Mayberry-McFarland Weekly News

for the week of September 11, 2017

Due Dates / Upcoming Events:

Monday, September 18: reading logs* due for those who participate in the regular classroom

Tuesday, September 19: Home Link due / McFarlands have P.E. (wear sneakers) Wednesday, September 20: early release

Thursday, September 21: be caught up on math journal pages

Friday, September 22: Home Link due

Monday, September 25: reading logs due

General News and Announcements

*reminders for reading logs:

• check out the feedback on last week’s log
• regular pencil only, please
• correct capitalization
• a chart for capitalization rules is in your child’s reading notebook, which is in the book bag
• 4th grader’s work only; parents should not be filling anything out on the log.
• There are several students who write large in order for their handwriting to stay neat.  If this is the case for your child, I can adjust the lines to make the title spaces bigger.  Let me know if you’d like me to make that accommodation for your child.  Or, your child can ask me about it.
• minimum expectations: 4 different days per week of reading at home (outside of school), for at least 25 minutes per session; additional logging is welcome and gives me a fuller picture of reading habits but is not required
• Before handing in logs Monday morning, please help your child add minutes; there’s a space for parents’ signatures at the bottom.

Newspaper Club Informational Meeting

Academic Updates:

Writing Workshop

This week we have been identifying different kinds of details writers use: setting details, small action, and TFR (thoughts, feelings, and reaction).  We color-coded those details in Salt Hands, a lovely small moment book.  Then, we studied a timeline and practiced using it by answering comprehension questions about it.  Students examined a timeline that I created about a time when I hit my poor friend, Melanie, with a rock (it was an accident!).  Today, our writers started their own timelines of “a time when…”  Next week, we’ll use the timelines to plan their own details for a small moment story.

Reading Workshop

Reading workshop has taken a backseat to some of our i-Ready testing.  However, we were able to get in a reading survey, so I can get to know the kids’ feelings about reading; favorite books, series, and authors; and past experiences and goals around their reading.  The kids also took a pre-assessment for our first reading unit, Interpreting Characters: The Heart of the Story.  Teachers are examining those to determine students’ strengths and needs for this first unit.  I am also making a small dent in one-on-one reading assessments to confirm or adjust end-of-third grade reading levels.  I really appreciate how much I learn about each reader during this one-on-one time!

Math

This week we continued to work on reading/writing large numbers and rounding numbers to the hundred thousands place. Students also worked in both their IXL and ConnectEd accounts. All students can now log into both sites and should also be able to access these sites at home. Login and passwords have been taped into each student’s planner for easy access.

Each time a homelink is assigned as homework I will post a tutorial on my site to help support students at home. Below is a picture of where that link is located on my site. I encourage students who may be having trouble with their homework to watch the tutorial as they will hear my voice which will serve as a reminder of how concepts have been taught in class.

In addition to assigned math homework students should be practicing their subtraction and/or multiplication facts three times a week for a minimum of 10 minutes each time. Students have been introduced to a great site they can use for this exact purpose. Below you will find the steps to accessing the site. I recommend students set the length to open and the timer to ten minutes. Of course, there are other ways to practice basic math facts, this is one option your child may like to use at home.

Theme

Our 4th grade cartographers continued to work on their North America maps this week. The maps are looking wonderful and will be completed soon. Below are pictures of some of our many talented cartographers at work.

Did you know that your 4th grader can get a free pass to our national parks? The pass is good for all the children in your family and up to three adults. Check it out!

https://goo.gl/Pxdi5B