Important Events this Week - Please Read!

Attention Parents - Important Dates this Week:

FCAT Florida Writes exam on Tuesday, March 1st

• We will begin administering the test first thing in the morning, so please make sure that your child comes to school on time, well-rested, and having eaten a good breakfast.
• Just in case: if you'd like to donate a box of graham crackers, cheez-its, granola bars, water bottles, juice boxes, or a bag of fresh fruit (simple- nothing messy, like grapes or strawberries) to 4th grade for the day of Florida Writes, you can drop it off tomorrow afternoon or early Tuesday morning.  Sometimes there are students who forget to eat breakfast, or need that extra "boost" of energy before we test, and so it is nice to have some options available for them.
• With that said - please remember to bring a fresh water bottle to school with your child, labeled with your child's name.  Our new classrooms do not have a water source, and the nearest one is quite a ways away.  This will cut down on the need for students to leave class to "go get water."

Westward Expansion Project Presentations on Thursday, March 3rd

• We are welcoming friends and family members to our 4th grade portables for a gallery style presentation of the students' Westward Expansionism diaries.  
• This event will occur from 11:45am to 12:15pm (right after our lunch).  Please take advantage of this opportunity to spend some time with your fourth grader and view the variety of projects.  We hope to see you there! 

Everyday Math Unit 7 Progress Check on Thursday, March 3rd (corrected date)

• Unit 7, which featured fractions and probability, will culminate with the final test on Thursday.  Working with fractions can be tricky for many students, so we definitely feel that it is important to review the Unit 7 Study Guide and other resources at home to assist your child.  
• We will also be sending home a review practice page on Tues. or Weds, but in the meantime, use the fraction websites from our 4th grade page and resources from Everyday Math Online.
• Students are expected to know previously learned concepts and skills (which appear as questions on these Unit tests).  For instance, since Unit 6 covered long division, I would expect to see some possible division questions on this Unit test, revisiting that concept.

Off with the Old, In with the New!

Our time in G-wing is over and a new dawn has arrived!  Ms. A, Mr. Steffens, and I (along with Mrs. Robertson, Dr. Vandiver and the 5th grade team) spent more hours together this weekend than apart making the mass exodus to the portables.  It has been quite a productive, yet exhausting experience!  We know that the students are going to enjoy their time here!

That said, there are some specifics which you should know:  

• 4th grade pick-up and drop-off bench locations will remain the same.  We will assist the students in walking to their new classrooms for the first few days in the morning, and will continue bringing students down to the benches by the office at 2:30pm dismissal time.  That said, if students forget personal materials or homework in the portables during dismissal, they will NOT be able to retrieve them until the following day.
• Parents should NOT drop off or pick up students by the portables.  All of these should continue to happen on the front circle.
• There are no sinks in the portables, so we highly recommend that you send your child to school with a water bottle.  This is extremely important!  Your child needs to stay hydrated!  

Here are this weeks announcements:

• Jump Rope for Heart, lead by Coach Zazo, will be held for all 4th graders this Monday.  Make sure your child comes to school in comforable clothing and tennis shoes.
• 4th and 5th grade has Wacky Wednesday this week.  
• This Friday, February 18th, will be PK Young's Black History performance (with the Elementary Chorus performing) 

 Here are some pictures of our recent move:

**EXTRA, EXTRA! READ ALL ABOUT IT!**

Greetings to all!


Fourth grade has been quite a busy place, lately!  We wrapped up our Unit 6 in Math (which mostly focused on long division and measuring angles), and have launched into Unit 7, which focuses on the many features of fractions.  Even though division won't be in the spotlight for this unit, it still needs to be practiced and not forgotten (as well as other learned math skills from previous units: such as using parentheses in equations, rounding whole numbers to a specific place value, etc.).  Students have an opportunity to revisit some of these in class through their daily "Math Box" activities.  At home, they can visit EM Games, and replay a game to review certain skills and concepts, too.  I've also created a Math website files resource down at the bottom of our PKY 4th grade webpage.  There are links organized into categories such as - division, fractions, etc. - which can also help your child reinforce those particular skills and concepts.

In Reading/S.S., we are in are final phase of our Westward Expansion diary projects.  Your child should have already completed his/her 3 diary entries, and this week will be revising and polishing those entries so that they will be ready to publish next week.  We try to have everyone do as much as they can in class, but if your child is behind the deadline, then he/she will need to take his/her diary entries home to work on them.  Our Westward Expansion project pacing calendar and the rubric is available for you to see in the Parent Files section of our 4th grade page.

The move to the portables is approaching quickly, as well!  Our tentative 1st day with the students in our new classrooms will be next Monday, February 14th.  There is a Parent Open House scheduled for this Tuesday, Februrary 8th, from 6-7pm in the PAC which will provide you with information about our learning communities and the to-be new building.  We look forward to seeing you there!

