I can't believe how quickly the year is going! I wish you all a happy and healthy holiday season with your families.
Upcoming Events:
December 23rd:
Realistic Fiction Writing Celebration 1:15 (Anyone is welcome to attend!)
Winter Party 1:45
Holiday Sing A Long 2:15
Reading
*No book letters or spelling lists this week.
This week, we will be celebrating the holiday season with holiday read alouds. Book group packets, lesson 3, are due Wednesday December 21st and December reading calendars will be due after the break. Students have done an excellent job on these book packets! We have also been working on inferring and summarizing in Reading Workshop. After the break, we will start a non-fiction unit.
Writing
Typed realistic fiction stories are due Monday, December 19th. We will have a celebration to share realistic fiction stories on Friday, December 23rd at 1:15. Our next writing unit is non-fiction, feature articles. We have been reading a variety of different feature articles in preparation for writing these after the break. Students will pick a topic and begin researching a topic the week we get back.
Math
Students took a test on long division and got these back on Thursday. We are working on a graphing unit this week.
Social Studies
Students are working in groups to research and make posters on different aspects of Iroquois life.
As always, feel free to contact me any time at mleach@bcsd.neric.org.
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Friday, December 9, 2011
December 9, 2011
Thanks to everyone who donated to this year's food drive! We really appreciate your generosity.
Next week:
December 14-Division Test
December 16-Typed realistic fiction stories due
Math
This week, we continued to work on long division. Some students still need support and practice so please check in with your child. A good website for practice is ixl. I will attach a link to a page with a section on long division. We will be having a division test next Wednesday and we will review on Tuesday. We will do a short unit on graphing until the vacation.
Reading
We are working on book groups. Students did a great job on lesson 1 and they are working on lesson 2. Lesson 2 is due Wednesday. We are finishing up our fourth read aloud next week. We have also been working on writing strong summaries.
Writing
Students have all met with regarding their realistic fiction stories. They should all be typing at home. Stories need to be typed by next Friday, 12/16. We will have a writing celebration on December 23rd! Our next unit is persuasive writing.
Social Studies
We are continuing the Native American unit. We are studying the Iroquois. Next week, students will be working on a group project on one aspect of Iroquois life. Each student needs a poster board by Wednesday.
Have a great weekend! As always, feel free to contact me at mleach@bcsd.neric.org.
Next week:
December 14-Division Test
December 16-Typed realistic fiction stories due
Math
This week, we continued to work on long division. Some students still need support and practice so please check in with your child. A good website for practice is ixl. I will attach a link to a page with a section on long division. We will be having a division test next Wednesday and we will review on Tuesday. We will do a short unit on graphing until the vacation.
Reading
We are working on book groups. Students did a great job on lesson 1 and they are working on lesson 2. Lesson 2 is due Wednesday. We are finishing up our fourth read aloud next week. We have also been working on writing strong summaries.
Writing
Students have all met with regarding their realistic fiction stories. They should all be typing at home. Stories need to be typed by next Friday, 12/16. We will have a writing celebration on December 23rd! Our next unit is persuasive writing.
Social Studies
We are continuing the Native American unit. We are studying the Iroquois. Next week, students will be working on a group project on one aspect of Iroquois life. Each student needs a poster board by Wednesday.
Have a great weekend! As always, feel free to contact me at mleach@bcsd.neric.org.
Sunday, December 4, 2011
December 4, 2011
Congratulations to all of our Science Fair participants! There were so many great projects this year and I enjoyed seeing them.
**Many students have run out of glue sticks and pencils. If parents could please check with your kids and replenish these items if needed, it would be very helpful! Thanks:)
Upcoming events:
December 6-Lesson 1 for book groups due
December 12-Lesson 2 for book groups due
December 7-half day for conferences
December 7-Picture Make Up Day
December 9-Holiday Food Drive items due (4th grade is in charge of paper products)
Math
In math, we are working on a division unit. We have just finished 2 digit dividends by one digit divisors. We will move on the 3 digit dividends this week. There will be a quiz on Wednesday.
Writing
We are still editing realistic fiction stories, but many students are ready to type at home. Please refer to the letter I sent home last week regarding typed stories. Stories should be typed by December 16th. We will start a persuasive writing unit toward the end of this week.
Reading
In reading this week, we practiced writing summaries. We also started book groups! The students are very excited about their books. The first lesson is due Tuesday, December 6th and the second lesson will be due Monday, December 12th.
Social Studies
We continued our Native American unit. Students read and took notes about the Iroquois confederacy. Students also took part in a reader's theater on the Iroquois league.
