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.
> 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:
Link to the :Tortoise Club Information Sharing
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
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