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SMARTboards in Action! 

We had a great week and were thrilled to incorporate the Smartboard into many different lessons.  Above you will see a few students sharing the map they designed using Google Maps.  I was very impressed how quickly the students were able to navigate and create detailed neighborhood maps. In addition, I was wowed by how quickly the students got the hang of manipulating the Smartboard. 

Last Day Accelerated Reader

Wednesday, November 5.  Please remember students are only permitted to take one test this week since it is the end of the quarter.

No School

Friday, November 7

Monday, November 10

Tuesday, November 11:  Veteran’s Day

Wednesday, November 12:  Parent/Teacher Conferences, I will be sending home a slip on Monday 11/3 to remind you of your conference time.  Please remember that our conferences are only 10 minutes each.  Parking can be challening on this day so please give yourself some extra time.  I will observe the schedule in order to meet with all parents. If additional time is needed, we can plan a conference for a later date.

READING

We finished Because of Winn-Dixie!  What a wonderful story that was loved by all students.  We dedicated most of our literacy block to Winn-Dixie this past week so this week we will be focusing on finishing our narrative writing. 

WRITING -

Final Revisions on Narrative Writing

Strategies to self-edit writing

Final Draft (Cross your fingers!)

Unit 3:  Multiplication and Division; Number Sentences and Algebra

We started our unit on multiplication on Thursday, October 30.  We had a chance to study the multiplication chart to find patterns and really identify how many facts we already know.  After eliminating multiplying by 1s, 2s, 5s, 10s because the patterns are obvious, we discovered there were 38 basic facts to learn.  We were then able to cut that number in half because of turn-around-facts ( 6 x 7 = 42, 7 x 6 =42).  So, with that, students have 19 facts that need to be memorized.  They have been instructed to GET MOVING!  Students cut out fact triangles to help study nightly. The multiplication chart as well as flashcards, computer games, etc. can help them practice.  Mastery of the multiplication facts is needed as the facts will be applied to more difficult concepts as the year goes on.

• Basic Facts quizzes each Friday (this week Thursday).  Students will have 3 minutes to solve 50 problems.  Sample sheets will go home this week.
• Patterns on the Multiplication Chart
• Strategies for remembering the 9s
• Relationship between multiplication and division

SCIENCE

• Chapter 11 Review packet was sent home on Thursday, October 30
• We will play Jeopardy on Monday to review
• Chapter Test on Tuesday

SOCIAL STUDIES

• Presenting Google Map projects

HAVE A GREAT WEEK!

Ms. Finke

SMARTboards have Arrived!

Look what’s new!  We now have a SMARTboard in Room 203!  A SMARTboard is an interactive chalkboard that allows images from the computer to be displayed on a large whiteboard.  The touch-sensitive display allows me and the students to interact with the software application directly from the display board.  It is possible to write on the board and use multimedia application including: working calculators, dice that roll, number grids where you can highlight patterns, and much more.  The pages can be saved to a file and printed if desired for later review. 

Fundraising from Murray’s P.T.O. helped to purchase this SMARTboard and the one in Mrs. Foluke’s classroom.  The hope is to raise additional funds this year to purchase more boards for the school.  This tool will be used across the curriculum.  The first great use of it will be this week when students present the maps they created in social studies.  Students will be able to share and interact with their individual maps for all classmates to see.

Murray Family Math Night - Tuesday, October 28

Come to Murray from 6:00-7:30 p.m. for hands-on activities and leave with practical strategies and resources to strengthen the home school partnership in math.  There will be a short keynote presentation and then families will head to small group sessions organized by grade level.

Book Advertisement

The Book Advertisement project is due Thursday.  

End of 1st Quarter

The end of the first quarter is quickly approaching.  The last day for Accelerated Reader tests is Wednesday, November 5.  Please remember, students are only permitted to take one A.R. test the last week of the quarter.  This was noted in the Back-To-School Night brochure and the 4th Grade Fact Sheet.  Report Card Pick-Up is Wednesday, November 12.  Next week I will send home a reminder slip to identify your time.

