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"It always seems impossible until it is done."
Nelson Mandela
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Reading:
This week we continue our next Reading Workshop unit Reading History: California Missions. We will embark on a research project about the events leading up to the missions. We will learn to build knowledge about the era by reading accessible texts and paying attention to text structures. This will help organize all notes taken and thinking. We will eventually narrow our focus to a subtopic and work on synthesizing the new information with what they already know, paying special attention- as historians do- to the people, geography, and chronology of the event they are studying. We will explore primary sources and strategies for tacking these more difficult texts. Although I will model this unit with books on missions, students will have their own selected topic to create their research project on.
Writing:
This week we will PUBLISH our Boxes and Bullets unit: Personal and Persuasive Essays. This unit is designed to help students with the difficult and exhilarating work of learning to write well within an expository structure. This unit matches the demand of the Common Core State Standards and develops an approach to essay writing that can transfer across the curriculum. Students will gather entries, engage in inquiry into what makes strong freewriting, and look for mentor texts. They will also reflect on their previous writing. At the end of the first bend, they will develop a thesis statement and build plans for their essays. In the second bend, students will collect and write out the evidence to support the reasons for their opinion. They will construct drafts with cohesion that include an introduction and correcting for clarity. Students will share their completed pieces with a writing celebration!
We will also continue working on paragraph, summary, and literature response writing. For paragraph writing, we will use the stoplight structure (topic sentence, details, explanation, closing), For summary writing, we be working using jot dots in order to ensure we include all important events for the beginning, middle, end as well as learn the IVF topic sentence (identify, verb, finish). We are looking forward to lots of writing. We have recently been emphasizing revising vs. editing by using the strategies ARMS and CUPS. ARMS in used to revise and stands for add, remove, move, and substitute. CUPS is used to edit and stands for capitalization, usage, punctuation, and spelling.
Wordly Wise Vocabulary:
Wordly Wise is a dynamic and interactive program that helps students master the academic vocabulary they encounter in school every day.
Students will have fifteen vocabulary words from Wordly Wise Lesson #11 next week. We will be learning and reviewing these words in class for two weeks. The tests will take place every other Friday.
* There will be a vocabulary test on these words on Friday, February 15th. You will find a link to these words on the helpful websites tab labeled Quizlet Wordly Wise lesson 11.
Words Their Way Spelling:
The Words Their Way "Word Study in Action" Program will help to teach students spelling, phonics, phonemic awareness and vocabulary skills. Based upon the concept of a "sort," the process of grouping sounds, words, and pictures that represent words, into specific categories, Words Their Way encourages a close examination of the regularities and conventions of reading and spelling English.
This week in Words Their Way we will be working on Sort 22 (see your child's WTW workbook or Spelling City for the words). Students are tested on these words every other Friday, falling on all odd # sorts.
* There will be a test on sort 22, as it is an odd number sort. You will find a link to these words on the helpful websites tab labeled Spelling City
Spelling tests will alternate each week with Wordly Wise tests.
Math:
This week we will work on Chapter 8: Multiplying Fractions
The test for this chapter is scheduled for Friday, February 15th
The workbook and checklist for this chapter will be due the day of the test.
This year, we are excited to implement Cognitively Guided Instruction (CGI) strategies into our math program. CGI is a strategy of questioning children to learn and grow based on their unique understanding and learning styles. Click HERE for more information on CGI. We will be using these strategies with the GO! Math program, which looks different from Saxon. I think you will find a great benefit in the differences, where there are pictures and illustrations to support our students, as they are mastering mathematical concepts. One of the most major shifts in number sense will be the push toward, "Thinking in tens." As the year progresses, I believe you will see advancement in your child's mathematical thought processes, and mental math capabilities. As always, ixl.com is available for your child to practice math skills at home. I have sent IXL information to my math roster. Please let me know if you did not receive it.
We will be using our new math program, GO Math!, which was decided on and purchased by the district as another resource to support us in the teaching of the Common Core standards using the CGI method of instruction. This new program offers an engaging and interactive approach to covering the Common Core standards. The program ensures that students can access content at appropriate levels of depth and rigor. The program is focused, coherent, and rigorous. GO Math! at the elementary level combines 21st-century educational technology with modern content, dynamic interactivities, and a variety of instructional videos to engage today’s digital natives. Every student is supported through the universal access features of the program as they learn to think critically and apply their math knowledge.
I have also linked many GO Math! online resources to the class website. You will find this information by clicking resources, locating the helpful websites button, and scrolling to the bottom of the page.
ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITY: Your child is invited to join the Math Olympiad Lunch Club! This enrichment club is optional, but will provide your child with the opportunity to engage in creative problem solving activities while developing his/her ability to reason, to be logical, to be resourceful, and occasionally to be ingenious. During each session, students will complete a past Math Olympiad contest consisting of 5 questions while competing against other fellow fourth grade mathematicians. In June, all participants will be celebrated and top scorers will be recognized! The goals of the Math Olympiad club are for participants to:
* Our next contest date is 2/15!
* We will also supplement our instruction by working on Math Olympiad practice questions and other problem solving/critical thinking activities! We will also be using the iPads for xtra math fact practice, Ten Marks, Front Row, Math Bingo, Geoboards, Brainpop lessons, and Motion Math review and enrichment. We will also be learning about and practicing the Order of Operations (PEMDAS), Mathematical Properties, and adding/subtracting/multiplying/dividing positive and negative numbers.
Please see the resources tab if you would like more math options.
Social Studies:
This week, we will continue our unit on California missions. Students will learn to describe the role of Spain's missions and why some California Indians revolted. They will also identify how the missionaries changed California's economy. Students will work in cooperative groups at centers dealing with mission geography, mission architecture, jobs at the missions, and comparing and contrasting all 21 missions.
* There will be an open note and open book test on the California missions Friday, March 1st. Study guides for this unit will be completed in class.
As an additional resource, there are online interactive lesson summaries for each social studies lesson. Check them out here!
Science:
This week, we be completing the scope on Light Reflection. The student is expected to develop a model to describe that light reflecting from objects and entering the eye allows objects to be seen. The student is expected to generate and compare multiple possible solutions to a problem based on how well each is likely to meet the criteria and constraints of the problem.
There will be a test on this scope on Friday 2/15.
Our district has adopted STEMscopes as a resource to teach the NGSS. We complete lessons (the 5E's) using resources provided through STEMscopes in class and in science lab. Your child has access to all of the online resources. They can log in by going to this website: https://n12005d17510.acceleratelearning.com/login and providing their username: 27lastnamefirstinitial and password: mbusd.
This year we will be implementing the new Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) are K–12 science content standards. The NGSS were developed by states to improve science education for all students. A goal for developing the NGSS was to create a set of research-based, up-to-date K–12 science standards. These standards give local educators the flexibility to design classroom learning experiences that stimulate students’ interests in science and prepares them for college, careers, and citizenship. The NGSS call for a three-dimensional approach to K–12 science instruction. This represents a significant transition from previous state standards. Thoughtful and coordinated approaches to implementation will enable educators to inspire future generations of scientifically literate students. Learn more and get resources by heading to the NGSS website: https://www.nextgenscience.org/
This year, our district has adopted STEMscopes as a resource to teach the NGSS. We complete lessons (the 5E's) using resources provided through STEMscopes in class and in science lab. Your child has access to all of the online resources. They can log in by going to this website: https://n12005d17510.acceleratelearning.com/login and providing their username: 27lastnamefirstinitial and password: panthers#### (the last 4 digits of their student id which is the same as google drive). There is also a shortcut to this website under helpful websites.
Click the "Useful Links/Resources" tab on the side for more science options and resources!
Visual and Performing Arts/Other:
* We have started practicing and preparing for the The Smarter Balanced Assessments. The actual assessments (ELA and Math portions) will take place May 6th-10th. To prepare for these assessments, we will take Practice Tests in class on chrome book laptops throughout February. These tests allow teachers and students to experience a full grade-level assessment and gain insight into how Smarter Balanced will assess students’ mastery of the Common Core. The Practice Tests mirror the year-end assessment. Each grade level assessment includes a variety of question types and difficulty (approximately 30 items each in ELA and math) as well as an ELA and math performance task at each grade level (3–8 and 11). There are also Training Tests we will complete together. The Training Tests are designed to provide students and teachers with opportunities to quickly familiarize themselves with the software and navigational tools that they will use on the upcoming Smarter Balanced Assessments. The Training Test is organized by grade bands (grades 3 to 5, 6 to 8, and high school) and each test contains 14-15 questions. The questions on the Training Test were selected to provide students with an opportunity to practice a range of question types. The Training Tests do not contain performance tasks. Similar to the Practice Test, the Training Test includes all embedded universal tools, designated supports, and accommodations. With this practice and preparation, we hope the students will feel comfortable and confident when they take the real assessment May 6-10. Please make sure your child is present during testing.
Optional Typing Practice:
On the iPads, we are practicing our typing skills using an attached keyboard. Your child has started using a website which can be accessed at home. Go to www.typingweb.com and log-in with your child's username to continue practicing. Your child's username is: 27lastnamefirstinitial@mbusdapps.org (For example, mine would be, 27cooka@mbusdapps.org). Your child's password is: panthers(4 digits). Happy typing!
