Quadrilaterals

The class is now working on making, identifying, and showing what they know about quadrilaterials. Some of the things that they need to identify are:
- what type of quadrilaterial is it, e.g. irregular vs. regular
- what kinds of angles are there in the figure (shape), e.g. right angle, obtuse angle, acute angle
- the lengths of the sides
- are the sides equal lengths or different?

Advent Wreath

The class is in the process of making an Advent wreath. Students traced their hands and curled the fingers ti make the wreath. The candles will be added tomorrow once everything is dry. Ask your child which colours of the candles go with which week e.g., the first, second, and fourth week are purple, the third week is rose, and Christmas day is white.

Christmas Activities/Spelling

The spelling tests for list two have been sent home with your child for you to sign and return. Thank you to those parents who have sent them back.
During December the class will focus on Christmas spelling activities. You can check your child's Lnaguage Arts duotang to see what they're up to. Today students worked in pair or small groups to time themselves to see who could come up with the most Christmas lists for: Christmas Carols, Christmas Movies, and Christmas Cookies. Then as a class we made a list. Students are encouraged to research more ideas at home and add to their own list/clas list.

Math: Unit 3 measuring angles

For the past week and a bit students have been learning how to use a protractor to measure angles. There are many students who need support at home from their parents or older siblings to review this concept. I have included many worksheets for your child to review. They are extra practice and whatever is not finished in class is due for homework on Monday, December 1st. I have asked the class to take home their math duotang to review concepts with their parents so that parents will have no surprises. On Monday we will be moving on to the next section of Unit 3.

Here are some websites that your child can use for extra practices:
http://www.mathplayground.com/measuringangles.html
http://www.ixl.com/math/geometry/angle-measures
http://www.mathsisfun.com/angles.html
http://www.mathsisfun.com/geometry/degrees.html
http://www.ezschool.com/Games/Math/Angles/Angles.html

I have asked that the protractor quiz be signed by parents. This mark will not be very significant in the overall unit, rather it will be used as a benchmark for students, parents, and myself to be aware of students who need further support with this concept so they can practice more to improve their grade before the unit test. There will be a unit test late in the week of December 8th. 

Christmas Concert

The Christmas Concert will take place on Thursday, December 11th at 1:00pm and 7:00pm at St. Joseph Catholic Church across from the school. The students will be singing "Rock Around the Clock" en Francais (in French). Mme Fazarri is also teaching the class music and drama this year. We hope to see many families at the concert! 

Social Studies

We are starting our new unit in Social Studies: Land Regions. Students will be learning about the different provinces and territories, their capitals, and the great lakes. The Social Studies title page is due Monday, December 1st.

Media- What's the Message?

The class has been reading about what "Good Writers" do to communicate messages. In class students are to bring in a message from any media- newspaper, magazine, Internet, etc. and share it with the class. This will be used as part of their media and oral mark. Students will also be assessed on their listening skills by recalling important information from their classmates oral presentation of their media.
Students are also busy creating comics that have a message. In class they have created comics using paper and on the website: http://www.bitstripsforschools.com/login/
The code is: rocks4
The password is your child's password when they log on the computers at school. Students are more than welcome to create comics at home and bring them in to share with the class. 

Tools for Life

Tools for Life

The Tools for Life program has been running in our classroom for the past 7 weeks. This is an 8 week program that the Child and Youth Worker, Mr. Lane, has been doing in our classroom. Our class was chosen for the program due to the need of the students. The purpose of the program is to teach students how to communicate and develop healthy relationships with peers and adults. Students have been discussing how to speak to one another in respectful ways, how to deal with their feelings, how to identify facial features in themselves and their peers to determine how they might be feeling, and how to read body language. These tools can be used to resolve issues and to work cooperatively with others.

Once Mr. Lane has finished the in-class lessons, I will continue to support the program in various ways. In class we have weekly discussions to express how individuals are feeling. I ask students to be respectful of others and not to use names as this can cause hurt feelings. I will also have students create a journal to express their feelings and to focus on 4 positive things. This will be supported with our "Fill My Bucket" program that we started in September (see previous posts). I will also have students take home various handouts and activities to be discussed and used at home on a regular basis. Research has shown that the more consistent the message give to children at home and at school is, the more successful and confident they will be.

Below are some posters that coincide with lessons being taught in the Tools for Life program.  

 
 

 

 

 

Health- Nutrition

The trip to Zehrs was very informative. Students had a great time looking at the different food groups throughout the store. They also played games on how to read food labels; focusing especially on sodium. They learned that 5% or less of sodium in a food was very healthy, 5-15% was a medium-level of healthiness, and greater than 15% was not the best choice. In class we have been reading food labels found in lunch bags. Students have completed food label questions/charts. Ask your child to show you their Health duotang.
There will be a health quiz on reading food labels, the Canadian Food Guide, and healthy eating on Monday, November 17th. On Tuesday, November 18th we are going to have a healthy smoothie party. A note will be going home with students this week to explain the Smoothie Day in further detail.

