Weekly Newsletter October 1 - 5, 2018

Grade 4

Weekly Newsletter

October 1 - October 5, 2018

Language Arts

This week in reading and writing, the students will be focused on setting goals for the first semester to present at parent conferences on Oct. 1 and 2. This process requires the children to consider their strengths as readers and writers and areas to focus on for continued growth. As they consider these goals, they will identify specific evidence from their work throughout the first few weeks of school to present alongside their goals.

Math

The students will continue to use rounding to determine if an answer is reasonable. They will solve multi-step word problems and assess the reasonableness of answers. Students will be practicing using standard algorithm for solving both addition and subtraction multi-step problems.

Social Studies
Students will use what they learned from the cultural universal presentations in class to help them collect information about their own personal culture. This is not necessarily the culture of their home country, but more the culture that is practiced in their everyday lives. Parents, students will be asking you many questions as well to fill in some gaps. 

Announcements

• October 1st and 2nd - ISA Testing: Please make sure your child gets a good night’s rest and eats a balanced breakfast. 
• October 4th and 5th - Three way conferences: Please be sure to arrive at your scheduled time, as the conferences are scheduled back to back. Your child will be presenting their goals for the year, so please make sure they come with you.

Resources

As your child prepares for conferences next week, take a look at this video putting the power of learning in your child’s hands.  After all, it is THEIR LEARNING.  This video gives you an idea of why we do this, the hard work your child has done to prepare, and the wonderful experience you will have next week.  Enjoy! 

EMPOWERING YOUR CHILD DURING CONFERENCES

Weekly Newsletter Sept. 24 - 28

Grade 4

Weekly Newsletter

September 24 - September 28, 2018

Language Arts

In writing, students will be working on their evidence to support their reasons and building stamina to write long and strong! In reading, students will notice how texts are organized in order to help them gain more information while reading.

Math
The students will continue to use rounding to determine if an answer is reasonable. They will solve multi-step word problems and assess the reasonableness of answers. Students will also be learning how to solve two step word problems using the standard algorithm for addition and subtraction.

Social Studies

Students will use their notes on the different universals and create Google slides using the reading structure of Main Idea and and Details. This will be a class resource, and  hopefully students will also get time to present their newly learned information to one another.

Announcements

• September 25th - Individual photos will be taken. Students may wear their chosen outfit.  
• September 27th - Class photos will be taken. The student MUST be in their school uniform (blue collared shirts). 
• ISA Testing Oct. 1st and 2nd - make sure students get a good night’s rest and eat breakfast. 
• October 4th and 5th - Three way conferences. On September 24th, you will be receiving a letter informing you of when your conference time will be. Your child will be presenting their goals for the year.

Resources
As we continue to dig even deeper into learning math, we explore the IMPORTANCE of STRUGGLE.  In this video, we explore the need to struggle as an important part of learning! You will definitely want to watch this one with your kids.
The Importance of Struggle

Weekly Newsletter: Sept. 17 - 21

Grade 4

Weekly Newsletter

September 17 - September 21, 2018

Language Arts

This week in reading, the students will be using nonfiction books about Culture to learn more about the Cultural Universals. They will be learning to take notes in order to find the main idea of a text. Our grade 4 writers will be entering the drafting phase of their opinion writing by expanding their ideas and including evidence to support their opinion statement.

Math

The students will continue to use rounding to determine if an answer is reasonable. They will solve multi-step word problems and assess the reasonableness of answers. Students will also be learning how to answer the word problems with complete sentences.

Social Studies

We will continue with our investigation into the different cultural universals through non-fiction texts.  Students will be blending their non-fiction reading skills with learning about a specific cultural universal.  Many students have finished painting their flag on their identity posters and more work on the posters will continue throughout the next few weeks.

Announcements

• Be sure to refer to the Swimming Schedule to see when your child has P.E. swimming lessons.

on odd days with Amy Simpson you will swim on day 1
on even days with Amy Simpson you will swim on day 2

on odd days with Tim Pettus you will swim on day 3
on even days with Tim Pettus you will swim on day 4

on odd days with Gail Smith you will swim on day 5
on even days with Gail Smith you will swim on day 6

on odd days with Val Vieytes you will swim on day 7
on even days with Val Vieytes you will swim on day 8

• Three way conferences will be on October 4th and 5th. On September 24th, you will be receiving a letter informing you of when your conference time will be. Your child will be presenting their goals for the year.

Resources
Continue to learn with us about teaching and learning math. Here is another video from YouCubed that talks about the importance of believing in yourself and accepting mistakes as learning opportunities. Watch this one with your kids!

Boosting Your Brain with Math

Weekly Newsletter : September 10 - 14

Grade 4

Weekly Newsletter

September 10 - September 14, 2018

Language Arts

This week, students will be previewing nonfiction books and getting their mental “arms” around their books. This includes making connections to the topic and determining what they know already and what they want to learn more about. In writing, students will set goals for themselves and look at the structure of setting up an Opinion Essay.

Math

Students will be using their place value understanding to round multi-digit whole numbers to any place value using real world situations. 

Social Studies

This is a short week and students will be looking closely into each cultural universal ensuring they understand what it means and how it is a piece of the bigger picture - Culture.

Announcements

• If your child is late (after 8:00 am), please be aware that they will need a tardy slip from the Elementary Office.

• If you plan to pick up your child any time during the school day, you must check in with the Elementary Office and then come up to the classroom to pick your child up.
• Hari Raya Celebrations on Friday, Sept. 14th  

Resources

Let’s face it...the way we think about math nowadays is very different than when we were kids. Teachers have learned a lot about how to teach math and want you to learn with us.

Check out this video from YouCubed that talks about the importance of thinking deeply in math. Speed not as important. How fast you are does not relate to how good you are.  Calculation is only a small part of math. Thinking deeply about patterns and ideas in math is more important. Having said that, we do encourage students to practice their math facts for automaticity, however it is not a focus or determining point for success. 

HOW IMPORTANT IS SPEED IN MATH?

Newsletter: September 3 - 7, 2018

Grade 4

Weekly Newsletter

September 3 - September 7, 2018

Language Arts

This week, the children will be developing skills to work with partners and grow ideas as readers. Partnerships are really beneficial when students know how to communicate well with each other and get the conversation started. In writing, the children will be focused on planning their opinion essays using a variety of tools.

Math

This week, students will continue to read and write multi-digit numbers in word form, expanded form and standard form. They will also begin to round numbers to the nearest place value.

Social Studies

This week, we will finish up looking at identity and what influences our values and behaviors.  This theme will run throughout the unit as we begin our identity portraits and start addressing the next part of this unit which is, “ What is Culture?”.

Announcements

• ES Gym - scheduled for use on Monday, Sept. 3
• ES Upper Playgrounds - Fence erected and equipment installed in phases.  Entire area ready for use Sept. 25
• Turf Field behind ES Pool - Open 
• 25m Pool - Ready for PE swimming Sept. 17 (note that this may take place in the 50m pool vs. the 25m pool)
• ES Lower Playgrounds - Areas are being completed and secured for safety currently.  Target date for lower playgrounds is Sept. 5
• Please remember to bring a hat and water bottle on PE days.  The new artificial turf field is ready to use and PE classes will be going outside this week.  Hats are required when going outside

Resources
Look here for resources you and your child can access at home to support their learning and overall development.

• Open House Slideshow 
• When you ask your child, “how was school today?”, does your child often answer with one-word answers such as, “good”?  If so, consider these 15 questions to replace “How was school today?” (Edutopia)  
• Math Unit 1 vocabulary on Quizlet