Plays of Week #23

Reminders for the Upcoming Week

Tuesday 2/3 = Library Check-out

Wednesday 2/4 = Mid 3rd Quarter

Thursday 2/5 = MO Department of Conservation visits 4th Grade

2nd and 3rd Grade Choir Concert

Friday 2/6 = Spelling Test

Reading = Continuing with making inferences within non-fiction text, we will analyze 

A Picture Book of Harriet Tubman by David Adler.  We will think about how to understand casual relationships in nonfiction to better comprehend what we are reading.  Team Meyer will think specifically about what they are using to determine their inferences - which part of the text and from what part of their background.

Writing = We are just about finished publishing our Memorable Moments.  Team Meyer is very excited to use the new source of technology in our classroom to share their writing pieces with you all (more on that to come)!  Later this week, we will be be beginning our next unit in writing which involves Adventure Fiction.

Math =  Last week, we spent time in Chapter 7 thinking about patterns, in/out boxes, and the order of operations.  This week, we will have a small quiz over the new skills we learned as well as begin Chapter 8 which focuses on Fractions.  Some concepts we will discuss are:  Prime and Composite Numbers, Equivalent Fractions, Simplest Form, and Putting Fractions in order.

Spelling = Please look for the new words coming home on Monday and we will be testing on Friday.

Content = Science – We will think about mixtures and solutions, determining volume, and how to use a balance.

Social Studies- On Thursday, the MO Conservation Department from the Nature Center is coming to talk to our 4th graders about the importance and travels of Lewis and Clark.  We can't wait to hear from some experts!

Highlights of the Week

Plays of Week #22

Reminders for the Upcoming Week

Tuesday 1/27 = Library Check-out and NAEP Testing

Wednesday 1/28 = Test over Matter

Thursday 1/29 = Family Life Video

Friday 1/30 = Spelling Test, Panther Pride Assembly, and Big Event

Reading = Last week, we finished making inferences using Peppe the Lamplighter (pictures shown below showing the beginning, middle, and end to think of a character).  This week we will look at inferences with a nonfiction book called Coming to America.  We will think about how to understand casual relationships in nonfiction to better comprehend what we are reading.

Writing = On Friday, we worked with revising our writing pieces and thinking about what would make our piece "Sound better."  It is difficult for students to understand when we revise our piece we do not think about spelling.  I was impressed with all the ways the students came up with to make their piece better.  Be sure to ask your child what they did to enhance their piece.  This week we will edit and publish our pieces.

Math =  Please be sure to ask your child about the Chapter 6 Test.  They should be signed and returned back to school as soon as possible.  This week we will be beginning Chapter 7 while thinking about Patterns and Sequences (the vocabulary is pictured below).  We will uses our facts and operations: addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division to help us establish rules for input and output tables.  On Thursday, we will even get into the Order of Operations.

Spelling = Please look for the new words coming home on Monday and we will be testing on Friday.

Content = Science – We will share our completed Matter projects early this week.  Then we will review and test over Matter on Wednesday of this week.

Health - On Thursday, our school nurse and Mr. Greiner will help us show the Family Life educational video to our fourth grade students.  Please look in your child's folder for the letter regards this and contact the nurse or me if you have any questions.

Highlights of the Week

Plays of Week #21

Reminders for the Upcoming Week

Monday 1/19 = No School

Tuesday 1/20 = Library Check-out

Wednesday 1/21 = Chapter 6 Math Test

Thursday 1/22 = 1st Grade Choir Concert @ 6pm

Friday 1/23 = Spelling Test

Reading = On Friday, we explored the life of Martin Luther King Jr.  Tuesday, we will look at Rosa Parks infer the differences from then and now.  Along with inferences about equal rights with Monday's remembrance we will continue to work with Peppe the Lamplighter.  Thinking about how we would describe the character of Peppe.

Writing = Please check out our goals in the wall of Portland and ask your child about them.  We brainstormed and wrote goals for ourselves, our community, and the world.  This week we will finish drafting our "Memorable Event" piece as well as Revising and Editing it.  So far, I have been very impressed with the planning of this piece.

