Class News - Week of November 29th

Welcome back, families!  

I hope you had an enjoyable and relaxing Thanksgiving Break.  It was a little like "first day" deja-vu all over again on Monday, as the students and I settled back into routines.  Let me share some current happenings:

In Math, the students learned how to multiply large numbers using the Partial Products Algorithm (Lessons 5.5-5.6).  Tomorrow, I will teach them the traditional method (which we adults frequently use). On Thursday, they will learn the third and last multiplication algorithm - Lattice (Lesson 5.7).  Please refer to Everyday Math Online's website (use your child's student login information) to obtain resources on all of these various algorithms.  Once the students have learned all three methods, they will pick one which they can confidently use. 

In Reading/S.S., we completed the culminating project for our Native American Project on Voicethread.  I will share the link for you to view, soon.  We are now moving forward in history to Westward Expansionism, and have spent the last couple of days discussing this concept:  How did people get to America in the first place, if only the Native Americans were here, and from where did they come?  Why did they want to come here? Once settlers were in America, why did they continue moving West? What changes occurred as a result?.. etc..  These next few weeks before the Winter Break, we will be building our foundational knowledge, in addition to working on the reading strategies of inferring and determining importance. If you're curious about some of the books we'll be reading, take a look on my Shelfari (to the right).

In Writing, we will work on revising our papers, and go into the genre of Fictional Narratives.  In Science,  we will look at flower reproduction and dissect flowers.

We are continuing Home Reading Journals (HRJ) this week, with the next Journals due on Monday, December 6th. If you have forgotten which day your child's HRJ is due,  please refer to the PARENT FILES folder on our 4th grade website.  In the folder, you can download the document - Geiger Class HRJ Schedule.  I'd like to also remind you that your child needs to read at least 25 minutes a night, M-F.  Research proves that the simple act of sustained reading (a "just right" book) on a regular basis improves a child's reading level and vocabulary knowledge.  It is so important!  

This is the last week for our Pre-Interns, Ms. Ross and Mr. Cole.  They have been such a tremendous help in the classroom this semester, and the students have grown to appreciate their input and support.  Fortunately, Mr. Cole has chosen to stay with our class for his Internship this spring.  We will get to see him after the Winter Break in January.

As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to email me.  Thank you for your continued support! I hope you have a great week!

- Ms. Geiger

Geiger Class News - week of November 15th

Our Native American Unit is coming to a close, and the students have been working hard on their Final Project Summaries.  This coming week, they should have the summaries completed by Tuesday (Wednesday, at the latest) – which means that your child will most likely come home with his/her Project Summary in order to finish it within the timeline.  In fact, many students have taken their notes (in their Reading/S.S. folder), and their flash drive home so they could work on it this weekend.  Your child might need your help in proofreading what he/she’s written.  Also, make sure -  as students take these items (folder, notes & flash drive) home over the next few days – that they bring them back to school, daily.  Otherwise, when we work on them in class, they’ll have nothing with them.  After the summaries have been published, students will then transfer their Project Summaries onto www.voicethread.com, for the technology component (this part will be done in class).  

In Math, we are moving into Unit 5, which gets into the various algorithms for solving multidigit multiplication problems.  Students will learn the 1) partial products method (which helps them understand the place value reasoning behind it all, and why we multiply the numbers in each column); 2) the traditional method (how we learned back when we were in school); and 3) the lattice method (believe it or not, this algorithm has been around since the 1200’s – the kids really love it, once they get the hang of it!).  Hence, it is equally important that students be fluent in their multiplication facts – at least numbers 0-9 – in order to experience success when completing multiplication problems with several digits!  Practice those facts with your child in the car, while shopping at the grocery store, etc.  Also, don’t forget all the valuable (and fun) resources online!  Once we get to the different algorithms, you can use your child’s Everyday Math Online log-in to access videos and tutorials for each multiplication method, in addition to various printable resources!  The direct link is on our 4th grade website: PK Yonge 4th Grade webpage

As for multiplication fact practice, here are some games students can play on EM Games: Multiplication Top-It, Baseball Multiplication, Beat the Computer, and Factor Bingo.  There will be a game called “Multiplication Wrestling” which will help students practice the PARTIAL PRODUCTS ALGORITHM, which they learn in lesson 5.2 (on Tuesday).  This game is also available on EM Games. 

Our St. Augustine Field Trip is this Friday, and will be an all-day event.  Please make sure that your child is at PK promptly at 7am, in order for us to get everyone on the bus and leave on time.  Last year our departure from PK was delayed due to tardy students, and did not get to do everything on our St. Augustine itinerary, as a result.  Students will need to bring a brown bag lunch (no lunch boxes or coolers), because the lunches will have to travel with us.  It will make it much easier on your child (and the adults initially loading the 4th graders’ lunches) to have something lightweight and disposable that he/she can throw away when finished.    We will have a little shopping time either on St. George’s street, or at the museum we will attend, if your child would like to bring a few dollars for a souvenir.  However, he/she will be responsible for all he/she brings.  NO electronics (such as Game Boys, DS’s, iPods, etc…) will be permitted.  Your child may bring a camera, though (and a book, or a deck of cards for the bus ride).  The bus will return to PK by 5pm.  If you have any other field trip questions, feel free to contact me.  As always, thank you for your continued support!