn Friday!  Students enjoyed their first Popcorn Friday of the year! :)

                                                                           

Have a safe and enjoyable Labor Day weekend!