A Very Important Day

In Anthology, students will be reading the story A Very Important Day.  It's about families that become citizens.  To build background on the topic, we read the story Coming to America.  This story is about the history of immigration in the United States.  You can ask your child what they learned about immigration and becoming citizens.

Math Topic 6

Math Topic 6 is a short unit!  We started it last Monday (22nd) and will be testing this Thursday.  It is called "Patterns and Expressions."  Students are learning:

• variable- a symbol that stands for a number
• algebraic expression- a mathematical phrase containing numbers or variables and at least one operation  example  d-12  or n x 2
• Students will understand how to work with variables in a table. 
• Students will study completed tables and determined a rule and write an expression using addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division.

Move It!

In class, we did an activity called "Move it!" to help students summarize and remember the story Boss of the Plains.  They really enjoyed it and wanted another opportunity to "perform."  I told them I would paste the summary and actions on the blog.  This way, you can read it to them and they can perform the actions for you. :)

Everyone wore different hats (action) because of the weather (action).

John made hats (action) in the East (action) while everyone went West (action).  John was bored (action).

John got sick (action) so he decided to go West (action) to look for gold (action).

Finally, John felt better (action) because of the open air.  John told his friends that he could make a tent (action) out of rabbit’s fur.

John used his skills (action) to make felt.  They could finally sleep in warm tents (action) while they dug for gold (action).

John made a hat with a wide brim (action) and tall crown (action) to keep the sun out of his eyes (action) and rain off his back (action).  A man bought one for $5 (action).  After awhile, he decided to move back East (action) and make hats (action) again.

He wanted to be different so he decided to make his hat (action) and named it Boss of the Plains.

Orders for the new hat (action) poured in from the West (action).

The hat (action) could be used in many different (action) ways.

John became famous (action) for his hat (action).

Thanksgiving Books

In class today, we will be reading Young Squanto: The First Thanksgiving and Thanksgiving in the White House.  You can ask your child what they learned about how and why the first Thanksgiving was celebrated as well as what some traditions are in the famous White House!

                       

Plants and Animals

My class is currently doing a Science unit with Mrs. Duff called Plants & Animals.  They learn that all animals have both physical and behavioral adaptations to survive. They learn about producers and consumers and how each fit into the life cycle. They also learn how to classify animals by what they eat, by their ecosystem and by their type of animal. 

Handwriting

In cursive, there are four "tow-truck" letters.  These are letters that don't end on the bottom line.  They will ALWAYS end on the mid-line.  These letters are b, o, v, and w.  Any letter that comes after one of these letters has to have the beginning of it raised up to meet the "tow" of the tow-truck letter before it.  We are playing a game in class to help us remember these rules.  You can ask your child what tow truck letters are and ask them to write them individually or in words.

Recognition Assembly

This past Thursday, we had an all-school recognition assembly.  The 4th graders presented.  They all choral read a paragraph about Thanksgiving.  Then, we showed a powerpoint with different family traditions.  The 4th graders read these and if it applied to anyone in the audience, they said "That's me!"  It went wonderfully and the students did an EXCELLENT job!  Many of them had their "scripts" memorized.  They worked very hard.  They got lots of compliments from staff in the building.  Thank you to those that sent family pictures.  They really added a lot to the powerpoint.  You could ask your child what the script was about and what traditions they said that they celebrate on Thanksgiving.
Happy Thanksgiving!

Boss of the Plains Vocabulary

Your child will be learning the following vocabulary in Anthology, through the story Boss of the Plains.  You can ask them if they know the definitions, or give them a definition and see if they can tell you the word! :)

• adventurers- travelers in search of unusual or exciting experiences
• determined- sticking to a purpose
• frontier- unexplored land
• gear- equipment used for a specific activity
• opportunity- a good chance
• pioneers- people who are the first to settle in a region
• settlers- people who travel to a little known area and make a home
• tanned- changed animal hide leather by soaking it in chemicals
• wranglers- cowboys

Anticipation/ Reaction

Yesterday, students completed an Anticipation/ Reaction form on a read aloud about pioneers.  Before this short story was read to them, they completed true/false questions about pioneer statements (anticipation).  Then I read the story to them.  As we went along, we decided on the correct response (reaction).  Ask your child if the following statements are true or false. :)

