Week 21: Students Become the Teacher

Check out our new Videos Section on the left hand side of this blog underneath the calendar. Over the year, students will make videos presenting a skill they learned in class. This can be a great resource for your child to review and the kids are super excited to participate.  First up is Leigh, who explains how to simplify fractions. Keep an eye out for new videos to come!

Here's what to expect for next week:

• After two weeks of learning the archetypes of the Fantasy genre, we will begin fantasy book clubs on Monday. 
• We will have the Unit 6 math test on Equivalent Fractions on Tuesday. Our next unit will continue our fraction work with a focus on adding and subtracting fractions. 
• We are going to The Wyckoff Farmhouse Museum on Thursday. We will be back at school by lunchtime.
• Family Friday will feature a presentation on Slavery in New York by Gideon's grandfather.

Have a great weekend!

Week 20

Students have their test folders containing their unit 5 Math test and the lessons 2 and 3 spelling tests. Please take some time to look over the tests and review it. Your child should return the tests and folder by the end of next week.

Here's what to expect next week: 

• We are meeting with our Buddy Class Monday afternoon. Our fourth graders do an excellent job of helping our second grade buddies!
• We will go to the Armory on Tuesday. Please have your child dress for physical activity. 
• Music will be back to our regular schedule on Wednesday. 
• Ms Ussery will see our children for a Fitnessgram on Friday. Please have your child dress comfortably for physical activity. 

Have a great weekend!

Week 19

This month is just flying by! This upcoming week will feature many new units of study. We are just started Fractions this week in math. The Unit 5 math test will be returned to your child early next week. Unit 5 was a very short unit and most of the work with factors and multiples will be repeated as we work on equivalent fractions in this upcoming unit.
Next week, we are starting Fantasy Book Clubs in reading and Comparative Literary Essays in Writing. Our Social Studies unit on Native Americans will culminate with the children writing an All About Book using research they have done on the Iroquois.

Here's what else that will happen next week:

• Schools are closed for Martin Luther King Day on Monday.
• We will go to the Armory on Tuesday. Please have your child wear sneakers.
• I will be out on Wednesday at a Math Workshop. There will be a substitute teacher who will go over reviews of the work with factors and multiples will be repeated as we work on equivalent fractions in this upcoming unit. 

Have  a wonderful weekend!

Week 18: Happy New Year!

Our first full week of 2014 ended with a great activity led by Mrs. Soans. Students were challenged to use their emotional intelligence to interpret some social interactions. This activity helped our students understand the different feelings people have and how these feelings might lead a person to act. In addition to being an important life lesson, this activity was fun!

Here's what to expect for next week:

• We are wrapping up our work with Historical Fiction Book clubs on Friday. Please look through your house to see if there are any books that need to be returned soon and have your child bring them to class. 
• There will be a math test for Unit 5 on Tuesday! It was a brief unit and the work on factors and multiples will help launch our next unit on Equivalent Fractions and Fraction Comparison. There will be a study sheet given out on Monday. 

The Unit 4 test was given shortly before Winter Break and your child has the test for you to look over. There will be more classwork with the division topic as some children are only beginning to secure the process in their minds. While many students have the multiplication facts down, most children would benefit from reviewing division facts. Please use the Division Game link on our blog to get in some practice; set the highest number to 12 so that your child can practice division facts mentally.

Have a wonderful weekend!