Last Week Before Spring Break!

We had a fun day celebrating our month of reading!  Students read around the classroom and snacked on their beach towels.  We also watched the movie Moana to go with our Tropical theme.  It was a very fun day!

Have a great Spring Break!

Coming up:  

On April 12th (the Wednesday after Spring Break), the fourth grade will be going on a field trip to the West Michigan Symphony Orchestra Link Up Concert.  We will be heading to McDonald's afterward for lunch.  Students will have the opportunity to bring money to purchase their own lunch (if you would like your student to bring a sack lunch instead, you are welcome to send one).   It might be beneficial to have a conversation about:

- storing and handling money

-planning out what to buy before it is your turn to order

-making sure you order food with prices that fit into your budget (don't forget about tax!)

4th grade will be having an M-STEP kick-off breakfast on May, 8th at 9:50am.  Thanks to all who signed up to donate items.  I am still looking for volunteers to donate the following items: 

-cut up melon

-berries 

-granola

-punch cups

I am still looking for a volunteer who would be available to help cook that morning (from 9:20 until 10:30ish).  If you are able to donate or volunteer, please e-mail me.  Thanks!

Reminders:Early Release:  is Friday, April 14th

MSTEP:  The dates are: 5/9, 5/10, 5/11, 5/16, and 5/18.  Please try to not to schedule vacations or appointments on these days.  

Important Dates:

March 31st - April 9: Spring Break.  School resumes on Monday, April 10.

April 12th: Field trip to the West Michigan Symphony Orchestra and McDonald's

April 14th: Early release day; school ends at 12:15
April 18th: Parent club meeting at 9:00am

Spring Is Here!

Spring is here, and we've got lots going on!

This week we celebrated the completion of our informational books by having a bookworm celebration. Our celebration included dirt dessert with gummi worms, and the sharing of our published informational books.  Check out the pictures below.

Next Week

March is Reading Month comes to a close on Thursday, March 30th.  Our theme for this last day is Tropical Day.  Students are encouraged to wear Hawaiian-style clothing to celebrate.  We are going to have a read-in during class.  To make things extra cozy (and in keeping with the theme), students should bring in a beach towel to lay on as they read.

Coming Up  

On April 12th (the Wednesday after Spring Break), the fourth grade will be going on a field trip to the West Michigan Symphony Orchestra Link Up Concert.  We will be heading to McDonald's afterward for lunch.  Students will have the opportunity to bring money to purchase their own lunch (if you would like your student to bring a sack lunch instead, you are welcome to send one).  More details will come on this next week.

4th grade will be having an M-STEP kick-off breakfast on May, 8th at 9:50am.  Thanks to all who signed up to donate items.  I am still looking for volunteers to donate the following items: 

-a half gallon of orange juice

-cut up melon

-berries 

-granola

-punch cups

-mini water bottles

I am also looking for a volunteer who would be available to help cook that morning (from 9:20 until 10:30ish).  If you are able to donate or volunteer, please e-mail me.  Thanks!

Reminders:

Frandale Sub Order Forms are due on Monday, March 27th.

Color the Park T-Shirt Contest forms are due Wednesday, March 29th.

Social Studies Unit 2 Test:  is on Monday.

MSTEP:  The dates are: 5/9, 5/10, 5/11, 5/16, and 5/18.  Please try to not to schedule vacations or appointments on these days.  

Here is what we learned in 4th grade this past week:
Writing: 
I can identify and practice poetic devices.

I can tell what onomatopoeia is.

I can tell what alliteration is.

Social Studies:  

I can define human characteristics.
I can understand that human characteristics are often near physical characteristics.

I can give examples of reasons why geographers divide land into regions.

I can review the spatial geography of the United States.

Math: 
I can draw and describe points, rays, angles, and other simple geometric figures.
I can can draw and measure angles.

I can identify, measure, and draw angles in a circle.

Reading:

I can try to see the story through the eyes of a character who is not the main character.

I can notice how thinking about power can change my thinking about historical fiction.

Important Dates:

March 27th: Frandale Sub order forms are due

March 29th:  Color the Park T-shirt forms are due

March 31st - April 9: Spring Break.  School resumes on Monday, April 10.

April 12th: Field trip to the West Michigan Symphony Orchestra and McDonald's

April 14th: Early release day; school ends at 12:15
April 18th: Parent club meeting at 9:00am

                           

 

Report Cards and Conferences

Hopefully you received your student's report card on Friday.  I am looking forward to talking with you about your student's progress this trimester.  

March is reading month continues this week with "Read America" theme on Friday.  Students are invited to wear red, white, and blue to get fired up for reading.

4th grade will be having an M-STEP kick-off breakfast on May, 8th at 9:50am.  There will be a sign up at conferences to donate items.  I am also looking for volunteers to donate the use of their griddles, and to cook breakfast in our classroom.    

Reminders:

Parent Teacher Conferences: Are Monday 3/20, and Wednesday 3/22. 