    1. Pioneers could stop in restaurants or grocery stores during their journey  West.    

     2. Flour was the most important item pioneers used.

   3. Butter was made while the wagon bumped along.                                       

    4. Pioneers could not eat any fresh foods while along their way.      

    5. Pioneers did not have a stove with them to cook food.               

   6. Watchagot stew was made out of dried vegetables, beans, and leftovers.

     7. Pioneers ate doughnuts.                                                                                   

Literacy Assessments

On Thursday, we will be going over three literacy assessments that have been completed in the last week.  Here is what your child is assessed over and what they would need to receive all points possible:
-Handwriting/ Cursive:
     All letters are formed correctly.
     All of the work is neat and legible. Excellent effort shown.
     All letters are connected correctly.
     All letters are located correctly in relationship to the lines.
     All letters and words are spaced appropriately.
-Framing Your Thoughts probe:
     Diagrammed Correctly
     Capital/Ednmark
     Subject
     Action Predicate
     Subject Describer (Set Apart)
     Predicate Expander
     Subject/ Predicate agreement (clarity)
-Paragraph Assessment:
     Organization- structure, introduction, conclusion
     Ideas and Content- main theme, supporting details
     Sentence fluency- clarity
     Voice- personality, sense of audience
     Word Choice
     Conventions- age appropriate spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and grammar
     Presentation- final copy

Anthology Update

Students are finishing work today on the story Tanya's Reunion.  They have learned the following vocabulary:
-arrangements
-gathering
-great-uncle
-homestead
-persisted
-pitches in
-reunion
-satisfaction
They have also learned how to make inferences.  You can ask your child the definitions of the vocabulary words and places in the story where they made an inference.  In addition, asking your child to summarize what they read is always a great idea!

Veterans' Day

Today, your child learned about Veterans' Day.  We read the book H is for Honor: A Military Family Alphabet by Devin Scillian. 

You can ask your child what Veteran's Day is and what it means to them!

Lunchroom Expectations

Lunchroom Expectations.
Ready to Learn:
-Use table manners.
-Positive Talk
Ready for Safety:
-Stay in your seats sitting on your pockets.
Responsible:
-Quick pick of your table
Respectful:
-Talk in your box.
-Follow the adult's directions.

How is your child doing at following lunchroom expectations?

Classroom Expectations

Classroom Expectations

Ready to Learn:
-Enter the classroom appropriately.
-Try your best.
-Be ready to listen carefully.
-Body Basics
Ready for Safety:
-Value other people's opinions and differences.
-Ask permission to leave the classroom.
-Clean up after yourself.
Responsible:
-Arrive where you need to be on time.
-Bring your materials to class.
-Complete your work on time.
Respectful:
-Use kind words.
-"Golden Rule"
-Get the teacher's attention appropriately.
-Inside voice

You can ask your child how they are doing in the classroom at following these expectations.  You could also ask them to provide examples of how they demonstrate each of these things.

Hallway Expectations

Across the school, these are the CATS hallway expectations that we have here at Fisher.
Ready to Learn:
-Stay on the right side of the hallway
-Be ready to listen
Ready for Safety:
-Line basics
-Follow the adult's directions
-Walk
Responsible:
-Take care of yourself
Respectful:
-Hands to your side
-Respond when others greet you
-Use a quiet voice

You can ask your child what they do to follow hallway expectations.  Ask if there is anything they could improve on.

Spelling and Flash Cards

This is a reminder to please have your child study their flash cards and spelling at home.  Even if they are not assigned as homework, it is still a good idea to be practicing them.  I consider knowing both basic facts and how to spell words as a life skill.  Remember when practicing flash cards to practice them in pairs/ family of facts.  Example: addition/ subtraction (1+2=3, 2+1=3, 3-2=1, 3-1=2), multiplication/ division. If you need further tips and advice on how to practice at home, don't hesistate to ask! :)

Framing Your Thoughts

Students recently learned about the subject describer called "ownership".  Here are the rules:
-Singular- add "s" at the end  ex.  John --> John's shirt
-Plural ending in "s"- Add an ' at the end   ex. girls --> girls' team
-Plural NOT ending in "s"- Add 's at the end  ex. men--> men's team
-it's vs. its- "it's" is the contractoin for "it is", "its" is the ownership word (ex. its color)

Students will also be learning about the subject describer called "set-aparts".  A set-apart sets the subject apart by being specific.  It comes between the subject and predicate.  Example: The kittens in the white wicker basket live at the animal shelter.  "in the white wicker basket" is the set-apart.
If a set-apart is one word, it is placed in front of the subject.  Example: This hat fits. ("this" is the set-apart)

We diagram subject describers by drawing a box around them.
You can ask your child to provide you with examples of these types of subject describers. 

Pennants

Has your child told you about their pennant?  These are replacing the punch cards that we used last month to reinforce students.  Students decorated their own pennant with a Bobcat head.  When they are caught going above and beyond to do something good, they receive a sticker to place on their pennant.

Box Tops for Education

Our class brought in over 600 box tops recently during the last box tops "campaign."  Since each one is worth  10 cents a piece, that's over $60 raised for the school!  You can continue to send box tops at any time and we can keep them in the box shown below.

Handwriting Without Tears

We are reviewing cursive in 4th grade this year.  The district uses a curriculum called Handwriting Without Tears.  At home, you can ask your child to write in cursive.  Then, you can compare how they wrote to the cursive models below.  You could even print a copy and keep it at home!


Source: http://shopping.hwtears.com/category/cursive