Happy Spring!
Fourth graders are currently enjoying a well earned Spring Break!
Please look for the weekly email updates, and be sure to contact me with any questions or concerns. Also, more information will be coming home soon in students' homework folders regarding many of the upcoming events.
We have a busy remainder of fourth quarter to look forward to, including our next Becket Outdoor Center visit on Friday, April 26th; MCAS Math testing on Thursday, May 9th, and Friday, May 10th; the Spaghetti Dinner May 17th, (also a 1/2 day In-Service day); our final Becket Outdoor Center trip Thursday, May 23rd; our Connecticut Science Center field trip Friday, May 31st; Battle of the Books Thursday, June 6th; Field Day, Friday June 7th; the Spring Concert, Tuesday, June 11th; and the last day of school Thursday, June 13th!
Monday, April 15, 2019
Saturday, January 19, 2019
Winter 2019 News
Happy Winter!
Fourth graders are wrapping up their nonfiction reading and opinion essay writing units; next, we will be launching into historical fiction reading and literary essay writing.
In Mathematics, we just completed topics on multiple digit multiplication; students learned the area model and the standard algorithm (ask your student about the trick "Many Zoos, Many Animals"). We continue to practice solving multiple step word problems using the CUBES strategy.
Next, we will be embarking upon long division, so it is more important than ever that students continue to practice basic facts, as these are the foundation for our more advanced work.
We completed our Energy unit in science and have begun our Geology unit. The Jacob's Pillow program the last two weeks of January will help us better understand and remember important geology concepts, such as erosion and weathering.
Social Studies work continues with a focus upon Geography, this time as we study the five regions of the United States, and then national historic sites. We will also be learning about Economics.
If your student is in the Battle of the Books program, please remind her/him to use evening reading and weekend reading times to read the books selected (and some soon to be assigned) from the list. Red and green teams have chosen their names ("Reading Ravens" and "Radioactive Reading Hamsters"!), and all teams are being encouraged to write questions about their books as they read, or immediately after they read, starting with "In which book..." The answer will be a book title and author's last name.
Please continue to check homebook books and folders for important assignments and information, and sign planners for each day. Fourth graders should be taking responsibility for sharing these items, especially as the year progresses. Please contact me through email or a written note, as needed.
Enjoy the wintry weather!
Upcoming Events include: 1/22 Winter Concert @ 1:30;
1/23-2/1 Jacob's Pillow Residency Program with "A Pause in the Process" Informal Sharing @ 2pm on 2/1; 1/25 Report Cards; 2/18 - 2/22 Winter Vacation.
Fourth graders are wrapping up their nonfiction reading and opinion essay writing units; next, we will be launching into historical fiction reading and literary essay writing.
In Mathematics, we just completed topics on multiple digit multiplication; students learned the area model and the standard algorithm (ask your student about the trick "Many Zoos, Many Animals"). We continue to practice solving multiple step word problems using the CUBES strategy.
Next, we will be embarking upon long division, so it is more important than ever that students continue to practice basic facts, as these are the foundation for our more advanced work.
We completed our Energy unit in science and have begun our Geology unit. The Jacob's Pillow program the last two weeks of January will help us better understand and remember important geology concepts, such as erosion and weathering.
Social Studies work continues with a focus upon Geography, this time as we study the five regions of the United States, and then national historic sites. We will also be learning about Economics.
If your student is in the Battle of the Books program, please remind her/him to use evening reading and weekend reading times to read the books selected (and some soon to be assigned) from the list. Red and green teams have chosen their names ("Reading Ravens" and "Radioactive Reading Hamsters"!), and all teams are being encouraged to write questions about their books as they read, or immediately after they read, starting with "In which book..." The answer will be a book title and author's last name.
Please continue to check homebook books and folders for important assignments and information, and sign planners for each day. Fourth graders should be taking responsibility for sharing these items, especially as the year progresses. Please contact me through email or a written note, as needed.
Enjoy the wintry weather!
Upcoming Events include: 1/22 Winter Concert @ 1:30;
1/23-2/1 Jacob's Pillow Residency Program with "A Pause in the Process" Informal Sharing @ 2pm on 2/1; 1/25 Report Cards; 2/18 - 2/22 Winter Vacation.
Tuesday, September 5, 2017
Autumn 2018 News!
Happy Autumn!
Families, please continue to check homework folders and student homework planners each day for important notices and student assignments.
Fourth graders should continue to bring their book bags back and forth each day. We are completing our realistic fiction reading unit, and students know that in addition to at least one realistic fiction book for reading workshop, they should have two others, in the genres of their choice, in their book bags, for daily home reading.
Students should be continuing to practice basic multiplication and division facts through twelves; we will check all facts with speed tests before the first report card, hoping to see individual progress in each student from the baselines taken at the beginning of the year. Knowing these facts is the foundation for the higher-level math we do in fourth grade, so it is extremely important that your student know them well. (Please refer to my math letter for websites/apps and strategies to help with this.) Please also encourage real-life problem solving whenever possible; ask your student about "CUBES", our step by step problem solving method!
We are working on concluding our realistic fiction story writing unit, in which students had to give a fictional twist to a personal narrative, a challenging concept for fourth graders. In Science, we continue to explore energy concepts, and we continue our geography study in Social Studies.
We will be visiting Becket Outdoor Center for the second time on Wednesday, October 24. Our theme is "Tremendous Trees". It will be chilly, so please be sure your student dresses warmly, as we will be outdoors most of the day.
Additional important information will be communicated via this blog web site, updated at least quarterly. Please contact me with any questions/concerns. Email me at sgriffin@cbrsd.org, as this is the best way to reach me.
Families, please continue to check homework folders and student homework planners each day for important notices and student assignments.
Fourth graders should continue to bring their book bags back and forth each day. We are completing our realistic fiction reading unit, and students know that in addition to at least one realistic fiction book for reading workshop, they should have two others, in the genres of their choice, in their book bags, for daily home reading.
Students should be continuing to practice basic multiplication and division facts through twelves; we will check all facts with speed tests before the first report card, hoping to see individual progress in each student from the baselines taken at the beginning of the year. Knowing these facts is the foundation for the higher-level math we do in fourth grade, so it is extremely important that your student know them well. (Please refer to my math letter for websites/apps and strategies to help with this.) Please also encourage real-life problem solving whenever possible; ask your student about "CUBES", our step by step problem solving method!
We are working on concluding our realistic fiction story writing unit, in which students had to give a fictional twist to a personal narrative, a challenging concept for fourth graders. In Science, we continue to explore energy concepts, and we continue our geography study in Social Studies.
We will be visiting Becket Outdoor Center for the second time on Wednesday, October 24. Our theme is "Tremendous Trees". It will be chilly, so please be sure your student dresses warmly, as we will be outdoors most of the day.
Additional important information will be communicated via this blog web site, updated at least quarterly. Please contact me with any questions/concerns. Email me at sgriffin@cbrsd.org, as this is the best way to reach me.
Tuesday, August 22, 2017
Happy Autumn 2018, Fourth Grade Families!
Upcoming events include Becket Outdoor Center trip 10/24; Report Cards go home 11/2; half day Parent Teacher Conferences 11/6; Veterans' Day is 11/12; Thanksgiving break will begin with a half day 11/21; and students have a 1/2 day on 12/7 for a teacher in-service.
Upcoming events include Becket Outdoor Center trip 10/24; Report Cards go home 11/2; half day Parent Teacher Conferences 11/6; Veterans' Day is 11/12; Thanksgiving break will begin with a half day 11/21; and students have a 1/2 day on 12/7 for a teacher in-service.
Monday, June 5, 2017
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