The homework tonight is on estimating multiplication equations on lesson 2.4, Estimating Products. You will find a tutorial on the lesson below, if needed. We sent home a G Force Back to School Update with your child. If you did not receive it, I am posting it below. We are also looking for supplies for an upcoming project that is posted below, as well. Thank you for your support and have a good week!
G Force Back to School Update
October, 2018
Hello parents and students,
Thanks for coming to our Open House. Hopefully your child was able to show you some of the routines
that we have in our neighborhood. If you were unable to attend, feel free to email us if you have any
questions.
The most asked question is about math. We are preparing them to meet the math standards by May when
we take the PARCC test. The standards require children to explain their thinking and make models to
demonstrate their understanding. This is difficult for many of the students in the beginning of fourth grade.
It takes time and practice to progress to a deeper level of math understanding. We are training them to be
math thinkers with a Growth Mindset! Your children WILL improve as we move throughout the year!
that we have in our neighborhood. If you were unable to attend, feel free to email us if you have any
questions.
The most asked question is about math. We are preparing them to meet the math standards by May when
we take the PARCC test. The standards require children to explain their thinking and make models to
demonstrate their understanding. This is difficult for many of the students in the beginning of fourth grade.
It takes time and practice to progress to a deeper level of math understanding. We are training them to be
math thinkers with a Growth Mindset! Your children WILL improve as we move throughout the year!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Hamill, Mr. Utter, and Mrs. Ward
Grades:
Soon you will receive some of the graded papers that your child has completed. Your child will place them inside the red folder in their binder. It takes a little extra time to get the first round of papers returned. For most students, it is the first time they will receive letter grades. We are training the students to understand the importance of the letter grading system. We are also allowing them to improve low scores by having them correct their answers for a better grade. This requires us to grade each assignment twice, which can take quite a while by the time we get the second round of papers back from every student.
Homework:
Please sign your child’s homework notebook every night. Your child should also fill out the book log (in the back of the notebook) to show the 20 minutes of nightly reading.
Help Wanted
We are completing a social studies/science project where we are in need of supplies in order to complete it. We will be completing a salt and dough map where students will be using it to illustrate the regions, significant landforms, and other geographic features. We are also building a model of a “rover or drone-type vehicle” that will explore the group’s assigned region. We could use materials in order to put the rover together. They will be working in groups. We need the following materials, along with any other materials that would be appropriate for the rover model. A letter will come home with additional details.
Materials - salt-dough (please email if you are helping with this)
soda bottles, small boxes, bottle caps, toothpicks/skewers, blocks, aluminum foil, tape, etc.
(No electronics, please.)
FYI...
- Looking for extra math practice or assistance in math homework? Please go to the following site to assist you in parent math newsletters, extra practice for the math units we are working on, games, and many other useful resources to help your child with math concepts. (https://sites.google.com/view/midatlanticmathresource This site is found on the Crossroads homepage. You may also check out the tutorial video on the blog posted each night, look at the first few pages of each lesson in their math book, or log into Think Central.
- If you need to contact any of us, the quickest way is through email. (NOT through Class Dojo).Our emails are as follows:
- If your child will be absent from school, please let the office know with a call, email, or note. You can email the school at CESattendance@am.dodea.edu
Dear Parents,
We are creating a "drone-type vehicle" in science that will require recyclable materials. Please allow your child to bring in any of the following items he/she may need to complete the vehicle: soda bottles, small boxes, bottle caps, toothpicks/skewers, blocks, aluminum foil, tape, other
We are also seeking volunteers to make the "salt-dough" for the maps. The directions can be found below. Please check the box on the bottom of the hard copy page that went home or email your child's homeroom teacher letting them know you can help bring in the "salt-dough" for our project.
Directions: Mix together the following: 4 cups of flour, 2 cups of salt, 2 cups of water, 2 tablespoons of cream of tartar.
Thank you,
The Fourth Grade G Force Teachers
Oct. 3rd
No School - Teacher Workday
Math:
Students are continuing to work through chapter 2 on multiplication. We should be completing 2.5 tomorrow on multiplication using the distributive property, 2.6 on Thursday on multiplication using expanded form, and 2.7 on Friday on multiplication using partial products.
Science/ Social Studies:
Students will begin researching information on their assigned region.
Estimated Timeline:
Oct. 5: Research the region that your group is assigned. Use your social studies textbook to find the information and record it on the graphic organizer.
Oct. 12: Use the map, poster-board, paint and dough provided to create a “salt map” of your assigned region. Your map should include a map key and labels. (see this link for directions http://kidworldcitizen.org/2012/01/29/3d-salt-dough-maps/ )
Oct. 19: Explore the purpose of a “rover” or “drone.” Bring in recyclable materials that could be used to design a vehicle that can explore your region. Your design should consider the geography of your region. You should also consider how your vehicle will collect information about the region.
Oct. 26: Present to the class a “documentary” about the discoveries of your vehicle in your region.
Language Arts:
Students will continue Unit 1 on main idea, summarizing, making inferences as they also transition to working stations of writing letters, word work, and reading. They are also becoming more comfortable finding and writing text-based evidence to support their answers.
Important Dates
Oct. 3rd
No School - Teacher Workday
Reminder: Early Dismissal Every Wednesday at 1:40
Grading:
This year your child will have letter grades on their report cards. It is important for you to review the papers that come home with your child on a regular basis. If your child has a C or below on an assignment, please help reinforce the concepts and have your child redo the assignment. Sometimes you may also see a 1-4 score on your child’s paper. This type of score reflects a rubric score for the assignment. See the grade equivalents below:
4-A, 3-B, 2-C, 1-D or Below
Interims will keep you informed of your child’s current grades. The first interim, however, will be very general since only a few grades will be given by that date.
Homework:
Please check your child’s homework notebook for daily homework assignments. The basic nightly routine will be 20 minutes of reading AND a math assignment. The math will be the homework pages in the math workbook that correlate with the daily lesson OR a Think Central assignment. Your child should have the pages written down in their notebooks. Mr. Utter will also post daily assignments with how to videos on the G-Force blog.
Snack:
Fourth grade students have a very early lunch this year, so we will not have a snack time. Our time is limited in the afternoon due to recess and specials. Please make sure your child eats a sufficient amount of lunch to get them through the school day.
FYI...
- Looking for extra math practice? Please go to the following site to assist you in parent math newsletters, extra practice for the math units we are working on, games, and many other useful resources to help your child with math concepts. (https://sites.google.com/view/midatlanticmathresource This site is found on the Crossroads homepage.
- If you need to contact any of us, the quickest way is through email. (NOT through Class Dojo).Our emails are as follows:
- If your child will be absent from school, please let the office know with a call, email, or note. You can email the school at CESattendance@am.dodea.edu
- New DODEA rules prohibit food for birthdays so please do not send in cupcakes or other food for your child.
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