Hi Grade 4 Families!
Each week, be sure to check here for updates! I’ll be sharing fun events, activities, and the wonderful work our students have been completing.
If you would like access to my photo album, please don’t hesitate to reach out, I’d be happy to share it with you!
Ms.Stasiewich
Words Their Way is a word study program that further individualizes the way students learn to spell words. It is a hands-on approach to practice spelling patterns in words. It allows students to manipulate words and/or pictures into different categories. This sorting process helps students analyze and examine, compare and contrast, and differentiate the patterns in words. This hands-on approach not only motivates students to practice spelling words but it also helps students internalize the spelling patterns in words for the future. At the beginning of the school year, the students were administered a spelling inventory that helped determine which spelling stage the students were performing. From there, they are placed into small groups of students to work on their spelling!
- Description from Lauren Maiorino " Words Their Way Parent Resources"
Holes is about a boy named Stanley Yelnats who is unfairly sent to Camp Green Lake, a hot desert where boys dig holes every day. The camp leaders say it is to “build character,” but really they are searching for hidden treasure. Stanley becomes friends with a boy named Zero, and together they escape into the desert. They survive by finding water and onions, and Stanley helps break his family’s old curse by carrying Zero up a mountain. In the end, they discover a treasure chest that belongs to Stanley’s family, and both boys finally go home happy.
Students are working towards becoming Gold Star Masters with their basic facts!
Each day, students complete a 4-minute basic facts sheet, starting with addition and progressing through subtraction, multiplication, and division. If they complete the sheet with no mistakes in 4 minutes or less, they move on to the next level. As students complete each level, they earn a new color of star, which will be displayed on our classroom windows—so you can see our progress as you drive by!
If you’d like to practice at home, just let me know, and I can share the practice sheets with you.
Read Together Daily
Try to have your child read to you for at least 30 minutes each evening. Offer a variety of reading materials such as comics, magazines, books, and even recipes! Cooking together is a fun way to introduce your child to procedural writing while practicing reading in a real-life context.
Discuss What You Read
During or after reading, ask your child questions about the story and encourage them to share their thoughts and predictions. Some ideas include:
Who are the characters?
What is the problem?
How might it be solved?
What was your favourite part?
Build Vocabulary
When your child encounters a tricky word, pause and discuss its meaning. Explore synonyms or try using the word in a new sentence to deepen understanding.
Celebrate Progress
Reading should always be fun! Set achievable goals at home and celebrate when your child reaches them. Praise effort, curiosity, and improvement to keep motivation high.
Practice Basic Facts Daily
Spend 10–15 minutes each day practicing addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division facts. Use flashcards, online games, or timed worksheets.
Talk About Math in Everyday Life
Involve your child in real-world math: measuring ingredients while cooking, grocery shopping or figuring out distances or simply telling the time! These activities help connect classroom learning to everyday life.
Encourage Problem Solving
Ask your child to explain their thinking when solving a problem. Encourage multiple strategies and approaches. You could use questions like
How did you figure that out?
Can you think of another way to solve it?
Use Visuals and Hands-on Tools
Objects, drawings, or diagrams can make tricky concepts easier to understand. Counting blocks, number lines, or even household items can help your child see math in a hands on way!
Celebrate Effort
Success does not mean just the correct answer - celebrate their efforts. This is why we always say, show your work! Set achievable math goals at home and celebrate each milestone.