September Updates

Happy Friday, 

This coming week on Tuesday, September 1st is a half day.  Please make arrangements, your child will be getting out of school at 12:30.  Now, get ready to mark your calendar for some fun functions and days off!  September 7th, 14th, 23rd-25th days are no school. On Thursday, September 10th is Family Game Night starting at 4:30pm.  Also on Wednesday, the 16th is Family Fitness Night at 5pm with a PTSA meeting at 6pm.

Math:  For the next two weeks we will be learning how to add and subtract multi-digit whole numbers using multiple methods (4.NBT.4).  Some of the methods include using the properties of operations, which include the Associative, Commutative, and Identity property.  Students will practice identifying the properties and solving a problem using the properties.  Other methods include, looking for patterns, mentally, and estimating.  

Teaching this last year I noticed subtract across zeros was more challenging for students than any other method.  A problem could look like this 508,200 - 136,118.  If you would like me to send home more practice on subtract across zeros or any of the methods, just email me. On Friday the 11th, I plan for the students to take the chapter 2 test.  

Here are some practice websites:
Adding Five Digit Numbers
Missing Digit Addition Problems
Subtracting Multi-Digit Numbers 
Missing Digit Subtraction Problem

Reading: Our next story is called Danitra Brown Leaves Town.  The genre is a narrative poem.  We will be learning what makes a story a narrative and a poem.  The focus skill is on compare and contrast.  

S.S.: This week we are diving deeper into maps skills. Students will be learning all about the compass rose.

Love,
Miss Kowal
ckowal@pvschools.net

Getting Into the Swing!

Happy Sunday Everyone!

I hope you had a fantastic weekend!  I wanted to updated you on what has been going on in our classroom.  We have been doing so well the past two weeks. We are really starting to understand the expectations and building an amazing community! If you are still wondering about Class Dojo, please email me or write a note.  

This Tuesday is Curriculum Night with two sessions. The first session start at 5:30-6:30pm and the second session is at 6:30-7:30pm. Were I will go into more depth of your child's learning, but here is a quick view into the coming week. 

In math, we have been working with place value.  I noticed last year that place value is the CORE of math.  If the students do not know place value they tend to struggle down the road.  Therefore, I have been making sure students really understand place value and pulling students who seem to not.  This week our focus is on comparing, ordering, and rounding numbers.  I know it seems like a lot to cover in one week! The students took a pre-test and comparing and ordering numbers was one of the strengths.  We will be taking the first chapter test this Friday! 

During our reading and language block we have been learning about character traits.  This coming week our story continues with character traits.  Last week we did activities with sorting different character traits and acting them out.  This week will be focusing on identifying the character's trait while reading a story.  Also, there is a new list of spelling and vocabulary words to learn and practice that goes along with our new story.

For Social Studies, we have been learning map skills and will continue to read the parts of a map.

I also use this blog to easily add games or websites for the students to do during the school day (which they are more than welcome to do at home as well). Here are some resources that I use if you ever want to take a look or have further questions!

Math: https://grade4commoncoremath.wikispaces.hcpss.org/Assessing+4.NBT.3  (you can click on the standard we are learning and watch videos) 

Reading: 
https://wwwk6.thinkcentral.com/content/hsp/reading/storytown/na/gr4/se_9780153597763_/grade4/shell.html?grade=4

The link above is the book we use for reading. You can read the story with your child and other activities. We are currently on theme 1 and lesson 2. 

Class Dojo: https://www.classdojo.com/

Enjoy the rest of your weekend and as always, contact me if you ever have any questions or concerns. I hope to see you all this Tuesday at Curriculum Night!  Email:  ckowal@pvschools.net

Love,
Miss Kowal