Volleyball

The class is working on learning how to bump, volley, and serve. Students have been playing mini games and are very excited to serve and return the ball. We might have a strong volleyball team when these kids reach grade 7 and 8!

Spelling Word Sort Test Friday, November 14th

The first Spelling word sort test will be this Friday, November 14th. Students have been playing the word sort games in class. The words are located in the Ziploc bag staples in the front of the agenda. Please ensure this Ziploc bag and words remain attached to the agenda and return to class each day as students will need them to practice in class.
Thank you for your continues support at home playing the word sort games.

The 2nd spelling sort test will be Friday, November 28th

Rocks and Minerals- Unit Test Wednesday, November 19th

The Rocks and Minerals Unit will be ending in the next few weeks. The second half of this unit will focus on:
a) identify different types of minerals- which is the strongest, weakest/softest
b) what minerals can be used for everyday life such as: make-up, building houses, jewelry, etc.
c) What impact people have on the environment when mining for rocks and minerals
d) how humans can help protect the environment/create less impact when mining/looking for rocks
e) identify and example their favourite mineral

Students will have a review sheet in their green Science duotang for them to study from. There will be a test/quiz on rocks and minerals Wednesday, November 19th.

Science and Technology- AKA computers

The class has the opportunity to go to the computer lab two times a week. Students are now proficient at logging into their computer, opening a Word document, and accessing the Internet independently. Each week students go onto the class blog to check our any new information and pictures. After the play different teacher selected games (usually on math). You will also see these games when you click on the website tabs. Your child should be able to take you to them as well since they have already done so at school.
Our next technology goal is focusing on importing graphics (images/pictures) from the Internet on a specific topic to create a media project. So far this has included title pages for Halloween stories and invitations to parents for the Bible celebrations.
Students are required to independently:
1) log onto the computer
2) open a Word document
3) open the Internet
4) search and locate a graphic related to the topic
5) copy and paste the graphic to the word document
6) use font to create a message (the size and type of font should reflect the assignment)
7) spell check/proofread the document/assignment
8) save the document
9) print the document

I am very pleased with the enthusiasm and progress that I have seen from September until now. Computers are a regular aspect of our everyday life and developing these skills to enhance learning is crucial to student success. If you have a special event coming up like a Christmas or birthday party, perhaps you could ask/let/work with your child to create invitations and/or posters on the computer.

Bible Celebration

Congratulations boys and girls on receiving your very own Bible. This was a very special celebration in your faith journey. I am so proud of all your hard work preparing for the Bible celebration. The singing was beautiful and all of the readers, petition people, and speakers did a fabulous job!
Thank you also to all of the parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and siblings that were able to join us on Friday. Your support meant a great deal.
In class we will be learning how to navigate through the Bible to find passages, identify chapters and verses, and of course to read Bible stories. At home I would encourage students to read their Bibles each night for 10 minutes. 

Unit 3 Geometry- Getting Started

Let's get started with our next math unit, Geometry! Students will be learning about concepts of 2-D and 3-D shapes, symmetry, angles, and how to use a protractor. If you have a protractor at home, you could send that in with your child to use in class.

Students will need to know how to identify and measure angles. Focusing on the 3 different types of angles at home would be appreciated.
Check out this YouTube video to understand the 3 different types of angles (it's a song)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vB9Fax-9nAs

These angles are:
a) acute angle= less than 90 degrees e.g. pliers, scissors, flip cellphone, stapler remover
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5Dbrxme-y8

b) right angle= 90 degrees e.g. a square, a rectangle, tiles on the ground, tiles on a backsplash, a cover of a book, a remote control

c) obtuse angle= greater than 90 degrees e.g. scissors, hands on a clock, legs on a spider, tree branches

Ask your child to be an "angle detective". See how many different types of angles they can find at home and have him/her explain to you why it is an acute, right, or obtuse angle. They can write or draw these examples and then bring them to class to be displayed on our math bulletin board and to share with the class.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGKwdHMiqCg
What is an angle?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_n3KZR1DSEo
How are angles measured?

