Welcome to 4th grade at Hasten Hebrew Academy! I am thrilled to spend the next year learning and growing together. Always feel free to reach out to me with questions or concerns! Thank you for sharing your most precious gifts with me!
Wednesday, May 7, 2025
Language Arts: This week we started our final novel study with the book, My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George. The book tells the story of Sam Gribley who leaves his crowded New York apartment to live on his great-grandfathers farm in the Catskill Mountains. The theme of the book is survival. Additionally, we started our newest spelling list this week and will have a test on Thursday as we normally do. We have also started unit 8 in Wordly Wise and will be taking the quiz over those words next Tuesday. We are back on track with Daily Language Review as well and will have a test on Friday over the skills on week 30.
Math: We are still working to take our geometry test, but with ilearn, we have been knocked way off schedule. The plan is to take it today, and then we will begin our data project. Students will generate a question they would like to collect data about, create a Google form to collect the data, cull the data and create a presentation of the data with a pie graph (students will measure the sections with protractors) and a line plot. Finally the presentation will also have the mean, median, mode, and range of the data.
Science: The kids are so excited for our field trip today which will include instruction on our science standards related to waves, sound, and light. We are also working on learning about structure and function related to living things. We have talked about the many structures living things have that allow them to survive in their habitat or biome.
Miscellaneous: It's hard to believe there are only 16 days left of school. Please remember that we will dismiss early on Friday, May 30 at 11:30.
Friday, March 7, 2025
Riddle of the week: Why can't your nose be 12 inches long? (answer at the bottom of this week's entry)
Math: By Ethan and Eli Maurer. This week students started a new unit, measuring.The students measured in mass, volume, distance, money, and time. Monday, we focused on Metric and Customary measuring. On Tuesday students worked on sheets to help them practice for the test on wednesday. Thursday we started a new unit, being area and perimeter. We did some reviews from last year, and most of them knew it, I think it will be a quick unit.
Miscellaneous: Remember that next Friday students will be dismissed at 11:30 after our Purim Carnival. You are all invited to our classroom next Thursday, March 13 at 3:00 for our Student Showcase. Next week we have Purim spirit week. Here is how to dress each day:
Monday - mismatched socks and shoes
Tuesday - crazy hair day
Wednesday - dress like a teacher or rabbi
Thursday - hat day
Friday - Purim costume
Riddle answer: Because then it would be a foot.
Friday, February 21, 2025
Language Arts: This week students have been working hard to complete a brochure on the Greek god or goddess of their choosing. They are also working on creating a symbol for their god/goddess on the 3-D printer. Students also completed unit 3 in Wordly Wise and did very well on their quiz Thursday. We are starting unit 4 today, and will have an assessment over those words next Wednesday. I am sending home a new spelling list in Friday folders. That test will be on Thursday, February 27. Finally, we will resume DLR quizzes on Friday next week.
Math: This week we have been working on converting different units of measurement within the same system. Students worked mostly with distance measurements in both the customary and metric system. We will continue working on measurement next week with the thought to test sometime the following week. More to come as we work our way through the material.
Science: I tried a new geology unit with students that I was not completely satisfied with the content, so we are going back and reading more about earthquakes, tectonic plates, continental drift theory, and volcanoes.
Miscellaneous: Please remember to send your child with the appropriate utensils for both snack and lunch. I do allow students time for an afternoon snack if your child wishes to bring one.
Tuesday, February 11, 2025
Language Arts: We have wrapped up our reading of Greek myths and chosen a god or goddess to create a brochure about the chosen god or goddess. Students helped to create the rubric to accompany the project and we are looking at using the 3-D printer to make the symbols that are associated with each god or goddess. We will take our 2nd Wordly Wise quiz tomorrow. We will start lesson 3 in Wordly Wise on Thursday. We will also be taking our compound word spelling test on Thursday. There will not be a DLR quiz this week.
Math: We took our test over decimals last week and those were returned to students this week. A few students have opted to retaked their test as they were not happy with their grade. Those tests will be retaken tomorrow. We have spent the week working on a real-world application problem in Freckle. Students were put in the position of opening a new pizza parlor. They worked on finding profit, ordering ingredients, and expanding the menu. Students are also now daily doing a round of Xtramath on their Chromebooks. A couple of days/week students are able to also play Prodigy on their devices. Our next chapter of study in math is measurement and conversions. We will start with it on Monday.
