Fraction Games

Below are links to some great online games that work on equivalent fractions, ordering fractions, and division fluency.   Please encourage your child to try them out and practice over the weekend! In the future these games can be found in the Educational Links tab.

• Ordering Fractions
• Equivalent Fractions 
• Division Math Man 
• Division Fruit Splat 

  Homework: 

• Division facts 0-12: 10-20 minutes
• Read: 20 minutes

Reminders:

• Unit 9 Multiplication and Division Assessment: Tuesday, June 2.
• Unit 8 Math Assessment sign & returns due ASAP
• Clip Hall of Fame Celebration: June 5, at 9:30 AM  (Please make sure your child received an invitation) 
• Missing classroom books: 
• Exclamation Mark 

Classroom Supplies:  A special thank you to families who have sent their kids in with tissues!  Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

• Dry erase markers
• Sticky notes

Thank you,

Ms. Smith

Clip Hall of Fame Invitations

In Math Workshop, students used pictures, equal groups, etc. to solve and show multiplication word problems.  At stations, students practiced creating side lengths for a given perimeter, multiplication and division, and ordering fractions.

In Writers' Workshop, students learned a pre-writing strategy to help them focus their research and planning.  The kids used their text maps and text structures that they created in their notebooks yesterday; they listed facts they already knew within those topics, and jotted down questions that they need answered when we research.

In Readers' Workshop, students learned that we wonder before, during, and after reading to help us think about and comprehend texts.  We use sticky notes to help make our thinking clear.

In Social Studies, students closely studied an economic resource map to help them explore other purposes for maps.

 Homework: 

• Math homework due tomorrow 
• Division facts 0-12: 10-20 minutes
• Read: 20 minutes

Reminders:

• Unit 9 Multiplication and Division Assessment: Tuesday, June 2.
• Unit 8 Math Assessment sign & returns due ASAP
• Clip Hall of Fame Celebration: June 5, at 9:30 AM  (Please make sure your child received an invitation) 
• Missing classroom books: 
• Exclamation Mark 

Classroom Supplies:  A special thank you to families who have sent their kids in with tissues!  Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

• Dry erase markers
• Sticky notes

Thank you,

Ms. Smith

Math Test

Next Tuesday, we will have our Unit 9 Math Assessment on multi-digit multiplication and division.  As always, we will spend time reviewing in class, and I will send home a review for homework.  If you have not yet signed and returned your child's Unit 8 Assessment, please be sure to do so at your earliest convenience.  Thank you!

Homework: 

• Math homework due tomorrow 
• Multiplication/ division facts 0-12: 10-20 minutes
• Read: 20 minutes

Reminders:

• Unit 9 Multiplication and Division Assessment: Tuesday, June 2.
• Unit 8 Math Assessment sign & returns due ASAP
• Missing classroom books: 
• Exclamation Mark 

Classroom Supplies:  A special thank you to families who have sent their kids in with tissues!  Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

• Dry erase markers
• Sticky notes

Thank you,

Ms. Smith

Sticky Notes!

In Readers' Workshop this week, students will be learning how to use sticky notes as tools to aid in their comprehension and foster critical thinking.  Today, the kids learned that as they're reading, they can stop and jot down what they're wondering to help them think about and understand what they're reading.

In Writers' Workshop, we started our Research Unit of Study.  Students will learn research strategies and elements of writer's craft within this domain.

In Math Workshop, students practiced decomposing irregular polygons to solve for area and perimeter.

In Social Studies, we further explored additional purposes for maps (aside from directions).  Today, the kids studied characteristics of a topographic map to help them explore its functions.

In Cursive, students used a "curve forward" and "curve under" to write a lowercase "k".  Additionally students learned how to write a lower case "r" using slants.

