Benson/Bodrick News
News from the 4th Grade
December 21, 2018
Math News
We worked very hard this week to multiply multi-digit numbers. Students will take a multi-digit multiplication test the Wednesday we return. We will review Monday and Tuesday for this test. We will begin Topic 9 on Thursday when we return. This is our first unit on division.
Math station booklets will also be given out when we return. Students will have about 3 weeks to work on these activities. They can use “work time” in class and any other spare time they have. If needed, they can also be worked on at home. Please encourage your child to work on them a little at a time so they are turned in in a timely manner.
Please continue to encourage your child to complete their ALEKS topics each week. This is a great way to get up to 10 extra credit points each week.
Science News
This week we discussed the reason we have seasons--the tilt of the Earth and the revolution the Earth takes around the sun. We also talked about the phases of the moon. There will be a full moon on Saturday, December 22nd. Please ask your child to tell you why we have a full moon--they should tell you it is because the moon is on the opposite side of the Earth as the sun.
When we return, we will finish up talking about the moon and then start working on some constellations. We will take an astronomy unit test around the 23rd or 24th of January. When we have a definite date, I will put it on the Math and Science calendar.
ELA News
CHRISTMAS - NOT A HUMBUG!
This week, students got the opportunity to engage in yet another FUN, but complex text - Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. It is a holiday favorite of mines and I’ve grown to love doing it each year with my students even though the original text is suitable for late middle and high school. Of course I shared with them a version that was more forward and to the point and despite the fact that it was 38 pages long - they enjoyed EVERY BIT of it! The movie they watched afterwards yesterday/today took the cake! If your child for some reason is eager to view again or can’t stop talking about the story - or maybe your child was absent on these last couple days - Disney’s A Christmas Carol is coming on Freeform on Christmas Eve and day so check your program guides!!! It’ll be loads of fun to enjoy together as a family at home for the holidays!
READING OVER THE BREAK
Reading logs will continue upon return in the new year. However, until then, I do strongly suggest that your child does continue to read over the holiday/winter break. Students do not have to write about their reading (unless you or they want to - which is great), but it is critical that they at least talk about their reading. Make sure that you are requiring them to speak in complete sentences when they do - as this is the requirement for when responses are written on the log (and given aloud in class).
READING/WRITING - Text Dependent Analysis
Over the past couple weeks, students have been reading and working on their text-dependent analysis for “The Fisherman and His Wife” by the Brothers Grimm (yet another story they thoroughly loved). However, because I wanted to stop and focus our attention on our holiday piece, we paused our essays (although many were almost done). When students return in the new year, they will finish composing their essays that answered the focus question “Why does the sea change colors throughout the story?” When they are done, they should have a clear introduction, body (or development as it is referred to on the SC Ready Writing rubric), and conclusion. ALSO, before their hard work is displayed out for all to see, they will have the chance to do some watercolor paintings where they paint what they see the sea as - just as it is described in the text!
Moreover, we also discussed types of sentences and will continue this discussion in the new year as we begin to add more sentence variety to our writing. Students learned about simple, compound, and complex sentences - as well as parts of speech (which we find in all sentences). They do have notes in their binders so having them study those while they are out would be awesome!
Social Studies News
In the coming weeks, we will learn about Early Settlements and Colonization in the New World. Parents please refer to the parent study guide you were given and even have your child review Social Studies content covered thus far. RAP Questions will resume in the new year - apologies for the lack thereof!
Fourth Grade News
Related Arts Schedule for the week of January 7th
Spaghetti Dinner
The Ed. Foundation is having a Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser on Friday, January 25th. Flyers were sent home yesterday (they were on golden paper). Pre-order your tickets by January 18th using the order form on the flyer. The dinner is delicious!
Ending Thoughts
Thank you for sharing your children with us! Please feel free to email us with any questions. Click on our name below for a direct link to our email.
Thanks for sharing your children with us each day!
