Q2W1
Hi 4th Grade Families,
It's my quarter to write the blog! I hope you're all having a wonderful Fall Break. I'd like to start this blog with some important words from our teaching team:
Some Notes:
- Remember, the scholar’s grades do not reflect ability or worth, but instead shows how well they have acclimated to fourth grade. Each scholar learns at their own pace and that fact should be celebrated and not chastised for the arbitrary letter associated with their scores. All we ask is that they do their best.
- Parent-Teacher Conferences are here and Mandatory! October 17th-18th are parent-teacher conferences and you must sign up for them. Thank you so much for those who have signed up, and for those who haven’t; please do so! If you can’t make those days, let us know and we can plan another time.
- Quarter 2 raises expectations. Now that scholars understand the expectations of fourth grade, we are more stringent on enforcing those. This can be seen in no-named papers being thrown away and need to be redone, stricter corrections for not following rules, and in a continuation of the rapidly paced curriculum. Students should be prepared to write assignments in cursive. Assignments turned in late will have 10% deducted per day.
- Have your child bring in "Robin Hood". "Robin Hood" is our Literature Book for next quarter. Please make sure they have the version from our materials list on our school website. We have heard these are available to purchase locally at Barnes and Noble.
- We cleaned out their desks. This means they are returning with a lot of papers. Please go through the pile with them so that you can visualize just how far they’ve come. Furthermore, make sure you keep the following as they are expected for quarter 2:
- Studies Strategies (Orange or Blue Page in a plastic sleeve)
- Rules Page (Yellow page in plastic sleeve)
- Beowulf (Our poem for the start of next quarter)
Q2W1 Curriculum:
Use these notes to supplement your child's learning at home:
ELA:
Grammar- Well Ordered Language Chapter 4- Predicate Verbs and Direct Objects, reviewing compound and complex sentences.
Writing- Introductory and Conclusion paragraphs for Charlemagne.
Poetry- Beowulf Beowulf was a Danish warrior before there was a Denmark. Written between 700-1000 AD, takes place in roughly 925 AD. Beowulf serves the king Hrothgar, and helps him get rid of an ogre who was a descendent of biblical Cain. He then defeats the ogre’s mother, a water witch, and is finally mortally wounded defeating a dragon once he becomes king for a time. Scyld Scefing (Shield Sheafson) was the great-grandfather of Hrothgar, an orphan who became king because of his skill as a Viking warrior. Vikings would have fought in plain clothes with a wooden shield and sword, meant to end a fight in one or two blows. The mead hall mention in the poem has also been found.
Literature- Students need "Robin Hood", we'll read chapters 1-3.
Roots- No roots this week, keep reviewing cards.
Science:
We begin our study on Meteorology and the Water Cycle. We'll learn how clouds form. Here is a song about the water cycle you won't be able to get out of your head.
History:
We will continue our unit on the Middle Ages concentrating on writing introductory paragraphs about King Charlemagne.
This week we will introduce word problems using all 4 operations and learn the order of operations without and with parenthesis. PEMDAS Khan Academy Video