Benson/Bodrick News
News from the 4th Grade
January 26, 2018
Math News
Students have been working hard this week on constructing geometric shapes. We have also learned how to use a protractor correctly not only to measure an angle, but to construct an angle with a given measurement. We will be taking this test on Tuesday, January 30th. Students will need to be able to do the following:
- Identify (in a geometric shape) and construct a ray, line, line segment, angle (acute, right, and obtuse), perpendicular lines, parallel lines, and intersecting lines.
- Construct an angle using a protractor with a given measurement.
- Measure an angle properly (with a few degrees) using a protractor.
- Understand the relationship of an angle measurement to a circle. (For example, if a circle is divided into 6 equal wedges, each wedge’s angle measurement is 60 degrees because 360 degrees divided by 6 equal wedges equals 60 degrees.)
- Solve addition and subtraction problems to find unknown angles. They need to know that a line or straight angle is 180 degrees. (diagram below with an example.
There will be a homework packet sent home next week. Students will also need to make sure they are completing at least 5 topics each week in ALEKS. They should be able to master a topic in 10-15 minutes. If they are working longer on a topic, they need to ask for help so they can master that topic. Please have your child practice their multiplication facts. There are many games on www.multiplication.com that they would love to play that will help them.
Science News
We have been learning about the different groups of organisms and how they are sorted according to their structures and physical characteristics. We began to creating a dichotomous key showing organisms being divided into plants and animals. We then divided our plants into flowering and nonflowering plants and our animals into vertebrates and invertebrates. Your child will be uploading their work into Seesaw for you to see their understanding of this organization of organisms.
I am implementing a new policy in my classroom about late work. Students will be given a set time to complete an assignment. If it is not completed by that given time, points will be deducted. For example, the above work should be completed by the end of the day on Monday. If it is not completed by Monday afternoon, it will be considered late and they will have points deducted for each day it is late. We will not have much time in class on Monday. They will have to use their time wisely in order to complete it. They may work on it over the weekend if they wish.
ELA News
This week, we focused our attention on informational text features that help make navigating through informational text easier. Over the course of the week, students created mini books and their own scavenger hunts for peers to complete. They completed an assessment Friday which I am very excited to score and see how well they did.
Next week, we will continue to use informational text features as we divulge more into informational text selections to determine main idea. We will also focus our attention on the writing of complete sentences - simple, compound, and complex; as well as declarative, imperative, interrogative, and exclamatory.
Reading logs will be on paper again next week - NO submissions online as I am trying to get students back into the habit of writing (structurally and grammatically correct) well thought out responses. This shift comes with the news that students will test at the end of the using paper and pencil for the Reading/Writing portion.
Special shout out to the newest completer who finished Lexia Core 5 after only a few months of hard work (both at school and home):
- LaLonnie Mitchum
The following students are almost there! Keep pushing: Lily Calhoun, Thomas Bozard, Daija Caldwell, Liana Adams, Caroline Goff, Jake Gonzales, Jeremy Harris, Emily Lancaster, and Libby Lee
What you can do at home to help your child be successful:
- Discuss What Your Child is Reading and help them complete weekly Reading Responses
- Find Reasons to Write outside of the Classroom
- Play Educational Games/Watch Educational Videos - LEXIA and STUDY ISLAND can be used at home and is strongly encouraged for students who are pulled out during class time/not meeting weekly requirement.
Social Studies News
Next Week: Cooperation and Conflict between Native Americans, Europeans, and Africans and its influence on life in America - students will learn through note-taking about the three groups of people and how initial cooperation that turned to conflict helped shape American life during this time period. Please refer to Google Classroom by Wednesday for uploaded presentation and additional resources. By the end of the week, students should begin thinking about these relationships in order to create their very own memes!!!
Remember:
- Students (and now parents) can access Google Classroom at home. All presentations and special links are posted there as references. Students may use these references when studying and completing weekly RAP questions. Some links are interactive games and videos!
- RAP Questions are assigned every Thursday and it is highly encouraged that students use notes to complete. Social Studies journals will come home on Thursday.
- A parent study guide has been issued for your personal use (so you can help your child if for some reason they are missing information or you aren’t exactly abreast on your history!)
Fourth Grade News
Related Arts Schedule for next week
We are going to the Koger Center on Tuesday, February 13th to see a performance of “Freedom Train.” Information was sent home. The cost is $13 per student and the money and permission forms are due by Friday, February 2nd.
BHE is having a Salsarita’s Night on Thursday, February 1st. A portion of all sales between 4 and 8 pm will be donated back to BHE. Fore more information, click here.
Ending Thoughts
Thank you for sharing your children with us! Please feel free to email us with any questions. For those who signed up for Remind 101 with Ms. Bodrick, feel free to shoot a text if necessary. Click on our name below for a direct link to our email.
Thanks for sharing your children with us each day!