Also, we have some important dates to announce:

1. Our 4th grade Spring Scholastic Book Fair will be held April 5-8 (Tuesday-Friday, the week after Spring Break).  The money raised at this book fair will help pay for your child's Kennedy Space Center field trip costs.
2. Our overnight Kennedy Space Center field trip will be May 26-27 (Thursday-Friday).  FYI - This is a trip which does not have a specific chaperone limit.  More information will come in the weeks to follow.  If you have any questions, please contact Ms. A at aadimoolah@pky.ufl.edu .

Fourth grade is interested in obtaining a parent coordinator for the Scholastic Spring Book Fair.  Duties would include signing up parent volunteers on a master schedule and contacting them before book fair begins; sorting and sending book fair flyers (ready-made) to K-5 classrooms; helping set-up book fair each morning and helping close each afternoon; etc.  As a "thank you" for the time and service rendered, fourth grade will pay for this parent coordinator's Space Camp Admission.  If you are interested in serving in this capacity, please contact Ms. Geiger at mgeiger@pky.ufl.edu .

Finally, but most importantly, the FCAT Florida Writes exam is just around the corner - Tuesday, March 1st.  Several students still need much practice with their writing, including - responding to narrative and expository prompts (especially given the limited 45 minute time frame), organizing their writing into a clear beginning, middle and ending (in paragraph formation), keeping their writing focused on the topic; and using details and rich language (strong verbs, adjectives, specific nouns, etc.) to enhance their writing.  I have attached some writing resources into the Parent files section which you can use to help your child at home.  I also recommend taking a look at some of the specific prompts used in years past, and simply talking about them with your child about how they could respond to them.  4th grade will be sending home a sample writing resource packet by the end of the week for you, as well. 

As always, if you have any questions, feel free to contact one of us.  Thank you for your continued support!

The Fourth Grade Team

PARTIAL QUOTIENTS DIVISION - not traditional, please!

Dear Parents,

The past few days we have been learning the partial quotients algorithm to divide large numbers.  This is a completely different method than the way we adults were taught in school.  Even though it might be easier to just show your child to solve (homework) division problems the traditional way, it is extremely important that you try and help them use the partial quotients method. Otherwise, it can become even more confusing for your child, right now!  Remember that Everyday Math Online - www.everydaymathonline.com - is your support during this process!  There is a plethora of both online and printable information on all of the various algorithms which are taught. 

First, log onto the Everyday Math website with your child's student login, and click on the Family Resources launch button (see below).

Next, you'll be taken to a page titled "Free Family Resources."  Select the button "Algorithms in Everyday Mathematics," and you will then be lead through a list of other options (see below).  For a video tutorial on the partial quotients method, choose from any of the online resources.

I hope this information helps you.  We will be learning the traditional division method later on this week.  As for now, students need to practice division using the partial quotients method.  Thank you for your continued support!

Welcome Back!

It's so nice to see everyone after the winter break!  Our fourth graders stepped right back into routines last week and didn't miss a beat! 

These next two weeks (Jan. 10th - 20th) will be busy with Winter CBM testing.  Therefore, please ensure that your child has a healthy breakfast, comes to school on time and is well rested.  It makes such a difference!  We will send the data results from these CBM's along with report cards in the beginning of February.  I will contact you to schedule a parent-teacher conference, if necessary.  Otherwise, feel free to let me know if you have any questions and I will be happy to answer them.

We are in the midst of our Westward Expansionism unit, and all students are now meeting with their "content" teacher, based on the specific topic (i.e. Gold Rush, Transcontinental Railroad, Trail of Tears, Oregon Trail, Lewis and Clark, Industrial Revolution, etc.) they have chosen for their research.  Fourth and fifth grade teachers are guiding students in their research through the week of Jan. 18th.  The following week, students will begin drafting their project with teacher assistance - writing at least 3 diary entries from the perspective of someone who experienced their chosen topic (such as the Gold Rush, per say). 

In Math, we've begun Unit 6, which explores long division through the partial quotients algorithm.  Students will also work with protractors and measure angles.  Remember to utilize the wonderful algorithm resources available through Everyday Math online when helping your child with this type of division (it is not like the traditional way we learned in school).  As always, it is imperative that students be knowledgeable and quick with their multiplication (they use this while dividing), and division facts.  I will be sending home extra practice sheets to those students needing that additional boost.

Our 4th grade home reading format will be changing.  Please look for a letter with more information coming in your child's take-home folder in the next few days.  This week's Home Reading Journals are postponed.

I'm sure you've seen the new portables coming to life at the top of the hill over these past couple of months!  Those will be the new homes to both 4th and 5th grade until the new building is completed.  We are estimated to move in to the portables some time between the end of January and the beginning of February.  I will let you know more specifics once we are told.

As always, thank you for your continued support.  Please let me know if you have any questions.  Have a wonderful week!

