It is hard to believe that there are only two more weeks until our Thanksgiving break! These weeks will be very busy as we move toward the completion of the first semester of school. I want to thank every parent that signed the letter concerning lunch room exit behavior. Our behavior has been much improved this week due to some rule changes and extra effort from each class member. I am very proud of the class and knew we could make these positive changes through our combined team effort.
Math: In my math class, we continue to move through the long division process, teaching and assessing all parts individually. Toward the end of the week we will be completing some new activities to learn all about coordinates. Also, I have issued a challenge to my homeroom class to really work harder on First in Math. At Nicholson, the second graders have taken over the lead and in fact they are 63rd in the nation! I know our fourth graders can take on this challenge and succeed. Also parents, academic research has riven that computer based math programs DO result in increased math achievement.
Reading Workshop: We are continuing our evaluation of the characteristics of traditional literature by reading fables and tall tales. The class has really enjoyed not only the stories themselves but also the "how" and "why" they were written. This week I will be meeting with reading groups to analyze two traditional tales from our new language arts series.
Writing Workshop: Most of the class has almost completed their drafts of the realistic short stories. Our goal is to complete them by Thursday. Toward the end of the week, we will begin a very structured response to literature. This genre is the most complex writing we will do in fourth grade. We have already practiced writing engaging beginnings, summaries, and closings, so now we will add judgments to our writing.
Spelling: Sort 11, and we will be having our spelling assessment on sorts 10,11 and 12 on November 20, 2009. The new words will be coming home on Monday. As always, practice on Spelling City.
Grammar: After we complete predicates we will begin types of sentences.
Science: My class continues to work in Social Studies with Mrs. Crowder. Mrs. Crowder's class will complete their weather folders this week and begin simple machines next week. Please check out the science web sites on the pages to the left.
November 16, 2009: Academic Alerts sent home
November 16-20, 2009: Book Fair in the Media Center
November 18, 2009: Fourth grade VIP luncheon at 1:00.
November 23-27, 2009: TThanksgiving Holidays