This Week in LL38....

I hope everyone had a great weekend!  I am sure there will be lots of excitement in the classroom tomorrow!

Scientists!
     We started off last week learning about scientists and how a scientist uses a Science Notebook to collect data, make observations, and answer questions.  We started getting used to our Science Notebooks by brainstorming some ideas for creating statues that represent the children of Hudson. The kids used play-dough to create these statues.  After creating the statues, the kids needed to take careful observations and notes about their statue.  We then ventured outside of our classroom to leave our statues in the "elements!"  There was a lot of disappointment in the classroom with all of that rain on Friday.  We will observe what is left of our statues tomorrow afternoon.
     We also started our Earth Science unit. We learned about tree wedging.  Ask your child about this topic.  It was very interesting to learn how trees can "split" through rocks.

An example of tree wedging!

Our statues before the rain!

Creating our statues...

Reading Workshop

     Late last week we started to look at patterns that fiction stories follow.  We are able to use a story arc to think about what might happen next in a story.  Ask your child about the pattern that a story follows.  You could also ask them about the HEART of the story. Getting used to the arc of a story will help us to think about how characters change throughout a story.  

Writer's Workshop

     We created a thesis statement or big idea/opinion of a Battle of the Books text.  We talked about a thesis statement being one that we feel strongly about!  We have to really believe in our thesis so that we can work to "prove" that it is true using reasons and evidence.  

     Writing literary essays is hard work!  This week we will keep working on creating reasons to back up our thesis.  

Math Workshop

     We started our 3rd math module this week.  Your child should have brought home the Homework Helper packet for this module last week.  We are working on applying what we know about Area and Perimeter.  In fourth grade it is important for the kids to be able to solve real world problems about area and perimeter.  

I hope everyone has a great week!  

~Jen

This Week in LL38....

It was great to meet with so many families during conferences last week. It seems like it has been a while since we had a full week.  This week is sure to be a busy one. 

Reading Workshop
     We are spending a lot of time thinking about characters.  We are thinking about what they say, think, and do.  Last week we started to look at all of this information about characters and name the traits for that character.  We also talked about how characters, just like us, have many traits that describe them.  When we are thinking about character traits for the characters in the books we are reading, it is important to look for the trait that we have the most evidence for.  Using this evidence can help us to "prove" our point!

Writer's Workshop
     In writing, we spent some time looking at mentor literary essays.  Since we will be starting to write our own literary essays this week, it was important to see what authors put into a literary essay.  We certainly saw some patterns in the literary essay mentor text.  Ask your child what patterns they noticed in the literary essay example. 

Math Workshop
     We seem to have a good handle on the metric system and how to convert measurements.  Just like in writing, we saw patterns with metric conversions in math.  
      We also spent time looking at word problems and trying to come up with a plan for solving these problems before we actually solved the problems.  As word problems get increasingly difficult with multiple steps, it is important to slow down and think through the information we have in a word problem as well as what we need to know before we actually use the numbers to solve the problem.  This is something that will require a lot of practice.  We will continue to practice word problems over the next module.
       This week we will be starting Module 3 which is the multiplication and division unit.  As soon as I get the Homework Helper packet I will send it home.  We will begin with determining the area and perimeter of shapes.  Some of this should be review from 3rd grade.

Math Menu
     Your child will receive a new Math Menu tomorrow.  This math menu homework packet will take us through three weeks.    For some of the projects, the kids will need to take materials from school so that they can complete the work at home.  It might be helpful to have your child decide at the beginning of each week what project they will complete so that they have the materials that they need.
      Here is a link to the Math Menu in case your child misplaces it.

Math Menu Week of 10-24

Science 

     On Friday, as a way to launch 4th grade Science, your child learned about several scientists in the computer lab.  Tomorrow we will start to think about the importance of Science Notebooks.  We will discover what scientists put into a Science Notebook as well as the purpose of using these notebooks. 

I hope everyone has a great week!

~Jen 

     

This Week in LL38.....

      I hope everyone enjoyed the nice weather this weekend!  We have a jam-packed week ahead of us. Just a reminder we have two half days this week on Wednesday and Thursday.

Parent-Teacher Conferences
     If you haven't signed up for a conference time, please sign up for one soon.  The PTC Fast website will shut down at some point, so if you go to log in and it won't let you, please email me so I can add your name in for one of the days.

If you haven't filled out the Conference Questionnaire that was sent home and posted on the blog last week, please send it in by Tuesday so that I can make sure I am prepared to address any topics or concerns that you may have.  Thoughts can be emailed to me as well!

Paw Print Reward
     The class has been working hard at earning Paw Prints.  Late last week they filled up their 2nd Paw Print chart.  As you know they earned a PJ Day on Friday.

Northeast Experts!
     Each student finished up his/her research on one section of the Northeast Region of the United States.  They were the EXPERT on that particular section.  They learned all that they could about one of the following topics:  geography, climate, rivers/lakes, and the Northeast today.  Then they came together in a mixed group of experts.  Each student was able to teach the other kids in the group about their section. As they were learning about the other parts of the Northeast, they were responsible for taking notes.

Reading Workshop
     We really started to focus in on character traits last week.  We spent some time thinking about the characters that we have been reading about in the Battle of the Books.  One way we can think about a character is to keep track of what that character thinks, says, and does.  We can then take all of that evidence and create an idea about a character trait.
     This week we will start to write about the character and their traits.  We will be able to use evidence from the text to construct a well thought out answer.
     Ask your child how we used paint swatches last week to think about character traits!

Math Workshop

     We finished up Module 1 last week in math.  The kids took an assessment on Friday.  Your child will be coming home with an assessment rubric along with their assessment on Monday.  The assessment rubric shows what your child was able to do and what he/she needs to continue to work on.  Please fill out the last page of the assessment rubric and send it back to school with your child by Tuesday!  Thank you for your help with this!

