Spring Creek Cardinals
4th Grade Newsletter
OCTOBER 2017 EDITION
**Each Monday you should see the RED "Monday folder" coming home to you with graded papers in it and any other pieces of information the front office would like for us to distribute. Example - progress reports, picture forms, box tops information
**Also remember to check your child's planner to see what they are doing that week in each of their classes.
Reminder - Parent conferences have started! We look forward to spending time with each of you and sharing about how your child is doing in school. If you haven't signed up yet for a conference please contact your homeroom teacher.
Thank you for your support!
Cardinal Chat Podcast!
Here is the link to our latest Podcast - https://soundcloud.com/user-958897908
MATH Update
Math in October
Our 4th graders have been working hard in math, learning about place value, rounding, and now decimals to name a few concepts. We will continue working on decimals and then move to fractions for the month of October. If you have any questions on anything we are learning about or if your child seems to be struggling with a math concept, please let me know by emailing me at jeberle@csisd.org.
I wanted to give you some more information about our math fact fluency program that we are using this year. We are using XtraMath, a program that takes students from the math facts they know and challenges them to continue to advance in their knowledge. Everyone started on addition facts 0+0 up to 9+9. The program considers a fact mastered when the student consistently solves it in less than 3 seconds. Once they have mastered all of the addition facts, then they advance to subtraction, multiplication and finally division. “Why master their math facts?” is a question I often hear. In fourth grade our students are introduced to many concepts that have multiple, complicated steps, such as double-digit by double-digit multiplication as well as long division. If they know their facts, then there will be more space in working memory to recall the steps they need to follow for those concepts, rather than using working memory to recall a multiplication fact such as 7 x 8 or a subtraction fact such as 15 - 9. XtraMath is used in class approximately the first ten minutes of class each day. Your child can use the XtraMath program at home as well. They just need to login to XtraMath.com and enter my email along with their login and PIN, which is located inside their planner on the first page.
Another program that is a fun math game to play which helps them practice various math skills in a game format is Prodigy. I know many of them are already playing at home. Many have memorized their login. I haven’t had a chance to type up their logins on a label, so if your child doesn’t know their login and you would like them to play the game, just send me an email and I will send you your child’s login. This is a great program to allow them to play at home if you are looking for something educational that they still enjoy.
READING/WRITING Update
October 2017
Students are working their way through the writing cycle. Since the beginning of school we have been collecting in our notebook and testing strategies for how to generate ideas and writing. Then we determined our topic, based on what we wrote the most about, and generated more entries on our topic. Today, Oct. 2, students wrote their first draft out of the notebook. We are halfway through the cycle and will spend the next few days revising. Next week students will edit and then publish. We have plans to share our writing with classmates and peers through Seesaw. (Parents are being given their Seesaw access code at Parent Conferences.Once you have your parent access code you will be able to read and comment on your child’s work.) We are also paired with a 2nd grade class with whom we will share our published realistic fiction.
Poetry Friday is a blast! Students look forward to reading, writing and sharing poetry. Our 4th graders are publishing their poems on our blog: https://mrsdungansclass.weebly.com/poetry Students really enjoy reading the comments others around the world make on our blog. Please read and add to the comments your thoughts, or even your own poems! Last week we even received a comment from Amy Ludwig VanDerWater, a published author of poetry. Her blog is called The Poem Farm. You can visit her blog from a link on my webpage: https://mrsdungansclass.weebly.com/links-for-children.html
Students have been selecting books on their independent reading level. Almost everyone is doing a good job making sure they have a just right book. This month I will teach your child how to look up the level of a book on Scholastic Book Wizard. If you ever feel like the book your child is reading is too difficult (or WAY to easy) then feel free to use this website. Students independent reading level is written inside the cover of their planner on the top left corner. This month we will begin book clubs and students will need to read their book club book for homework in order to finish the book in a timely manner.
READING HOMEWORK seems to be going smoothly from my point of view. I have heard from a few parents that their child is excited to sit and read. Please let me know if homework is creating stress for your family so we can talk and come up with a plan that works for all of us and most of all will benefit your child. I try to keep homework posted on the website: https://mrsdungansclass.weebly.com/homework.html
Thanks for everything you do! Parents are the most important teacher in a child’s life. Please don’t hesitate to email me with any questions, concerns or successes regarding your child. kdungan@csisd.org
SCIENCE/SOCIAL STUDIES Update
In Science we are looking at how volume and mass impact density of objects (sink/float). We will also look at how phases of matter change when heat is added or taken away. Lastly, this month we will also look at solutions and mixtures and see how the two are similar and different.
The vocabulary that we cover in class is important for our students to know and understand so on my webpage I have digital flashcards. Help your child get into the good habit of looking over the words every couple of days for 10 - 12 minutes. This will help them make the connections to our labs and discussions we have in class. Plus the weekly quizzes will be easier for them!
Here is the link to my webpage: http://mann4thgradeclass.weebly.com/
In Social Studies we are looking at Texas and who lived here first. Our discussions and readings will look at Archaic Indians, Prehistoric Indians and the historic American Indians.
Each week students will have a weekly quiz to see if they are understanding the concepts we cover that week. This is a great way for me, you and our student to see if they are "getting" it. Be looking for this quiz in their Monday folder. If they are consistently making an 80 or higher, they are doing well. If your student starts consistently scoring below an 80, we need to figure out how to help them be more successful.
Looking Ahead...
Upcoming Dates:
October 2-6 Book Fair...Book Fair Dinner on 10/2
October - 10 Picture Day
October - 11 StuCo Meeting after school
October - 20 Fourth grade to OPAS for Storytelling
October - 23-26 Red Ribbon Week
October - 25 4th Grade to Washington on the Brazos
Spring Creek Elementary
Website: http://sc.csisd.org/
Location: 2450 Brewster, College Station, TX
Phone: 979-694-5838
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CSISDSpringCreek
Twitter: @sc_elementary