Mon. Jan. 2nd. - Fri. Jan. 6th
Welcome Back! What a wonderful, mild Winter Break we had, BUT I am so looking
forward to getting "back in action" this week! I sure missed all of my 4th
graders like crazy! We are getting right to work this week with many
activities that will lead us into the Spring and eventually on the path to
5th grade! How exciting to think that we are almost half way there!
Spelling: This week's words have the consonsnt, vowel, consonant pattern. We
will have a test Friday over this list! It is actually a tricky list, so
really study this week!
Spelling words: begin, vanish, bonus, legal, event, moment, motive, native,
suburb, mimic, paper, pilot, raven, rival, relish, silent, solar, spider,
super, virus
Challenge Words: basis, enemy, balance, chemical, fiber
Reading:
We are beginning a reading story called "Mimicry and Camouflage". This is a
great nonfiction read that provides us with some great writing prompts as
well! We will be focusing on cause and effect and really building vocabulary
with this story. We will have a test on Friday over the story and vocabulary.
Language Arts:
We will review subject/predicates and do a quick review of sentences and
fragments. We are then using our research skills along with our best writing
strategies to create a riddle project about the animal each child researched!
THEN we will use that same research to write an informational paragraph. We
are really focusing on good paragraph form with this one as well as using the
steps in the writing process to complete the work.
Math:
After a quick review of longer addition and subtraction problems, we are
moving right on to fractions and decimals. This is tricky for 4th graders,
but we have many fun activities to enrich this unit of study and will be
continuing this process with centers for many weeks to come. Look for some
great puzzle and thinking activities coming home to help the children become
less afraid of this tricky concept!
PLEASE practice the facts for
addition, subtraction, multiplication and division at home! Ask your child
about some fun and different ways to try this - we learned many ways that put
a new "spin" on those flash cards that can tend to get boring day after day.
Social Studies:
This week we will be introducing the Southeast region of the United States.
The children will be completing a map on this region and you will need to
sign the map. By signing it, you show your child that you know they have a
test next Thursday - Jan. 12th - covering both the spelling and placement of
those states and bodies of water. The children know just what is expected,
but if you have any questions at all, please call or email! The map that your
child completes is EXACTLY the same as the one they will be tested on, so the
studying should be easy...just help your child to remember not to wait until
the last minute! They must achieve an 80% to pass, but if they don't achieve
on the first try, we will hold make-up tests at lunch recess time the
following week.
Science:
Please see Mrs. Coomer's Homework Page!
PLEASE KNOW that your child will be filling out his or her agenda each day
during class. This is the most current way to stay on top of assignments your
child has due each day. Please also discuss the activities your child took
part in at school each day! The agenda is a terrific conversation starter for
families to learn about what happens in our classroom!