Reading Makes Us Smarter!!

Students enjoy having time for reading during class.  Some days I give students 25 minutes during class to read assigned chapters and answer questions to go along with the chapters.  Sometimes we do reading in small and large groups, and other times we have indpendent reading time.

 

Research It Up!

Students have started performing research on owning pets.  Three of our classes and soon to be all of our classes have been reading chapter books about dogs.  I decided it would be fitting for students to perform research on types of pets to own.  The research they are doing is requiring them to gather information about the type of care the animal will need, type of food the animal has to have, the shelter it needs, etc.  The research product will be an informational brochure after all the information has been gathered. 

 

 

We love learning together!!

 

Students have been doing several activities in groups. They really enjoy working collaboratively. We have been learning a lot about plot, setting, theme, characters, and other story elements while reading lots of literature including 3 different chapter books. Students have really enjoyed reading and doing activities in class in groups as well as independent activities. Students have also enjoyed reading online passages and having opportunities to use technology to answer questions about the passage. 

 

 

Students enjoy popcorn reading in small groups!! This is a good strategy to use with students because they never know who is going to be called on; therefore, all students will keep up in with the reading so they will know where to start reading if called on.  They are in competition with other groups in the class not to get "strikes" against them for not keeping up with the group as the text is being read. 

 

Students have enjoyed using the computer in center rotations for looking up definitions to unknown vocabulary words.  While some students were using the computers to look up meanings of unknown words, others were using dictionaries.  

 

 

 

STAR Reading Test

Students recently took a STAR Reading test to determine their reading level and reading skills. This test also determines the skills students still need to accomplish to be on target at this point of their fourth grade year.  Please look for this test report next week in your child's folder.  This form must be signed and returned.  Once it is returned with a signature, we will send it back for you to keep with other important papers such as this. 

Field Trip to the Plaza for SGE's Play, "The Nutcracker"

A big thanks to South Green Elementary for inviting us to watch "The Nutcracker".  Fourth grade students will be going to see this performance at the Plaza on the square next Tuesday, December 11th.  Please check your child's Thursday folder for the permission slip.  Please fill this out and return it to homeroom teachers ASAP. 

*ELA Updates*

Students have finished their opinion writing pieces.  The due date was moved to yesterday, December 6th, due to some need in finishing up conferencing and writing final drafts.  This is only the beginning of their writing journey in 4th grade.  Please look for more writing pieces to come home for homework and revising rough drafts after Christmas break.

We have also started reading stories out of our Reading Street books and putting our knowledge of story elements (plot, theme, characters, setting, author's purpose, narrators' point of view, etc) to work.  If students bring home a Reading Street book for homework or reading purposes, please be sure they return to school with it the very next day.  We will be using these in class often. 

 

~FYI!!!!!!! Fourth graders will have a test over the theme and plot of a story on FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30TH. Students have a study guide to fill in for homework tonight (Tuesday, November 27th).  If a parent/guardian signs the study guide proving their child has studied they will receive extra points on their test. The homework is due tomorrow so we can go over the questions.  Students will correct any errors and then bring it home to be signed and returned by FRIDAY to get the extra points!!~