Classroom News for the Week of September 23rd

Notices and Reminders:

Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and Your Child:

Dear Families,

As you know, we are in the midst of a huge period of educational reform. There is a lot going on at the district, state, and national level regarding what and how students are taught. It is looking like we will be fully switching over to the Common Core standards this year. Questions regarding student assessment are still being worked out. In the meantime, you may want to read this brochure from our national PTA, Parents' Guide to Student Success, to learn about new benchmarks for grade 4 students in language arts and math. The guide also gives suggestions for helping your child succeed.

Our Donors Choose project is almost funded, but we still need your help: Thanks to the support of Veronica, and the Zepeda, Harth, and Staley-Thomas families our project on Donors Choose is almost 2/3rds funded! Please click on this link: Donors Choose to read more about the project and to make a donation. It's fast, easy, and tax-deductible. Every little bit helps and will provide your child with some art wonderful materials for this school year. Thank you!

"Friday Folders":

We ran out of time this past week, so"Friday Folders" will be coming home on Monday this week. Please be sure to discuss your child's work with him or her and return the signed folder on Tuesday. Thank you!

REMINDERS: 

* Please make sure to check (and sign) your child's Homework Log each evening.  

* Please join the PTA!

What's Going On This Week In Class:

Math: 

Mental Math: Multiplying by 10 and 100. 

Using the "Breaking Apart"  and "Partial Products" method to understand multiplication (multi-digit x single digit) at a conceptual level.

On Monday your child will be learning a very fun game ("The Missing Factor!") to practice algebraic thinking and multiplication facts.  This is a great game to play at home (you will need 3 people and a deck of cards). Ask your child about it. Play :)

Fact Practice: "Multiplication Madness" (daily, 1 min. multiplication fact practice). Please work with your child to help him/her memorize facts x1-x12.

Writing:

Publishing cont. 

Identifying and writing metaphors.

Identifying subjects and predicates; Distinguishing between run-ons, fragments, and complete sentences.

Reading:

We will be reading out of the Treasures anthology. This week's selection is realistic fiction, The Astronaut and the Onion.  Comprehension skill: Drawing conclusions about character. We will be using the Depth and Complexity icons to dig deeper into the text.

Identifying metaphors in poetry.

NEW!!!

Wondering if that book your reading has an AR quiz? Wondering what level that book is?

Go to www.arbookfind.com to find out.  Remember, you can (and should!) be taking quizzes on the books you are reading at home.

Greek and Latin Roots Homework:

NEW!!

Here's a new way to practice your words: Visit www.spellingcity.com. From the blue bars at the top of the page, click on "Find A List". Search lists by Teacher's Name -> enter "Safini Convey". You will see a link to this week's word list. Use the many free games and puzzles (there is even a practice test you can take) to help you learn this week's list. Let me know if you have any problems. Have fun!

This week's prefix & root: cir, circum = around; gen= origin

circulate

circulatory

circumference

circumstance

circumscribe

generation

genuine

generic

generous

generate

Students should turn in their completed work (between 70 and 100 points) on Friday this week. A quiz on the word spellings and meanings will also be on Friday.  If students choose to make crossword puzzle, they may use an online free puzzle maker such as www.puzzle-maker.com. Students must make a crossword puzzle (not a word search) and the must generate their own definitions of the word. Please have your child do his or her own typing.

Visual Art:

Drawing Skills: Using value/shading to create "3D" drawings.

Looking at Art: Your child will be looking at three contemporary art works this week (Friday) and use the Visual Thinking Strategy (VTS) to discuss what s/he sees and thinks. 

Class/Team Building:

This week our focus will be on what it means to work together collaboratively: Listening to everyone's ideas, finding common ground, presenting ideas as a team. Also, using our time in class wisely.

Social Studies/Science:

This week your child will have quizzes in social studies (Wed.) and science (Fri.). Your child will receive study notes for both on Monday. No other nightly language arts homework will be assigned to help facilitate studying.