This week we continue our next Reading Workshop unit Reading History: California Missions. We will embark on a research project about the events leading up to the missions. We will learn to build knowledge about the era by reading accessible texts and paying attention to text structures. This will help organize all notes taken and thinking. We will eventually narrow our focus to a subtopic and work on synthesizing the new information with what they already know, paying special attention- as historians do- to the people, geography, and chronology of the event they are studying. We will explore primary sources and strategies for tacking these more difficult texts. Although I will model this unit with books on missions, students will have their own selected topic to create their research project on.
Writing:
This week we will PUBLISH our Boxes and Bullets unit: Personal and Persuasive Essays. This unit is designed to help students with the difficult and exhilarating work of learning to write well within an expository structure. This unit matches the demand of the Common Core State Standards and develops an approach to essay writing that can transfer across the curriculum. Students will gather entries, engage in inquiry into what makes strong freewriting, and look for mentor texts. They will also reflect on their previous writing. At the end of the first bend, they will develop a thesis statement and build plans for their essays. In the second bend, students will collect and write out the evidence to support the reasons for their opinion. They will construct drafts with cohesion that include an introduction and correcting for clarity. Students will share their completed pieces with a writing celebration!
We will also continue working on paragraph, summary, and literature response writing. For paragraph writing, we will use the stoplight structure (topic sentence, details, explanation, closing), For summary writing, we be working using jot dots in order to ensure we include all important events for the beginning, middle, end as well as learn the IVF topic sentence (identify, verb, finish). We are looking forward to lots of writing. We have recently been emphasizing revising vs. editing by using the strategies ARMS and CUPS. ARMS in used to revise and stands for add, remove, move, and substitute. CUPS is used to edit and stands for capitalization, usage, punctuation, and spelling.
Wordly Wise Vocabulary:
Wordly Wise is a dynamic and interactive program that helps students master the academic vocabulary they encounter in school every day.
Students will have fifteen vocabulary words from Wordly Wise Lesson #11 next week. We will be learning and reviewing these words in class for two weeks. The tests will take place every other Friday.
* There will be a vocabulary test on these words on Friday, February 15th. You will find a link to these words on the helpful websites tab labeled Quizlet Wordly Wise lesson 11.
Words Their Way Spelling:
The Words Their Way "Word Study in Action" Program will help to teach students spelling, phonics, phonemic awareness and vocabulary skills. Based upon the concept of a "sort," the process of grouping sounds, words, and pictures that represent words, into specific categories, Words Their Way encourages a close examination of the regularities and conventions of reading and spelling English.
This week in Words Their Way we will be working on Sort 22 (see your child's WTW workbook or Spelling City for the words). Students are tested on these words every other Friday, falling on all odd # sorts.
* There will be a test on sort 22, as it is an odd number sort. You will find a link to these words on the helpful websites tab labeled Spelling City
Spelling tests will alternate each week with Wordly Wise tests.
Math:
This week we will work on Chapter 8: Multiplying Fractions
The test for this chapter is scheduled for Friday, February 15th
The workbook and checklist for this chapter will be due the day of the test.
This year, we are excited to implement Cognitively Guided Instruction (CGI) strategies into our math program. CGI is a strategy of questioning children to learn and grow based on their unique understanding and learning styles. Click HERE for more information on CGI. We will be using these strategies with the GO! Math program, which looks different from Saxon. I think you will find a great benefit in the differences, where there are pictures and illustrations to support our students, as they are mastering mathematical concepts. One of the most major shifts in number sense will be the push toward, "Thinking in tens." As the year progresses, I believe you will see advancement in your child's mathematical thought processes, and mental math capabilities. As always, ixl.com is available for your child to practice math skills at home. I have sent IXL information to my math roster. Please let me know if you did not receive it.
We will be using our new math program, GO Math!, which was decided on and purchased by the district as another resource to support us in the teaching of the Common Core standards using the CGI method of instruction. This new program offers an engaging and interactive approach to covering the Common Core standards. The program ensures that students can access content at appropriate levels of depth and rigor. The program is focused, coherent, and rigorous. GO Math! at the elementary level combines 21st-century educational technology with modern content, dynamic interactivities, and a variety of instructional videos to engage today’s digital natives. Every student is supported through the universal access features of the program as they learn to think critically and apply their math knowledge.
I have also linked many GO Math! online resources to the class website. You will find this information by clicking resources, locating the helpful websites button, and scrolling to the bottom of the page.
ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITY: Your child is invited to join the Math Olympiad Lunch Club! This enrichment club is optional, but will provide your child with the opportunity to engage in creative problem solving activities while developing his/her ability to reason, to be logical, to be resourceful, and occasionally to be ingenious. During each session, students will complete a past Math Olympiad contest consisting of 5 questions while competing against other fellow fourth grade mathematicians. In June, all participants will be celebrated and top scorers will be recognized! The goals of the Math Olympiad club are for participants to:
- develop enthusiasm for problem solving and mathematics
- deepen the understanding of mathematical concepts and strengthen ability to use these concepts
- consider concepts that they might not otherwise encounter
- enrich experiences in intellectually stimulating and significant mental activities
- build a stronger foundation for assessments and for future mathematics studies
* Our next contest date is 2/15!
