Manning's Message

Field Trip

We will be taking our field trip to the Tsongas Industrial History Center on Wednesday, April 1.  Please have your student at school by 8:15 on that Wednesday.  Students should bring a bag lunch with non-breakable items.  Please label their bag.

MCAS

Dates for our class MCAS testing will be:

ELA  - Grade 4 – April 8 & 9

Math - Grade 4 - May 13 & 14 

Subject Update

Language Arts

We continued to focus on the text structure of cause and effect, and students wrote summaries for these types of structures.  In the next weeks we will look at the text-structure of sequence or chronological order.  The students have been spending a great deal of their writing time typing their stories on the iPads. They are planning on paper and composing on the iPad.  It is amazing to see their focus and stamina for writing when they are on the iPads!

Today, the students took their Trimester Two Reading and Writing assessments in one assessment.  They read a selection entitled, “Hiding Out” by  Phyllis Naylor.  The students needed to read the selection, then write the story from the point of view of one of the characters, a cat named Polo.  They also needed to answer multiple-choice questions.  I was pleased to see them all focused and excited to write another story.

Math

We are beginning Chapter Nine, Angles.  In this chapter the students will learn how to identify acute, obtuse, right and straight angles, and to measure and draw angels.  The students will need their protractor at school, but will also need to use a protractor at home for homework.  I will be providing the students a small protractor for at home use.

Social Studies

We have continued our study of the rights of citizens of our country. Students have researched the Bill of Rights, and will be taking their assessment this week.

Science

We will be taking our Energy assessment this week. We will be beginning our last unit in the next couple weeks.

Manning's Message

Welcome Back!

I hope that everyone had a fun and relaxing February break!  We are getting back into the swing of school, and I am looking forward to a solid eight weeks of learning and growing!  This week we will review our expectations for behavior and learning, and I hope to move quickly back to where we were before vacation.  The students are developing their skills and many are able to take on more independent activities.  Students are completing many learning tasks using the iPads and they are learning to manage their assignments and time.  In the upcoming weeks ask your student to see what they are working on using the iPad.  We will continue to develop responsible independent learning practices as our year progresses.

Donations
Thank you to everyone who sent in donations of tissues, soft soap, and wipes! We are all set for a good while.

MCAS

Dates for our class MCAS testing will be:

ELA  - Grade 4 – April 8 & 9

Math - Grade 4 - May 13 & 14 

Language Arts

During reading, we are  focusing on the text structure of compare and contrast. Students are reading a variety of texts based on this structure and are learning how to take notes while reading this type of text in order to write a summary.  Later this week, they will be writing summaries of compare and contrast texts.

During writing,  we are learning to use our narrative writing skills to write text-based narrative essays. This type of essay is written in response to a prompt based on a narrative text.  Students wrote one narrative response before vacation and you can view this response entitled “Wacky Shoes” in their Google Drive.  This week the students have read a text entitled “Enemy Pie” and will be learning how to write a narrative from a different character’s point of view. 

Math

We are beginning Chapter Eight, Adding and Subtracting Decimals where the students will learn that the algorithms for adding and subtracting decimals are the same as for whole numbers.  The students will learn to take care to line-up the decimals points correctly so all the digits are in their proper places.  We will also focus on drawing bar models for two-step real-world problems involving decimals. 

Chapter Seven test came home the Friday before vacation.  Please review the test with your student, sign and return the test and “Glow and Grow.”  You may keep the Ban document for your records.

Social Studies

We are beginning our study of the rights of citizens of our country.  Students will be making a “Rights of Citizens” pyramid and will be researching the the Bill of Rights.  

Manning's Message

February Fitness Challenge

As you have heard from the PTO we need to raise money to make repairs on our playground.  Starting today and for the next two weeks all Floral classes will be participating in the classroom fitness challenge.  Each day, we will be choosing a fitness activity to complete.  The PTO is asking you to pledge support to our classroom. All funds raised will go directly for the playground repairs.  Yellow pledge sheets went home today.  I will be posting pictures and/or videos of our class fitness routine on Seesaw each day.

