Sunday, November 26, 2017

Week of November 26 - 30

Grade 4 Weekly Newsletter
November 26 - 29

Curriculum
Reading:
This week students will be learning the difference between expository and narrative nonfiction texts. Students will also be encouraged to choose one or more of the following strategies to help them decode and understand the meaning of the word. They will share how they used these strategies during their partnership conversations as they grow their understanding of the text.
> break up the word into its root, prefix, and/or suffix
> substitute the hard word with a synonym and then read on
> look for definitions within the text
Example: The Yangtze flows north and then east into a series of gorges. Gorges are deep valleys with steep, rocky sides.
> look for a glossary, or at the text feature (illustrations, photographs, diagrams) to get clues.

This week’s lessons:
Lesson 1: Tackling challenging words
Lesson 2: Ask questions to grow ideas, link comments to others
Lesson 3: Sorting nonfiction texts into narrative and expository


Essential Questions
  • How do readers know what is important in nonfiction texts?
  • How can I become more complex in my thinking as I read?


Writing:
This week, writers will be exploring how to use transitional words to connect different parts of a chapter together and to elaborate on their ideas. To end this week students will be encouraged to start using nonfiction text features to help the reader better understand their writing. For example, students will choose which words need to be bold or whether a diagram or a chart would best explain a fact.

Transitional words to connect and to elaborate on ideas:
  • In other words …
  • What this really means is …
  • What this means is …
  • It’s also important to know …
  • This shows …
  • All of this is important because …
  • According to…
  • One example of this is…

This week’s lessons:
Lesson 1: Using transitional words to connect parts together and elaborate    
Lesson 2: Using transitional words to connect parts together and elaborate
Lesson 3: Choosing the text structure to best suit the information



Essential Questions
  • How do writers teach readers about a topic?
  • How do the text structures and features in a book help readers?


Mathematics:

This week we will be continuing Module 3: Multi-Digit Multiplication and Division

Essential Questions:

  • What strategies can be used to compare multi-digit whole numbers?
  • How do patterns in our number system help in understanding mathematics?
  • How can strategies be used to solve multistep word problems?
  • How can the reasonableness of a solution be determined?
  • How are multiplication and division related?

The lessons are as follows for this week:

Lesson 1: Solve division problems with a zero in the dividend or quotient and by decomposing a remainder up to three times.
Lesson 2: Interpret division word problems as either number of groups unknown or group size unknown and with larger divisors of 6, 7, 8, and 9.
Lesson 3: Explain the connection of the area model of division to the long division algorithm for three and four digit dividends.
Lesson 4: Multiply two-digit multiples of 10 by two-digit numbers using a place value chart and area model.


Here is the LINK to the Growth Mindset video we began to watch at Back To School Night. We suggest you watch it with your child and discuss what might create a positive math classroom at school. How can you build a positive math relationship with your child?

Social Studies: Connections with History
Essential Question:
  • How do geography and people connect to build a nation?
Students will continue working on their tribal projects. They will collect information about their tribe’s region, food, homes, games/leisure activities, and clothing. This project will run for several weeks.

Students are reminded to paraphrase the information that they get (on-line sources or in texts). The are also writing down the sources that they use for any information.

Each class is preparing for a debate, where tribes will advocate for their tribe and tell why their tribe used their resources the best way. Students should show where they got their information. Each student will speak about information that they collected on behalf of their tribe. (1-3 minutes).

Grade 4 Homework:
Daily homework tasks will be written into student planners each day. Tasks may include reading for 20-30 minutes per night, writing for 10 minutes per night along with additional mathematics work. Homework may differ according to teachers and students. Any mathematics homework that students find challenging please advise their homeroom teacher so they can progress accordingly. Homework is not meant to be impossible, challenging for students to grow their brains, but not impossible!

Guidance News – Keep Your Power! Say Okay & Walk Away
‘Don’t focus on the negative words you may hear from others; focus on the fact that you have the power to choose how to react!’ – Project Cornerstone
By focusing on their own actions, children can begin to recognize the power they have - their own personal power. Personal power is not about power over someone else or the situation, but power over our own response, feelings and thoughts. When students are able to control their reactions they demonstrate self-confidence and compassion for themselves.
Students will engage in powerful role-plays where they will have the opportunity to practice “keeping their power”. They will practice using an assertive posture and voice tone as they try various methods, such as: agreeing with the person (refusing to engage in an argument), saying “Okay”, using distractions, and walking away.


Upcoming Events

·     Sunday, Nov. 26th - Thursday Schedule

·     Monday, Nov. 27th - Parent-Teacher Conferences (Student attend the first 5 minutes to share their goals.)

