Week of May 3rd-7th

MATH:
This week we continue with decimals. Today we compared and ordered decimals. Tomorrow we will be rounding decimals. Wednesday is fractions as decimals. Thursday will be review and Friday will be our first decimals test. The test will focus on the following topics:

• reading and writing decimals
• decimal place-value relationships
• ordering and comparing decimals
• rounding decimals
• fractions as decimals

Please remember that I posted MANY online site (under the Math sites section at the side of the blog) so that students may practice these concepts at home. If you did not see my important note last week on the blog, it was about how most students have admitted that they are not practicing or studying at home. This is concerning. Please ensure that students are putting forth much effort at home as well.

Plato Test: Concludes Friday. Please review previous concepts using blog links, etc. to help improve the score :)

Timed Test: This week we will be doing 7 as a divisor. This is different than usual, as we normally combine two divisors before moving on, but at this point in the year we are running out of time to fit in all factors/divisors and I would like to move on. Please review these facts with your child.

SOCIAL STUDIES:
Today students worked independently on interactive editing on 4 pages from their texts. Some students finished in class, although many will have some work to do at home tonight, as this is being collected as assessment.
Tomorrow we will be reviewing the Gold Rush that we started last week. Students will have a Gold Rush quiz on Wednesday. This will conclude our "West" unit in Social Studies.

SCIENCE:
Thursday we will begin our last Science unit - The Solar System! This will take us until the end of the year.
Science Fair: Projects should have been handed in today. I will be turning them in to the judges for judging. Friday, projects will be on display for parents and students to browse.



LITERACY:

Read Aloud
The Girraffe nd the Pelly and Me, by Roald Dahl, focus on exploring humor in literature, word play and comic effect

Shared Reading
An interview with Roald Dahl, focus on drawing conclusions
Roald Dahl's Biography, focus on chronological order, past tense verbs, and a recount (answers to fatual information, who, what, when, where, why)


Independent Writing
We will be working on a special gift for Mother's Day

Students will also participate in Independent Reading, Book Clubs, and Reading Cycles.

Important Note From Ms. Willett

Dear Parents,

I had a couple concerns from parents about the 52 Math problems that were sent home for homework this past week. In response to them, I told them that these problems were assigned as review IN class and that students were given over an hour to complete them. It was the students' choice to work on the Math or to work on their Science Fair Projects (which they had also been given time to work on in class). Some students chose to do Science. Many students chose to talk and fool around with their peers.

Last night, while grading their last Social Studies test, I noticed many students were not answering the questions correctly, which resulted in only a few A+s, Many As, and several A-s and Bs. Since we had used the lesson as a group Interactive Editing piece, and individual Interactive Editing piece, AND played a review game, I assumed most students would do well. Today I asked the class to please answer honestly... "How many of you honestly took home your Social Studies notebook and sat down to study for the test?" 4 students raised their hands. I then asked how many took their books home to study for TODAY'S test. 8 raised their hands.

I am very concerned, as although we only have 1 month left of school, this is the critical month where their grades count as their FINAL grade in all subject areas. Students seem to have given up and don't seem to be putting up the effort to achieve success.

Today in class they were again given time to work independently, finish homework, and ask for help. Only a handful of students actually did this effectively. Most had to be reminded on several occasions to use their time wisely and get to work.

Please talk with your son/daughter about the importance of trying their best, especially in these last weeks, as these are the weeks that truly count and I wish for all the students to succeed.

Thank you,
Ms. Willett

P.S. Plato testing is also this week (and next) and students would benefit GREATLY from studying old concepts via the links on the blog.

Literacy Homework: Thursday, April 29th

a)Go to http://www.dogonews.com/

b) Read three articles of your choice.

c) Write two interesting facts you read on each one.

Great Math Resources!

Students will be starting their Plato test for Math this week (tomorrow) and conclude next week. In order to review old concepts that students may have been struggling with, I am including this useful website for parents and tutors to use.

Please click on the textbook for 4th grade, then browse the chapters and lessons to find the topic of your choice. For each lesson there are activities/games, extra practice, online tutoring, as well as practice tests to check for understanding.

http://www.mhschool.com/math/mathconnects/index.html

I have also posted new links in the "Math Websites" section of the blog (on the right hand side) of useful sites to see.

We started decimals today (and how they relate to fractions). Some students showed struggle with this and so practicing at home would benefit them greatly. New decimal links have been posted at the side as well.

Happy practicing! :)

Family Literacy Workshop!

Please read the invitation to the upcoming family literacy workshop. This one is held during school hours, so your child will still be in classes and will not be in attendance with you at the workshop. This is a very helpful workshop about reading aloud with your children!

Please RSVP to homeroom teacher ASAP.

Thanks!

Literacy Homework: Wednesday, April 28

a) Go to http://www.dogonews.com/

b) Read three articles of your choice.

c)List two important facts about each one.

d) Did you like each article? Why or why not?

Week of April 26-30

MATH:
Last week we were supposed to have our Math test of dividing with remainders, but due to the Earth Day assembly that went longer than expected, we had to move the test to this week. In order to give an extra day of review, I've scheduled the test for tomorrow (Tuesday).
Wednesday we will begin our next unit in decimals. This week we will focus on reading and writing decimals, decimal place value relationships, and ordering and comparing decimals.

Timed Test: This week will be division with 6 as a divisor.

Plato Testing: beginning this week, students will be completing the final Plato test during their computer periods - concluding next week.

SCIENCE:
Today was the last class period given to students to finish their science fair projects. This is also the last week that students get to work on their projects at all, because projects are due next Monday to homeroom teachers. Next Tuesday I will be handing them in to the Science Fair people. Judging will take place May 5-6 and the fair will be open to students and parents May 7th. All students have completed their projects and should be showing me their written reports so that I may check the spelling before they put the good copy on their boards. Information may be printed from the computer if I have already checked the rough copy of the report, then the printed sheets may be brought into school to be glued onto the board. Some students may need to stay at recess or lunch this week to finish.

SOCIAL STUDIES:
Today we reviewed last week's lessons on the landforms of the West. Tomorrow (Tuesday) will be the test. This week we will be learning about the resources of the West. Students will be quizzed Friday. All lessons have been taken from their Social Studies textbooks but turned into interactive editing handouts that students have been given. To study, please review these sheets.