Language Arts

Students continue to focus on the non-fiction text structures of compare and contrast, cause and effect, problem solution, sequence, and description.  They have learned how to identify the structures by paying attention to key words and to use specific organizers for each type to take notes when reading.  

Students have also been reading two articles “Annie Smith Peck” and “America’s Best Girl” and have discussed the main characters’ traits and the themes of each selection.  In the coming week, we will be using the two selections to write a detailed text-based response.

Students are writing a narrative essay based on a text entitled “Wacky Shoes” about a pair of shoes that take over their owner’s ability to control where they are going.  I am looking forward to reading how the students take this fun story and make it their own.  We are also practicing composing and typing in their Google Drive on the iPads when writing this piece.  

Math

We continue to work on Chapter Seven, Decimals. The past week, we have learned to identify and read tenths and hundredths.  They have also learned the connection between fractions and decimals.  This week students will learn to compare and round decimals in tenths and hundredths.

Social Studies

We continue to learn about the southern region of our country.  They are learning about the physical features, climate, and natural resources and people of the south.   We also continue our study of immigration.  We are learning about the different peoples who came to the United States.  Last week, we had an in-class field trip.  The Lowell National Historic Museum visited our classrooms to give an interactive presentation on the Immigration Experience.  

Science

Last week, students used their knowledge from previous investigations to build their own chain reaction machine.  They needed to use the science practices of asking questions and predicting outcomes about the changes in energy when object collide, and explain how energy can be transferred from one object to another, and demonstrate how energy can be transferred from one object to another.  Check out their video or pictures on Seesaw to see/hear their explanations of their machine.

Manning's Message

Chorus Concert

Looking forward to seeing the students performing in their concert Wednesday night at 6:30!

Language Arts

During the past weeks, students have continued to focus on non-fiction texts in their reading groups and are becoming familiar with how non-fiction text features are used to help them better understand.  Students have also completed their response to “Teeth”, and we are seeing some improvement in their ability to answer a question with specific details from the text and in their ability to analyze why these details support their answer.  

This week we begin to a focus on non-fiction text structures of compare and contrast, cause and effect, problem solution, sequence, and description.  The students are learning that they can identify a text structure by paying attention to the key words and are how the text is organized.  Knowing a text’s structure will help in understanding the text.  Students will be practicing identifying these structures during guided reading.  We will also focus be focusing on the Theme or message of a story. 

Students are continuing to work on their opinion pieces about whether homework is necessary (Looking forward to reading these!) and finishing up their Gingerbread stories during Daily 5. We are beginning  Narrative writing this week, and the students understand that there are two types of narrative: personal and fictional.  We will learn how to write an entertaining opening and will be learning how to describe a story critical setting, object or character.  

Mathematics

We have tested Chapter Six and the students have corrected their errors and reflected on their mistakes. The test went home today, please review it with your student, sign and return it to school by Thursday.  We will begin Chapter Seven:  Decimals.  Students will learn to recognize, compare, and round decimals in tenths and hundredths. Students will also be exploring the connections between equivalent fractions and decimals using models, number lines and equations. 

Social Studies

We are beginning our study of Immigration. The students came home with an assignment tonight to find out who in their family immigrated to the United States, when, and why they came.  This sheet is due on Thursday.  If there is any difficulty finding this specific information, let me know. Most students already knew country of origin and this information is helpful.

The students are learning about Southern Region of our country. They are learning about the physical features, climate, and natural resources in the two sub-regions of the Upper and Lower South.  The students are developing an understanding of how the region’s culture is affected by the land, climate, and resources. They will also learn about the different groups of people living in the South and how they have affected each other. Students took the states/capitals and map test last Thursday and have brought it home for your signature.  Please sign and return this test as soon as possible.  Students who achieved a score of 3 (proficient) on this test, will have the opportunity to try to earn a 4 (advanced) on Thursday by identifying 3 out of the following 4: label capital location on the map, identify postal code, identify major city, identify state nickname.  Students who earned a 2 on the past test, will take a retake states/capitals and map test on Thursday. 