·     Tuesday, Nov. 28th - Parent-Teacher Conferences from 3:30-5:00 (Student attend the first 5 minutes to share their goals.)

·     Thursday, Nov. 30th - No School (Prophet’s Day Holiday)

·     Monday, Dec. 4th - Early Release Day

·     Thursday, Dec. 21th - Winter Assembly


Repeat Announcements

Tortoise Club
We would Love to hear your questions, comments and information about the Tortoises in the enclosure. Please click the link below to share any interesting information or ask any questions:
Those will be will be reviewed by Mr. Said and the club members and will be published in the Tortoise Club web. page.
Link to the :Tortoise Club Page
International Festival
The International Festival is one of our main fundraising events of the year. It is scheduled to take place on March 16, 2018. If you’d like to volunteer and help us make this year's International Festival a success, please send an email to Kourtney LaGesse at cacinternationalfestival@gmail.com



Sunday, November 19, 2017

Week of November 19 - 22nd

Grade 4 Weekly Newsletter
November 19 - 22


Curriculum
Reading:
With a short week of learning, students will be setting goals for the second trimester and working on synthesizing nonfiction texts. Students will practice paraphrasing what they have learned and thinking about how it is connected to the main idea. To do this students will stop and jot and talk with their partners. When partners meet, instead of just saying what have learned they could rehearse for the following:
  • Point out the details in the pictures or diagrams that highlight what they’re saying
  • Link previous learning to the new information that they just encountered by flipping back and forth to show pictures that build off of one another and by explaining how those pictures go together
  • Add gestures to their explanations and use their voices to emphasize what’s important
  • Act out what they learned to invite their partner to join in. For example, if one partner is explaining to his partner that owls don’t flap their wings like most birds, but rather they glide, he could have his partner put out his arms and flap them like wings. Then he could instruct his partner to sway his body, keeping his arms out and still, to illustrate the difference between gliding and flapping.

This week’s lessons:
Lesson 1: Setting Goals for Trimester 2
Lesson 2: Steps to Synthesising Nonfiction
Lesson 3: Being Prepared for Partnership Work

Essential Questions
  • How do readers know what is important in nonfiction texts?
  • How can I become more complex in my thinking as I read?

Writing:
This week students will start drafting their information books. As they are drafting they will constantly refer to their concept maps or the boxes and bullets to help them stay focused on their topic. Students will use subheadings and technical words to elaborate on their ideas. Below are some examples of the planning students did last week to help them choose a just right topic. Some topics need to be developed further because they are still too big and others are just right.




This week’s lessons:
Lesson 1: Narrowing the Topic Further    
Lesson 2: Setting Goals for Trimester 2
Lesson 3: Revising for various subheadings


Essential Questions
  • How do writers teach readers about a topic?
  • How do the images in a book help readers?

Mathematics:


This week we will be continuing Module 3: Multi-Digit Multiplication and Division


Essential Questions:


  • What strategies can be used to compare multi-digit whole numbers?
  • How do patterns in our number system help in understanding mathematics?
  • How can strategies be used to solve multistep word problems?
  • How can the reasonableness of a solution be determined?
  • How are multiplication and division related?


The lessons are as follows for this week:


Lesson 1: Determine if a whole number is a multiple of another.
Lesson 2: Pre-Assessment for Module 4 (Angle Measures and Plane Figures)
Lesson 3: Divide using multiples of 10, 100, 1000.
Lesson 4: Represent and solve three-digit dividend division with divisors of 2, 3, 4, and 5 numerically.




Here is the LINK to the Growth Mindset video we began to watch at Back To School Night. We suggest you watch it with your child and discuss what might create a positive math classroom at school. How can you build a positive math relationship with your child?


Social Studies: Connections with History
Essential Question:
  • How do geography and people connect to build a nation?
Students will continue working on their tribal projects. They will collect information about their tribe’s region, food, homes, games/leisure activities, and clothing. This project will run for several weeks.


Students are reminded to paraphrase the information that they get (online sources or in texts). They are also writing down the sources that they use for any information.


Each class is preparing for a debate, where tribes will advocate for their tribe and tell why their tribe used their resources the best way. Each student will speak information that they collected on behalf of their tribe.



Grade 4 Homework:
Daily homework tasks will be written in student planners each day. Tasks may include reading for 20-30 minutes per night, writing for 10 minutes per night along with additional mathematics work. Homework may differ according to teachers and students. Any mathematics homework that students find challenging please advise their homeroom teacher so they can progress accordingly. Homework is not meant to be impossible, challenging for students to grow their brains, but not impossible!