Book Fair: Is Monday 3/20 and Wednesday 3/22 during conference time from 4:00 - 7:30.

MSTEP:  The dates are: 5/9, 5/10, 5/11, 5/16, and 5/18.  Please try to not to schedule vacations or appointments on these days.  

Here is what we learned in 4th grade this past week:
Writing: 
I can publish my informational book.

Social Studies:  

I can compare absolute and relative location.
I can define physical characteristics.
I can give examples of physical characteristics in the United States.

Math: 
I can use fractions to help me understand decimals.
I can compare decimals to the tenths and hundredths place value.

I can review the concepts for unit 7.

Reading:

I can question my big idea.
I can allow my big idea to change as I read.

Important Dates:

March 20th & 22nd: Parent-Teacher conferences

March 31st - April 9: Spring Break.  School resumes on Monday, April 10.

April 14th: Early release day; school ends at 12:15
April 18th: Parent club meeting at 9:00am

Team Up With Reading

Don't forget that we are celebrating March is Reading Month!  This week's Friday activity will be "Team Up with Reading" - students should wear their favorite sports team shirt.  

Calling all volunteers!  Parent Club is looking for volunteers to help with order pick-up from the upcoming Frandale Sub Sale.  Pick-up will be on Thursday,  April 13 from 3:45 to 6:30. Please let me or the office know if you are willing and able to volunteer.

Reminders:

Math Unit 6 Retest: Different for each student, but will be in the next 2 weeks.

Math Unit 7 Post test: Will be Monday, 3/20.

MSTEP:  The dates are: 5/9, 5/10, 5/11, 5/16, and 5/18.  Please try to not to schedule vacations or appointments on these days.  

Parent Teacher Conferences: Are Monday 3/20, and Wednesday 3/22.  I look forward to talking with you about your student's progress. 
Book Fair: Is Monday, 3/20 and Wednesday 3/22 during conference time from 4:00 - 7:30.

Here is what we learned in 4th grade this past week:

Writing: 

I can edit/revise my informational book.

Social Studies:  
I can tell about absolute and relative location.

I can tell about hemispheres, the equator, the prime meridian, longitude, and latitude.

Math: I can compare fractions with unlike denominators.

I can find common denominators.

I can relate decimals to money and fractions.

Reading:
I can learn important things about my historical fiction in the detailed paragraphs.
I can form thoughts on what the big idea of my book is.

Important Dates:

March 16th: Skating party, 6:30pm
March 17th: Popcorn Friday

March 20th & 22nd: Parent-Teacher conferences

April 14th: Early release day; school ends at 12:15

Marching in Like a (cold) Lion

March is here!  This month is living up to the old saying and has made its entrance like a lion.  The forecast has been a little all over the place, so please be sure to send your student to school with the appropriate clothing and outerwear.  

You may have noticed that your student came home with a "Life Skills Progress Report."  With the end of this trimester coming soon, I wanted to give students a chance to reflect on some of their life skills.  They should have filled it out (honestly, hopefully!).  Please look at it (and talk about it!), sign it, and send it back in.  I have stapled a current grade report with things to work on in the Life Skills area, if necessary. 

As a grade level we have decided to handle the math unit 6 retest a little differently.  We are still reteaching standards that students received a 1 or 2 in.  We have decided to tackle one standard a week, with the retake happening at the end of the week (retake will only be on the standard that was retaught).  That means that if your student has more than one area to retake, he or she will be retaking one standard over the course of the next 3 weeks.  Please let me know if you have questions on this!  

Don't forget that we are celebrating March is Reading Month!  Next week's Friday activity will be a "Better Together Assembly Read In."  Students should wear their Color the Park shirts.

Reminders:

Math Unit 6 Retest: Different for each student, but will be in the next 2 weeks.

Life Skills Progress Report: Should be signed and returned by Monday.

MSTEP:  The dates are: 5/9, 5/10, 5/11, 5/16, and 5/18.  Please try to not to schedule vacations or appointments on these days.  

Early Release: Friday, March 10th; school ends at 12:15

Color the Park Shirt: Should be worn on Friday, March 10th.

Here is what we learned in 4th grade this past week:

Writing: 

I can use different text structures to organize my informational writing.

I can use transition words in my informational writing.

I can write an introduction to my informational book.

I can write a conclusion to my informational book.

Science:  
I can tell what changes the state of matter.
I can define continent and tell how many there are.

I can name the 4 oceans.

Math: 
I can find fractions on a number line.

I can use number lines to compare fractions.

I can use multiplication to make equivalent fractions.

Reading:
I can understand and create a timeline for both the historical era and for the character in my book.
I can understand that the decisions characters make are influenced by the historical time period.

Important Dates:

March 10th: Early release day; school ends at 12:15

March 14th: Parent Club meeting at 9:00am

March 16th: Skating party, 6:30pm
March 17th: Popcorn Friday

March 20th & 22nd: Parent-Teacher conferences