WEEK IN REVIEW
Wow! What a snowstorm we have had! I am loving the snow, but not loving the cold, bitter weather that comes along with it.
This week has kind of been a cluster, but we chugged through it. These next few weeks are going to go so fast! This week has already flew by. I seriously do not know where the time goes. Do you?!
We are going to try our hardest to finish up Unit #3 in math as well as our Unit #2 in ELA. I really would like to just start with a new slate and new material after the holiday break. That being said, we will be working very hard here in room 406.
Please look for some newer videos of math being posted sometime this weekend. These will hopefully help you as parents help your student with the math we are learning. The new division methods we are using are very abstract thinking, but not above a 4th grade level. I believe all of my students are highly capable of understanding the material. The method we just learned is one that you will be more familiar with as it is digit-by-digit long division. I remind my students to use the "cheater" divide, multiply, subtract, bring down. This has really proven to help some students stay focused on which step they are on in the division process. Please let me know if you have any questions on the math this far. This is also very knew to me, so we are pretty much in the same boat.
We have continued to read The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder. Thank you for those who helped their students make their apple core dolls! They turned out just fabulous. Although, I must apologize for any fruit flies that may have hatched during this process over break. If it is any consolation, we now have a few in my classroom as well! Yuck!
Along with the novel for the unit we are also going to continue learning about weather. This next week we will hopefully start back up and review clouds as well as the Water Cycle. It should be pretty fun and add a little more spice to the book.
Also, we are still learning about pioneer life. The students will be doing another in-class project about pioneer life and they will be also writing a report on a specific pioneer of their choice.
Most of you probably know by now with the letter being sent home and all that the 4th grade team is doing a community service project to raise money for the local Humane Society. We have successfully started mixing, pressing, and baking this delicious doggy biscuits and will be selling them pretty soon! Again, if any one is interested in volunteering please contact me.
It is imperative that our students be reading their AR books in school and at home. We have had our very first "sound check" and 41 students from the HIS have gotten their record labels on the bulletin board as you walk into the school for meeting 75% or 100% of the AR points goal. Please remind your students just how important this is! Wish the luck and encourage them to read, read, read and read some more! :)