We are going to have a pretty normal week - with the exception of the weather. I feel like the cold is both a blessing and a curse!
Language Arts
We are going to spend the next two weeks focusing on expository writing. We will continue to develop central ideas, support our central ideas with well-developed supporting paragraphs, and continue working on our conclusions. Students will turn in a final copy at the end of each week. In reading, we are looking at literary nonfiction. Literary nonfiction is usually about an important person or event in time. They share true information in a story format, such as Escaping Titanic: A Young Girl's True Story of Survival. We will continue reading literary nonfiction and practice comparing them to their traditional nonfiction counterpart.
Math
We are going to wrap up fractions by Tuesday of this week. After fractions, we will start looking at geometry. We will start our geometry unit by classifying angles and sets of lines. We will have a short fraction assessment on Tuesday. Please use the graded work that went home last week to help review for the assessment.
Science
This week, we are going to look at forces and where we see them all around us. We will also practice classifying forces (push, pull, gravity, etc.) and create an experiment to test friction and force. We started generating testable questions today in class. Students may need materials from home, but these materials will be easy things to find around the house. Please do not go out and purchase materials for our in class experiment.
Texas History
Today, we learned about the French and Spanish in Texas. We are going to talk about the strong Spanish influences we still see in our community today. We will learn about the way the Spanish settled Texas and tried to expand their empire.
Homework
Our homework looks a little different this week. Students do not have their regular reading log, instead they have a short reading passage they need to complete. All students will need to use their strategies from class on their homework assignment. It is due on Friday, like all reading assignments.
Science Fair materials and procedures are due tomorrow. Please be sure and check over the research portion of their project. I am still missing a note from several students letting me know y'all checked it over.
Reading Strategies
I like to keep things short and sweet when it comes to reading strategies. Let me know if you have any questions.
1) Preview the questions.
2) Read the entire passage. If it triggers your brain about a question, go back and see if you can answer it.
3) Finish answering all questions. Students must prove all their answers by underlining the text evidence and writing the questions number next to it. All answer can be proven.
Winter Party
Here is the link to the sign-up page. Please remember that we do have peanut allergies in our classroom.
Fourth Grade 411
Please remember to check the calendar for important upcoming dates.