Newsletter

McFarland-Mayberry-Begley Bulletin

for the week of September 2, 2014

Reading:

Since we've been in school, we've been focusing on establishing reading routines here at school: logging our reading, paying attention to engagement and stamina, and enjoying read aloud.  Please help your child by expecting that s/he keeps the log and books in the book baggie and brings that to school every day.  Your child should become independent with the handling of the book baggie early on in the year.  I have been listening to the kids read and asking them about their summertime reading habits, getting to know them as readers.

Writing:

In writing workshop, we're already busy!  The students completed a narrative prompt last week, and we are reviewing some idea-gathering strategies to make sure everyone has lists of possible writing topics in their notebooks.  This week, we're also focusing on using timelines as a way to plan and weed out unneeded parts of a story -- which is hard to do if we've already written paragraphs and pages about those parts.  It's easier to eliminate those parts when they are just events listed on a timeline.  We're also getting to know writing partners and each other as a class, sharing small moment stories from our lives.  Paying attention to those little moments helps us realize the value in them. 

Math:

In math we started the first unit in the Everyday Math curriculum for fourth grade. This unit has a heavy emphasis on geometry, and we jumped right in with lines, line segments, rays and angles. In addition, we spent a little time reviewing addition and subtraction with large numbers. Students should be reviewing basic addition and subtraction facts at home. The standard is 50 facts in three minutes with 90% accuracy. There are many web sites and apps for practicing basic facts. I will go over a few options at our Open House next week.

All students spent time on Friday using their IXL accounts. They each now have an active account that they can access at home. I have taped each child’s login and password to the inside cover of his/her homework planner. In the near future I will be assigning IXL specific skills to work on for homework; however students are always welcome to work independently in their IXL accounts.

Spelling:

This week students took a beginning of the year achievement test and a spelling survey.  I am using these two pieces to collect data about what strategies students use to spell.  Next week we will begin the first unit.  Spelling homework is assigned on Tuesdays and is due on Thursdays.

Theme:

Last week students participated in two engineering challenges to introduce them to a set of problem-solving and decision-making steps that we use in 4th grade.  We also started the “naked egg” experiment.  So far we have used vinegar to dissolve the shell of the egg, watched the egg grow as osmosis brings water into the membrane, and added corn syrup to watch the process reverse itself.  Over the weekend the eggs will soak in a bath of colored water and students are excited to see what happens next!  Finally, we started our rock unit.  Students completed two labs.  One lab helped them to discover the qualities that make a rock a rock.  The other helped them to develop their skills of observation.  Next week we will look at minerals before learning about the different types of rock.

Due Dates / Upcoming Events:

Monday, September 8th - Reading logs due: Parents, please remember to check your child's addition of minutes and sign at the bottom of the log each week. Also due are the students' writing notebook cover collages.

Tuesday, September 9th - Study Link due / 4th & 5th Grade Open House, 6:30-7:30pm

Wednesday, September 10th - Early Release

Thursday, September 11th - Spelling due

Friday, September 12th - Study Link due

Have a terrific weekend!