News You Can Use

Important upcoming dates:  There will be no classes/ No School for scholars, Friday, September 28^{th (teacher professional development)} and Fall Break is October 8^th-12^th.  

 GRAMMAR

This week we will finish working with verbs (action and state of being).  Our next grammar adventure will include working with adjectives (words that describe a noun or pronoun).   

READING –Guided Reading Groups

Guided reading groups will continue this week. Some groups will embark on extension activities/projects.  These activities will help our scholars to move beyond the text and make a variety of connections.

Please continue to have your scholars read 30 minutes daily and provide a written response to their reading.  

WEEKLY WRITING PROMPTS- We will continue to work on personal narratives.

Monday: Describe a time in class when it is important to listen with attention.  How does listening with attention affect your learning?

Tuesday: What do you think of someone who has bad manners?

Wednesday: If your friend told you a secret plan to run away from home, what would you do and why? 

Thursday: What does “There are two sides to every coin” mean to you?

Friday: Finish this sentence. I wish didn’t have to …

SCIENCE UPDATE

We will conclude our study of simple machines.  Our scholars will also work with their lab partners and perform a simple experiment that will solidify their understanding of the scientific method.    

What’s next in MATH?

Our scholars will wrap up Chapter 3 on Adding and Subtracting Whole Numbers and Decimals.  Additionally, we start school projects and practice working in stations with appropriate voice levels.  Our school project is called “Spend a Million.”  Scholars will have to spend one million dollars and practice adding/subtracting decimals and making real life budgeting choices.

4^th grade News snap shot                    

no School Friday, September 28^th (Teacher Professional Development)

please check your scholar’s agenda book for daily homework assignments

Scholars now have weekly homework packets in math

Please check  your scholar’s daily behavior log

4^th Grade Business Groups

APPLE INC.

DISNEY

EXXON MOBIL

GEICO INSURANCE

JUSTICE/ TWEEN BRAND INC

NIKE INC. 

News You Can Use! 

On our blog, you will find weekly updates including this newsletter, contact information and photos from our two amazing field trips from this past week.                                                

GRAMMAR

We will turn our focus to grammar.  Our first leap into the subject will include learning the parts of speech (nouns, pronouns, verbs, adverbs and adjectives).  Our scholars will be expected to define, use and identify words and their parts of speech.   

READING –Small groups

Reading small groups will begin this week.  Scholars are grouped by reading levels and will receive small group instruction according to their needs. 

Please continue to have your scholars read 30 minutes daily and provide a written response to their reading.  

WEEKLY WRITING PROMPTS

Monday: What is your favorite song and why?
Tuesday: What happens right when you wake up in the morning? Describe the first 30 minutes of a typical morning.
Wednesday: What would you do if you found a million dollars?  Think about what you would spend it on and if you would save any of it for later use.
Thursday: What is one thing you absolutely could not live without? Describe what the thing is and why it is so important in your life.
Friday: If you could live in any time in history, when would you choose to live and why?

SCIENCE UPDATE

We will continue to study physics and simple machines.  There are six (6) different simple machines.  Ask your scholar what they are.   

What’s next in MATH?

We will conclude Chapter 2 and working with decimals.  Scholars will have their Chapter 2 test and begin on Chapter 3 Adding and Subtracting Whole Numbers and Decimals.  

4^th grade News snap shot                    

please check your scholar’s agenda book for daily homework assignments

Scholars now have weekly homework packets in math

Please check  your scholar’s daily behavior log

friday-Gym class (dress accordingly)

4^th Grade Business Groups:

APPLE INC.      DISNEY      EXXON MOBIL    

GEICO INSURANCE      JUSTICE/TWEEN BRAND INC     NIKE INC.

News You Can Use!        

 WORD STUDY

Whole group instruction will continue this week.  The word list will appear on the internet blog.  Additionally, your scholar will have a copy of the word list as well. 

NOVEL STUDY- We will continue to learn new words from our current novel, The Orphan at Ellis Island.  Check with your scholar to find out what’s going on in the novel.   

READING IS RICH

Reading is undoubtedly one of the best skills any child or adult can possess.  Therefore, scholars are REQUIRED to read 30 minutes daily as well as provide a written response to their reading.  

WRITING

Scholars are writing in all subject areas including math and science.  Please encourage your scholar to write daily.  This week’s writing prompts will be posted on the blog. Additionally, your scholar will have a hard copy to use for the week.

Monday: There are many times when we have the choice to be bystanders or upstanders.  Describe a time when you had this choice, why you chose this role, and how it affected you.

Tuesday: Define the term “global community.” Consider what our responsibilities are as members of a global community. Determine what obstacles might prevent you from following through with some of these responsibilities. How can you overcome those obstacles?

Wednesday: Define the word “family” and the word “home.” Consider what makes a family a “family” and what makes a home a “home.”

Thursday: Write 3 ways you can show respect for others?

Friday: Free Choice!

SCIENCE UPDATE

Scholars will prepare for an upcoming trip to the museum of science and industry.  They will have a unique opportunity to participate in science labs at the museum. 

MATH IS OUR BUSINESS

We will continue to work on decimals.  We will also fine tune our table groups and company research.  This week we will add another business making it a total of 6 companies.  Currently, the five businesses represented are: Apple, The Walt Disney Co., GEICO, Exxon Mobil and Tween Brand.

4^th grade News snap shot                    

 Two Field trips this week:

Monday 10^th  Holocaust Museum

Friday, 14^th  museum of science and industry

friday-Gym class (dress accordingly)

*PROGRESS REPORTS WILL BE ISSUED THIS WEEK 

dates to remember:

September 10^th Illinois holocaust museum

september 14^th museum of science and industry

Please check  your scholar’s daily behavior logs 

News You Can Use!

WORD STUDY- Whole group instruction will continue this week.  The word list for this week includes adding –ing to words with VCe and VVC patterns.  This week’s words:  VCe-use, close, write, wave, trade, skate,; e-drop- using, closing, writing, waving, trading, skating, VVC-eat, moan, dream, look, clean, mail; NOTHING- eating, moaning, dreaming, looking, cleaning, mailing.

NOVEL STUDY- We are continuing to learn new words from our current novel, The Orphan at Ellis Island.  Scholars are excited about seeing these words used in context. 

READING IS… THINKING IS… UNDERSTANDING!

Scholars will continue to see themselves as lifelong readers by thinking about their reading.  Scholars are REQUIRED to read 30 minutes nightly and respond by writing about their thinking on their daily reading response sheet.

WRITING NARRATIVES

Scholars will begin to write personal narratives this week.  Additionally, they will continue to practice their daily writing (homework) by using the following prompts:

Tuesday:  What would happen if people never cooperated? Why do you think it is important to cooperate?

Wednesday:  What would happen if you found gold in your backyard?

Thursday:  What if everyone lived under water? Where would people live? What games would children play?  What would school be like? 

Friday:  What do you think about having set rules for people to follow?     What might some of those rules be?

SCIENCE UPDATE

Scholars will revisit the steps of the scientific method.  we will also experiment with water and its properties. 

MATH IS OUR BUSINESS

We will begin our new chapter on decimals.  Additionally, each table group will take on the name of a successful business.  They have already begun to research facts about their companies.  The five businesses represented are: Apple, The Walt Disney Co., GEICO, Exxon Mobil and Tween Brand.         

4^th grade News snap shot                    

Trip slips are coming home  this week.

friday-Gym class (dress accordingly)

PROGRESS REPORTS WILL BE ISSUED THIS WEEK 

dates to remember:

September 10^th Illinois holocaust museum

september 14^th museum of science and industry

Please check  your scholar’s daily behavior logs