Science: We wrapped up reading our geology unit and are brainstorming projects to show our learning. More to come.
Miscellaneous: Please remember that Friday, February 14 is a flex day and there is no school. Also, Monday, February 17th is Presidents' Day and there is no school that day either. We have returned to 3:30 dismissal on Fridays once again!
Friday, January 25, 2025
Language Arts: This week we read about Poseidon, Athena, and Apollo. We will read about Apollo next week, then begin our project about a TItan or Olympian. Students will choose one Titan or Olympian we have read about to create a brochure about the Titan or Olympian he/she has chosen. Additionally, we are hoping to put our 3D printer to use in conjunction with this project. We took a 'practice' quiz on Wordly Wise words this week. We also began the first unit of Wordly Wise in book 3 which is more suited to 4th graders.
Math: This week we began a new unit translating fractions with the denominators, 10 and 100 to decimals. Students worked changing both fractions and mixed numerals. They also observed that 3 is 10 times larger than 0.3, just as 0,3 is 10 times larger than 0.03. We will wrap up our lessons in this unit on Monday, review on Tuesday, and test on Wednesday.
Science: We have read about earthquakes and tsunamis. We also watched a video about how the tectonic plates move.
Miscellaneous: Next Friday begins our regular 3:30 dismissal again. Please note that Friday, February 14 is a flex day and there is no school. Also, Monday, February 17 is Presidents' Day and there is no school.
Friday, January 24, 2025
Language Arts: This week we were able to read about Aphrodite and listen to the story of Eros and Psyche. Additionally, we spent two mornings working on NWEA testing this week which took up much of our time. Next week we will be reading about Athena, Poseidon, and Apollo. Due to the time NWEA took this week, I chose to postpone the spelling test over contractions until Thursday, January 30. We also began our first unit in Wordly Wise this week, but will continue it next week due to limited time. The Wordly Wise quiz will be on Friday, January 31.
Math: This week we learned how to mutitply fractions by whole numbers. Students took a short ten question quiz over this on Friday.
Science: We have gotten back on track with our Geology unit and read about sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic rocks and learned about how earthquakes changes the landscape of Earth. Next week we will be learning about tsunamis, volcanoes, and erosion.
Miscellaneous: We will wrap up any unfinished NWEA tests next week. Scores will be released once ALL HHAI students have completed testing. Clubs continue next week. Remember to bring appropriate clothing to be outside. We will go outside as long as temperatures (both air and wind chill) are 20 degrees or warmer. Waterproof snow boots are required when there is snow on the ground.
Tuesday, January 21, 2025
Language Arts: Students have finished our final unit of Greek and Latin prefixes, suffixes, and roots. We will begin using the Wordly Wise program to further expand students' vocabularies. We are continuing to take spelling tests on Thursdays. Your child should have brought home this week's list (contractions) in his/her Friday folder. We are continuing to read D'Aulaires' Greek Myths and have learned about the Titans and Cyclopes as well as the monsters that Gaia bore. We are now learning about the Olympians. Once we have finished learning about the Olympians, students will choose a TItan or Olympian to make a brochure about. We will not be taking a test over this material.
Math: Students took a test over adding and subtracting fractions, ordering fractions, and comparing fractions. Our next unit will be about multiplying a fraction by a whole number.
Science: We are slowly making our way through our geology unit. Students have learned about the layers of Earth through our text, the book, How to Dig a Hole to the Other Side of the World, and a demonstration of how the mantle contributes to the movement of continents - Continental Drift Theory.
Miscellaneous: Please remember that we will go outside anytime the temperature is above 20 degrees. Students are welcome to leave extra hats, gloves, boots, etc. at school. We are in need of tissues in the classroom. This is the time of year that we have lots of sniffles and we have depleted our stock of tissues from the beginning of the year. I hope you all are staying warm!
Tuesday, December 17, 2024
Language Arts: There is no daily language review, spelling test, or Greek/Latin roots assessments this week. We are reviewing old spelling words, wrapping up our rosh chodesh projects, and having some Hanukkah fun.
Math: This week we are taking time to review fractions with students who needed an extra boost, and playing lots of review math games. I've also introduced students to Backgammon and Kingdomino. Both great games for visual/spatial relationships, and strategy.
