What are we learning?

Welcome to Our First Classroom Update!

It was so wonderful meeting so many of you at Curriculum Night last week! We enjoyed the opportunity to share a little bit about our classroom and the exciting year ahead. If you weren’t able to join us, or if you’d like to revisit the information we shared, you can find our class brochure and presentation here.

The 4th graders had a busy and productive first full week! They are settling into our classroom routines, getting to know their classmates, and learning what it means to be a 4th grader. We also completed many of the beginning-of-year assessments we use to help us understand each student’s strengths and areas for growth. Now that we have those pieces in place, we are excited to jump into our curriculum this week!

Here’s a peek at what we’ll be learning:

Arts & Letters
We are so excited to begin our new Arts & Letters reading program! Mrs. Duncan and I had the opportunity to pilot the program last year, and we are thrilled to continue with it this year. Our first unit will focus on informational writing and will give students opportunities to read, learn, and write about interesting topics. If you’d like to learn more about the program, here is a Family Welcome Letter with additional information.

Math
We began our first math module last week, focusing on place value. This year, students will experience math through a workshop model, which allows us to provide more individualized instruction while students work in small groups and independently. We love this approach because it gives us opportunities to meet each learner where they are and provide the support or challenge they need.

 Word Study
This week, students will begin our 4th-grade word study program, Words Their Way. This program allows us to focus on the individual needs of each speller while helping students become more confident with words and spelling patterns. Students will also explore the parts of words, including root words, prefixes, and suffixes.

Social Studies
Get ready to explore New York State! Our first social studies unit will focus on New York State geography. Students will learn about the regions, landforms, waterways, and other geographic features that make our state unique.

We are off to a wonderful start, and we are looking forward to all that this year has in store! Thank you for your support as we begin this journey together. As always, please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns.

We have had such a busy and exciting start to the school year! The students are settling into our classroom routines, building relationships with one another, and becoming more comfortable with all that fourth grade has to offer. We are also having so much fun getting to know your children and discovering their unique personalities, interests, and strengths!

Here is a peek at what we have been learning and working on in our classroom:

Arts & Letters

The students have been working so hard throughout our first module! They have been exploring a variety of texts, including poetry and informational texts, while learning to identify and understand both literal and figurative meanings of words and phrases.

Although the work has been challenging, the students have embraced it and have really enjoyed what they are learning! We have also begun our work with essay writing. Students are learning how to organize their thoughts, develop their ideas, and compose a well-structured essay. We will continue to support and guide them as they build confidence in expressing their ideas through writing.

Math

We are almost finished with our first math module, and the students continue to impress us with their understanding of place value and rounding! This week, we will begin working on adding and subtracting multi-digit numbers, including problems that require regrouping.

Each day, students complete an exit ticket to show what they have learned. These are scored on a scale of 1–4. To earn a 4, students must complete all parts of the question accurately. If a student receives a score below a 3, we take time to review the concepts individually and provide additional support before moving forward.

As we approach the end of Module 1, we will send home a study guide to help students review the skills and concepts they have learned. We encourage students to spend some time reviewing at home in preparation for our end-of-module assessment, which will take place during the week of October 19.

Word Study

The students have officially begun working in their small Word Study groups! Each day, they participate in a different activity designed to strengthen their understanding of their individual word patterns.

Students will spend two weeks working with their assigned words, culminating in a spelling dictation. Their first spelling dictation will take place on Friday, October 9.

Social Studies

We are wrapping up our unit on geography this week! Beginning next week, we will shift our focus to learning about the Native Americans of New York. We are excited to begin this new unit and explore the rich history and cultures of the people who have called New York home.

We are so proud of the hard work and enthusiasm the students have shown during these first few weeks of school. Thank you for your continued support at home—we are looking forward to a wonderful year of learning and growing together!

It's hard to believe we are already into November! The students have done an amazing job settling into the routines and expectations of our classroom. They have been challenging themselves and working hard across all subject areas, and we couldn't be more proud of their growth!

I enjoyed meeting with many of you during our first round of parent-teacher conferences, and I look forward to connecting with more families on November 24th. If you haven't had a chance to schedule a conference yet, please use this link to sign up.

I am also excited to share that we have a new addition to our classroom for the next several weeks! We are fortunate to be hosting a student teacher from Syracuse University, Katelyn Hagadorn. Miss Hagadorn has already been a wonderful addition to our classroom. She has enjoyed getting to know the students and looks forward to continuing to learn and work alongside them over the next month.

Here is a peek at what we have been learning and working on in our classroom!

Arts & Letters

We are nearing the end of our first module! The students have been reading some wonderful texts, including The Circulatory Story, Love That Dog, and The Legacy of Walter Dean Myers. One of my favorite things is hearing students make connections to these texts throughout the school day and apply what they have learned in other areas.

This upcoming week, we will begin assessing the knowledge and skills students have developed throughout the module. There is nothing specific they need to prepare for these assessments. However, it is always helpful to remind them to take their time, do their best, and show what they know!

After Thanksgiving break, we will begin our next module, which focuses on Greek mythology!

Math

We have been diving into multi-digit multiplication and division! The students continue to impress me with their focus and their ability to apply and build upon the concepts we have been learning. Exit tickets will continue to come home daily to provide a glimpse into what we are working on in class. As always, if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out!

Word Study

We will begin our fourth set of words this week! The primary focus of our word study program is learning to recognize and apply spelling patterns. Students practice these patterns through our daily word sort activities.

I will also be sending home a copy of each student's word list for those who would like to practice at home. This practice is completely optional but can be a helpful way to reinforce the skills we are learning in class.

As a reminder, students receive a new set of words every two weeks. Each word study cycle concludes with a spelling dictation, which is assessed using a four-point rubric.

Content

We have just wrapped up our unit on the Iroquois and will be transitioning to our first science unit, Earth's Changes, this week! Many of the students are especially excited to begin exploring our new science topics, and I am looking forward to seeing their curiosity and enthusiasm as we get started!

As always, thank you for your continued support at home. We appreciate all that you do to help make our classroom community such a wonderful place to learn and grow. We are looking forward to a wonderful November and the start of the winter season!