This past week we tested on Chapter 7: Patterns in Math, and started Chapter 8: Fractions. Fractions will take up a large part of our year. The next three chapters will be on fractions. Remember that the My Math website has many resources to help out at home. Khan Academy and LearnZillion are great sources for help as well. If your child is struggling in Math, be sure they are strong in the basics (adding, subtracting, multiplying). If they have the basics, then work on word problems and explaining their reasoning.
In Language Arts we finished the first 3 chapters of Because of Winn-Dixie. We tested comprehension on these chapters, as well as vocabulary. Starting this week, we will be covering 3 chapters and testing comprehension and vocabulary at the end of the week. New Reading Logs will go home, as well as a new Paragraph of the Week. For those students struggling in Reading, be sure to be reading books at their Lexile level, if you need their level, I will be happy to send it to you. Journaling what they have read or their day in general will also help with comprehension and writing. If you ask comprehension questions, be sure to ask more questions that cause your child to think "What inferences can you make about...?" Ask them to support their answers with evidence from the text.
This week we ended theater with Ms. Meza, the class really seemed to use more of their imagination. This week we will be starting visual art, which will take place in the classroom. However, we will be having a shorter session on Thursday since we have a field trip on Friday. Monday we have an author visiting our school, we will have an assembly to meet her at the end of the day.
Our field trip to the San Gabriel Mission will be this Friday. We will be leaving around 9:00 and may be traveling with another class on the bus, all 4th grade classes will be attending at the same time. I normally do not have students bring their backpacks to school on field trip days, but if they want to bring them to turn in their homework that is fine, however they will be staying at school while we are gone. Students may bring a hat, sun screen must already be applied, and a lunch if they have not requested one from the cafeteria. Walking shoes and a jacket will be needed. Should it be a rainy day, we will not be taking umbrellas, lunch will be eaten on the bus. Cell phones, ipods, cameras, or any electronics will not be allowed, money will not be needed. School uniform, especially if they have a school polo, is preferred. Respectful and appropriate behavior is expected (on the bus and at the mission), anything less will have consequences. I have already chosen our chaperons, parents cannot drive and meet us there by mission policy. If you have any questions feel free to contact me.
Finally, I want to address the allergy epidemic going on at the moment. We have Ash trees at our school and the tree outside our room is blooming. Many of our students are allergic with extreme to mild symptoms including itchy, red eyes, coughing, sneezing, headaches, itchy throat and ears, and runny or stuffy noses. There is not much we can do at the time. I know the kids are suffering, but it is important they are at school. Also, we are going through about a box of Kleenex a day, I have 2 boxes left, so I would greatly appreciate any donations.