February 2013

                          Monthly Class News

 Highlights

Over the course of the month in ELA students have continued focused on identifying the main idea, supportive details, topic, theme, summaries and the inferred meaning expressed within the passages and stories they have read. They have also practiced identifying the meaning of unknown words based on its context within the sentence or paragraph and/or their knowledge of Greek and Latin root words, as well as any prefixes or suffixes that may exist.

Students have been introduced to the following Greek and Latin root words: aud- hear, photo-light, struct-build, therm- heat, vis- see

Students have read non-fiction passages about scuba diving and tornados. Students have continued to read numerous fiction short stories such as: The Emperor and the Kite, The Lion and the Mouse, and The Heron and the Humming Bird. While working on the language arts skills noted above students created pamphlets which summarizes stories they had read. Students have continued to read independently for approximately 30 minutes each day while at school. Students also practice writing each day.

In Social Studies students have been continued to learn about the founding of New York State by the early colonist. 

In Math students have continued to and practiced simplifying fractions as well as adding and subtracting fractions and converting mixed numbers to improper fractions and improper fractions to mixed numbers. Students have also begun a new unit of study on geometry. They have been identifying lines, angles, and classify shapes by the properties of their lines and angles.

                                                   More News 

•           On Feb. 14 4th graders enjoyed a chocolate chip pancake breakfast and ran an art sale to raise money for Heifer International. The art sold was created by the students during their recess time. . 

•           Students have continued to participate in Debate Club.

•           Students are continuing to do research on the “Dust Bowl”. Students will identify a specific question that they wonder about and would like to research further in the weeks ahead. Students will have a variety of choices as to how they would like to present their findings.  

January 2013                                                                      Monthly Class News                                                                                  Highlights  Over the course of the month in ELA students have focused on identifying the main idea, supportive details, topic, theme, and the inferred meaning expressed within the passages and stories they have read. Additionally, they have practiced writing summaries of what they have read.  Students have read non-fiction passages about Manatees, Puffins, crocodiles, Frank Lloyd Wright as well as numerous fiction short stories. Each day student have had an opportunity to read independently for approximately 30 minutes while at school. Students also practice writing each day. In Social Studies students have been learning about the founding of New York State by the early colonist.   In Math students have been introduced to and practiced identifying fractions and equivalent fractions, simplifying fractions as well as adding and subtracting fractions and converting mixed numbers to improper fractions and improper fractions to mixed numbers. In science students have been identifying what animal behavior is and types of behaviors that exist (inborn and learned). Students have also learned about reflexes, instincts, stimulus and response and have identified examples of each.                                                                   More News ·    On Jan. 17 4th graders performed a coral reading of a poem that highlighted and honored the life of Martin Luther King Jr.   ·    Students have continued to participate in Debate Club. This month students debated whether they thought the school day should be extended. This debate was featured on Channel 6 news. ·    Students are continuing to do research on the “Dust Bowl”. Students will identify a specific question that they wonder about and would like to research further in the weeks ahead. Students will have a variety of choices as to how they would like to present their findings.

The Week of Jan.22, 2013
This week's spelling words are as follows:

PREFIXES UN,DIS

              1. unknown

              2. disagree

              3. dishonest

              4.uncertain

             5. undecided

             6. disobey

             7. disorder

             8. unofficial

             9. disapprove

           10. unpredictable

The Week of Jan. 14th
In math this week students are being introduced to and practicing adding and subtracting fractions with like denominators, comparing fractions to the benchmark of ½ ,.ordering/ comparing fractions with like denominators. Students will also review  multiplies, factors, prime and composite numbers as well practice identifying patterns. 

In language arts students will continue to read numerous fiction and non-fiction passages. Students will focus this week on summarizing these stories and passages after determining the main idea and identifying supporting details. Students continue to write each day. This week students are writing a fictional piece in response to a picture of their choice. 

In social studies students are learning about the formation of the first European settlements in America. Students are also continuing the research project about the dust bowl.    

                                                    Happy New Year

Over the course of the coming week in math students will practice reducing fractions as well as practice identifying when fractions are represented in simplest form. Additionally, they will identify and create equivalent fractions mathematically and using picture models. Students will have a quiz on Friday pertaining to these skill. A review sheet will be sent home on Thurs. 

 

This weeks spelling words involve the use of abbreviations and are as follows: President, Pres., pound, lb., Governor, Gov., New York, N.Y., teaspoon, tsp. 

 

In social studies students have begun studying the early european explorers. These include:Cartier, Hudson, and Champlain. 

In science students are learning more about the anatomy of the Central Neverous System, inbornand learned behaviors as well as reflexes.

 

In language arts students are currently focusing on completeing a reading passage about the famous blues singer Bessie Smith. Students have used this passage to practice finding key words in the questions as well as answer choices when responding to multiple choice questions. Also they are working on identifying the  main idea of the passages they are reading.