4th Grade
Mrs. Conley, Mrs. Marcks & Mrs. Norton
Friday, November 2nd!
As we turn the calendar to another new month, November, we are mindful of being thankful as we begin to prepare for Thanksgiving. Thank you for your time in meeting with us during conferences. It is important to build community and make connections as we work together in your child's education. Once again, please make your child aware, or share in the reading, of this newsletter. We are positive each one of them could give you more information in any one area of these subjects. Thanks for reading & sharing!
Reading Workshop/Language Workshop:
Readers are now into Unit 2: Relationships in Language Workshop and Reading Workshop. The essential question that we will be focusing on for the next 5-6 weeks is "Is conflict inevitable in relationships?" Students were first introduced to the 4 types of conflict in literature; Character vs. Character, Character vs. Self, Character vs. Nature, and Character vs Society. Our first book that we read to explore conflict and relationships was Fox. Although Fox was written in 1948 by Margaret Wild, the conflicts between the characters is relevant for today's reader! The kids were surprised at the end of the book, and asked if there would be a "Book 2" coming out.
Our second book is called Riding to Washington, and this book takes place during the Civil Rights movement. A young white girl does not understand why she is going on a bus across the country to hear Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. speak. At the end of the story, Janie understands that the speech is not for some, but for all.
Literature Discussion Groups will focus on characters and conflict as they read in their LDG books. Please look at your child's assignment notebook to make sure that they are keeping up to date on assignments so that they are prepared for their group discussions. While not all students are in an LDG at the same time, independent readers are also focusing on our essential question for this unit.
Writing Workshop:
Writers are now drafting essays that focus on Opinion Writing. Students are learning that opinion writing looks very different from narrative writing. We are developing writing that has a thesis statement with reasons and evidence to support the thesis statement.
Talking Points for ELA:
Are you in an LDG book right now? What is the title?
Tell me about the books FOX and Riding to Washington. What conflicts did you notice?
What topics have you been writing about in your opinion unit?
Word Study
Additionally, the high frequency words that are written on the far, right side of the assignment notebook should be reviewed each night when we rotate into a new unit. How can you tell when we have started a new unit? Easy. When the narrow, half sheet of homework comes home, requesting to find 5 more "rule words", that is the new unit rule. It is the start of a new unit!
Please keep dialogue open with us and ask if you should have any questions. Thanks!
Math Workshop:
Mathematicians have been working hard showing proficiency on addition and subtraction with renaming (up to 6 digits). It appears that subtracting across place values involving zeros continue to cause some students struggles. There is no magic remedy... continue practicing.
Mathematicians have turned into problem solvers as we have begun a problem solving unit to solve hypothetical situations involved in a school setting. Please look for an assessment for this unit next week Thursday, November 8th.
Continue checking TenMarks. Once again, continue to whittle away at assignments. As we think about November, whittling away at long standing assignments will help Thanksgiving vacation go more smoothly at your house. Please remember, there are "hints" and "videos" available on every TenMarks assignment. Please ask if you should have any questions.
Talking Points for Math:
What is your mental strategy (in your head) to solve 14 x 6?
If there is a connection between addition and subtraction, what is the connection between multiplication and division?
How would you round 555,555 to the nearest thousand? Ten-thousand?
Science:
Special Note: Mark Your Calendars!
Grade 4 only
Thursday, December 6th, 2018
6:00 pm SHOWCASE OF EXCELLENCE
(in the classroom)
CONCERT to follow
(Dress Rehearsal 2:40 pm Wednesday, December 5th, grades 3 & 4)
*If your child is unable to attend either the afternoon or evening performance please email the classroom teacher, as well as Mrs. Kostreva at: pkostrev@waukesha.k12.wi.us
Have a great weekend!
Enjoy your weekend,
Chris, Lynn & Gina