**Many students have run out of glue sticks and pencils. If parents could please check with your kids and replenish these items if needed, it would be very helpful! Thanks:)
Upcoming events:
December 6-Lesson 1 for book groups due
December 12-Lesson 2 for book groups due
December 7-half day for conferences
December 7-Picture Make Up Day
December 9-Holiday Food Drive items due (4th grade is in charge of paper products)
Math
In math, we are working on a division unit. We have just finished 2 digit dividends by one digit divisors. We will move on the 3 digit dividends this week. There will be a quiz on Wednesday.
Writing
We are still editing realistic fiction stories, but many students are ready to type at home. Please refer to the letter I sent home last week regarding typed stories. Stories should be typed by December 16th. We will start a persuasive writing unit toward the end of this week.
Reading
In reading this week, we practiced writing summaries. We also started book groups! The students are very excited about their books. The first lesson is due Tuesday, December 6th and the second lesson will be due Monday, December 12th.
Social Studies
We continued our Native American unit. Students read and took notes about the Iroquois confederacy. Students also took part in a reader's theater on the Iroquois league.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
November 23, 2011
I want to wish you all a very happy and restful weekend. Happy Thanksgiving!
If you would like to donate to the food drive, please do so by December 9th. 4th grade is in charge of paper products-paper towels, toilet paper, tissues, etc.
Upcoming Events:
November 28th-Book orders due
December 1st-Half Day for conferences
It was a short week so I'll just give you a brief summary! In Math, students got back multiplication tests. We are moving on to division next week. We had a lot of fun on Wednesday planning out a thanksgiving meal! Students used Hannaford flyers to figure out how much they would spend on a thanksgiving meal for their families. In writing, we worked on realistic fiction stories had fun thinking about thanksgiving and who and what we are thankful for. In social studies, we continued the Native American unit. In reading, we practiced writing strong reading responses.
If you would like to donate to the food drive, please do so by December 9th. 4th grade is in charge of paper products-paper towels, toilet paper, tissues, etc.
Upcoming Events:
November 28th-Book orders due
December 1st-Half Day for conferences
It was a short week so I'll just give you a brief summary! In Math, students got back multiplication tests. We are moving on to division next week. We had a lot of fun on Wednesday planning out a thanksgiving meal! Students used Hannaford flyers to figure out how much they would spend on a thanksgiving meal for their families. In writing, we worked on realistic fiction stories had fun thinking about thanksgiving and who and what we are thankful for. In social studies, we continued the Native American unit. In reading, we practiced writing strong reading responses.
Friday, November 18, 2011
November 18, 2011
Thank you so much to all of the parents who visited our classroom on Thursday! It was great to see so many of you and the kids were so excited to show off their hard work.
Next week:
Half Day for Conferences-November 22nd*
Thanksgiving break-November 24th and 25th
*Please let me know if you are unsure of your conference date/time.
Math
This week, we had a test on multiplication. Students learned 2 and 3 digit by 1 digit and 2 and 3 digit by 2 digits. Although most students understand the process, I am seeing kids make errors in basic facts and regrouping. We have been working on this in small groups. Next week, we will be working on division patterns and division with remainders.
Reading
This week, we finished our third Read-Aloud book, The Egypt Game by Zilpha Keatley Snyder. It was an exciting mystery and the class really enjoyed it. This book is a Newbery Honor Book. We started a new Read Aloud called The Underneath by Kathi Appelt, also a Newbery honor book and National Book Award finalist. Students have continued reading independently and writing reading responses. After the Thanksgiving break, we will start book groups and will be reading non-fiction. Book letters will be done together in class instead of at home next week.
Writing
This week, we celebrated our first writing piece, photo essay. We are currently drafting realistic fiction stories. I will be meeting with students for writing conferences starting next week.
Social Studies
This week, we started the Native American unit. We completed a KWL chart to access background knowledge, read about early people of New York State and learned about longhouses. Jeff Bennett was here for his first presentation, which was on Native Americans.
Have a wonderful weekend and as always, feel free to contact me at mleach@bcsd.neric.org.
Next week:
Half Day for Conferences-November 22nd*
Thanksgiving break-November 24th and 25th
*Please let me know if you are unsure of your conference date/time.
Math
This week, we had a test on multiplication. Students learned 2 and 3 digit by 1 digit and 2 and 3 digit by 2 digits. Although most students understand the process, I am seeing kids make errors in basic facts and regrouping. We have been working on this in small groups. Next week, we will be working on division patterns and division with remainders.
