Classroom Update - Week of February 24th
Upcoming Events / Reminders:
There will be no student make-up day for the early release and snow day on February 20th & 21st.
Later this quarter, the students will be researching the different perspectives of the Loyalist and Patriot sides in the American Revolution in preparation for writing a persuasive broadside. If you are able, I would love to get a few extra copies of the book, The Split History of the American Revolution: A Perspectives Flip Book (Perspectives Flip Books) by Michael Burgan. I am including the Amazon link and our class would certainly utilize and appreciate any additional copies that we could acquire. Thanks in advance!
Tuesday, March 3rd is an election day and we will be eating lunch in the classroom. The students will still be able to get lunch from the cafeteria.
Fourth graders will be taking an NC Performance Task on Tuesday, March 3rd. More information regarding this assessment will follow soon.
Our field trip packet for our last field trip to the NC Aquarium and Masonboro Island went home a few weeks ago. Fees and forms are due by Thursday, March 5th. If you would like to chaperone this field trip, please make sure that you sign up to be a volunteer with the front office several weeks before this field trip. This field trip is scheduled for Monday, March 30th. The field trip packet is very detailed, but please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.
There will be no school on Monday, March 9th, as it is one of the previously scheduled teacher workdays.
Our last fourth grade field trip to the North Carolina Aquarium and Masonboro Island will be held on Monday, March 30th. Paperwork for this field trip will be going home in Tuesday Folders on February 4th.
E.L. Education:
This week, the students will continue reading the drama Divided Loyalties. The students will continue to practice their oral reading fluency as they perform the drama aloud (in a readers' theater style) and after each scene we will work together to determine the gist and the meaning of unfamiliar vocabulary. We will also spend a lot of time each day analyzing the different characters and their reactions to problems and situations that arise. The students will especially focus on writing a clear character sketch that gives elaborated support and evidence from the text to describe why a particular character responds to certain situations. This week they will have a homework assignment that will correspond with this concept. They will take their Mid Unit 2 Assessment, which will include a collaborative discussion on Friday.
How to Help Your Child at Home:
Read stories and informational books about the American Revolution.
Encourage your student to tell you the main idea and to provide supporting details of informational texts you read together.
Encourage your child to summarize informational texts you read together.
Watch documentaries about the American Revolution.
Visit museums or exhibitions about the American Revolution.
Read a play together with your child and talk about how the stage directions help the story.
Math:
This week, the students will finish up their unit on adding and subtractions fractions and mixed numbers using visual models. They will take an assessment on these skills on Wednesday. On Thursday, the students will begin their next math unit, which will focus on using visual models to multiply a whole number by a fraction (ie. 3 x 1/4 or 5 x 2/3). We will be using fraction bars and number lines to represent this.
How to Help Your Child at Home:
Discuss with your child the following questions:
Can you show me a visual model for the mixed number 3 3/4?
How would you write the above mixed number as an improper fraction?
Show me how you would solve 2 1/5 + 3 3/5 =
Show me how you would solve 3 1/3 - 1 2/3 =
Show me how you would solve 4 x 3/4=
Show me how you would solve 6 x 2/5=
Social Studies:
This will be our last week of Social Studies for the quarter. The students will learn about the opportunity costs and how personal financial decisions such as spending, saving, and paying taxes can positively and/or negatively affect everyday life. Next week, the students will start Science with Ms. Wade.
How to Help Your Child at Home:
Have your child share with you some of the lessons that they learned about supply and demand when operating a business like a lemonade stand.
Talk with your child about opportunity costs and trade offs that sometimes have to be made in your home.