Wow! Our first week flew by! We spent our workdays cleaning the classrooms and getting rid of the dust and dirt. Even Grandma Hanley who was visiting came in and dusted for us. We so love a clean classroom to start the quarter out.
Mystery Skype
Both classes experienced their first Mystery Skype, which was set up with a Discovery Education friend Mrs. Hanley met last summer at the summer institute. Students had to prepare in advance with map skills, questions to ask the other class, facts about NC for when we discovered each others states. Students had to work collaboratively between the mappers, question keepers, google doc recorders, answers, and they had to think critically and problem solve along the way, as they put together the clues from the other class. We had students on Padlet and twitter communicating with our Mystery class, which ended up being in Texas! Unanimously, all want to participate in another Mystery Skype session! Be sure to ask your students about the experience.
Old Salem Field Trip
We spoke with the students and went over a sheet of blue paper, which we sent home with them about our upcoming field trip on Thursday April 30th. Students must be at school at 7:15 am in the front lobby ready to depart at 7:30 - 7:45. Students will return to school around 3 pm and go home their normal way of transportation. If you have questions that were not answered on the blue paper please email us. We are looking forward to a fun time. Visit www.oldsalem.org for more information.
Writing/Research/Science
This week we researched a land form that each student selected and created a PROBE in our seed journal. It involved research skills, reading, investigating, problem solving and thinking critically about ones land form and how it was created and what effect weathering and erosion plays in the land form. We also used our map and geography skills as they were essential. The rubric is glued inside the seed journal for you to look at. The project is due on Wednesday April 29th with a short oral reflection about what they learned.
Math
We are continuing our work with fractions: multiplying by whole numbers. We've learned that when we create multiple groups of a fraction it's like repeated addition, when we multiply a fraction of a whole number we are actually dividing that whole into fractional parts. Using the commutative property produces the same product in both cases. We will be taking the 3rd quarter Case 21 test this week a bit late due to the snow days. Quarter 4 brings decimals and customary and metric measurement exploration.
Students are assigned at least 10 minutes of review/study time each night in their journal. Our homework allows practice of the new skill and they should choose another topic to review and keep fresh for success!
CASE 21 Assessments
Students will be taking the CASE 21 assessment this week on Tuesday and Wednesday. The results will allow us to see where your child is and develop an individual instructional plan for moving your child forward to help them grow and reach or exceed grade level. A great tool for us to see what they have mastered quarter three and what objectives still need to be mastered. Starting the day our strong with a protein rich breakfast will be great!
Saturday School May 16th and 30th
We have a great deal planned for our two Saturday dates as we have much to make up in our subjects. Saturday May 16th, which is a half day, we will be creating our salt dough maps. We will need about 3-4 parents in each room. If you elect not to send your child due to sports activities or other reasons, you will need to create your salt dough map at home.
On Saturday May 30th, which is a full day of school, we will be painting our Salt Dough Maps which will be used with our book buddies later on and used in a digital project. We will also have EOG Boot Camp activities to review for the test, electricity and magnetism experiments will be held that day as well.
We are very excited to provide a fun learning environment for your child to participate in on Saturday!
Dates to add to your calendar
Mystery Skype
Both classes experienced their first Mystery Skype, which was set up with a Discovery Education friend Mrs. Hanley met last summer at the summer institute. Students had to prepare in advance with map skills, questions to ask the other class, facts about NC for when we discovered each others states. Students had to work collaboratively between the mappers, question keepers, google doc recorders, answers, and they had to think critically and problem solve along the way, as they put together the clues from the other class. We had students on Padlet and twitter communicating with our Mystery class, which ended up being in Texas! Unanimously, all want to participate in another Mystery Skype session! Be sure to ask your students about the experience.
Old Salem Field Trip
We spoke with the students and went over a sheet of blue paper, which we sent home with them about our upcoming field trip on Thursday April 30th. Students must be at school at 7:15 am in the front lobby ready to depart at 7:30 - 7:45. Students will return to school around 3 pm and go home their normal way of transportation. If you have questions that were not answered on the blue paper please email us. We are looking forward to a fun time. Visit www.oldsalem.org for more information.
Writing/Research/Science
This week we researched a land form that each student selected and created a PROBE in our seed journal. It involved research skills, reading, investigating, problem solving and thinking critically about ones land form and how it was created and what effect weathering and erosion plays in the land form. We also used our map and geography skills as they were essential. The rubric is glued inside the seed journal for you to look at. The project is due on Wednesday April 29th with a short oral reflection about what they learned.
Math
We are continuing our work with fractions: multiplying by whole numbers. We've learned that when we create multiple groups of a fraction it's like repeated addition, when we multiply a fraction of a whole number we are actually dividing that whole into fractional parts. Using the commutative property produces the same product in both cases. We will be taking the 3rd quarter Case 21 test this week a bit late due to the snow days. Quarter 4 brings decimals and customary and metric measurement exploration.
Students are assigned at least 10 minutes of review/study time each night in their journal. Our homework allows practice of the new skill and they should choose another topic to review and keep fresh for success!
CASE 21 Assessments
Students will be taking the CASE 21 assessment this week on Tuesday and Wednesday. The results will allow us to see where your child is and develop an individual instructional plan for moving your child forward to help them grow and reach or exceed grade level. A great tool for us to see what they have mastered quarter three and what objectives still need to be mastered. Starting the day our strong with a protein rich breakfast will be great!
Saturday School May 16th and 30th
We have a great deal planned for our two Saturday dates as we have much to make up in our subjects. Saturday May 16th, which is a half day, we will be creating our salt dough maps. We will need about 3-4 parents in each room. If you elect not to send your child due to sports activities or other reasons, you will need to create your salt dough map at home.
On Saturday May 30th, which is a full day of school, we will be painting our Salt Dough Maps which will be used with our book buddies later on and used in a digital project. We will also have EOG Boot Camp activities to review for the test, electricity and magnetism experiments will be held that day as well.
We are very excited to provide a fun learning environment for your child to participate in on Saturday!
Dates to add to your calendar
- Thursday April 30th Old Salem Field Trip
- May 4th-8th Teacher Appreciation
- May 16th Saturday School done at 12:45pm
- May 25th No School Memorial Day
- May 30th Saturday School all DAY
- June 16th EOG test
- June 17th EOG test
- Wednesday June 24th 4th Grade Show Case 1:30-2:30
- Thursday June 25th Meet the Teacher at TCE
- Friday June 26th Field Day
- Tuesday June 30th Last Day of 4th Grade