This Week in LL38....

I hope everyone enjoyed vacation! It turned out to be a great week to be outside!  Hopefully the kids got some rest and are ready to get back into our routine!  

Math Workshop
Before vacation we spent a lot of time using manipulatives to help us with finding equivalent fractions.  Using the fraction tiles we were able to talk about what we noticed and we were able to draw some great conclusions about fractions that are equivalent.  We will continue to use these fraction tiles as we move through this module as the students need them.    

Here is the Math Menu Homework for the next few weeks:

Math Menu

Reading Workshop

Before vacation we had taken  little break from our Nonfiction unit to work on answering Open Response questions.  We will take our previous learning about nonfiction text structures to help us read more challenging nonfiction texts.  Please encourage your child to read some nonfiction books at home for Reading in the Edges.  Reading magazines, online blogs, or websites like News ELA and Wonderopolis are great options also!

I am looking forward to a great week!  
~Jen

This week in LL38....

Hi Families!  
I hope everyone has been enjoying all of this snow.  It sure is piling up out there!  

Valentine's Day...
On Tuesday we will exchange Valentine's Day cards.  I sent home a list of the students in our class with your child last week.  Please make sure that if your child does choose to participate, he/she needs to include each child in our class.  Also, some of the kids asked about decorating Valentine boxes.  Since we won't have time to do this in school, if your child would like to decorate a Valentine box or bag at home, that would be fine to bring in on Tuesday as well.  

Class List for Valentine's Day

Math Workshop

The students took the Module 4 Assessment last week.  Students paired up with partners last week to discuss their answers.  Students were able to teach each other how to solve the trickier problems that might have been incorrect.  The kids were also given the opportunity to fix their original answers using pen or colored pencil to show that they used the Effective Effort  strategies of using feedback and commitment.  The assessment will come home on Tuesday.  As with our previous math assessments, please take a look at the assessment and then send it back with your child on Wednesday.  There will be a place for you to check off if you would like to receive review work for your child.

Farley Fox Boot Camp!

Last week we had many recruits report for duty at Farley Fox Boot Camp!  The recruits learned about answering open response questions.  We had fun learning about the parts of answering an open response question based on a story. We also found many connections between open response questions and our previous writing unit of literary essay!  The students also participated in many exercises as part of their boot camp experience.  Among the groans, the kids put in a lot of effort.  Ask your child to share the Boot Camp chant for you so that you can hear the parts of answering an open response question.  

Boot Camp Chant

Writing Workshop

Last week we finished up our first realistic fiction story.  Using that story and a 4th Grade Narrative Writing Checklist, the students created goals for themselves as they get ready to write another fictional narrative.  These goals will help students have a focus as they write another story.  As students go through the writing process through this story they will reflect on how they are doing towards meeting their writing goal.  These goals are posted in our classroom so that we can hold each other accountable for our goals.  Ask your child what his/her goal is for this new story.  They could also share with you  why they felt like that should be their focus.

I hope everyone enjoys the snow day tomorrow.  Have a great week!

~Jen

This Week in LL38....

I can't believe it's already February.  Please be on the lookout for a Valentine's Day list of names that will be coming home early this week.  If your child chooses to participate by handing out Valentine's, please make sure he/she has a card for each classmate.  






Math Workshop
We are wrapping up our Geometry Unit.  Students will be taking the end of module assessment this week.  Your child will then come home with the scored rubric for you to sign and return.  My hope is that you will get this by the end of the week. 

Our next module will be on fractions. 

    One topic that is very important for 4th graders to understand in this unit is multiplying fractions.  One fun way of reinforcing this at home is through cooking.  For example if you are baking cookies and you need to double the recipe your child could figure out the measurements for each ingredient if it was doubled or multiplied by 2.

Reading Workshop

Last week the class was introduced to a online website called News ELA.  It is a news website where I can assign articles for students to read.  This website also allows them to highlight and take notes online.  Students are able to go online and read articles that they are interested in as well.  The kids can access this website from Google Classroom.  We have practiced signing on many times, so they should be all set with that part.  This might be a great option for Reading in the Edges.

I hope everyone has a great week.

~Jen