Social Studies: We are trying to wrap up our unit on Indiana landforms and maps. We will begin a science unit upon our return in January about geology.
Miscellaneous: It was great to see so many of you this past Sunday at the laser tag event here at school! Rosh chodesh program will be Wednesday, December 18 @ 2:45 pm in our classroom. Pre-Hanukkah songfest is Thursday, December 19 @ 2:30 pm in the auditorium.
Monday, December 9, 2024
Language Arts: Students are continuing to work on both their final project related to Number the Stars, and on an essay to accompany their final project. Students are very excited for you to see their creativity on Wednesday, December 18 for our rosh chodesh program at 2:45 p.m. We will be taking our Greek roots quiz over the words/roots from last week on Wednesday, December 11. I will send home review materials for students. Also look for spelling lists to come home tomorrow.
Math: We continue to work with fractions. We are working on ordering and comparing fractions, and finding common denominators. We will be practicing those skills this week with a review on Thursday and a test on Friday over fraction ordering, comparing, and finding common denominators.
Social Studies: We are continuing to read and learn about the different geographical regions of Indiana.
Miscellaneous: Rosh chodesh program Wednesday, December 18 @ 2:45 p.m. Pre-Hanukkah songfest on Thursday, December 19 @ 2:45 p.m.
Monday, December 2, 2024
Langauge Arts: Upon our return this week, we will be working on our Rosh Chodesh projects related to our reading of Number the Stars. Students are coming up with many creative ways to show their favorite parts of the book or what they learned about the Holocaust. As a result of talking with students, we are going to move spelling tests to Thursdays. Students will now recieve new lists in their Friday folders. Hang on to those and you can begin studying over the weekend. This week's list is: broil, foil, soil, join, void, joy, toy, loyal, ploy. soy, brook, tool, soon, food, spoon, people, minute, although, through, and hour. We will begin our 8th unit of Greek and Latin words this week as well. Greek/Latin words quizzes and daily language review quizzes will remain on Fridays.
Math: This week we will begin learning about comparing and ordering fractions, and eventually learn to find common denominators in order to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of fractions.
Social Studies: We will be starting to learn about Indiana's geography. Students will be learning about land and water, regions and resources, and we will be reviewing latitude and longitude.
Miscellaneous: The Schoastic book fair continues this week during school hours. Mrs. Berg will have one late evening, Thursday, December 5 where the book fair will remain open until 6 PM. Books make great Hanukkah gifts! Parent/teacher conferences are Wednesday, December 4 from 1:30-7:30 PM. Our pre-Hannukah songfest will be on Thursday, December 19.
Monday, November 18, 2024
Language Arts: We have wrapped up reading Number the Stars and are now focusing on some writing pieces related to the book as well as beginning to think about the culminating project each student will be preparing to share with you at our upcoming Rosh Chodesh celebration on Wednesday, December 18 at 2:45. This week we are working on Latin roots and our spelling words are ch/-tch words. I have sent spelling lists and Latin roots lists home with students on Monday, and encouraged them to study a bit each night in an effort to have less studying on Thursday evenings. Good study skills will be important moving forward in your child's academic career.
Math: On Monday we took our test over multi-digit division. Overall, the class did a great job, and I'm really proud of them! This week we will be learning the standard algorithm for long division, but we will NOT be testing over this material as it is not part of the 4th grade state math standards. Once we return after Thanksgiving break, we will begin learning about ordering and comparing fractions.
Science: We are still working on our energy unit and have almost completed our reading of the material. We will begin doing experiments with energy of motion and collisions.
Miscellaneous: As noted in language arts, we will be having our Rosh Chodesh celebration on Wednesday, December 18 at 2:45. I look forward to seeing you all next Wednesday for our Friends and Family day in the morning and dismissal at 11 a.m.
Friday, November 8, 2024
Language Arts: Students began reading Number the Stars by Lois Lowry this week. This book is about a young Jewish girl living in Copenhagen during the Nazi occupation. Ask your child to tell you about it. The students are loving the book! We continue to work on Greek and Latin prefixes, suffixes, and roots. This week our roots were therm, graph, phobia, tele, and meter, Students also continue to work on their Daily Language Review weekly and take quizzes over the material on Friday. Spelling this week were words that end in pt, sk, sp, and st along with 4 red words. Next week's list will be based on the Jeff Rule which doubles f, l, s, and z at the end of single syllable short vowel words.