Science

In the past weeks, students participated in an investigation entitled “What makes a roller coaster go so fast?” students explored how energy can be stored as height. In the activity, they investigated how hills give roller coasters energy by experimenting with a model “bumper coaster.”  They also participated in an investigation entitled “Why is the first hill always the highest?”  In this investigation, students explored how high the hills of a roller coaster can be. In the activity, students added hills to the bumper coaster they built in the previous investigation. These two experiments gave the students a deeper understanding of hills and energy. Ask your student what they have learned about energy.  

Manning's Message

Happy New Year!  Welcome Back Everyone!

I hope you all had a restful and enjoyable vacation.  We have jumped right back into learning and improving.  We are revisiting our learning and behavioral expectations as we begin the next phase of fourth grade.  I’m calling it “Back to School Boot Camp.”  The students are making a new behavioral goal for Trimester Two, and will post this goal on their desk.  We will reflect each day on our goal.  Also, the students are making an academic goal and a general goal.  This goal sheet will come home for a signature when they are completed later this week.

Winter Celebration

On the Friday before vacation, we had our winter celebration.

The students decorated foam gingerbread men using beads, pipe cleaners, yarn, and other glittery items.  I know the students had a wonderful time and their characters were beautiful creations!    Students also participated in All School Meeting, which was a rousing, joyous time for all as we sang many songs from a variety of cultures.  

Language Arts

Many students are working to complete their “Gingerbread” stories and we look forward to sharing these picture books.  During reading this week, the students are participating in “Daily Five Boot Camp.”  We will review the purpose for each D5 activity and the expectations for these activities.  Each day the students will work to build their stamina for one D5 activity: Reading to Self, Working on Writing, and Reading to Someone, Listen to Reading, and Work on Writing.  We are also introducing Word Work this week. Later in the week, we will get back to choosing three activities per day. 

Mathematics

This week students are practicing how to find fractions of a set and to multiply a fraction by a whole number.  We will also focus on solving real-world problems involving fractions. Next week we will  practice making line plots and learn how to make line plots which include fractional data points. After a review, we will be ready to take our fraction assessment next week.

Students should continue to practice their multiplication and division facts.  Trimester Two requires students to know these facts through 12 x 12.

Social Studies

We are beginning our study of the Southern Region of our country.  We begin by learning about the South’s land and climate.  Students will need to know the states in both the upper and lower south. Students are required to know the location of each state on a map, and know each state and its capital.  Students will take their first quiz on the map of the South this Thursday.  They will need to locate the upper and lower states on the map.  Students will also be continuing their study of Map skills this trimester by practicing locating various places using latitude and longitude and using a scale to measure the distance between places.  

Science

We have begun our Energy unit. Students have been introduced to the concept of energy and know that “Energy “is the ability to do work, “Work “is moving an object from one place to another and “Speed” is a  way of measuring how quickly something is moving or being done.  In their first experiment, students made race cars to demonstrate how stored energy (potential) can be converted into energy of motion (kinetic). Check out the pictures posted on Seesaw.  This week students will continue to learn about how energy can be stored when they conduct an experiment entitled “What makes a roller coaster go so fast?”

Manning's Message

Wish List

Thank you for your donations!

Subject Update

Language Arts

Before Thanksgiving break, the students took their trimester one writing assessment.  This week they will be reviewing this assessment, looking at their strengths, areas for improvement and setting trimester two writing goals.  

Last week, students took their trimester one reading assessment.  They will be reviewing this assessment correcting their errors and determining how they could make their written response better.

We are also beginning a Gingerbread unit.  We will be reading a variety of gingerbread stories. We will explore the story elements of setting, character, problem, plot, solution, and chant in these stories and the students are charting these elements in a gingerbread summary book.

After reading and exploring different versions of the “Gingerbread Man” stories, the students will begin to write their own version. They will turn their story into a picture book.

Mathematics

Students are continuing to work on Chapter 6, Fractions and Mixed Numbers.  So far, the students have learned to find equivalent fractions, and simplify fractions, and add and subtract unlike fractions with and without renaming.  This week students are learning to convert mixed numbers to improper fractions and improper to mixed. 

