Some important school/classroom notes:
In reading this week we will begin our second unit. This unit focuses on Expository Texts. We will focus particularly on using text features in expository text to understand the text better. During independent reading time your student will read on expository text of their choosing. You might consider reading expository texts at home during the next couple of weeks (but that's optional). Writing In the third week of our first writing unit students are beginning to have a substantial collection of writing starts and ideas. This week we explore more examples that can be models for our own writing. This week we look at examples of factual texts, both narrative nonfiction and expository. Students will soon choose from among their collection of ideas to draft, revise, edit and publish their first writing piece. Science This week we continue our study of the structures and functions of life with human anatomy. Your student will become an expert in one of the the body systems we are studying: circulatory, nervous, muscular/skeletal, and digestive. Additionally, our crayfish will arrive this week and next week we will delve into studying their unique anatomy.
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The first full week of school was full of getting to know each other, our classroom and our fourth grade routine. It was so fun to learn about everyone's hobbies, interests and talents as students shared their Me Bags. We have many martial artists, fine artists, travelers, soccer players, musicians and many students with unique talents and interests. It was a busy week, and I wouldn't be surprised if your fourth grader slept well this past weekend.
Important News for this Week
This week we continue to practice our new reading routines including: individual reading, gathering for reading, talking about reading and writing about reading. Students will also learn about our vocabulary study routine. Writing This week students explore examples from authors who wrote about their own life (particularly Allen Say). We will continue to practice our writing time routine this week, as students build writing stamina and begin collecting ideas for writing in their journal. Science In science this week we continue to explore our brains, and how having a growth mindset improves our brains natural neuroplasticity. Later this week we will move onto exploring other key body systems, beginning with the muscular system. Social Studies We will learn about our last tool this week. Our courage tool. Spelling Words for This Week This weeks words focus on open syllables, particularly the rule "when two vowels go walking, the first one does the talking".
I hope to see you all at curriculum night and that you have a fantastic week. After an awesome first week, I couldn't be more excited for this school year. We had a blast getting to know each other and launching the school year. We set gold medal goals, made silly skits about how to behave in school, built marshmallow towers, wrote poems, learned about our brains and much more. Throughout September we will continue to learn more about one another, build our cooperation skills and learn the routines and expectations of the classroom; and we'll keep having fun along the way. Some first week notes:
Over the first couple weeks of school I am introducing students to 10 tools that can help them to be successful in the classroom and around the school. These tools help students manage stressful situations, cooperate with others and work towards their goals. Each tool goes along with a classroom "guideline for success."
Reading and Writing This week, as we launch reading and writing, we will build our enthusiasm for the written word by reading and exploring many fun examples of literature. These books will give us opportunities to try out a variety of writing styles and begin to practice our reading comprehension. Science We continue our study of the brain this week, with a focus on neuroplasticity and growth mindsets. Check out this great youtube video on neuroplasticity. Spelling
This week we will begin our spelling routine. Our first 11 words focus on open syllable words (constant-vowel combinations that end with a long vowel sound). Students practice their spelling words for morning work, when they enter the classroom. If they do not complete the work in the morning, then the expectation is that they will finish it for homework. Here are this weeks words:
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