Math Unit 2 Whole Numbers- test should be home by now

The class has finished Unit 2 in Math- Whole Numbers. The unit test, pre-test and post-test have been sent home for parents to review with their child, sign and return to class. Most students displayed huge growth from their pre-test to post-test. In class we spent a great deal of time on this unit doing math centres, worksheets, playing games on the computer, playing games with flashcards, playing games on the whiteboard, and working in small groups or one on one with myself or the EAs. If you are looking for further review for your child I recommend:
1) playing the math games listed on the blog at home for 15-20 minutes each night
2) completing the worksheets in your child's math duotang that may not be finished
3) have your child redo incorrect answers from their math worksheets again on a new sheet of paper
4) have your child bring home their math textbook and do questions from Unit 2

Math Unit 2: Whole Numbers Website Games

Below are some fun and interactive games to help your child reinforce the skills and concepts that they are learning in class. This is a great way to help your child study for the unit test. It will be happening the last week of October.

Unit 2: Whole Numbers

Rounding Numbers Games

http://www.math-play.com/Rounding-Numbers-Pirate-Game.html

http://www.mathnook.com/math/skill/roundinggames.php

Addition Games

http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/mathgames/fruitshoot/fruitshoot_addition.htm

http://www.coolmath4kids.com/addition/number-monster-addition-2n3digit.htm

Subtraction Games

http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/mathgames/fruitshoot/fruitshoot_subtraction.htm

http://www.numbernut.com/basic/activities/sub_quiz_4borrow.shtml

http://www.aaamath.com/sub38gx1.htm

http://www.topmarks.co.uk/maths-games/7-11-years/addition-and-subtraction

 

Thanksgiving Food Drive

We are collecting food for the Centre Wellington Food Bank. As a school, there is a contest to see which class can collect the most food. Since we have the second largest class in the school, our odds should be good!
Please send in any donations with your child. Our box is half full.

Thanks to Denver, Keegan, Alwynn, Matt, Luke H., and Aidan for a great job decorating our box.

Homework for Parents

Tonight your child has a homework assignment for their parents. There is a worksheet in the front pocket of your child's agenda. Students have been playing games in class and working on various centres. Part of their assessment for this unit will be reading 3-digit and 4-digit numbers. Please have your child read these numbers with you at home. Parents are to sign and date the worksheet to indicate that they have practiced this concept with their child.
Please return the signed worksheet by Wednesday, October 15th. Students will then conference with Mrs. Small one on one to assess their knowledge of this expectation.

Science Quiz

Today the class had their first Science Quiz on different Types of Rocks. Most of the class did very well. The quizzes will be going home tomorrow for parents to sign and return to school after the Thanksgiving holiday.
Here is a fun, interactive, and educational website for students to play at home. They have done this a few times during our computer classes and had a blast.
http://www.learner.org/interactives/rockcycle/index.html

The next part of our Rocks and Minerals Unit will focus on Minerals.

Thanksgiving Art

The class has enjoyed working on our Thanksgiving art projects. We have created a "Thankful Tree". Students made leaves and wrote down various things that they were thankful for. It looks fabulous! Our tree is so big that we have invited other classrooms to help and decorate the Thankful Tree.

The class has also worked on painting different lines and using different textures to create their Thanksgiving pumpkin art. They too look fabulous. What artists we have in grade 4!

The Rocks and Minerals Unit is well underway. Students will be having a quiz in the 3 types of rocks that are listed in the chart above. They have been studying pages 11 and 12 in their Science textbook. They have also been studying in class with the "Spot the Mistake" note and the "Types of Rocks" chart in their Science duotang. Please continue to quiz your child at home.

Math Whole Numbers/Patterns

 

In class we have been playing various math games. In the pictures above, students are using flashcards to order 3-digit and 4-digit numbers in order from least to greatest, greatest to least, and to quiz one another on staying the number.



Dylan and Hailey are showcasing their patterns. They worked on creating growing patterns, shrinking patterns, and repeating patterns. They also had to explain the core in the repeating pattern.

Upcoming Dates for October

Thurs. Oct. 2nd- Tools for Life program begins (8 weeks with Mr. Lane the Youth Worker
                           - Cross Country @ 10:30  (BM High School)
                          - Agriculture Food Presentation @ 11:00
Fri. Oct. 3rd- Jersey and Hat Day (Spirit Day) - $2.00 for United Way
Wed. Oct. 8th- Happy Birthday Sofia!
Thurs. Oct. 9th- Science Quiz (3 types of rocks, safety for collecting rocks, identifying rocks)
Sat. Oct. 11th- Happy Birthday Eric!
Sun. Oct. 12th- Happy Birthday Matt!
Mon. Oct. 13th- Thanksgiving
Tues. Oct. 14th- Math Quiz
Wed. Oct. 15th- Picture Day:)
Thurs. Oct. 16th- Magazine Fundraiser due
Fri. Oct. 17th- Gumball Day (Spirit Day) - $2.00 for United Way
Tues. Oct. 21st- Zehrs Field Trip- bus leaves @ 9:10
Fri. Oct. 24th- Happy Birthday Joey!
Fri. Oct. 31st- Hallowe'en

Library Days
Library Exchange is every Wednesday. Please send your child's book back on Tuesday or Wednesday.
Physical Education
Gym classes are Tuesdays and Fridays. In grade 4 students are asked to bring gym clothes to change into at the beginning of the week. These clothes will be sent home each Friday to be washed. Please send them back the following Tuesday. Proper footwear is required for gym. Running shoes that can be tied are preferred to prevent foot/ankle injuries.

