Classroom News & Information

4th Grade Progress Report

October, 2023

Dear Parents & Guardians,

We are sending this letter home to update you on what your child has been working on. 

Science:  We have not started science yet.  We will be using Mystery Science this year.  The different units that we will be hoping to cover this school year are Birth of Rocks, Human Machines, Waves of Sound, and Energizing Everything.

Social Studies:  We have started off with our mapping unit.  We are learning about the compass rose, the equator, 7 continents, 4 oceans, the four different hemispheres and different types of maps.  

Math:  We have started the year off with a place value unit.  We have talked about the difference between a digit and a number and that digits make up a number. We are talking about different place value positions (up through millions), and the value of a digit in a specific place. We are working on comparing numbers, ordering numbers, and writing numbers in the three different forms (standard, expanded, and word).  We are also working on rounding numbers to different place values.  

Reading:  We are using a new reading program this year, I-Ready. Our first unit is what skills can people use to solve a mystery. We will also focus on how to write a summary.

Writing:  We are working on the narrative unit in our Lucy Calkins program.  Students will be working on writing a small moment writing piece. 

Spelling:  We started with our no excuse words.  There are 50 of them.  These are the words that we expect fourth graders to be spelling correctly in all of the work that they do.  We have now moved into our regular spelling program.  eir spelling words.   Students will be assessed at the end of each week over 10 of the 20 words and they not only need to know how to spell them, but they also need to know what they mean because students are being asked to use the correct spelling of the word in a sentence accurately.  Students will not know which 10 of the 20 words that they are being tested over, so they need to learn them all.

English/Language:  Students are working hard on nouns and verbs.  

Handwriting:  We have started off with manuscript (print) practice. I am encouraging students to really focus on this and make sure that they are forming their letters correctly.  I also have reminded them that this should carry over into any of the written work that they do.  Once we finish with our manuscript practice, we will move into practicing with our cursive handwriting.  

First Day of School Information

Here are some things that you need to know:

*I strongly encourage students to bring water bottles daily.  Our rooms become warm and drinking water throughout the day will help them stay hydrated and healthy.  Drinking fountains will be available to fill water bottles throughout the day. 

*We will have snack time each day.  Bringing a snack from home will help them stay focused throughout the morning.

*We will have all of the supplies provided for each student at school.  Students are welcome to bring their own school supplies if they would like, but it is not necessary.  Desk space is limited, no binders or trapper keepers.  

*All toys must stay at home.

*Students are expected to have their daily planner and homework folder at school each day.  The planner is where they will write their work and it needs to be signed by a parent/guardian each day.  I will be looking to verify that planners were signed each day and this also lets me know that the parent/guardian is aware of the work to be completed.  The folder will be where they put any work to be completed that is not on Google Classroom.

Start Over Information for Parents

*Not a bad thing

*Designed to be used by everyone - every child will most likely receive one at some point

*Is a strategy to help children learn and practice self-control

*Helps to maintain clear limits while preserving the flow of the class

*Creates an environment that is safe, orderly, and favorable for learning

*Is generally brief, but is dependent on how long it takes a child to calm down and refocus (sometimes the child can rejoin the group on his/her own, while other times he/she will need to wait for an invitation from the teacher.)

*Should be used at the first sign of a disturbance

*Does not fix challenging behavior

Note: Start Over this year is a designated area for the child to stand and stretch away from other students but still within view of the teacher. 

Team 4 Winter Weather Expectations

*Students must have snow boots and snow pants to be out in the snow and on the equipment.

*Students will be asked to stay on the tar if they do not have on snow boots.

*Hats and mittens are strongly encouraged.

*Jackets are strongly encouraged.

*Winter boots are not to be worn all day long. Students need to have other shoes (not slippers) to change into.

*We do not go outside if it is below 10 degrees with the wind chill factored in.

*We do not police students. We remind them to dress appropriately and to wear what they have been asked to wear outside from the adults at home.

*Because students are reminded to dress appropriately, we will not be allowing them to return back inside for items forgotten and we will not be sending them to the nurse to get any gear that they may have forgotten.