The Week Ahead 12/2-12/5

I hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving Break. I enjoyed the extra time with family, but I'm excited about getting back with the students on Tuesday! Quick reminder that there are no spelling packets or reading logs due when students return on Tuesday, 12/2. However, there will be spelling packets and reading logs due the following Monday, 12/8. 

 We will start the week on Module 3, Lesson 11 in math. Students have used area models, the partial products method, and the standard algorithm to solve multiplication problems. This week they will use these skills to solve multiplication word problems. A big focus on these word problems is showing your work with pictures, numbers, and words. In addition to our math lessons, our fact practice with focus on multiplying by 4's this week. To be considered proficient at multiplying by 4's, students will need to get at least 20 correct answers in one minute. Ask your student if they reached proficiency at the end of the week. 

 Students will take what they have learned about informational writing and begin writing an expert book about a topic of their choice. The main goal this week will be to make sure that each student has selected their topic and has at least one source of information about the topic. On Monday, 12/8, each student needs to have their topic selected and at least one source, because that is the day we will begin our books. The books will be due on Thursday, December 18th. 

 Volunteer Opportunity - We need volunteers who would be willing to make the blank books that students will put their final product in. The volunteers will be using the binding machine and making books for both the 4th grade classes. Please let me know if you are interested in helping out with this project.

 Our study of the Corps of Discovery will continue this week. Recently the explorers have survived a harsh winter at Fort Mandan, added three people to their party, and had some close encounters with grizzly bears. Have your student give you more details about what we have learned so far. 

 There is a great opportunity to learn more about Playworks. On Wednesday, December 3rd, from 6pm-7pm, in the gym, there will be a chance to learn some creative Playworks activities. Make sure to wear active clothes and tennis shoes if you plan to attend.

 Green Team applications have been sent home. If your student is interested they need to turn their application to me by 12/9. 

 Upcoming Dates

  • Wednesday, December 3rd - Playworks Night  6pm
  • Monday, December 8th - Spelling Packet/Reading Logs Due
  • Monday, December 8th - Spelling Test
  • Tuesday, December 9th - Green Team Applications Due
  • Wednesday, December 17th - Buddies
  • Thursday, December 18th - Expert Books Due




Popular posts from this blog

The Week Ahead 9/3-9/7

First Week We had a great first week of school! My goals for us were to get to know each other, come to an understanding of classroom agreements and norms, and begin to collect some baseline data on where we are academically. We accomplished these goals and I think we're in for a fun year! Headphones Please have your student bring headphones to school. If you are unable to get headphones for your child, let me know and I'll make sure they are provided. Stay Connected Instagram Follow our class Instagram account at blanc.wstv. Here I'll be posting pictures of what we're up to. Seesaw Another way you can stay connected with our class is Seesaw. You can think of Seesaw as a digital portfolio. This is where your student will share their learning. How to sign up Click on this link:   https://app.seesaw.me/s/819-043-150 Choose your child from the list Create your account Once I approve you, you can see content from your child After you sign up, downloa
Read more

The Week Ahead 3/2-3/6

How We Organize Ourselves Thank you to all of the chaperones who joined us for our field trip to the State Capitol! Hopefully you have had a chance to check out some of the pictures from the trip on our class Instagram account, blanc.wstv. On Friday, our classroom committees presented their classroom bills. There was fierce debate but in the end, only one of the five bills got a majority vote in both the House of Representatives and Senate and is now a classroom law. Have your student tell you what they think of the new classroom law. Last Monday, I sent you an email letting you know that we will begin teaching our state mandated Erin's Law lessons next Monday, 3/2. In the email I sent a link that included information on the learning outcomes as well as a link to a website with more information. If you review these materials and decide you want your student to opt out of the lessons, please contact the office and they will get you the opt out form. Students that opt out will do
Read more

The Week Ahead 3/9-3/13

Inquiry Next week we'll begin our Where We Are in Place and Time inquiry unit. The central idea of this unit is migration impacts individuals and communities. The lines of inquiry are reasons for migration, ways migration impacts quality of life, and impact on current groups. In the beginning of the unit we'll learn about migration by studying westward expansion, starting with the Jefferson's Louisiana Purchase and the Lewis and Clark led Corps of Discovery. Math Students will continue their study of fractions next week. Up to this point our main focus has been working with equivalence and comparing fractions. Two of the big ideas students should grasp are for fractions to be equivalent, the ratio must be kept constant and the greater the denominator, the smaller the pieces. Next week the students will work on adding and subtracting fractions with like denominators. Conferences Spring Parent/Teacher Conferences will take place the first week of April. Please go to
Read more