Math: This week we began working on the conceptual understanding of division and are working toward long division using the standard algorithm. At this time, if your child has not mastered his/her basic facts in multiplication will struggle more with division than those who have them memorized. Flashcards are an excellent way to practice at home.
Science: This week we learned about motion energy, stored energy, change, energy, motion, energy of motion, and speed.
Friday, November 1, 2024
Now that we are back to a normal schedule without our shortened weeks, I will again send a weekly update. My apologies for this being a bit late as I have had a stomach bug and was out Thursday afternoon and all day Friday. Here is what we have been doing...
Language Arts: This week we spent building background knowledge about the Holocaust and, in particular, the way Nazi occupation was handled in Denmark. This is preparation for us to begin reading Number the Stars which is about a young Jewish girl and her family and their escape from Copenhagen during the Nazi occupation. We also worked on Latin prefixes: sub, pre, trans, re, contra. Our spelling work this week was with the ending sounds -mp, -nd, -nt, -nch.
Math: This week we worked on using different math strategies to accomplish multiplication. We start at the concrete level in order to build a deeper understanding of how numbers and operations work. Students learned the strategies of area model multiplication, partial products multiplication, and most recently, standard algorithm. We will continue to practice multiplication and students are permitted to use the strategy they feel most comfortable with, and are most accurate using. If you would like to see samples of the area model strategy or the partial products strategy, please let me know.
Science: This week we started a new unit on energy transfer and transformation. We have learned that energy is a cause that has an effect. We have also learned that energy can be transformed, but never lost.
Social Studies: Our novel study of Number the Stars is part of our history and lends itself to our study of Indiana history as well.
Miscellaneous: We are all looking forward to Friends and Family Day on Wednesday, November
Monday, September 23, 2024
Language Arts: Last week we have nearly wrapped up our unit on the Constitution. This week we will be reading the last lesson in the unit, and working on writing piece that explains the differences between the newly created Constitution and the previous Articles of Confederation. Additionally, students will be working on a study guide, and taking a test over the material we learned.
Math: Last week we worked on place value to the millions. Students learned that numbers are divided into periods, and each period includes 3 places of place value. See the image below. We also worked on rounding numbers, standard form, word form, and expanded form of numbers. Students played SNAP! to further work on place value skills. This week we will be looking at what happens to numbers when they are multiplied by 10, 100, or 1, 000. Additionally we will be learning about ineqalities. I am anticipating a test early next week. Likely on Tuesday, October 1.
Social Studies: We will wrap up our Constitution unit this week, and then we will begin to look at Indiana during the Revolutionary War, the Constitutional Conventions, and through the Civil War.
Science: We are continuing to put our experiments together and make observations. The longer-term experiments are set up and working, while we will do the shorter experiments in the coming weeks so all students can observe the outcomes.
Miscellaneous: As we approach the high holidays, we will have many days with early dismissals and no school. Please note the dates below:
Tuesday, September 24 - School picture day
Wednesday, September 25 - Ram visit
Tuesday, October 1 - Parent lunch visitors
Wednesday, October 2 - 1 PM dismissal
Thursday, October 3 & Friday, October 4 - No school Rosh Hashanah
Friday, October 11 - 1 PM dismissal
Wednesday, October 16 - 1 PM dismissal
Thursday, October 17 & Friday, October 18 - No school Sukkot
Tuesday, October 22 - Field Trip to Hogan's Farm in Brownsburg
Wednesday, October 23-Friday, October 25 - No school Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah
Friday, September 13, 2024
Language Arts: This week we began our unit about the Constitution. We have learned that our forefathers first wrote the Articles of Confederation, but after about 6 years of using them, they realized that they needed a stronger central government. Students are learning about the chronology of the events leading up to the second Continental Congress meeting. This week in spelling/phonics we worked on ui, ie, -ng, and -nk words. Next week we will be working with bossy r's. The words will contain -ar or -or.
Science: We have been sidetracked for a few weeks trying to acquire all the supplies for our experiments. Our plan is to set up experiments on Monday.
Social Studies: This week we read an article from National Geographic for Kids about the 9/11 attacks.
