The Porter Press
Issue #14 March 16, 2015
PARCC Testing
A HUGE congratulations to our All-Stars who knocked it out of the PARCC over the past couple of weeks during testing! I am so, so proud of the perseverance our students showed. They worked so hard and gave it everything they had. That is a big WIN in my book!
Literacy
This week we will be wrapping up our baseball-themed unit by reading, analyzing, and writing about the poem “Casey at the Bat” by Ernest Thayer. Students will practice the reading comprehension skill of visualizing, where they make a picture of what the words say to help them better understand what they are reading. Students will review elements of plot as well, since this is a narrative poem. Writers will put themselves in Casey’s shoes as they craft journal entries to imagine Casey’s feelings and thoughts before and after the game. At the end of the week students will compare the text version to Disney’s animated version. We will also study one author’s take on what comes next for Casey by reading the book Casey Back at Bat.
This week we will be also be wrapping up our figurative language study by learning about alliteration (the repetition of sounds at the beginning of words) and hyperbole (extreme exaggeration). At the end of the week students will review and take a quiz over these new types of figurative language, as well as areas of study from past weeks including similes, metaphors, and idioms.
Math
Last week mathematicians had a chance to complete a “Show What You Know” to assess their mastery of concepts from Unit 3. These will be coming home in Homework Folders today. This unit looked a little bit different for us, as we only gave one chapter test since we were in the midst of reviewing and preparing for PARCC testing. The fourth grade math teachers used the results of the “Show What You Know” to plan this week of math, working to give each child what they need based on their assessment. Some students will be working to receive more instruction on these skills and will be given another check at the end of the week. For students who demonstrated mastery of the Unit 3 concepts, we will be providing enrichment opportunities to extend their learning and knowledge. After Spring Break we will dive into some new chapters and new math skills!
Social Studies
Fourth graders will continue Social Studies for one more week as we learn about economics. For many students economics is a review from third grade. Remember Wally Mart? As fourth graders the focus moves towards Ohio’s economy. Students will soon discover that Ohio is a great place to do business. We have rich resources, skilled workers, and a reliable transportation system that links Ohioans and their products to other states and countries. Throughout the next few days students will investigate characteristics of entrepreneurship, including the risks and benefits, explain how Ohio’s agriculture, industry, and natural resources continue to both influence and be influence by the economic development of the United States, and demonstrate how saving a portion of income contributes to an individual’s financial well-being. By the end of the unit some students might be ready to become your financial advisors!!!
Important Dates
- March 20th: Report Cards available online
- March 21st-30th: Spring Break
- April 2nd and 3rd: Parent Teacher Conferences (sign up here: https://www.pickatime.com/schedule.jsp?ven=11600720&event=273243)
- April 3rd: No school for students due to conferences