Homework: 

• Math homework due tomorrow 
• Multiplication/ division facts 0-12: 10-20 minutes
• Read: 20 minutes

Reminders:

• Missing classroom books: 
• Exclamation Mark 

Classroom Supplies:  A special thank you to families who have sent their kids in with tissues!  Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

• Dry erase markers
• Sticky notes

Thank you,

Ms. Smith

Maps & Movement

In Math Workshop, students worked with partners to decompose irregular polygons to rectangles and squares to help them solve for perimeter and area.  To work through this concept, we physically cut the irregular polygons to regular polygons, found side lengths, and used multiplication and addition to solve for area and perimeter (see below).

In Writers' Workshop, students continued typing their fairy tales. The kids are making fantastic progress!

In Readers' Workshop, students worked independently to identify Aha Moments and consider (and write) how this might change this for the character. 

Today begins our next unit of study in Social Studies: Maps and Movement.  This unit will introduce students to the geography of Harford County. Students will identify and interpret map elements to help them determine the location of Harford County on various maps.  Additionally, they will explore maps and tools used by geographers and their respective purposes.  Finally, students will explore how communication and transportation connect us to other parts of the world.

Homework: 

• Math homework due tomorrow (double-sided)
• Multiplication/ division facts 0-12: 10-20 minutes
• Read: 20 minutes

Reminders:

• Early Dismissal: tomorrow
• No school: Monday, May 25.
• Missing classroom books: 
• Exclamation Mark 

Classroom Supplies:  A special thank you to families who have sent their kids in with tissues!  Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

• Tissues
• Dry erase markers

Thank you,

Ms. Smith

Two Hands!

In Math Workshop, students used multiplication and division fact families to make sense of and solve problems involving said operations.

In Writers' Workshop we were in the lab, typing up our fairy tales (due Friday).  While typing, students are working on using TWO hands when typing; i.e., we're working on our word processing skills (see below).

In Readers' Workshop, students worked with their literacy partner to read, identify, and grow ideas about theme through Aha Moments.

Students' science quiz will come home in their Beaver Folder on Friday.

During our new "Cursive Time", students learned to make letters using one swift motion and words using connected strokes (not lifting our pencils after each letter).

In place of Specials today, students had the opportunity to attend the music concert in the afternoon.

Homework: 

• Math homework due tomorrow (double-sided)
• Multiplication/ division facts 0-12: 10-20 minutes
• Read: 20 minutes

Reminders:

• Early Dismissal: Friday, May 22.
• No school: Monday, May 25.
• Missing classroom books: 
• Exclamation Mark 
• My Life As A Stunt Boy

Classroom Supplies:  We are completely out of tissues, due to allergy season.  If you could consider sending in a box or two, the kids would really appreciate it.  Thank you!

• Tissues
• Dry erase markers

Thank you,

Ms. Smith

Plants Quiz

In Math Workshop, we were able to break apart into two groups, both working with a teacher.  Some students worked with me, while others worked with Ms. Sevilla during math.  All students have double-sided math homework tonight.

In Writers' Workshop, students identified proper nouns to help them make capitalization edits.

In Readers' Workshop, students explored how "Aha Moments" help us think about theme.

In Science, students took their Plants Quiz.  Results will come home Friday.

Homework: 

• Math homework due tomorrow (double-sided)
• Multiplication/ division facts 0-12: 10-20 minutes
• Read: 20 minutes

Reminders:

• Early Dismissal: Friday, May 22.
• No school: Monday, May 25.
• Missing classroom books: 
• Exclamation Mark 
• My Life As A Stunt Boy

Classroom Supplies:  We are completely out of tissues, due to allergy season.  If you could consider sending in a box or two, the kids would really appreciate it.  Thank you!

• Tissues
• Dry erase markers

Thank you,

Ms. Smith

Tissues...

In Math Workshop, students learned used expanded notation and place value to write one problem many different ways.

In Writers' Workshop, students identified "time transitions" to help them make edits regarding new paragraphs.  Students first practiced this editing strategy while reading a peers' fairy tale, with their literacy partner (see below).  Then, students went back to their own writing and edited.  Fairy tales should be published (typed up) by Friday.  I will send home essays with feedback next week.

