Wow! Our first full week back since Winter Break! The two snow days last week allowed for a nice and gentle way for us to ease back in to our school schedule!
We have been hard at work this week and are learning a lot!
Math ~ We have been working on writing equations using variables to help us solve multi-step word problems. The students have learned two different ways to solve multi-step problems. You can write one equation for the whole problem or you can write three seperate equations. We have stressed that they must use the Order of Operations when solving their problems (Parenthesis, Exponents, Multiplication, Division, Addition and Subtraction) They remember the order of operations by using the mnemonic Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally.
Reading ~ We have begun our Fantasy unit. we are reading The Lightning Thief as a class and discussing the elements of Fantasy. So far students have learned how to identify what type of world the fantasy is taking place in by paying attention to the cover and the setting. Students have also learned that the main character often has a steep learning curve as he or she finds out about the magic world he or she lives in. Students learned that we have to be alert to when the main character is learning about his world an learn right along side him.
Writing ~ Students have been working on writing their informational or All About books. THey have created their Table of Contents and have started collecting words for their glossary. They have all chosen a topic and divided it into chapters. Today students wrote a power paragraph for one of their chapters.
Science ~ We have finished our Unit on Organisms Have CHaracter, the test was on Thursday. Look for these to come home on Monday. We will begin Social Studies next week, starting with our Black History Month unit.
Please make sure you are checking your child’s homework each night on their My Homework app on their ipad. They should be marking their homework as comleted each night as they finish it.
Important Dates
The Holmes Carnival is on Friday the 23rd
4th grade Chocolate sale begins January 23rd
Chicago Tripp Chaperone notes are due in January 23rd