I also sent an email today about fall conferences on 10/18 and 10/19. You can find the sign up here to choose a time to meet (the link is also in your email).
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Reading: Our first reading unit focuses on narratives. Our class novel, Shiloh, will stand as our anchor for teaching these lessons. This week we learned about characteristics of realistic fiction, round vs flat characters, and using text evidence to describe characters. Ask your readers who the round characters are vs the flat characters? What does this mean? Writing: Writing was awesome again this week. We took our story arcs from last week and used them to imagine each post-it as a scene in our story. The kids started writing their scenes with a HUGE focus on "show us what's happening, don't just tell us." Ask your writers how Patricia Polacco showed us the family's reading tradition at the beginning of Thank You, Mr. Falker instead of just telling us about it. Ask them to tell you how Jacqueline Woodson showed us Gia's worries about getting a new sister instead of just telling about them.
4th Grade Math: We used the skills from the beginning of our unit (including understanding and representing place value, and rounding), and applied them to multi-digit addition and subtraction problems. The problems themselves are basic addition and subtraction, but the kids are asked to represent them using diagrams, estimate before adding and defend their estimate, and write their answers in statements. This drives home the point that these addition and subtraction algorithms stem from understanding place value. Don't forget about the homework videos linked in our homework page! Ask your kids to subtract: 34,001 - 2,854. Ask them to show you a tape diagram to represent the problem, too!
Social Studies: Hubbard Street starts on Monday during our Social Studies block, so we will be slow moving through our mapping skills. We look forward to a great dance partnership and will continue to learn about the features of various types of maps. Ask your kids to show you the map at the beginning of their assignment notebook. Point out places you or family have traveled or hope to travel.
Science: We continued our first lab in our Soils, Rocks, and Landforms unit. It allows the kids to "discover" what soil is composed of, and how different parts of the world have different soil compositions. We are using the app "Explain Everything" to guide our lab directions and take notes. This allows kids to add photos, text, and actual writing to their detailed observations. Ask your kids about the differences in the 4 vials of soil we tested.
Miscellaneous:
- Hurricane Relief Donations were a huge success!! The change total was $932.08 and the overall total was $2,058!!!!! THANK YOU to everyone who sent in donations!! A very proud day to be a Wildcat!
- From our PTO: You should have received information in your child's backpack this week. Maybe did you hear about the wildcat visiting at lunch on Wednesday? :) Our goal is to raise $14,000 or $50 per child. These funds keep our favorite PTO programs running all year. ALL kids participate, and have a great time. There are prizes for kids, classes and whole school when the fundraising goals are met. Send cash or check payable to Whittier PTO, or create an online profile for your child (http://www.thegetmovincrew.com) to ask friends/family to donate. Those that turn in $50 in pledges by next Weds the 27th will be entered in a prize drawing to be held on Thursday the 28th! Don’t forget to join us for the Fun Run itself during school on Wednesday October 4th. You can click here to sign up to volunteer http://signup.com/go/jtcCyPS