* We will also supplement our instruction by working on Math Olympiad practice questions and other problem solving/critical thinking activities! We will also be using the iPads for xtra math fact practice, Ten Marks, Front Row, Math Bingo, Geoboards, Brainpop lessons, and Motion Math review and enrichment. We will also be learning about and practicing the Order of Operations (PEMDAS), Mathematical Properties, and adding/subtracting/multiplying/dividing positive and negative numbers.
Please see the resources tab if you would like more math options.
Social Studies:
This week, we will continue our unit on California missions. Students will learn to describe the role of Spain's missions and why some California Indians revolted. They will also identify how the missionaries changed California's economy. Students will work in cooperative groups at centers dealing with mission geography, mission architecture, jobs at the missions, and comparing and contrasting all 21 missions.
* There will be an open note and open book test on the California missions Friday, March 1st. Study guides for this unit will be completed in class.
As an additional resource, there are online interactive lesson summaries for each social studies lesson. Check them out here!
Science:
This week, we be completing the scope on Light Reflection. The student is expected to develop a model to describe that light reflecting from objects and entering the eye allows objects to be seen. The student is expected to generate and compare multiple possible solutions to a problem based on how well each is likely to meet the criteria and constraints of the problem.
There will be a test on this scope on Friday 2/15.
Our district has adopted STEMscopes as a resource to teach the NGSS. We complete lessons (the 5E's) using resources provided through STEMscopes in class and in science lab. Your child has access to all of the online resources. They can log in by going to this website: https://n12005d17510.acceleratelearning.com/login and providing their username: 27lastnamefirstinitial and password: mbusd.
This year we will be implementing the new Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) are K–12 science content standards. The NGSS were developed by states to improve science education for all students. A goal for developing the NGSS was to create a set of research-based, up-to-date K–12 science standards. These standards give local educators the flexibility to design classroom learning experiences that stimulate students’ interests in science and prepares them for college, careers, and citizenship. The NGSS call for a three-dimensional approach to K–12 science instruction. This represents a significant transition from previous state standards. Thoughtful and coordinated approaches to implementation will enable educators to inspire future generations of scientifically literate students. Learn more and get resources by heading to the NGSS website: https://www.nextgenscience.org/
This year, our district has adopted STEMscopes as a resource to teach the NGSS. We complete lessons (the 5E's) using resources provided through STEMscopes in class and in science lab. Your child has access to all of the online resources. They can log in by going to this website: https://n12005d17510.acceleratelearning.com/login and providing their username: 27lastnamefirstinitial and password: panthers#### (the last 4 digits of their student id which is the same as google drive). There is also a shortcut to this website under helpful websites.
Click the "Useful Links/Resources" tab on the side for more science options and resources!
Visual and Performing Arts/Other:
* We have started practicing and preparing for the The Smarter Balanced Assessments. The actual assessments (ELA and Math portions) will take place May 6th-10th. To prepare for these assessments, we will take Practice Tests in class on chrome book laptops throughout February. These tests allow teachers and students to experience a full grade-level assessment and gain insight into how Smarter Balanced will assess students’ mastery of the Common Core. The Practice Tests mirror the year-end assessment. Each grade level assessment includes a variety of question types and difficulty (approximately 30 items each in ELA and math) as well as an ELA and math performance task at each grade level (3–8 and 11). There are also Training Tests we will complete together. The Training Tests are designed to provide students and teachers with opportunities to quickly familiarize themselves with the software and navigational tools that they will use on the upcoming Smarter Balanced Assessments. The Training Test is organized by grade bands (grades 3 to 5, 6 to 8, and high school) and each test contains 14-15 questions. The questions on the Training Test were selected to provide students with an opportunity to practice a range of question types. The Training Tests do not contain performance tasks. Similar to the Practice Test, the Training Test includes all embedded universal tools, designated supports, and accommodations. With this practice and preparation, we hope the students will feel comfortable and confident when they take the real assessment May 6-10. Please make sure your child is present during testing.
Optional Typing Practice:
On the iPads, we are practicing our typing skills using an attached keyboard. Your child has started using a website which can be accessed at home. Go to www.typingweb.com and log-in with your child's username to continue practicing. Your child's username is: 27lastnamefirstinitial@mbusdapps.org (For example, mine would be, 27cooka@mbusdapps.org). Your child's password is: panthers(4 digits). Happy typing!