READING

• We will finish Because of Winn Dixie (Chapter 26)
• Finding examples of friendship in the story
• Discussing the theme of acceptance
• Predict the ending - What do you think happened to Winn Dixie?
• Reader Response :  How has Opal been a friend to other characters in the story?
• There will be an all-book test early next week

WRITING -

Due to Learning First Testing, we did not make as much progress in writing as planned last week.

Revision:  Students are learning various “cutting and pasting” strategies for their narrative writing

Moving from Draft 1 to Draft 2 

MATH

• Subtracting across zeros:  How the regrouping works, strategies to eliminate careless mistakes
• Unit 2 Review:  Place value to 100 millions, Graphing (line plot, bar graph, line graph, and pictograph). Identifying landmarks to analyze data, adding and subtracting with regrouping.
• Unit 2 Test on Wednesday

Unit 3:  Multiplication and Division; Number Sentences and Algebra

• Patterns of multiplication
• Strategies for learning the facts using a multiplication table
• Weekly basic facts quizzes for multiplication will begin the week of November 3.

SCIENCE

• Lesson 3:  Review investigation from last week to review the idea of solubility and develop a better understanding of why some solids can dissolve and others cannot.
• Begin Chapter 11 Review - there will be a test the week of November 3.

SOCIAL STUDIES

• Thursday will be the last day in the computer lab to work on map projects. Students should have 5 places located on their map including a title and 3 places should have a short description.
• Friday - Students will begin to present their personal maps using the SMARTboard.

Learning First Testing Begins on Monday.  The schedule is as follows:

• Monday 9:00 a.m. - Reading Passages and Multiple Choice Questions
• Tuesday 9:00 a.m. - Math Multiple Choice Questions
• Wednesday 9:00 a.m. - Reading Extended Response
• Wednesday 12:30 p.m. - Math Extended Response

Please help your child to be on time each day. If a student arrives late, he/she will have to make up the test at another time and will miss out on instructional time.

Walk-A-Thon on Thursday, October 23.

Murray students have been raising money for the Murray Fall Walk-A-Thon.  We will be walking the neighborhood. Please send your child in appropriate dress.  Wearing layers often helps as students can add and remove as needed.  Room 203 is still in need of parent volunteers to walk with us on Thursday. I only have one volunteer at this time.

Murray Family Math Night - Tuesday, October 28

Come to Murray from 6:00-7:30 p.m. for hands-on activities and leave with practical strategies and resources to strengthen the home school partnership in math.  There will be a short keynote presentation and then families will head to small group sessions organized by grade level.

Book Advertisement

Time is running out.  The Book Advertisement project is due October 30.  Students should be finished with their books and begin work on the draft of their projects.  The best way to help your child is by helping them to plan and gather materials.  This is inevitably their project.

READING

Because of Winn-Dixie 

•  We will read through chapter 20.
•  Analyze changes in characters
• Discuss themes
• Reader Response:  Would you eat a Littmus Lozenge?
• Possibly a quiz at the end of the week

WRITING

• Revision:  Students are learning various “cutting and pasting” strategies for their narrative writing
• Moving from Draft 1 to Draft 2 

 MATH

• Lesson 2.7, part 1 - Adding multidigit numbers using the partial sum method
• Lesson 2.7, part 2 - Adding multidigit numbers using column addition method (traditional method)
• Lesson 2.8 - Subtracting multidigit numbers using column subtraction
• Unit 2 Math Test is coming up.  It looks like it will be on October 29

SOCIAL STUDIES

• We will continue work on our computer mapping projects.  Be sure to ask your child about the work he/she is doing in the lab.  We have make great progress in just a few days.

