Hello November

ELA: We are excited to start a new book next week, Eagle Song. We will be working on the following learning targets:

• I can connect what I already know about the Iroquois to the ideas in the beginning of Eagle Song.

• I can discuss answers to questions with my group and provide evidence to explain my ideas.

Math: We will continue our work with tape diagrams:

• I can create and solve multi-step word problems from given tape diagrams and equations.
 
• I can use place value understanding to add and subtract multi-digit whole numbers using the standard algorithm and apply the algorithm to solve word problems using tape diagrams.

Thank you to Kaydin's, Aidan's, and Abby's families for donating snacks and/or supplies. Thank you to Dominic's family for sharing his new baby brother. Thank you to Kaydin's and Dominic's family for helping us set up for our Halloween party. Thank you to everyone for sharing your wonderful children with us everyday!

 

Please call the main office to sign-up for a conference!

 

 

 

 

October is Flying

We have been working hard and having fun.

We just finished a favorite read aloud, A Long Way from Chicago by Richard Peck. The students really enjoyed the characters, especially Grandma. And now we have moved onto Tiger Rising by Kate DiCamillo.

In math, we finished the mid-module assessment. After a quick glance we were proud of all of the students. Because this is a new assessment the fourth grade teachers will need to grade the assessments as a team and we will pass along more specific information about your child's performance at that time.

Fact fluency continues to be a struggle for most students. We will need to set aside more classroom math time for fact fluency work. Please be sure to have your child practice math facts for approximately 10-15 minutes a night. Next week we will incorporate a place to track math minutes on the homework pack.

We will begin working with Bar Models (tape diagrams), the standard addition and subtraction algorithm, and continue our with place value by relating the addition and subtraction problems to representations on the place value chart. We will also work as a class to develop an organized process for approaching word problems.

In ELA/SS we will continue our in depth study of the Haudenosaunee. We have been taking notes while reading in order to develop well organized paragraphs about our reading. Now we are working on writing powerful concluding sentences by asking ourselves, "Why does this matter?" We are taking notes on a new graphic organizer and will incorporate the new graphic organizer into next week's homework pack.

****The reading paragraph in the homework does not need to be a summary. The students may make any reasonable claim about their reading that can be supported by specific details or examples from the text.

Picking up the Pace in 201

We are having a great time while working hard in room 201! We had a great time at the 8 Square Schoolhouse last week. This week we have our routines running smoothly and have started the real work of fourth grade!

Social Studies and Writing:

We have been studying the Haudenosaunee people. This involved reading an article about The Great Law of Peace and then sections of the document. The students have been developing their abilities to annotate the text or mark the text and write their thinking on the page. The students are building background knowledge and using this knowledge to help us answer our guiding question, "How can our school community benefit from the beliefs and agreements of the Haudenosaunee people?"

We are finishing up our first polished writing piece about the Haudenosaunee and will begin a new text next week, The Iroquois: The 6 Nations Confederacy.

We are very excited about the timing of the First Peoples' Festival in Ithaca and hope that many families can take advantage of this free curriculum connection!

Math:

We will complete our introduction to place value, comparing numbers, and rounding next week. After a week of either review or extension activities (on an as needed basis) we will take a mid-module assessment. The next concepts covered will be multi-digit addition and subtraction in isolation and within word problems. Please be advised that mastery of basic addition and subtraction facts are necessary to keep pace with the program. At this point there are not any students that have passed both addition and subtraction on their xtra math assessments. Please help your child master all basic facts in under 3 seconds at home per the weekly homework packs.

Important Dates:

October 5th- First Peoples' Festival
October 6th- Lansing Firehouse Open House
October 11th- Half Day and October Brunch
October 14th- NO SCHOOL
October 15th- Picture Day

First Peoples’ Festival ~ Saturday, October 5, 2013

First Peoples’ Festival ~ Saturday, October 5, 2013

This is a great curriculum connection!

Free Event

Another Great Week!

The students are working hard and settling into the daily routines. We have an exciting week coming up with our Monday Brunch, Wednesday Open House and Curriculum Presentation, and our Friday field trip to the 8 Square Schoolhouse.
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 Our Haudenosaunee Unit is underway and the students are working very hard. We are working on the following learning targets:

• I can notice new ideas and wonder about the lives of people long ago.

• I can answer questions using specific details from a text.

• I can demonstrate what I know by contributing to discussions.

 

• I can use details and examples from the Iroquois Constitution when explaining what specific passages say or mean.

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In math we are working on place value. The work that you see coming home is probably new and perhaps a little confusing. I have embedded a video that shows the place value chart and dots (or disks) that we are learning to use in class. If you are reading this from the paper newsletter, the video can be accessed on www.msmartindale.blogspot.com. If you do not have internet access and would like to the view the video, please contact me so I can make arrangements for you!

 

Our math learning targets are:

 

Place Value of Multi-Digit Whole Numbers Lesson 1: Interpret a multiplication equation as a comparison. Lesson 2: Recognize a digit represents 10 times the value of what it represents in the place to its right. Lesson 3: Name numbers within 1 million by building understanding of the place value chart and placement of commas for naming base thousand units. Lesson 4: Read and write multi-digit numbers using base ten numerals, number names, and expanded form.

A Great Start!

We are off to a great start in room 201! As we finish up our first full week of school we are reflecting on our beginning and gearing up for next week.

Please take a moment to look over the classroom blog. Under classroom links you can find the District Academic Calendar and the RC Buckley Calendar. Important dates are listed along with our Encore schedule.

The Book Fair is an opportunity for students to purchase books. Our class is scheduled to go during the school day but you may also purchase books at the Open House on September 25th.

Open House will begin in the Cafeteria this year at 6:30 pm where the Fourth Grade Team will present the Fourth Grade Curriculum. We will meet in the classroom at 7:00 pm so your child may show you around their new room. At 7:30 pm the Encore Team will be available in their respective areas and the book fair will be open for any last minute shopping.

Our field trip to the 8 Square Schoolhouse is on Friday September 27th. Please look for the informational handout on the trip. Traditionally all students dress for the 1800s time period. Occasionally students decide not to dress-up. In our experience the students regret not fully participating. If you have any extra clothing that would be appropriate for the trip we would love donations or loans. If you have any difficulty acquiring an outfit for your child please feel free to contact us.

Math: Our curriculum has been changing as we have aligned to the new Common Core State Standards. Some of the lessons are new and challenging. Please join us in applauding persistence through difficult material. Periodically we will send home the completed practice problems from class. If your child needs to complete the problems at home we will write it on the practice problems. This will be in addition to the Homework Pack. If your child has completed the work you can expect a grade at the top.

ELA/Social Studies: We have been labeling New York State Maps this week and working on developing good independent reading strategies. Next week our reading and Social Studies will be integrated into a Unit on the Haudenosaunee, the native inhabitants of New York State. Occasionally additional homework sheets will come home on an as needed basis.