4th Grade
Mrs. Burns, Mrs. Carlson, and Mrs. Conley
Friday, September 18, 2020
IMPORTANT! MAP Testing coming up!
Technology
We are off to a great start to the school year. Teachers and students are working on troubleshooting technology and some of the hiccups that come with using various platforms for learning. We ask that you are patient, and know that we are supporting kids throughout the process. We will contact you personally if an individual issue arises with your child.
As now required by the district, starting this fall, Google Classroom and BB9 are the platforms that we will be using. BB9 is used to house all of the mini-lessons and assignments for students, whereas Google Classroom is where students will hand in work when completed. This is a different process than what the kids used last spring, so we have been busy practicing how to get work, complete it, and then turn it in.
Some assignments will be turned in on Google Classroom and others will be completed on paper in their journals. As teachers, we will be looking at all student work, but only summatives will be assigned a grade on Google Classroom. Work that is formative/practice, is used for creating small groups and knowing how to support each child and what their next steps will be, will not be graded on Google Classroom.
If students don’t complete their work in the classroom, it will be assigned for homework. You will know if your child’s work is handed in if the circle next to the assignment name is GREY. If it has not been turned in, the circle will be GREEN. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your child's teacher. Thank you for your support.
Math Workshop
Reading & Language Workshop
Readers are learning about routines and expectations in the 4th grade reading workshop. Our first few weeks focus on building a reading life. The reading expectation for at home minutes is 20-25 minutes each night. It is not surprising that kids become better readers when they not only practice at school, but also at home. Our hope is that all kids will find a love for reading this year!
Language Workshop is off to a great start with deep discussion and lots of work in our Thoughtful Logs. Our first unit is “Community”, and the essential question is, “How can diversity impact community?” We have already read and analyzed two books in the last two weeks; Hands Around the Library and Four Feet, Two Sandals. We will read several more books before we finish Unit 1.
Writing Workshop
How do myths that have been passed down from generation to generation, impact a community?
We are just starting our myth writing unit! This unit will focus on learning about myths from various cultures and how to write a myth. Please have your child share what they are writing about in class!!
Science
We have started our first science unit of the year. We are learning about Earth & Human Activities! Our essential questions include: How and why is Earth always changing? What relationship do people have with the effects of weathering or rate of erosion by water, wind, ice or vegetation? What relationship do individual communities have with protecting the Earth’s resources and environment?
This week, we had two virtual field trips. One was with Waukesha County, who did a program on Healthy Soils and Composting. Our other virtual field trip was with Environmental Education. Since we are not able to visit Lapham Peak like in other years, we were able to complete the soil activity here at school. Ask your students what they have learned about soil so far! More activities will be done in the classroom to support our science curriculum.