     Module 2 will be on the Metric System.  It is a short unit, but the students will be able to use their skills from Module 1 and build upon them in this unit.  

I am looking forward to meeting with parents during our conference time this week.  Have a great week!

~Jen

This Week in LL38.....

I hope everyone has been enjoying the long weekend!  Just a reminder that we don't have school tomorrow or Tuesday.  

Last week you should have received a link to sign up for conferences.  Conferences are being held next week on Wednesday, October 19th and Thursday, October 20th.  I have attached the link here as well.  

Parent Teacher Conference Link

I will also be sending home a questionnaire for you to fill out and send back with your child to help me prepare for your child's conference.  Please feel free to send me your answers via email or send the paper back to school with your child.

Conference Questionnaire

Math Workshop

We worked on adding and subtracting larger numbers last week in math.  We also created tape diagrams when we were completing these problems.  Tape diagrams are a way to represent the information we know and the information we need to find.  Here is an example of a tape diagram:

                                                            
This way of representing our thinking will also help us as we start to solve multi-step word problems.  We will be able to use tape diagrams to determine what we know and what we need to solve for.  

We have been spending a lot of time subtracting numbers where we need to borrow across zeroes.  This can be tricky for many kids.  Here is a worksheet that you could use to help reinforce these skills with your child at home.  

Subtracting with Zeroes Worksheet

Math Menu Side Dish Projects

I was very impressed by the game boards, math tests, and comparing statistics projects that came in on Friday. Friday afternoon the kids spent some time sharing (and playing) the projects with a partner.  We will certainly spend more time playing the games that were brought in over the next few weeks!  

Reading Workshop

We started our Making Inferences unit in reading.  We spent some time watching short videos that didn't have words.  The kids learned how they made inferences constantly even though the characters didn't speak.  Ask your child to explain what they need to do to make an inference!

Here is one of the videos that we watched:

Inferring Video

We also started to think about external traits and internal traits.  The internal traits of characters are called character traits.  We started working on a Character Traits book in school.  The book has several character traits that we come across in many of the books we read in fourth grade.  We started learning about the following character traits last week: compassionate, inconsiderate, independent.  It would be helpful to point these words out when you notice examples of these in people in your everyday life.  We will continue to add to our character trait vocabulary over the next few weeks.

Writing Workshop

We started a new unit in writing workshop as well.  It is our Literary Essay unit.  We started by reading a very powerful book called Fox by Margaret Wild and Ron Brooks.  We are rereading the text closely by stopping to push our thinking about certain words or sentences in the book.  This deep thinking will eventually lead us to creating thoughtful opinions about books that we are reading.

I hope everyone enjoys the rest of the weekend!

~Jen

Menu Math Project #2

Here is our next Menu Math Project.  The first part will be due next Friday, October 14th.  I wanted to give it to the kids today so that if they wanted to work on it over the extra long weekend they could!  Your child will get a paper copy today as well.

Here is a link to a copy....
Menu Math Project #2


Just a reminder....there is no school on Monday AND Tuesday!

Have a great weekend!

Jen

This Week in LL38.....

     I hope everyone enjoyed the weekend!  I am looking forward to another busy week!

     Last week we had a class discussion about the words that we use when speaking with others.  Ask your child what the word "toothpaste" means.  They should be able to explain what we are talking about when we hear that word in our classroom.

Reading Workshop
     During Reading Workshop we continued to work on keeping track of our thinking. We worked on keeping track of patterns that we noticed in a text.  We read the story, Peppe the Lamplighter, which is a story where the main character changes from the beginning to the end of the story. We put on our super hero masks as we practiced finding evidence in a text by pointing to the words right out of the story.

Using our SUPERPOWERS!

Looking for patterns

    

     We also learned about the Battle of the Books project that we will be doing in reading and writing over the next few weeks.  During this picture book project, we will be reading 16 books as a class, individually, and with partners.  As we read we will be jotting down our thinking and seeing what we can notice about patterns, characters, and theme.  After reading all 16 books, we will start to have a bracket style competition to narrow it down and ultimately determine the favorite picture book of LL38!

     
This week will continue to practice looking for evidence.  We will also start to talk about making inferences while we read.

Math Workshop

     It was great to see all of the Menu Math Homework that came in on Friday.  The kids were able to show off all that they knew about writing and expanding large numbers.  After we presented to small groups, the kids did a "museum walk." During this time the kids went around to see all the different ways that information can be presented.  Just a reminder that the "side dish" for Menu Math is due Friday.
    At the end of the week I will send home the next assignment so that kids can get a head start on it throughout the long weekend if they would like to! (I will also post on here!)

                           

                       

                        

                          

                   

                                  

                                                    

     Last week we really put a lot of effort into learning how to round numbers.  We were able to practice this in a small group, using a QR code game, practicing with partners, as well as working independently.  We are also going to be thinking about how estimation helps us in the real world.  We will practice  using estimation in real word situations in class this week.  At home, you could talk with your child about times that you might use estimation or rounding in your everyday life.  

Writing Workshop

     The writers of LL38 worked on revising their personal narrative small moment story.  We talked about this step as an important one in the writing process.  Students used a checklist that shows all that they have learned from 3rd grade to the expectations in 4th grade.  They pushed themselves as writers to meet those 4th grade expectations.  

     Students will be taking their rough drafts home this week to complete the step of publishing at home.  The students will have the choice to either type on Google Docs or write using their best writing on white lined paper.  Be on the lookout for the following notice about publishing.  I will post below as well.

Publishing At Home Letter

I hope everyone has a great week!  

~Jen