We made it through the first week of 4th grade! This week we focused on learning the rules and expectations of being a 4th grader at Page Elementary. Our 3 main rules are Be Safe, Be Respectful, and Be Responsible. We've been touring the building and learning what it looks like to be safe, respectful, and responsible everywhere at school. 

Here's what's coming up in the days/weeks ahead:

curriculum overview

math

We learned a strategy we'll use all year to solve multi-step word problems called CUBES:

C- Circle important numbers and labels

U- Underline the question

B- Box operation clues (words that indicate if you should add, subtract, multiply, or divide) 

E- Examine the question. Think: What label will my answer have? What information do I have? What do I need to find out? 

S- Solve it, Step by Step

We also took our first time test of mulitplication and division facts. Fact fluency is the most essential skill your child can have to be successful in math this year. A student who has mastered their multiplication facts should be able to answer 28-35 facts per minute. 

Language Arts

We began learning how to be a fluent reader this week. Students learned the first 2 components of fluency: 

1. Accuracy- I don't eliminate words or word endings. I don't add words where they don't belong

2. Expression- I don't read like a robot, but I also rein in my inner dramatic actor! 

team building 

On the first day of school, we did my favorite team building activity. Students were divided into groups and given a jigsaw puzzle to assemble. Sounds easy enough, right? But students quickly discovered they were missing pieces and also had pieces that didn't belong. Eventually, by working as a team and collaborating with other groups, they were able to give and receive the correct pieces. But in the end, each group was still missing a piece. And who had that piece? Mrs. Sikkema!

As always, there was a lesson behind this exercise. I introduced our class rule "3 Before Me." This means that, at times I am busy working with students in small groups or individually, students who have a question or need help should first ask 3 of their peers. If no one can help them, then at this time they may interrupt me to get my help. Most of the time, their peers have the answer and students don't have to wait around for me to be available. 

Check out pictures below of our finished puzzles.