Weekly Update October 4-8

Hello 4th Grade Families,

The fourth graders are continuing to work hard and grow mathematically. We are making progress on our Mountain of Math Facts and working very hard on meeting the current math standards. This week we are beginning Unit 3. In this unit, we will begin understanding algebra, division, and multiplication. Your children will be taught many different ways to multiply and divide. I will send home a page from the student reference book explaining the methods that we are learning in class. If you know of another way to teach your child feel free to work on this at home as well. I have began to work with Ms. Embry to find resources for our Gifted and Talented students in math. At this time, we are not going to be doing pull outs in math. We are utilizing our time by giving the students extension activities within the classroom. This allows them to go further with their learning and not miss any instruction.

In social studies, we are learning how different groups have contributed to the United States. Last week we learned to learn cooperatively through the use of the jigsaw method. We will continue to use that this week. In this activity, each student reads a section, they then talk about the section with others who have also read the same section, and then finally the students break out into groups and teach other what they have learned.

In science, this week we are learning about the following ecosystems: Oak Forest, Tropical Rain Forest, and the Salt Marsh. We will be comparing the ecosystems and looking at how things living and nonliving interact within the ecosystems.

It is almost conference time! Parent/Teacher conferences are scheduled for the evenings of October 25th and October 26th from 4:05- 8:00p.m. If these dates do not work for you, we are also available from 4:00-5:00 starting next Wednesday, October 13th. Please sign up for a conference ASAP. There are two ways to sign up. 1.) Sign up on the conference sign up sheet outside of our classrooms. 2.) email us the time that you can meet. Conferences are first come first serve, so please sign up early.

There are many important events that are coming up quick, so put the dates on your calendar!
*Tomorrow, Tuesday October 5- Noodles & Company Fundraising Night- 4-9 pm 25% of all sales go to the school! Come eat and help the school out!
*October 11- Picture Day (Do not wear green for pictures! Pictures are taken on a green screen!)
*October 25 & 26- Parent Teacher Conferences
*October 27- Halloween Parade & Party
*October 28-29- Fall Break

Hey Parents, I need your help!
Soon our science unit will be ending. When this time comes, we are going to give the fish tanks that our fish are in back to the science department. However, the fish will stay in our classroom. I would like a large fish tank for the classroom. Does anyone know of someone who would like to get rid of a fish tank or of a business that would be willing to donate one to our classroom? If you know of any resources or people that I could contact to help me with this please let me know.  

Homework for this week: Assignments are due the following day.
10/4- S.L. 3.1
10/5- S.L. 3.2
10/6- S.L. 3.3
10/7- S.L. 3.4
10/8- CHALLENGE PROBLEMS ARE DUE WITH 3.4

Thank you all for the great parental support! Have a GREAT week!

Miss Grant