September 19 - 23

I hope everyone had a restful weekend! Here is what is on the agenda for 4D this week:

Literacy:

We will continue our focus on Self Monitoring through read alouds this week. This will continue to be our comprehension focus for reading for the next few weeks. Students will also have an opportunity to use a variety of strategies when they encounter challenging words or sections in their independent reading. This would include using context clues to understand an unknown word - "what makes sense?". It is also important that they are stopping and asking questions to themselves as they are reading to deepen their understanding. When your child reads to you at home, you can support them by stopping every now and then to discuss what is happening in the story.

In writing, we will be beginning to develop our Writer's Notebooks - aka our Writer's Treasure Chests. This notebook will be a haven to house any ideas, or inspirations they have that could become part of their writing. Just a reminder to please send back any finished cover pages by this Thursday, September 22nd as Friday is a PD day.

Math:

We will continue our work on Place Value. This past week we reviewed the variety of ways to show a number up to 1000 including standard form, expanded form, written form, and by building and drawing a number in a variety of ways. This week we will focus more on representing numbers up to 10 000 and what the value of each digit is. 

We have played "Dynamic Digits" in class, and it would be an easy one to practice at home. See my next post for instructions.

Also, your child will come home with an information sheet about Xtra Math. It's a great website to practice math facts. I have signed all the children up under our class so that I can track how they are doing. It moves them along at their pace, so they are getting practice with what they need. They should be able to access that at home. They should be practicing their math facts for 5-10 minutes a night. There will be some class time available for them to use Xtra Math as well.

Social Studies:

This week we will begin our social studies unit on Explorations. We will begin to talk about what exploration means, and we will look at ways we can explore places, other people and ideas.

Homework:

Homework will start this week. I will send a reading log duotang home with your child. Reading at home is one of the best things your child can be doing. Please help them fill out their reading logs each night. I will collect them on Thursday. Word Study and math homework will be included in the coming weeks.

Important Dates/Information:

1. Magazine Campaign - the packages were sent home with your child this past week. We ask you keep orders and money at home until the end of the campaign, if possible. We appreciate all your support with this fantastic fundraiser!

2. Picture Day - forms were also sent home for picture day. Grade 4 pictures will be taken on September 29th.

3. Class Wish List - Kleenex boxes - it is always useful to have extras stashed away. Thanks!

4. PD Day -  There is a PD Day on Friday, September 23rd, so there are no classes for students.

Have a great week!

Femke Hakkers