Guidance News – Keep Your Power! Say Okay & Walk Away
‘Don’t focus on the negative words you may hear from others; focus on the fact that you have the power to choose how to react!’ – Project Cornerstone
By focusing on their own actions, children can begin to recognize the power they have - their own personal power. Personal power is not about power over someone else or the situation, but power over our own response, feelings, and thoughts. When students are able to control their reactions they demonstrate self-confidence and compassion for themselves.
Students will engage in powerful role-plays where they will have the opportunity to practice “keeping their power”. They will practice using an assertive posture and voice tone as they try various methods, such as: agreeing with the person (refusing to engage in an argument), saying “Okay”, using distractions, and walking away.

Upcoming Events


·     Sunday, Nov. 19th - ES Production Cast Party (3:15 pm - 4:00 pm, ES Hall)

·     Monday, Nov. 20th - Math Workshop for Parents, (2:00 pm - 3:00 pm)

·     Monday, Nov. 20th - General Services Staff Appreciation Lunch (Middle School Field, 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm)

·     Wednesday, Nov. 22th - Kids’ Day (Bring a snack and your water bottle)

·     Thursday, Nov. 23rd - Thanksgiving Holiday

·     Sunday, Nov. 26th - Thursday Schedule

·     Monday, Nov. 27th - Parent-Teacher Conferences (Student attend the first 5 minutes to share their goals.)

·     Thursday, Nov. 30th - No School (Prophet’s Day Holiday)


 New
Parent Teacher Conferences
On Monday, November 27th, teachers, students, and parents will have a chance to meet to celebrate student growth, and share plans that students have put in place to help them meet their goals. Please don't forget to book your conference. Students will be attending the first five minutes of the conference and then parents and teachers can have the next twelve minutes to talk while students wait outside.


Repeated Announcements


Kids’ Day
This year's Kids' Day will be held on Wednesday, November 22nd, 2017 from 8:00am to 11:30am. Students will then be dismissed at 11:30am for a long Thanksgiving weekend. This is a half day for CAC and Pre K-5 will be participating at the same time. For new parents to the school Kids’ Day is a fun-filled day in which they can show off their house spirit, participate in a wide variety of physical activities, and enjoy each other! The Elementary PE Department needs parent volunteers to help with the games and activities. You will be partnered up with an Elementary Teacher and teacher aide to help run an activity.  If you could volunteer on that day, please fill in the (google form) by Thursday, November 16th at the latest.  Mr. Greene will contact you via e-mail with your assignment by Monday, November 20th. Please mark your calendars with the date and time NOW! Thank you, Phil Greene pgreene@cacegypt.org & Mark Mayfield mmayfield@cacegypt.org


General Services Staff Appreciation Lunch- Monday, November 20
Every year the Elementary, Middle School, and High School Student Councils give thanks to the amazing general services staff at our school by hosting a special lunch. This staff includes security guards, janitors, gardeners, drivers, bus monitors, car washers, painters, carpenters, and maintenance. The hard work they do every day really makes our school a better place. We are grateful to all the general services staff and will be having an appreciation lunch for them.
Date: Monday, November 20, 2017
Location: Middle School Field
Time: 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm

We can’t do this alone, we need your help!  We are requesting that all students and families show their appreciation for our general service staff by donating the following:

  • PreK & KG : Dessert
  • Grades 1 & 2: Pasta Dish/Rice or Rice Dish/Bread
  • Grades 3 - 5: Meat Dishes
  • Grade 6: Meat Dishes
  • Grade 7: Meat Dishes
  • Grade 8: Vegetables/Side Dish/Salad
  • Grade 9-12: Goodie Bags (more information will be sent out from your High School Student Council)
Please bring food donations in a disposable container. Students & parents can drop off their dishes the morning of November 20 in the MS/HS Faculty Lounge. Those who would like to volunteer during the day, please fill in this link. We thank you for your continued support and for giving thanks to all of those who help make CAC the place to be! ES/MS/HS Student Leadership Teams


After School Activities
Session​ ​​2​ coming up!
Sign up open on the ASA website during the week of November 12-18 (open for ​7​​​ days​ including a weekend​)
Schedules e-mailed to parents on Tuesday, November 2​1
Session begins on the week of November 26
Click here for the ASA Website

Tortoise Club
We would Love to hear your questions, comments, and information about the Tortoises in the enclosure. Please click the link below to share any interesting information or ask any questions:
Those will be will be reviewed by Mr. Said and the club members and will be published in the Tortoise Club web. page.
Link to the : Tortoise Club Page
International Festival
The International Festival is one of our main fundraising events of the year. It is scheduled to take place on March 16, 2018. If you’d like to volunteer and help us make this year's International Festival a success, please send an email to Kourtney LaGesse at cacinternationalfestival@gmail.com