Benson/Bodrick News
News from the 4th Grade
August 31, 2018
Math News
We had a busy work learning the routines of math class and how we work with math stations and fluency. We also worked hard on our classwork expectations each day. We learned different properties of multiplication. We also started our ABC’s of Math in our math journals. This is a place that students can put our math vocabulary words as we introduce them. It will be a great source to study as the year progresses. Students were given their first quiz today on Math 4 Today review. These will be posted in PowerSchool by the middle of next week.
Next week we will continue our first math unit--Understanding Multiplication and prepare for our first unit test which will be on Tuesday, September 11th. Students were given their ALEKS usernames and passwords this week--they are taped into the front of their math journal. I strongly encourage students to work on their ALEKS during the set times at school and they can certainly work on ALEKS at home anytime. Starting the week of September 10th, students will be expected to master at least 5 topics a week. This will be recorded in the gradebook as part of their classwork grade. They can earn up to 5 extra points a week for any topics over 5.
Students are encouraged strongly to memorize their multiplication facts. If your child does not know their basic facts, please have them study these facts daily. They can use multiplication.com to help study or use the website judebert.com to practice facts.
Science News
This week we discussed the difference in qualitative and quantitative observations and made many of these types of observations about our classroom. Have your student tell you the difference and give you some examples. Next week we will start discussing all of the different types of weather instruments and how meteorologists use them to predict the weather. We will also start to keep track of weather using our class weather station.
ELA News
GOAL SETTING - WRITING ACTIVITY
This week, divulged into the writing process beginning with more personal writing - the friendly letter. After thinking about their current feelings about 4th grade, likes and dislikes about school, strengths/weaknesses and overall goals for the year, students wrote a letter to themselves.With MAP testing that occured this week and the mishaps in technology that stretched testing beyond our two scheduled days, many students did not get to finish their final drafts but will do so when we return on Tuesday.
READING LOGS
This week was also the first week that students completed their nightly reading and reading responses. Each week, students will receive a reading log. They are expected to read for at least 20 minutes and then respond to their reading - using the question bank provided in their binder for fiction and nonfiction books. Your child is only required to answer one question a night. However, they are not allowed to answer the same question each night. The only questions that can be answered multiple times during the week are NF14 and F17 - which ask students to summarize what they read. Students can also read the same book over the course of the week - and are encouraged to take on more challenging reads such as chapter books. If the book is not a chapter book or book that takes longer than 20 minutes to read, it should not show on log more than once. Next week’s log will only have Tuesday- Thursday on it.
Social Studies News
WELCOME TO 4th GRADE & U.S. HISTORY!
Social Studies Journal Cut Party was a huge success!!! The journals look great and I’m so excited to start filling them up with interactive learning tools and content-related information! For the most part, they will stay at school, but students will have the opportunity to bring them home upon preparing for major tests.
Next week, will begin our first unit - the First Natives and Natives Americans of the U.S. During this unit, students will learn about and be able to - Summarize the spread of Native American populations through the Landbridge Theory
- Compare the everyday life, physical environment, and culture of the major Native American groupings; including, the Eastern Woodlands, the Plains, the Southwest, the Great Basin, and the Pacific Northwest.
Parents: BE ON THE LOOKOUT
- During the first Open House on September 11th, all parents will be given a Parent Study Guide for Social Studies that provides you with an overview of all pertinent information your child will learn this year for U.S. History!
Fourth Grade News
Related Arts Schedule for next week
Open House
Open House will be held on Tuesday, September 11th. There will be two sessions (both sessions will cover the same content). Sessions will be from 5:30-6:10 and 6:15-6:55. Ms. Bodrick and Mrs. Benson will be doing these sessions together so that if you have another child at the school, you may attend their class session also. We will be in Mrs. Benson’s room.
Ending Thoughts
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Thanks for sharing your children with us each day!