SCIENCE

• Mixtures and Solutions - exploration to identify which solids can dissolve
• Solubility
• Chapter Test will be Week of October 27

• Monday, October 13 is Columbus Day - No School
• Picture Day is Friday, October 18.  Order envelopes have been sent home.  Orders must be made and paid for by Friday.
• Learning First Testing will begin on Monday, October 20.  We will begin first thing in the morning so please help your child to be on time that week.
• Fall Walk-A-Thon will be on Thursday, October 23.  The proceeds of this fundraiser help to pay for our technology services, events at Murray like World Language Festival and African American History Fair, and classroom projects.  Room 203 is in need of parent volunteers for this wonderful activity. Please contact me by email or note to let me know if you can join us.
• Has your child selected his/her book for the book advertisement?  Remember, projects are due October 30.

Thank you for checking in.  Enjoy the long weekend!

Ms. Finke

READING

Because of Winn-Dixie 

•  We will read through chapter 18.
• There will be a quiz on chapters 11-15 probably on Wednesday. We are working on how to write complete answers to the questions on the quizzes.
• Continue adding to the character chart and begin discussions on how characters are changing in the story
• Theme Discussions:  Friendship and Loneliness
• Posing questions to ask partner during book discussions

WRITING

• Continue work on discovery draft
• Finding the heart of our stories and developing this part of the story even more

MATH

• Graphing
• Finish up any loose ends on bar graphs
• Line graphs - read and interpret data on line graphs; create line graphs with given and collected data
• Pictographs - read and interpret pictographs; create pictographs with given and collected data
• Heads Up - next week we will review adding and subtracting multi-digit numbers.  We will review regrouping strategies.  Students should feel comfortable and confident solving these types of problems.  Please check-in with your child to see how they are doing with this.

SCIENCE

• Lesson 2
• States of Matter - Teacher demonstration to observe the changes in the states of matter
• How particles are arranged in the 3 states of matter

SOCIAL STUDIES

• Mapping project in the computer lab - Students will be designing a map of their neighborhood using the Google Maps application. 
• Students will need to complete the organizer that was sent home on Thursday, 10-9 before they can begin work on the project in the computer lab.

Items of Interest:

• Progress Reports will be sent home on Wednesday.  Please sign and return to school by Friday October 10.
• Picture Day is Friday, October 17.  Order forms were sent home on Friday.
• This year we will have a Fall Walk-A-Thon which will be held on Thursday, October 23.  Information was sent home on Friday.  This fundraiser will replace the fall candy sale.   There will be a Spring Walk-A-Thon as well.
• The 2nd Book Response project has been assigned.  Students are to take one of their independent books and design a book advertisement.  An information sheet and grading rubric was sent home on Tuesday.  Please help your child to make a plan for choosing a book, reading the book, gathering materials, writing a rough draft, and putting it all together.  Please remember this is your child’s project, but helping them to make a plan will help them to be successful.  The advertisement is due on Thursday, October 30.
• We will be starting a mapping project with Mr. Mills.  Please be on the lookout for information and some homework that will be done before we can start the project.

Thank you for checking in.  Have a wonderful week!

Ms. Finke

READING

We will continue reading Because of Winn Dixie.  The students have done a great job diving into this lovely book.  We will have a quiz on Chapters 6-10 at some point this week.  In addition we will continue to:

• Keep thinking notes with each chapter
• Add character traits and evidence to our character chart
• Begin to look for themes in the book
• Work with our reading partners to discuss important events and people in the story

WRITING

• Writing and revising leads for our personal narrative stories
• Write discovery draft

MATH

Unit 2 - Using Numbers and Organizing Data

• Lesson 2.4 - Practice place-value using a calculator
• Lesson 2.5 - Gather, organize, display, and analyze data using a tally chart
• Lesson 2.6 - Gather, organize, display, and analyze data on a line-plot graph

We will take a step away from Unit 2 in order to further study the various types of graphs that are used to display data.  This week we will revisit Bar Graphs.

Please encourage your child to study his/her basic facts for 5-10 minutes each evening. We are coming to the end of our weekly quizzes but students are still encouraged to practice nightly.

SCIENCE

New Unit - Properties of Matter

• Exploration to compare and contrast the mass of water, corn oil, and corn syrup
• Lesson 1:  Using physical properties to identify matter
• Note taking and homework activities

SOCIAL STUDIES

Reading a street map and using the cardinal directions to move to various points.