Reading
This week, we finished our third Read-Aloud book, The Egypt Game by Zilpha Keatley Snyder. It was an exciting mystery and the class really enjoyed it. This book is a Newbery Honor Book. We started a new Read Aloud called The Underneath by Kathi Appelt, also a Newbery honor book and National Book Award finalist. Students have continued reading independently and writing reading responses. After the Thanksgiving break, we will start book groups and will be reading non-fiction. Book letters will be done together in class instead of at home next week.
Writing
This week, we celebrated our first writing piece, photo essay. We are currently drafting realistic fiction stories. I will be meeting with students for writing conferences starting next week.
Social Studies
This week, we started the Native American unit. We completed a KWL chart to access background knowledge, read about early people of New York State and learned about longhouses. Jeff Bennett was here for his first presentation, which was on Native Americans.
Have a wonderful weekend and as always, feel free to contact me at mleach@bcsd.neric.org.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
November 15, 2011
There will be a Chapter 9 and 10 Math Test on Multiplication on Friday. We will review Thursday and the review packet will be sent home Thursday night.
Don't forget, parent visit day for American Education Week is Thursday! Writing Celebration is at 9:45 and Book Fair is at 10:30. Hope to see many of you!
Don't forget, parent visit day for American Education Week is Thursday! Writing Celebration is at 9:45 and Book Fair is at 10:30. Hope to see many of you!
Thursday, November 10, 2011
November 10, 2011
Math
In math this week, we are continuing the multiplication unit. Students are learning 2 digit by 2 digit and 3 digit by 2 digit multiplication. It can be tricky for kids, so I told them to make sure to ask for help when needed! Many students also still need to practice basic facts. They can use the flashcards or use one of the math websites listed on the blog to practice. Students took a quiz Monday and got it back on Thursday so make sure you check in with them on this! Next week, we will continue 2 and 3 digit by 2 digit multiplication.
Writing
Students finished the final drafts of their photo essays and are excited to share these at the Writing Celebration on Thursday. We are now writing realistic fiction stories. Students created realistic characters and have plotted out the stories. Next week, they will work on rough drafts.
Reading
Please make sure your child is reading at least 20 minutes each night and recording this on the November calendar. I canceled reading letters this week because of the days off, but all students should write a letter this coming week. They have a list of reading response ideas in the front of their notebooks. Please make sure they are using these for their letters each week. Next week, we will be reading non-fiction in connection with social studies and will be starting book groups.
Social Studies/Science
We finished the Ecosystems unit in science. In Social Studies, we finished New York State geography and had a quiz. We will start a unit on Native Americans next week.
Other
On Thursday, we celebrated Veteran's Day by making cards and sending them to the VA Hospital. The patients really appreciate this!
In math this week, we are continuing the multiplication unit. Students are learning 2 digit by 2 digit and 3 digit by 2 digit multiplication. It can be tricky for kids, so I told them to make sure to ask for help when needed! Many students also still need to practice basic facts. They can use the flashcards or use one of the math websites listed on the blog to practice. Students took a quiz Monday and got it back on Thursday so make sure you check in with them on this! Next week, we will continue 2 and 3 digit by 2 digit multiplication.
Writing
Students finished the final drafts of their photo essays and are excited to share these at the Writing Celebration on Thursday. We are now writing realistic fiction stories. Students created realistic characters and have plotted out the stories. Next week, they will work on rough drafts.
Reading
Please make sure your child is reading at least 20 minutes each night and recording this on the November calendar. I canceled reading letters this week because of the days off, but all students should write a letter this coming week. They have a list of reading response ideas in the front of their notebooks. Please make sure they are using these for their letters each week. Next week, we will be reading non-fiction in connection with social studies and will be starting book groups.
Social Studies/Science
We finished the Ecosystems unit in science. In Social Studies, we finished New York State geography and had a quiz. We will start a unit on Native Americans next week.
Other
On Thursday, we celebrated Veteran's Day by making cards and sending them to the VA Hospital. The patients really appreciate this!
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Week of November 4th
Happy Friday! In Math this week, we worked on 2, 3 and 4 digit by 1 digit multiplication. The kids are really doing well getting the hang of this! Make sure they are continuing to practice flash cards each night for facts they don’t know. We will be having a quiz Monday and will then start 2 digit by 2 digit multiplication. In Science, we are finishing up the ecosystem unit. Students wrote their final journal entry. We will keep observing for a few weeks. It was a great unit! In Social Studies, we continued studying New York State geography. The quiz will be next week. In Writing, students are finishing final drafts of their photo essays. Students also created characters for their realistic fiction stories, which is our next writing project. In Reading, we looked at character development and continued independent reading.
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