We have been very busy the past 2 weeks! Thank you to all parents for meeting with me at conference time; it has been great talking with you all about your child's progress!

• In language arts, we have finished the book There's a Boy in the Girl's Bathroom, and we are currently working on a culminating activity (see projects tab). I just introduced the fantasy genre to the class, and we will begin a new literature circle focusing on this genre. All students will choose their own "just right" fantasy book to read. We have continued working with supporting responses with text based evidence. Also, we have spent time focusing on taking margin notes as a reading comprehension strategy. In writing, we are revising and editing our thankful essays, and will continue working on these essays through next week.
• In math, the class just took their unit 6 assessment on using the expanded algorithm to multiply, and I am happy to report that everyone did great! After Thanksgiving break, we will begin unit 7, which continues multiplication strategies for multi-digit by multi-digit numbers. Currently, the class is working on planning a Thanksgiving dinner on a $100 budget! They made a guest list, a menu, and are working on a shopping list. Students must use math in the real word situation of shopping for groceries!
• We are learning about the solar system. We spent time learning about moon phases, and how the moon effects the Earth. After break, students will be independently researching the inner and outer planets, and will be creating a flip book.
• Please continue to practice multiplication facts through the 12's with your child.
• Please send in a snack for the month of November if you have not already. Thank you!

Have a great weekend!

We continue to learn and grow in fourth grade! We have had 2 very busy weeks. Here's what we have been up to:

• We had a great Halloween party last Thursday! Students wore their costumes and cycled through 4 Halloween stations. We did a few fun games and crafts, and snacked on some Halloween treats. Thank you to my parent volunteers for running the stations!
• In Social Studies, the class learned about the English taking control of the Dutch colony New Netherlands. The class spent some time learning about our first governor, Peter Stuyvesant, and his eventual surrender to the English.
• We have started a unit on our solar system. This week, the class learned about what causes day and night, and what causes the seasons. We had the opportunity to visit star lab with Miss Abelseth to learn about the constellations. Dr. Reardon made a guest appearance in star lab to teach the class about the myths behind the constellations. Next week, we will continue to learn about the solar system and the English colony.
• In word work, the class learned new prefixes. Next week will be a review of this weeks prefixes, and last weeks words/spelling pattern. There will be an assessment on Friday 11/15.
• We started a new writing unit focused again on paragraphing. Students are writing about things they are thankful for. We encouraged the students to choose at least 2 non-material items they were thankful for, and 1 material item. The class started with some pre-writing in the form of a graphic organizer and a list, and they are now drafting their body paragraphs.
• In math we just started a unit on different methods to multiply. So far, the class has learned the standard algorithm, expanded algorithm (partial products), and  breaking apart. We have been focusing on multiplying 2 and 3 digit numbers by one digit. Most students are not fluent in their multiplication facts through 12. Please practice every night with your child. You can make flash cards, or have them practice on IXL.
• The class learned about first and third person point of view this week. We also continued to work on author's purpose. The students completed a compare and contrast activity for the books Holes and There's a Boy in the Girl's Bathroom.
• I started a new read aloud for the book Out of My Mind. Please ask your child about the book!