Hello Families, 

We are on the home stretch to finishing up the year and have many fun activities planned for students! The grade four field trips have been planned and booked. Students will be visiting the Biomes Marine Biology Center on Wednesday, May 29th and the Luther Store on Wednesday, June 5th. Thank you to those who have volunteered to chaperone using the Google Form. We are still looking for chaperones in both classrooms to help at the Luther Store. Here is the link to sign up. We will reach out with more information as they approach. 

We are looking for a few items to be donated to help us get through the rest of the year. We are in need of dry erase markers, pencils, tissues, highlighters, and sanitizer wipes.
Prior to vacation students took the fourth grade ELA MCAS. We are so proud of their hard work and perseverance! Students will take the Mathematics MCAS over two days, Wednesday, May 1st and Thursday, May 2nd. It is important that your child is present in school on these days. If they are to be absent on any of these days they will need to make up the test session. This will result in time lost in the classroom. 

In math, we have begun Unit 5 focusing on geometry. Students have been measuring angles, finding missing angle measures, and classifying shapes. Then, we will go to multistep problems relating to length, time, money, liquid volume, and mass and weight. My Path homework is continuing. Students' work with this program has shown great growth in their last diagnostic assessment. This program supports students’ individual needs by reviewing previously taught skills that students may have not mastered and also challenges students beyond mastery. Instead of 60 minutes a week, we are asking that students pass 2 lessons for homework each week. This helps students to stay on task while on MyPath. This will vary if it is a shortened school week. 

In science, we are starting our sixth unit exploring Earth’s natural hazards. Students will conduct several hands-on investigations to deepen their thinking on this topic and learn how Earth’s natural hazards negatively affect humans. Students will partake in a group research project where they will create a Google Slides presentation to inform their peers about a natural disaster that occured in history. 

In literacy, we have started our Historical Fiction unit! We are reading Lois Lowry's Number the Stars, a World War II story through the lens of a child during the Holocaust. In writing, students are reading a variety of opinion articles to analyze persuasive writing. These skills will be useful when students write their own persuasive writing piece soon. Students should be reading for 20 minutes each day to help increase their stamina, vocabulary skills, and comprehension. Once students read for 20 minutes, it should be recorded on their weekly Reading Log. Practicing writing stories and presenting them to family members is a great way to build confidence reading aloud, improve fluency, and build writing stamina using correct grammar. 

In Social Studies, we are learning about the five regions of the United States. Students will be using their map skills to identify where each state is located as the regions are introduced to them. Please check ClassDojo for upcoming quizzes, and Ms. Galib’s Google Classroom for study materials. 

We will be sure to send updates through Dojo as they arise. As always, reach out if you have any questions. 

Best, 

Ms. Galib & Ms. Swerdlow