Classroom Update
April 8, 2016
Hi Everyone!
The background of this newsletter feels like wishful thinking, flowering buds....eventually, spring will come! Here are updates and reminder of things to come.
Reading
Our Reader's Workshop time is going to be where we focus on our State Fair group projects. We will dive into nonfiction reading and zone in on reading for informational purposes. I'll still be conferencing and teaching minilessons to the kids everyday. We will also continue to work on word sorting/spelling with Words Their Way.
Math
Unit 7 will be wrapping up next week. Currently, our plans have us testing on Thursday. As with every unit, a review packet will be coming home as a study guide. We will no longer switch classes for math after Unit 7. I'll have my class for math and personalize learning as needed. The remainder of the content we cover during 4th grade is new to all students and we will be working on some in-class projects too. Unit 8 is called Perimeter and Area. We have some fun things planned for this unit! I'm looking forward to it.
Writing
We will be continuing our persuasive writing pieces next week. Some students are just finishing their rough draft and are working on editing. I've noticed that an area of needed practice is the introduction section. We are spending a lot of time working on creating exciting leads that engage the reader and make him/her WANT to read more. When you are reading with your child, it would be great if you could point out good intro sentences/paragraphs and talk about the characteristics you see that make it a quality intro. Thanks!
Other 4th Grade News
Social Studies
Our class just started a unit called The South and West. We start with the south and discuss geography, history, and resources. Many of the kids had connecting stories to this region as several have traveled there at some point. Watch for more info to come home!
Forward Exam
Students finished the Social Studies and Science sections of the Forward Exam this week. Each test has two sections and takes approximately 30 minutes each. We tested on one section per day. Math and Reading will be assessed in early May.
Trying New Things
As some of you know, I am currently working on my Library Media Specialist license. I am in a class called Digital Tools and Technology right now and I'm always learning new things to use in my classroom. This wonderful class has become by "guinea pigs" in many ways! :) So far, all new things I've tried have been successful! We tried a new program yesterday called Plickers. Plickers is a program (free) used to check for understanding as a formative assessment. Each student was given a sheet with a QR type code on it that is specific to him/her. They turn their sheet a certain direction to indicate how they are answering a question. I then use my phone to scan the room and it reads student answers based on how the scan reads their sheet. It then let's me know how each individual child answered and then allows me to identify who needs extra support or reteaching. It's been fun and the kids love it! They were begging to use it today, so we used it take lunch count. Ask your child to tell you more!
Dates to Remember
April 13 PBIS Assembly on Honesty
April 21 Early Release
April 26 Family Literacy Night & Swallow Showcase
May 12 Tentative date for State Fair
May 19 Early Release
Contact
As always, please feel free to contact me anytime you have question or comment.
Have a nice, relaxing weekend!
Annie