This Week We...
It was another amazing week here in fourth grade. Despite all of the excitement with Red Ribbon Week, Dress Up Days, and Halloween we did manage to get some work done! Phew!
In ELA we are continuing to work on our DOL. This packet is sent home every Thursday for your students to study! Don't forget to remind them of their test on Friday!! We are finally getting to the end of our REWARDS program. We have hit lesson 14. I send these lessons home with the students when we finish them in hopes that they will practice what we have learned so far. We have wrapped up some of our science unit where we learned about weather, seasons, clouds and the like. We will continue to have projects and mini-lessons about these subjects as Unit 2 progresses. We have started reading The Long Winter written by Laura Ingalls Wilder. She is an author of a series of books called The Little House Series. If you student is enjoying this book I would recommend them reading the rest of the series. They are a fun blast from the past. We have had discussions about pioneer life and its differences compared to what our lives are like now. The students have really enjoyed learning about this. We will hopefully be having some more fun and educational activities dealing with the idea of pioneer life throughout the book including but not limited too a WebQuest, Oregon Trial Game, and Pioneer Day. Additionally, we have done some writing activities including a persuasive piece about the best super hero power and a writing piece about a favorite season.
In Math we have been barreling through Unit 2--MULTIPLICATION. We have learned several methods of multiplying that the students are all familiar with. They have now been given a chance to choose which method they prefer to use (Place Value Sections, Expanded Notation, Algebraic Notation or Short-Cut Method). We have done these methods with one-digit by two-digit, one-digit by three-digit and two-digit by two-digit multiplication. It has been a challenge, but the students have met it with determination to get these methods down pat! Please remember, the best thing you can do for your child to help you child in math is to get those math facts down!! They need to be memorized--this is where I see a lot of struggle when it comes to the work I check and do with my students!
Something special that took place this week was Red Ribbon Week. This is a campaign against drug use/abuse. To kick off the week we had a concert. This concert was also to congratulate the students on doing very well on the WKCE testing last year. The Hayward Intermediate School was recognized with the Title I Outstanding School Award because of this. WAY TO GO HIS!
Furthermore, each day the students and staff got to dress up in regards to a slogan for the week dealing with anti-drugs and alcohol.
Monday: "Team Up Against Drugs"
Tuesday: "Don't Get Wrapped Up in Drugs"
Wednesday: "Put A Cap On Drugs"
Thursday: "Drugs are a Trick Not a Treat"
Friday: Red Day
We have done some Red Ribbon Week activities in class as well such as signing a pledge to be "Drug Free."