Math =  Long Division has been our focus in Chapter 6.  We have learned the steps (pictured below) 1. Divide 2. Multiply 3.Subtract 4. Check 5. Bring Down 6. Repeat.  We have, also, tried some organizational tips - using grid paper, writing our the steps, and turning the loose leaf paper sideways for the columns.  We will be reviewing on Tuesday and testing on Wednesday.  Later in the week, we will be look at Chapter 7 with Patterns and Sequencing.

Spelling = Please look for the new words coming home on Tuesday and we will be testing on Friday.

Content = Science – We will continue our 3 States of Matter project early this week and focus on mixtures and solutions at the end of the week.

Highlights of the Week

Plays of Week #20

Reminders for the Upcoming Week

Tuesday 1/13 = Library Check-out 

Thursday 1/15 =Math Night for grades 3, 4, 5  = 5 - 6 pm

Friday 1/16 = Spelling Test

Reading = Team Meyer enjoyed the book Amelia's Road by Linda Jacobs Altman and we began thinking about inferences in relationship to how Amelia felt throughout the story.  This week we will something very similar with Peppe the Lamplighter by Elisa Bartone and how Peepe feels throughout it.  While comprehending it is important to interpret and infer how characters feel in order to better understand what we read.

Writing = Since this past week was the first week back and beginning of the new year, Team Meyer became very enthusiastic about creating goals and New Year's Resolutions.  Check out some of our work below and in Portland's hallways.  I think you will be impressed with some of their ideas for this year - especially the ones about helping out at home.  Also, we did some creative group writing thinking about winter.  Be sure to ask your child about their story and the vocabulary they used.  Tomorrow we will begin our "Memorable Event" for Narrative Writing.

Math =  This past week, we worked with long division very extensively.  Remembering the steps and keeping the numbers organized has been key for Team Meyer.  This week  we will continue working with long division by adding in the division of greater numbers and quotients with zeros.  At the end of the week, we will look to more work with these processes in real word multi-step word problems.  Remember to practice those multiplication and division facts!

Spelling = Please look for the new words coming home on Monday and we will be testing on Friday.

Content = Science – Last week, we looked at the 3 States of Matter and created a flip book for review.  This week we are going to do an group exploration to expand our scientific thinking.  We will also look at Mixtures and Solutions at the end of the week.

Highlights of the Week

We were happy to make it to Portland's Library this week! 

Plays of Week #19

Reminders for the Upcoming Week

Monday 1/5 = Back to School

Tuesday 1/6 = Library Check-out 

Thursday 1/8 = PTA exec. meeting 4pm

Friday 1/9 = Jumpin Joey's Night

Reading = This week we will be thinking about Making Inferences within the books we read.  We will be using mentor texts entitled Amelia's Road by Linda Jacobs Altman and Peppe the Lamplighter by Elisa Bartone.

Writing = Starting off the 3^rd Quarter we will begin our next piece in our Narrative Writing Unit.  As I mentioned before break, we will be taking this piece through the process much quicker than the last piece because we will be using the skills we built upon with our last piece.  Team Meyer will be thinking about a “Memorable Event” in their lives to write about.

Math =  We will continue Chapter 6 and division this week.  Exploring division has been exciting and we will dig deeper into it as we continue this chapter.  This week we will even be taking a look at long division which I know Team Meyer have been asking me a lot about from their work in Aleks.  Remember to practice those multiplication and division facts!

Spelling = We are back to our normal spelling schedule.  Please look for the new words coming home on Monday and we will be testing on Friday.

Content = Science – We will be continuing to think about the 3 States of Matter – solids, liquids, and gases.  We will be exploring within our texts, through real world video clips, and hands-on activities.

Highlights of the Week

Finishing Cookies from Art Class

 Mr. Holt completing his Pennies for Portland challenges

Enjoying some Winter Fun before break!