Do you Remember? The Last Full School Week of September?

Good Afternoon,

It's hard to believe the last full week of school in September has already ended, and it was definitely a week filled with learning! We are well into our units, and students are starting to make some strides already within each unit which is amazing to see. The students are adjusted back into school routines with many displaying leadership qualities throughout the day. I can confidently say they earned a weekend to sharpen the saw after all the hard work they put in this week; they should be proud!

Week in Review:

Leader in Me: This week, we learned about paradigms. Paradigms, or how we see things, can shape how we lead ourselves and others. View the Paradigms family newsletter to learn more about Leader in Me paradigms and ways to engage your family!

Writing: Writers decided which one of their drafts from our first bend they wanted to take through the writing process. They began then with rehearsal which had them trying out various ways they wanted to start their stories. Writers then had the thrill of going down a water slide! Well not really, but that was the comparison we used for the flash draft day that once they get started down the slide of writing a flash draft, they keep going, and don't stop writing! We ended the week looking at various strategies to revise our writing to make it better one of them being developing the heart of the story, and another choosing precise details, that way it helps our readers picture the heart of the story.

Math:  Mathematicians began the week with a math forum that focused on prime and composite numbers. Then we reviewed some of the more easily memorized multiplication facts (0,1,2,5,10), using strategies introduced in 3rd Grade. This allowed students to see how few facts on the multiplication chart remain to be learned. They then explored strategies for deriving the answers to less familiar facts using hidden arrays within the area model for multiplication. We ended the week exploring strategies for multiplying by 4 and 6 as well as 8 and 9 then those were added to the multiplication strategies chart.

Reading: Readers learned that to read intensely to grow ideas they need to put themselves in the story, and make a movie in their mind; seeing and hearing inside the text. Then we discussed the importance of using partners and learning progressions to lift the level of their jots and thinking work. We ended the week learning how we can be reading to develop ideas about characters, and to develop significant ideas we use the Story Arc to notice important details about characters. Lastly, discussing growing grounded, significant ideas by noticing Author’s Craft; finding meaning in repeated details.

Content: Students took part in a collaborative simulation that got them thinking about the importance of using resources responsibly. In addition, they were introduced to the concept of sustainability, which will be central to the Inquiry of our Social Studies unit Natural Resources of the U.S. Students were then introduced to a modified version of the Question Formulation Technique (QFT) to generate Investigation Questions that will guide their exploration of natural resources across regions of the United States.

  • Thank you to a parent who shared this great resource which can benefit your 4th grader and family! Every fourth grader in the US is eligible to receive a free pass for their family to visit America’s natural wonders and historic sites, which accesses hundreds of parks, lands and waters for an entire year! Visit everykidoutdoors.gov/rules.htm for more information and to get your pass!


A Look Ahead:

  • September 26th - Badger Sports Park Family Night 
  • September 27th - No School
  • October 1st - Family Night 5:00-6:30 P.M.

  • October 2nd - Homecoming Parade 6:00 P.M.
  • October 8th - Picture Re-Take Day
  • October 24th & 25th - No School


That's all for this week!

Have a great weekend!


Mr. VW




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Hello May!

Image
 Good Afternoon, As we head into the final full month of the school year, I’ve been reflecting on how quickly time has passed. It’s hard to believe that eight months have flown by since we first began, but every year I’m reminded just how fast it goes. During these months, you entrusted me with your most precious gifts, and I’ve had the privilege of being their teacher—getting to know each one, guiding, teaching, watching them grow, and hopefully providing a space where they could become the best version of themselves every day. I’m truly grateful for that opportunity and for your ongoing support this school year. This last month is always bittersweet. After putting in so much time and seeing incredible growth and connections each day, it’s difficult to realize it will soon come to an end. My hope is that we can all savor this final stretch, knowing that while the end is inevitable, we can take pride in making every day count. With that mindset, we can finish the year with gratitud...
Read more

Is it really June?

Image
Good Afternoon, What an incredible week! Our 4th graders did a phenomenal job during their concert on Thursday evening—a wonderful celebration of all their hard work and dedication. The evening culminating in a special moment when they receive their 4th grade diplomas from NDLC is always an emotional moment. We are all looking forward to a memorable final week of school, filled with fun activities, lasting memories, and plenty of emotions. Buckle up—the end of the school year is approaching quickly! Week in Review: Leader in Me:  This week we learned about how to use skills of curiosity, analysis, and open-mindedness to think critically and express an opinion about a topic. View the Your Passions video on Leader in Me Online and discuss your learner’s passions and how their passions could be used to impact others! Writing:  This week, our 4th grade writers put the finishing touches on their graphic novels, completing final revisions and edits. They poured an incredible amoun...
Read more

Memorial Day Weekend

Image
Good Afternoon, We've wrapped up another wonderful week of learning, and it's hard to believe we're heading into the final stretch of the school year. This time of year brings a mix of excitement, reflection, and emotion as we begin celebrating this incredible group of 4th graders. As we look ahead, we're focused on making these last couple weeks meaningful and memorable for every student. Thank you for your continued support—let’s finish strong together! Week in Review: Leader in Me:  This week, we learned about stress. Eustress is positive stress that feels exciting, can motivate us, and is short-term. Distress is negative, toxic stress that causes anxiety or concern, feels unpleasant, and can lead to health problems. Invite your learner to teach you about the differences between eustress and distress. Discuss ways you can support your learner if experiencing distress. Writing:  This week in writing, our 4th grade authors continued working on their graphic novels, foc...
Read more