Monday, August 28th

It's the last week of August!  I can not believe we've made it here so quickly!

We're off to a great start this week!

We began inquiring into changes in the environment that affect survival.  While reading Just A Dream by Chris Van Allsburg, students were tasked with recording both natural and man made changes to in the environment.  We determined that most of the changes in the book were man-made, therefore able to be controlled.  We then used Newsela to read an article about Hurricane Harvey.  We were able to discuss the devastating affects of this natural environmental change, not only in regard to the people living there, but to the animals, and plants as well.

We continued to build on problem solving strategies using place value and rounding.  Students work to underline and circle key information and choose a strategy before solving.  We are also building our stamina for writing explanations to our math problems.

In communication folders you will find a blue paper explaining that our school is offering a list of the field experiences we will complete this school year, along with their cost.  If you wish to pay for them all now, you are able to do so.  If you wish to pay for them in installments, you may also do so. Trips that are listed with multiple dates are NOT over night trips.  Because of the large number of classes in our school, classes will go on the trips on different days. Check out our great experiences!

I hope to see you all on Wednesday for Curriculum Night!  We will begin at 6:00 in the Multi-purpose room before making our way to the classroom.

A message from Senora Speed:

Spanish classes will have a summative assessment in Spanish during the week of September 5^th -8^th.  Fourth graders will view a set of cartoons. They are required to write a story that uses our target vocabulary.  (New students will attempt to write but will not be assessed.  These students receive an N/A for Not Assessed on the report cards.) Our expectations are that students can write the story comprehensibly in Spanish using the target vocabulary.  Please note that most 4^th graders receive a 2 in Term 1 for writing because writing at a level 3 (Meets Expectations) requires most of the 4^th grade year to achieve.  If your student receives a 1 in writing, they will be given an opportunity to rewrite during the first weeks of Term 2.

See you tomorrow!

Friday, August 25th

We had a fabulous week!

Monday, August 21st - Total Eclipse of the Heart...Almost :)

We had a great day of working to complete presentation, projects and examining and participating in the (almost) total solar eclipse!

Don't forget that we begin MAP testing tomorrow with Math at 9:10!  There will be no homework, other than reading, until Thursday because of MAP testing.  See you tomorrow!

 

Friday, August 18th

                                                                  #squadgoals

Wednesday, August 16th

We had a great day on the Ave.!

We continue to work to build and community and sustain those relationships in our classroom.  Today, we worked to use emojis to describe how we were feeling this morning.  Students has a great time sharing and comparing their feelings for the day!

Students worked to research, research, research the Native American Tribes.  We are inquiring into the connections between organisms within and ecosystem.  Students are utilizing iPads to complete and record their findings on each of our six tribes.

We have been working to utilize place value to compare numbers.  Students have worked on several practice strategies, and have played several top-it games to compare numbers with a partner.  They are able to correctly read numbers to the millions place, and are working to explain which number is greater and why.

MAP TESTING
We will begin MAP testing next week.  Please see the schedule below.  It is important that students are at school on time each day.
8/22- Math MAP
8/23 - Reading MAP
8/24 - ELA MAP

Zoo Chaperones
I am in need of 6 chaperones for our field trip to the zoo.  It is important to have this many as students are divided into small groups to complete observations and research connected to our Term 1 learning.  At this time, I do not have any.  Please email as soon as possible if you are available.  Our trip is on Wednesday, September 7th.  We will depart the school at 9:00 (if you meet us there it will be 9:30), and return to school around 1:00 after having lunch.  Please email csanders@csdecatur.net.  I need to submit my chaperone names by Wednesday of next week.  Thank you!!

See you tomorrow!

Monday, August 14th

Happy Monday!

I hope you had a restful weekend!  We kicked off our week by exploring the idea that we can learn anything.  Students inquired into their thoughts about ability and hard work.  They reflected on things that they were not capable of five years ago, last year, and something that they are learning this year.  They shared with classmates.

We began inquiring into the structure of a community by exploring the dwellings of our six Native American tribes.  Students worked to understand the reasons each tribe built their houses in such a manner by completing research on their iPads.

We also explored the structure of an ecosystem as a community.  Students were asked to categorize the items from the list below as part of an ecosystem or not.  We discovered that all of the items are part of an ecosystems.  We then learned some new vocabulary words (biotic and abiotic) and worked to classify these items as such in our journals.  Ask your child the meaning of those words!!

Communication folders were sent home this afternoon.  You will find a field trip permission form for our trip to the Atlanta Zoo on September 7th.  Please sign and return the permission forms with payment as soon as possible.  Also, I am in need of six chaperones for the field trip.  Chaperones must also pay to attend.  Two chaperones will ride the bus with us, and the rest will meet us at the entrance to the zoo.  We typically leave in the morning, and return in the afternoon.  Please email at csanders@csdecatur.net if you are interested in chaperoning.

You will also find Scholastic Book Club order forms in your red folders.  I will place an order on Monday.  You may send in the order form and check or you may order online.  Enter the class code MDNZB.  Please have orders entered online or sent to me by Friday afternoon. 

Have a great evening!!

Tuesday, August 8th

Happy Tuesday!

Our week is off to a fantastic start!

We are inquiring into the Learner Profile Attributes.  These are the attributes of a learner who is internationally/globally minded.  As students inquire, they are working to create posters which will be hung in our classroom for the entire school year.  Our learner profile attributes are knowledgeable, principled, reflective, open-minded, thinker, communicator, balanced, inquirer, risk-taker, and caring.

We began generating ideas for writing today.  Students were asked to reflect on their "remembered life" and jot down at least four events that they may want to write about.  They shared their ideas with their peers.  Ask your child to tell you more!

We continue exploring place value and building number sense.  Students worked to define and provide examples of numbers written in standard, word, unit, and expanded form.  We will build on this tomorrow.

Our classroom is a bit chilly, so please send a light jacket or sweater tomorrow.  Students are stretching out their shirts to stay warm. :)

I hope you have a restful evening!

Friday, August 4th

                                        UV Beads                                         Class Agreements

                              1st week celebration!