Week of September 25, 2015

Happy fall! 

Math:  This week students worked on strategies for ordering and comparing large numbers.  They also worked with partners to determine a rule for a pattern of given numbers and extend the pattern.  They played a card game to reinforce this skill with their classmates.  To further enhance their math skills, students have been using Frontrow and Sumdog on our Chromebooks,    Next week, our class will be reviewing how to add and subtract large numbers with and without regrouping.  We will complete our first chapter in our math book and take an assessment toward the end of next week,  All students completed their NWEA math testing this week.  These test scores will be used to monitor their growth over the course of the school year. 

Questions to ask your child:  What are some strategies you can use to find a rule for pattern?  Can you read this number 43,678?  Can you write 25,693 in expanded form, word form and standard form?  What is the value of the underlined digit in this number 65,453?

Reading:  We have been working on reading strategies to help us comprehend, remember, the stories we read.  One strategy we practiced this week was creating a mental image "mental movie" in your mind as you read.  Students practiced this skill with several short stories and compared their results with their reading partners.  We have been working hard to build our reading stamina and are now reading independently for 30 minutes!  Thank you to all the families that ordered books for your child from Scholastic.  We earned over 2,500 bonus points from the order.  Not only do your children get to read some fantastic books they selected, but our class will be getting over 20 books for our classroom library for all of us to enjoy!  I appreciate your support and motivation to help our fourth grade readers soar!  The letters of encouragement you wrote your children brought a tear to my eye.  It is apparent how much you all love and support your children.  Thanks for encouraging them to read, read, read for our 40 Book Challenge!!!!!!

Questions to ask your child:  What book did you read this week?   How do you select books that are a "good fit" for you?  What kinds of books have you selected for your reading bin?  What has happened in the book Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing?   What is your opinion of Fudge? 

Social Studies:  This week we continued our study of chapter 1.  We have been learning what social scientists study.  Students will be looking for artifacts this weekend for a social studies project.  They are to bring in their collected items on Monday in a baggy.  We will be doing a culminating activity with these artifacts on Tuesday. 

Questions to ask your child:  What are the four types of social scientists you have learned about?  What is an artifact?  Can I see the artifacts you collected for your homework assignment?  Can you tell me what type of social scientist might use each of your artifacts to study a group of people?

IMPORTANT DATES AND REMINDERS
9/29 Tuesday - artifacts due for social studies project
10/1 Thursday - spelling packet due and spelling assessment
10/2 Friday - picture day and popcorn day - $0.25 per order
10/9 MOVE-A-THON (fundraiser to support literacy at Westwoods)

STUDENTS NEED TO BRING IN AN OLD T-SHIRT OR BUTTON DOWN SHIRT TO LEAVE AT SCHOOL FOR ART

Our class is in need of a parent to be our PTO representative.  If you are interested in this position, please email me at deplauntsh@tcaps.net.