Miscellaneous: Please don't forget that we dismiss early on Wednesday, October 2 at 1:00, and will be off school October 3 and 4 for Rosh Hashanah. Additionally, we will dismiss at 1:00 on Wednesday, October 16 for Sukkot and will be off October 17-19 and 23-25.
Friday, September 6, 2024
Language Arts: This week we have been doing NWEA testing. Next week we will start our first CKLA unit about the Constitution.
Math: This week we have been doing NWEA testing. Next week we will continue working on prime and composite number and focusing on prime factorizations of numbers.
Social Studies: This week we have been learning about the equator, prime meridian, north and south poles, and the lines of latitude and longitude. We played an online game to learn about latitude and longitude as well as playing a varied format of Battleship using degrees N/S/E/W to sink our opponents' ships. Next week we will begin learning about the Constitution in preparation for Constitution Day on September 17.
Friday, August 30, 2024
Language Arts: We are wrapping up our reading of Crenshaw, and will begin working on projects to go along with the book. Students have the choice of creating a bag with items from the story in it, creating a cube with story elements on each side, or making a pop-up about the book. No matter which project your child chose, he/she also had to complete an essay telling about his/her project. Most have completed the project, but there are still a few students wrapping up.
Math: This week we began learning about prime and composite numbers as well as factors and multiples.
Science: Students are ready to start their experiments as soon as I procure all of the supplies needed. We will likely have to postpone until the week of September 9 as we have NWEA testing next week.
Miscellaneous: Please make sure to send your child with a morning snack that is either a fruit or a vegetable. Chips, cookies, and protein/granola bars do not count. Additionally, please make sure your child has a water bottle to use each day.
Friday, August 23, 2024
Shabbat Shalom! I hope you have all had a wonderful week. The weather was amazing! Your students have been working really hard this week. Here is what we have been doing...
Language Arts: Students are finishing up reading Crenshaw, and will be working on a culminating project associated with the book next week. Additionally, this week we have added instruction in spelling, cursive handwriting, and journal writing. When we return after Labor Day, students will be using a periodical we subscribe to called Storyworks! Each issue has several genres of writing including fiction, non-fiction, a play, poems, and fun word work. After that, we will begin a CKLA unit about the Constitution.
Math: Today we took our first math test. Students worked hard on our lessons up to this point, and we reviewed in class on Wednesday with students each completing ten problems like the ones on the test. Please be sure to look over this test with your child, and let me know if you have any questions.
Science: Students are continuing to learn about the scientific method by creating their own experiments based on observations. Here are some of the questions we hope to answer:
Which liquid is most deadly to plants?
What liquid will make nails rust fastest?
Which liquid will evaporate the quickest?
Misecellaneous: Our first challah bake was this morning in the cafeteria. You should have a lovely challah coming home with your child for your shabbat meal! Please remember that there is no school on Labor Day, Monday, September 2, 2024. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!
Friday, August 16, 2024
Good morning! We have had an awesome week in 4th grade! Please read below to see what we were up to this week.
Language Arts: This week we started reading Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate. The book is about a young boy and his family as they experience homelessness. We have had some interesting discussions about how much honesty kids need from adults, pessimism vs optimism, and do people always want to know the whole truth. We have finished part one of the book and will continue to read it for the next 2 weeks or so. Students will then complete a culminating project to accompany the book. After reading each day, students answer a reading response question about what they have read. Be sure to check out your child's journal when you visit on Monday evening! Additionally, students took their first language test. This week's test is our practice run, and will be graded, but the grades will not be recorded. Next week we will begin spelling and take some comprehension quizzes over Crenshaw.
Math: Each day in math we begin with a math warm-up that students answer in their math journals. We discuss answers and talk about different ways to solve problems. We took the end of 4th grade test to see what skills students already possess, and to plan future instruction. We also began our first lesson on multiplicative comparison.
Science: Students have developed questions that they would like to use to create a hypothesis, test the hypothesis, observe and record data, draw conclusions, and report out findings. We will be working on our mini-science fair projects for the next few weeks. I hope to invite you all back to see them once we are finished.
Miscellaneous: Please join us in the classroom on Monday, August 19 at 6:30. I will not be formally presenting, but this is a great opportunity to see your child's classroom, cubby, etc. We will be done promptly at 7, as I will also be attending the first/second grade parent night.
Friday, August 9, 2024
We have had a great start to our school year and I look forward to many more days of learning and growing together!