When I receive other important dates for the month of October I will update this information

Sincerely,

Mrs. S. Small

Math Unit 2- Whole Numbers

We have started our unit on whole numbers. Students will need to:
1) read and recognize numbers from 1-10 000
2) read and write numbers in standard (e.g. 23), expanded (e.f. 20+3), and written (e.g. twenty-three_ from
3) use place value to represent numbers
4) compare and order numbers
5) estimate sums (the total when adding) and differences (the total when subtracting)
6) add and subtract 3-digit numbers mentally
7) add 4-digit numbers
8) subtract 3-digit numbers from a 4-digit number
9) pose and solve problems (create their own problem and find the answer to that problem or a peers problem)

All of the tests from Unit 1 have been sent home for parents to review, sign, and return to the teacher. Thanks to all of the families for the quick and prompt return. If you haven't returned the signed Unit 1 test, please do so by Friday, October 3rd.

Homework and Agenda Help at Home Please

Agendas are filled out each night as a class. The work is written on the whiteboard, students are to copy the information, and then I sign the agendas. Please read and sign your child's agenda each night. Thank you to those parents who do this on a regular basis. It is key to communication and for your child to refer back to for homework and important dates.

Homework in grade 4 will occur. Students should not have more than 40 minutes of homework a night. Even if your child does not have homework, they can bring home their books to review information and to study for upcoming tests and/or assignments.

We will be starting our fourth week of school. As a class we have discussed the importance of using class time wisely to complete work when we are at school. For example, today students had one hour to complete a courage poster for language arts. This was an assignment that we started off by reading a story, answering questions (day 1 and 2) and day 3 was starting the poster. Today, many students did not have the poster finished after the 60 minutes. This is a task that I would expect to take 20 minutes in grade 4. As such, the posters would be for homework.
In math class we start with a lesson, then we move onto answering questions together as a class, and then students work independently to complete the remainder (this has been the back of the worksheet). Students typically have 30-40 minutes to complete these questions. If they do not finish their work, it is assigned for homework. I will never assign a math worksheet for homework that I haven't first taught to the students (or any other subject).

The class is almost double the size that the students had last year. During independent work I will be working with small groups or assisting students 1-1. It is my expectation that students in grade 4 will work in class to complete tasks. Students who are not using their time effectively, chatting, etc. will have more homework.

Homework checks occur regularly. If your child has incomplete homework they will contact you by a phone call home or a note in the agenda. The purpose of this is to keep parents aware and informed. In my experience, it is better to know ahead of time rather than after a test, progress report, assignment, etc. that a student was struggling. If homework is incomplete students usually have: 1) chosen not to do the assignment, 2) forgot their work, 3) had a busy night, or 4) didn't understand what to do. I would ask that you help your child with their homework as often as possible. If there is a reason that your child's homework isn't finished they need to speak to me at the beginning of the day.

Each day we take up math work to review and enhance understanding. If your child has not completed the work, it will likely set them back on the building concepts. Today, 14/27 students did not have their work completed. This is a major problem. It means that I cannot move on to teach the next lesson. Then the rest of the students that are ready for the day have to wait until the rest of the class has caught up. This also means that the test can have 2 options: 1) remain on the same day, or, 2) be pushed back. For the first Unit test, I will be moving the test to Friday, September 26th. The students are not ready for a test on Tuesday. This will allow us to get caught up as a class. For Unit 2, it is my hope and expectations that students will show me that they are back in the groove of school, and following through with their responsibility (part of the page 1 progress report mark) by working effectively in class and by completing homework when necessary.

Thank you for your continued support in your child's education.

Pizza Orders Due Tomorrow

Just a reminder that the pizza orders are due tomorrow. According to my list, 15 students have not returned their forms. Of those 15 students, 11 of them said that they would like/normally get pizza and/or milk. Please send in the forms and money ASAP. Thank you.

Rock Hunt

Today was a beautiful day for a rock hunt! The students were busy being rockhounds as they searched for rocks on the schoolyard. Each group collected and described the rocks, and where they were found. They used a paint brush to "polish" the rock. Magnifying glasses were used to look for distinctive features on the rocks. Check out some of the pictures of our geologists at work!