We had another great week in fourth grade! The students have learned many new concepts, and are working very hard.

• Students had their word-work assessment today. I would like to explain how the word-work program works, incase there is any confusion. Word-work is done in a 3 week rotation. Week one students are given new words and a word sort to complete. They learn a spelling pattern/spelling rule. Students complete 3 word-work tasks at home to hand in Friday, as well as word-work activities in class. Week 2, students are given new prefixes to learn. We use dictionaries to find words with the prefixes we are working with. On Friday, 3 prefix activities are due. Week 3 is a review of the previous weeks, with 4 tasks due on Friday, and an assessment.
• The class finished up their final copies of their "special people" writing. Next week, we begin writing about things we are thankful for. Again, the emphasis is writing paragraphs that flow and have topic sentences, supporting details, and closing sentences. All students have a writing goal that they are working towards.
• We have been working on author's purpose, main idea, theme, and answering questions using text based evidence. 
• In math, the class just finished up a unit on place value. Next week, we begin a unit on different methods to multiply double digit numbers.
• In social studies, students presented their posters about explorers. Next week we will learn about the English taking control of the Dutch colony.

Have a great weekend! Please remember to schedule a conference if you have not already done so.

We had another great week in fourth grade! On Wednesday we took our trip to the Huyck Preserve. The kids really enjoyed this experience, and learned a lot about ecology. Under the class pictures tab, you can view photos from the trip. This week we worked on:

• Students read fiction and nonfiction texts, and answered questions using text based evidence. This is a difficult task, but all the students are making progress!
• We continued to work on finding the main idea of passages and supporting details.
• In math, we finished up unit 2 on extending tables and patterns. Students took a unit 2 assessment this afternoon. Tests will be sent home next week. We start unit 3, which is measurement, next week.
• Students finished their first draft of their special people essays, and revised and edited them. All students were givin a writing goal to work towards.
• Students sorted their new word-work words several times, and wrote analogies using their words. Please ask your child on a daily basis about the spelling rule they learned.
• We used the Ipads to learn about Christopher Columbus.
• Students worked in groups to research an explorer and create a poster to present to the class.
• Please sign up for Remind101 if you have not already done so.

Have a great weekend!

We have had a great first month of school! Thank you to all parents who were able to attend parent night; it was nice to meet all of you! Also, thank you for sending in snacks for the month of October. Students have been working very hard in all subject areas.

• We have been drafting an essay about special people in our lives. Students have been focusing on paragraphing. Next week we will revise and edit our drafts. 
• Next week we begin our first week of word work. Words will be assigned on Monday, and students are expected to complete 3 word-work tasks in their notebooks by Friday. 
• We are wrapping up our study of early people of New York, and will begin a unit on explorers next week.
• In math, we are continuing our work with finding and extending number patterns. Please make sure that your child is practicing their multiplication facts each night. Quizzes will be every Friday. For extra practice, IXL is a great site.

Next Wednesday we have our first field trip to the Huyck Preserve. Please send your child dressed in layers with water proof shoes or boots. Students should also bring a peanut free lunch (no glass bottles please).