In Readers' Workshop, students closely read a folktale and used inferences to engage in accountable talk.

In Science, students identified parts of fruits to help them explore its functions.  Students will have a quiz on the functions of each part of the plant tomorrow.

Homework: 

• Math homework due tomorrow
• Multiplication/ division facts 0-12: 10-20 minutes
• Read: 20 minutes

Reminders:

• Early Dismissal: Friday, May 22.
• No school: Monday, May 25.
• Missing classroom books: 
• Exclamation Mark 
• My Life As A Stunt Boy

Classroom Supplies:  We are completely out of tissues, due to allergy season.  If you could consider sending in a box or two, the kids would really appreciate it.  Thank you!

• Tissues
• Dry erase markers

Thank you,

Ms. Smith

Missing Classroom Books

Parents & Guardians, 

As the school year begins to dwindle down, if you could please have your child check their rooms, etc. for any classroom books, I'd greatly appreciate it.  If students are reading them at home, that's totally fine; however, if books are sitting on shelves, etc., please send them back to our room. Classroom books have “H.SMITH” or “O’NEILL” written on the top right corner of the cover and inside page.  Thank you for your help!

Homework: 

• Math homework due tomorrow
• Multiplication facts 0-12: 10-20 minutes
• Read: 20 minutes

Reminders:

• Missing classroom books: 
• Exclamation Mark 
• My Life As A Stunt Boy

Classroom Supplies:  

• Dry erase markers

Thank you,

Ms. Smith

Cursive

In Math Workshop, students used place value and number sense to identify common mistakes in multi-digit multiplication, and then accurately solve the problem.

In Writers' Workshop, students learned an editing strategy: in our writing, if we use back and forth dialogue, every time a different character speaks, we have to indent.  With their literacy partner, students edited their peer's fairy tale (see below), then applied this strategy to their own writing.

In Readers' Workshop, students used Aha Moments to grow ideas about how these realizations and understanding change things for the character. The ideas we grow here, help us make inferences about conflict and theme.

In Science, students studied and explained the functions of the flower.

From today on, at the end of the day, I'll be teaching the kids how to write in cursive.  This will not be graded, nor is it a requirement for fourth grade; thus, I won't be sending home cursive homework.

Homework: 

• Math homework due tomorrow
• Multiplication facts 0-12: 10-20 minutes
• Read: 20 minutes

Reminders:

• Missing classroom books: 
• Exclamation Mark 
• Wonder
• My Life As A Stunt Boy

Classroom Supplies:  

• Dry erase markers

Thank you,

Ms. Smith

Multiplication

Just a friendly reminder to please continue to encourage your child to practice their multiplication/ division facts!  We practice daily in class, and students will continue to be tested on their fluency.

Homework: 

• Math homework due tomorrow
• Multiplication facts 0-12: 10-20 minutes
• Read: 20 minutes

Reminders:

• Missing classroom books: 
• Exclamation Mark 
• Wonder

Classroom Supplies:  

• Dry erase markers

Thank you,

Ms. Smith

Field Day Pictures

Hi All!  Sorry I didn't post on Friday; Field Day was very busy!  Below are some snapshots from one of our relays :).

In Math Workshop, students used their understanding of place value to make sense of and solve multi-digit multiplication problems. 

In Writers' Workshop, students learned a new revising strategy: using precise words for "said".  

In Readers' Workshop, students identified "Aha Moments" to help them make prediction about what might happen next. 

In Science, students identified each part of plants and their functions.  We then used this information to engage in dialogue regarding plants' importance to life on Earth.

In Number Talks, students used near doubles to quickly solve addition problems.

Homework: 

• Math homework
• Multiplication facts 0-12: 10-20 minutes
• Read: 20 minutes

Reminders:

• Missing classroom books: 
• Exclamation Mark 
• Wonder

Classroom Supplies:  

• Dry erase markers

Thank you,

Ms. Smith