SKYWARD ACCESS

This is a direct report from PK Yonge:

We have recently opened Skyward’s Family Access for parents and will work to get all families “on board” between now and the winter holidays.  Information is posted on the PKY web site front page and in detail on page: http://www.pkyonge.ufl.edu/modules/cms/pages.phtml?pageid=192057&sessionid=7da04b4a9987481fff362ebc2485181b.  
 

The Family Access User IDs and Password are intended for parent use and are not for students.  Our procedure in place is for the parent to personally come to the Main Office or Admissions Office which picture ID to receive their User ID, Password and have their account activated.   In the mean time, students can view their grades, etc. along side their parents, which could be a really good thing!
 

These are my current observations:

What we see as teachers on SKYWARD is different from what you will see as a parent.  I've already noticed that when I list an assignment, but don't enter the students' grades, that particular grade will show up as "missing" on the parent's log-in side (the assignment will be highlighted).  However, I actually have a special button on my side to check when I am actually missing an assignment from a student.  Once I check that button, it immediately affects the student's assignment grade and overall average for that specific subject.  Otherwise, if I haven't yet entered a grade for a student on a particular assignment (for example: it might be one that I'm in the process of grading or it's blank because a student is in the process of making up the assignment due to being absent, etc...), it will be highlighted on your side, but you will see that your child's grade and average is not affected.   I hope this explanation makes sense as I have not actually seen the parent log-in side.  Please let me know if I can be of any more help.  Our local PK Yonge SKYWARD expert is David Holt, who can be reached at: dholt@pky.ufl.edu. Otherwise, feel free to contact me with your questions.  This is a new system for both teachers and parents, and we are learning together. 

 

 

December Class News

Salutations!

Let me share with you what is happening in fourth grade.  We are wrapping up our Everyday Math Unit 5, and will have the Unit 5 Math Test on Tuesday, December 14th.  Your child will bring home a Study Guide sheet for review in his/her Take-Home folder.  This week, we reviewed solving multi-digit multiplication problems (using various algorithms), estimated & rounded large numbers (into the billions), and learned about scientific notation (with powers of 10).  I do want to let you know - on the Unit Test, students may use any algorithm to solve the multiplication problems.  We have discussed in detail how important it is for them to choose the method which works best for them, and the specific problem they are attempting to solve (for example: 23 * 5 or 483 * 97).  Please remind your child of this when he/she is reviewing for the test this weekend., and remember to use the resources available on www.everydaymathonline.com. 

In Reading, we are continuing to learn about a variety of topics dealing with Westward Expansionism - the Louisiana Purchase, Lewis and Clark, the Trail of Tears and Indian Boarding Schools (Native American Relocation and Acculturation), the Gold Rush, the Transcontinental Railroad, and the Industrial Revolution.  Tomorrow, students will choose a focus topic (from the list above) which they will then continue to learn more in depth, and eventually do for their research project.  The deeper learning and research part will happen once we return from Winter Break. 

Also, students have the option of choosing to join a Westward Expansion "Book Club."  There will be 3-4 historical fiction chapter books from which students may select to read.   This is just another opportunity for them to be exposed to the content and culture of this time period, while enjoying quality literature.  I will let you what research topic and possible book club choice your child has made before Winter Break. 

Also, I will return Home Reading Journals next week to students, with the next entry due by the week of January 3rd.   Many students have shared with me that they are not reading a chapter book at least 20-25 minutes daily.  Also, I've noticed that several have a difficult time sustaining their reading with one book, from the beginning to the end.  I am going back and reteaching the importance of reading a "just-right" book from cover to cover with the students in class, and encourage you to monitor your child's reading at home, too.  Is your child picking up a book, only reading a few chapters, then switching it a few days later for another book?  Is the book he/she chooses too easy or too hard? Have you seen your child reading a book from beginning to end on a regular basis?  If so, how often?

One of the most simple and effective things you can do with your child is to talk to them about their reading.  This is beneficial on so many different levels!  Here are some questions you can ask your child about his/her book:

• How and where/when the book begins... 
• What do they predict will happen next...
• Who is their favorite/least favorite character (and why)... 
• Does this book remind them of anything else they've read or seen?  
• Is it a funny/scary/mystery book?  How do they know?  
• If they were the author, would they change anything about the story?  
• What happens to ____?  What happens in ____?

These are just a few of the questions/conversation starters you can use when talking to your child about his/her book.  I would be more than happy to create a resource sheet with questions like these which you can keep on hand at home.  When children choose chapter books which interest them and are on their reading level, they are much more apt to read.  And - when children truly get into books and read, they become better readers.  Let's all work together to help our children develop that love for reading and achieve as readers, too.  It takes a village!  If you would like to know more about how to choose a "Just-Right" book, please visit the PARENT FILES section of our 4th grade website for a download-able pdf document.  As always, thank you for your support!  Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.