Friday, September 26th

Reading- This week we finished our Launching unit and created a comic about an event that took place in our independent reading books. Next week, we will be beginning our nonfiction unit.

Writing- This week we continued drafting and editing our narrative stories about a favorite memory. Next week, we will revise these narratives by adding dialogue and voice in our writing.

Social studies- Next week, we will be learning about the climate and natural resources of the Southwest Region. Students will identify the adaptations needed to live in a dry climate!

Kevin is drawing a diagram of his experimental plant.

Science- Our plants are blooming and now we're ready for our pollinators- the bees! Students will be using bees to help pollinate the plants. These bees are not living, but will help the students understand the pollination process. Along with this, we will be learning about bees and their contribution to the plant life cycle.

Math- We started unit 5 this week. This unit introduces the basic principals of multiplication with multi-digit numbers. The lessons are designed to review and solidify knowledge of calculating the products of 1s and 10, and extend it to the products of 10s and 10s. We will be introducing different algorithms for multiplication so that students have various strategies in the math tool box!

Coming home in your child's Friday folder...

-New reading log

-ISAT scores (ISATs were taken in third grade)

-Unit 4 Math Assessment. Please sign and return this test on Monday.

Reminders:

*Picture Day is on Tuesday, September 30th!

*Field trip to the Chicago Botanic Garden is on Wednesday, October 1st. Students will need a brown bag (disposable) lunch. Students should wear good shoes for walking and dress appropriately- we will be walking outside.
*If you have not turned in your child's iPad contract, please send this in ASAP. 

Students were working on their comics!

Claire & Annie are creating their comics.

Learning doesn't end for Isabella on the playground!  Hula hooping + Math = Genius!!

Students taking a multiplication & division mad minute.

Friday, September 19, 2014

Math 
- Our Unit 4 assessment is on Tuesday, September 23.  Students took a self-assessement today on the topics we have studied so they know what they need to spend the most time reviewing for Tuesday's test.  Please have them complete the study guide and return it as well as the self-assessment on Monday with your signature.

- Our next unit is on big numbers and estimation.  Stay tuned for more information.

Reading & Writing
-We're wrapping up our launch unit in reading this week and reviewing reading skills and strategies for a successful reading workshop.


- Students will begin drafting their narratives.  We're excited to use our iPads during this part of the writing process and look forward to getting all our ideas down about a time in our lives we will never forget.

Science
- In science this week we observed and thinned our plants.  We started graphing our data and will be interested in comparing the results of our control and experimental plants and how the variable effected them.

Social Studies
-In social studies this week we reviewed the three branches of government and created laws to take the role of the Legislative branch. Next week, we will begin learn about the culture of the Southwest region.

Coming home in the Friday Folder...
- iPad Contract: please read this over with your child, discuss, sign and return to school.
- Math Study guide and Self- Assessment
- New reading log - due next Friday

Friday, September 12th

Happy Friday!

In writing next week, students will begin the writing process for their first story. Today, we generated ideas for this story. Next week, we will use the writing skills we have learned thus far to write a story with a clear beginning, middle, and end. Students will be focusing on adding detail in their writing through the use of author's craft!

In math next week, we will be finishing unit 4. Our unit 4 test will be Tuesday, September 23rd. Students will be coming home with a study guide for this test next Friday.

In social studies next week, students will be digging deeper into the three branches of government by creating and evaluating laws. We will also begin Article Reflections, which will continue throughout the year. Your child will have more information on this next week.

Science this week was very exciting as we planted our Wisconsin fast plants and then anxiously awaited for them to sprout.  Before planting, students had to design their experiment with a variable of either less light or a change in the amount of fertilizer.  Students then planted both experimental plants and control plants.  We'll be measuring, pruning, and pollinating in the next weeks.  Stay tuned!

We have began using our iPads during math workshop and are looking forward to using them more next week!

MAP Testing: Fourth grade will be taking their Math MAP test in the afternoon on Wednesday, September 17th and Reading MAP test in the morning on Friday, September 19th.

Coming home in your child's Friday folder...
-Field trip permission forms- due September 12th. We will be taking our first field trip to the Chicago Botanic Garden to study the life cycle of a flower on Wednesday, October 1st.
-Picture day order forms- Picture day is September 30th
-A new reading log (100 min. due by next Friday)
-Your child's login information for all educational databases - please keep this sheet at home in a safe place so your child can refer to it when logging in at home.

Students planting their Wisconsin fast plants!

Students participating in a reader's theater explaining the three branches of government!

Have a wonderful weekend!
The Fourth Grade team 

Happy Friday!

• This week, we have kicked off our Reading & Writing units. Students are learning all of the beginning routines for reading and writing workshop.
• Spelling lists will be coming home with your child on Monday. The spelling test will be on Friday.
• In Math, students are learning about decimal place value and rounding decimals. 
• This upcoming week in Science, students will be planting their Wisconsin Fast Plants. Students will be designing an experiment with one variable. Throughout this unit, students will be tracking their plants' growth and the effect of their variable.
• Next week in Social Studies, students will be learning about the three branches of government and the responsibilities of each branch.  Students will role play the different branches of government to better understand their duties.
• Your child received a new Reading Log today. They should be recording their reading throughout the week and turn it in on Friday. 
• The students were very excited to login to their iPads. We are looking forward to begin using them next week!

Have a great weekend!
The Fourth Grade Team