Welcome to Week 9!
Dear Parents,
As we approach winter break, we have noticed an increase in incomplete or forgotten homework, missing names on assignments, incorrect formatting, and uncorrected work in bluebooks. Additionally, some students are not showing the required steps for multistep problems.
Each day, we begin Lyceum with dedicated time for students to complete corrections, finish late or missing work, and—currently—make progress on their Robin Hood essays. Students also receive class time for the essay, but for many, the additional Lyceum time is especially important.
While we encourage student independence, we kindly ask for your partnership over the next week. Please check your child’s agenda, have them show you their completed work, and, if possible, supervise as they pack their materials. This added accountability will be extremely helpful. Families of students with missing assignments will receive a separate email.
Our Robin Hood Party will be held on Tuesday. Students who have not completed the final draft of their essay or who have late, missing, or uncorrected work will need to finish these tasks before joining the celebration.
This event is a highlight of the year, and we want every student to participate; however, completing schoolwork remains the top priority.
Thank you for your support!
The Fourth Grade Team
The annual Robin Hood Party is Tuesday, 12/16.
Sign up to help.
NEWS:
Our last poem of the quarter, Norman and Saxon is due this Friday 12/12. Scholars are expected to perform the poem with inflection, emotion, and words to completion. Poems can be performed as early as Monday, 12/8.
Scholars will be given a copy of the Q3 poem, "Paul Revere's Ride" before break. The poem will be performed week by week, but also collectively upon completion. So, there is a weekly and a cumulative response to memorizing the poem. The most challenging portions for scholars are sections/stanzas 6-8. As there are no "at-home projects" in 4th grade, our team considers the weekly memorization of the poem a 13-week family endeavor. While your child should manage and monitor their progress, they will certainly need some intervention and parental accountability to stay on track. In April, the entire grade will perform all 13 stanzas for the parents in the MPR.
At the start of Q3, we will dedicate our Literature time to a Poetry unit. Students will need The Harp and Laurel Wreath from the required book list, which they will also use in fifth grade.
Beginning in Q3, Week 4, fourth grade will start the next book in The Chronicles of Narnia series, Prince Caspian. If your child has not yet read The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, please ensure they complete it before we begin Prince Caspian.
Week 10, 12/16-12/18 are half days and there is no school 12/19.
CURRICULUM:
ELA:
The last poem of Quarter 2 is "Norman and Saxon". It is due on December 12th.
LITERATURE We have finished reading "Robin Hood".
We finish our COMPOSITION program for the quarter with the writing of the Robin Hood 5-Paragraph Persuasive Essay by finishing rough drafts, editing and composing the final drafts. These must be completed (in-class) for scholars to attend the Robin Hood Party next Tuesdqy. Scholars are not permitted to write their essays at home.
In GRAMMAR, we finish Chapter 8 and take an open-note quiz on Possessive Nouns. Students should refer to these notes to do homework and writing assignments to include these types of sentences in summary and essay writing for the remainder of the year.
Transitive and Intransitive Verbs
In LATIN AND GREEK ROOTS our roots are mikros (small), megas (big, large, great), and magnus (big, large, great). Their derivatives are: microphone, microbe, microscope, micron, microwave, megaphone, megalith, megalophonous, magnify, magnitude, magnificent, magnanimous, magnate, Magna Carta. The Roots test will be held on Friday.
Scholars should study their 33 Roots Cards every day for 5-10 minutes. Scholars should prepare for Q1-2 Roots Test on Monday 12/15. The Q2 Roots Test will cover all the roots learned so far this year. We will review these roots in class, and the test is Monday. Please encourage your child to review their Roots list and Roots index cards at home to help them feel prepared.
For PHILOSOPHY, we will use the time to finish up all the work from the end of the quarter prior to the next week's Robin Hood Party.
Math:
In Math, we will Continue Chapter 6 about fractions greater than 1 applying mixed number and improper fractional concepts for subtracting mixed numbers and making word problems with mixed numbers. On Tuesday, there will be a classwork assignment assessing Chapter 6.6-7 adding and subtracting with mixed number concepts. Scholars should turn in Ch. 5 Math Test Corrections by Wednesday.
Subtracting Mixed Numbers with Regrouping
Math Test Corrections:
Students will attach a separate piece of paper to their graded math tests and write the problem number of each problem missed. They will re-do the problem correctly and show their work. They will also write a short sentence about why they missed that problem. Students can earn up to 5 homework points for their corrections. Students who missed no problems, do not need to submit corrections.
History:
In History, we will finish the book reading chapters 9 and 10 over the Dynasties of China. Scholars will take a Comprehension Check on Tuesday. Scholars will be able to describe one of the following dynasties of China — the Han, the Tang, or the Mongol Empire. The response should give a clear, overall picture of what life and leadership were like during that dynasty. You do not need to include specific dates or highly detailed events. Instead, focus on the major characteristics, accomplishments, and the ways this dynasty influenced China and the world. Scholars will use this prompt to explain what made the dynasty important, how it was governed, and what cultural or historical impacts it had. Scholars will continue their lapbooks and Dynasties of China covers.
Science:
We will finish our unit on Structures and Functions of Living Things with two days of review and a Comprehension Check on Friday. Scholars will be asked to explain, in their own words, how living things get energy, how they sense what is happening around them, and how their body parts help them do important jobs. They may write about examples such as roots, stems, and leaves in plants; sense organs in animals; how food chains move energy through an ecosystem; and how both plants and animals respond to different stimuli in their environment.
Science videos to review:
Decomposers- Watermelon in soil
Demonstrating the Vestibular System
Remember, the blog is updated weekly. Be sure to come back frequently to see any upcoming events or changes in fourth grade.