Weekly Update

News from PE…

For the next 2 weeks, we will be running a combined biking/archery unit. Half of the class will be biking while the other half is doing archery for week 1, and then they will switch for week 2. For simplicity's sake, we are going to use class numbers to distinguish groups. The girls are aware of this. The week of November 13 will be biking for all students to ensure all classes get ample time in this unit as it is a favorite! All girls should bring in a helmet by Monday, October 30!

Week of October 30: 

Numbers 1-7: Archery

Numbers 8-15: Biking

Week of November 6:

Numbers 1-7: Biking

Numbers 8-15: Archery

Week of November 13: All are biking

 

Here are some curriculum updates and reminders:

 

Math: The girls have worked hard and efficiently on chapter 1 focusing on place value. We will have a quiz Monday and move on to adding and subtracting big numbers. We have been reviewing in class for this. One last reminder that the Greg Tang Halloween Math Challenge is due by Tuesday, October 31.

 

Language Arts: On November 10, we will have our first Wordly Wise Dress Up Day! All details are here and this is always a highlight of 4th grade!

We finished James and the Giant Peach and the girls designed newspaper front pages. I will be sending these home next week and I am proud of their creativity. 

This week, we practiced fluency skills by doing some Halloween themed reader's theaters. Our next novel will be about a dog on the Oregon Trail during the time of Westward Expansion. 

 

Social Studies: Each girl did a fantastic job of creating a comic explaining one branch of government. They turned out really well and I will be sending them home soon. Our next unit of study will be on Westward Expansion.

Reminders:

• Carpool helper next week: Reese
• Special Week: Wells
  
• Remember to check SeeSaw for updates from Specials teachers
  
• Scavenger hunt question - answer this!
• Halloween Celebration will be Tuesday, October 31. The girls may dress up for Halloween - details are here
• Field Trip to Virginia State Capitol: Tuesday, December 5 from 9:30 - 11:30: more details to come

 

Weekly Update

This week's blog post will be brief since I have been meeting with so many parents in person. Thank you for taking the time to come into the classroom to discuss your daughter. 

I want to provide a reminder about the optional Greg Tang Halloween Math Challenge that is due by Halloween.

Reminders:

• Carpool helper next week: Maggie
• Special Week: Andie
  
• Remember to check SeeSaw for updates from Specials teachers
  
• Scavenger hunt question - answer this!
• Halloween Celebration will be Tuesday, October 31. The girls may dress up for Halloween - details are here
• Field Trip to Virginia State Capitol: Tuesday, December 5 from 9:30 - 11:30: more details to come

Weekly Update

Starting Monday, I look forward to meeting with you for our fall conferences to discuss the progress your daughter is making.

We accomplished many things this week despite it being a 4 day week. I am proud of how this group of girls comes in the classroom each morning, checks the directions on the Smartboard, and gets down to business! They have received more class compliments from me than any recent class. I usually reserve those compliments to come from other adults but I just cannot help myself because they keep impressing me!

In today's Friday Folder, you will see the chapter 12 math test. We went through some questions that many students missed and I reminded the girls that we will come back and review the geometry concepts.

Here are some curriculum updates and reminders:

Math: We have started our chapter on place value and big numbers. We will focus on reading and writing numbers to the millions place, comparing numbers, and rounding. This week, I sent home an optional Greg Tang Halloween Math Challenge. I look forward to seeing who chooses to participate in this enrichment opportunity. The signed game board should be returned to me by October 31. 

Language Arts: We are still reading James and the Giant Peach and enjoying Roald Dahl's descriptive and humorous language. We will conclude this novel in the next week or so. The girls have worked hard on our most recent writing lab and wrote a story about a witch casting a spell on them. Here is the writing lab description and the girls' work is hanging up on the bulletin board outside our classroom.

Social Studies: We began our unit on the three branches of government this week by identifying the three branches. We also discussed the role of each branch and who is part of each one. We will continue working through this unit next week. In December, we have the opportunity to visit the Virginia State Capitol for a tour.

Reminders:

• Carpool helper next week: Ruth
• Remember to check SeeSaw for updates from Specials teachers
  
• Scavenger hunt question - answer this!
• Conference Day is Friday, October 20 - Student Holiday
• Halloween Celebration will be Tuesday, October 31
• The girls may dress up for Halloween - details are here
• Field Trip to Virginia State Capitol: Tuesday, December 5 from 9:30 - 11:30: more details to come
  

Weekly Update

We had another great week! The girls have earned another 25 class compliments for a grand total of 50, which is very impressive! We will celebrate on Friday, October 13. They may bring in a small stuffed animal and we will celebrate other ways as well.

I was not at school Friday for Blessing of the Animals but it sounded like a success. Here are some pictures from the substitute:

Here are some curriculum updates and reminders.

Math: The girls completed their first math assessment on the geometry unit and I will send these home next week. While we will continue to spiral review the geometry concepts, we will begin our unit on big numbers. 

Language Arts: We are enjoying our reading of James and the Giant Peach. We have learned about and created various jobs to use for discussion of the book. Small group chats are giving the girls opportunities to share their thinking about the book's message and big themes. 

We also completed our first "Spelling and Me" creative writing activity where students choose a picture and insert a picture of themselves onto the image. This picture is then used to spark a story using 5 or more of their spelling words.  I will share their creations next week.

Social Studies: Next week, we will begin our unit on the government and will dig deeper into the three branches of government. 

Reminders:

• Carpool helper next week: Claire
• Remember to check SeeSaw for updates from Specials teachers
  
• Scavenger hunt question - answer this!
• Conference Day is Friday, October 20 - Student Holiday
• Halloween Celebration will be Tuesday, October 31