It is important that students practice their multiplication and division facts daily.  Knowing these facts will be crucial to their success in future concepts.  For practice, they can use links from the blog to various game sites, flash cards, XtraMath and Freckle.

Social Studies

Students are continuing to work with their partners to present their knowledge of the eastern land, climate and resources in a Keynote.

Science

Last week the students completed a real-world design challenge entitled Save our Shores.  After reviewing articles, videos and pictures of beach erosion in Situate, Massachusetts, the students were presented with their challenge.  They are competing for a job in the town to design a structure to help protect the shores from water.  They needed to build a prototype to withstand erosion caused from ocean waves. Their structure needed to withstand the pressure from at least one cup of water. The students built their structure to protect a sand castle house.  Once all structures were built, we tested them by pouring cups of water down a chute and towards their house and structure.  The structures were able to withstand from 4 to 32 cups of water!  Below are some photos of The final structures before the water hit.

           

   

   

  

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

Manning's Message

Wish List

We need wipes (Clorox type), hand sanitizer and tissues.

Any donations are greatly appreciated!

Subject Update

Language Arts

Students are finishing up their opinion pieces and will working on writing a strong conclusion this week.  I’m looking forward to reading their completed pieces.  We will continue our study of opinion writing after vacation. 

Students continue to practice reading and note taking while reading fiction and non-fiction texts.  They continue to practice using strategies to help them understand text and determine important information.  Most are able to use these strategies in a small group and are striving to use them independently.

Learning to Type

All students have been set up with an account on typing.com.  They have a user name and a password.  They should begin practicing typing at home each night. We will also be practicing at school during Daily 5 and the students will begin typing and composing  their writing on the iPad in the near future.   If your student does not have access to a keyboard at home, please let me know.  It is important that the students learn to type fluently this year as it will help them in their future education and as mentioned during curriculum night, they will be taking the MCAS on the iPad this year.

Mathematics

We have completed Chapter 3 and the students have corrected their errors and reflected on their mistakes. Although we have completed Chapter 3, we will continue to work on multi-digit multiplication and division as we move onto the next chapter.  Students will begin working on Chapter 6, Fractions and Mixed Numbers.  In this chapter, the students will learn to add and subtract unlike fractions with and without renaming.  Students will learn to convert mixed numbers to improper fractions and improper to mixed. They will also learn how to find fractions of a set, and will apply this knowledge to multiply a fraction by a whole number and to solve real-world problems. When solving real-world problems, bar models will be used to illustrate adding and subtracting fractions, so the students can visualize the problems to help solve them.

It is important that students practice their multiplication and division facts daily.  Knowing these facts will be crucial to their success in future concepts.  For practice, they can use links from the blog to various game sites, flash cards, XtraMath and Freckle which will be introduced next week. 

Social Studies

Students have been taking East map, states and capitals tests over the past two weeks.  In order to receive a “meeting expectations” grade of 3 on the report card, they must know the location of the state on a map and the capital for each state in the region. The students have had 3 opportunities to take this test over the past weeks.  Many students will be taking a retake map, states and capitals test on Tuesday 11/26.  Students who have already achieved the requirement, will have the opportunity to earn a score of 4 by also learning the major cities, state nicknames, and location of the capitals.  It is important your student study for these quizzes for about 10 minutes each night.  I have sent home study guides and flash cards that they can cut up and use as a study game.  Students are also learning how the culture of the eastern region is affected by its land, climate and resources.  Students are working with partners to present their knowledge in a Keynote.

Science

The past weeks students have continued to learn about weathering, erosion and deposition.  We took a walk around the school grounds to see if we could observe signs of weather, erosion and deposition. Students took pictures with their partners and identified many instances of weathering and erosion.  When we returned to the class, the student chose on picture to make a Claim, Evidence and Reasoning book using the app Book Creator.  These short books are currently being uploaded to their Google Drive folders.  Ask your student to log into the Drive account to view their work.