Grade 4

September

class newsletter

RIS

2012-2013

Important dates

19 September—early dismissal, 1pm

21 September—no school

5 October—no school for students

17 October—early dismissal, 1pm

19 October—parent conferences

22-26 October—holiday

29 October—school resumes

HOMEWORK

All students should be reading 30 minutes or more

each night, recording their book and time on their

reading log

Math, Science, and/or Social Studies may also be

sent home each night for homework.

All students are expected to complete homework on

time and submit it to their homeroom teacher.

Literacy

Students have been busy launching Reader’s and Writer’s

Workshops in classes. This involves learning the

procedures and expectations in class and for their own

learning.

Students have taken MAPS reading tests, DRA tests, and

basic writing assessments to determine their levels for the

start of the year; teachers use this information to construct

skill and strategy lessons for individual and group literacy

building.

Students will begin in Reader’s Workshop by learning what

it means to build a reading life; in Writer’s Workshop,

students will be writing personal narratives in this next

month.

Math

The first unit of study in Mathematics in Grade 4 is titled, ‘Factors, Multiples, and Arrays’. This unit focuses on the operation of multiplication.

The Long Term Learning Targets in this unit are:

1. I can understand & work with array models of multiplication.

2. I can think about numbers and their factors.

3. I am fluent with multiplication combinations to 12 x12.

Science

The kids have jumped right into science with our unit

on Earth Materials. They will explore the following

concepts in Earth Science:

Mock Rocks—rock and mineral properties

Scratch Test—specific properties of minerals

Calcite Quest—presence of calcium/calcite in rocks

Take it for Granite—using mineral properties to find out

which minerals are in the rock, granite

Social Studies

Long Term Learning Targets:

I can explain and correctly use the elements of maps and globes.

I can explain and demonstrate the 5 Themes of Geography.

I can compare ways that the earth’s physical and human features have changed over time.

I can examine various types and patterns of settlement and land use and reasons why particular locations are used for certain human activities.

I can identify appropriate resources and geographic tools to generate and interpret information about the earth.

Our first unit in Social

Studies is the 5

Themes of Geography.

This is an exciting unit

focused on learning

how geographers

study our earth,

physically and

culturally. Students

have an opportunity

to learn and apply

mapping skills using

our world floor maps,

desk maps, and

atlases.

Ms. Katie’s class

Earth Materials

Community Fun!

Ms. April’s class

Human Knot teaches us to help each other, work as a team, think, stay flexible, and communicate respectfully and kindly

Mr. Joe’s class