On Tuesday the entire fourth grade enjoyed an afternoon at the Fox theatre, downtown Spokane, listening and learning about the symphony. My class was awesome!
In math, we’ve been working on statistics and probability. Specifically, students are learning how to find the range, mode, and median from a set of data. We’ve also been creating bar graphs and line plots. Next week, students will practice finding the probability of common events. Recently, we finished elapsed time.
In writing, we worked on introductions and conclusions for essays. To improve sentences we discussed dead verbs also known as helping verbs, which can make sentences predictable and less descriptive. Instead, we used thesauruses to find exciting verbs to convey meaning beyond simply the action in the verb. For example, we talked about walk doesn’t create an image, but pranced certainly does! I am eager to share the results for their all day write essays. I plan to teach students how to set goals to improve writing conventions.
In reading, we finished work on identifying text features in nonfiction texts. We are now learning how to use questions as a reading strategy. As students interact with the text, students should be questioning the text. We are also going to compare different levels of questions, and identify questions that lead to deeper thinking.
In science, we are now learning about the muscular system. Students built thumb models with tendons that can actually flex!
Questions to Ask Your Children:
1. Can you show me your muscles? Ask him or her to explain the muscle pairs and lengthening and shortening muscles.
2. What is a dead verb? – Why do we need to limit their use in our writing?
3. What novel are you reading?
Changes in School Calendar:
Principal Pride November 16th at 10:45 a.m.
Picture retakes November 18th.
Early release (12:18) on Thursday, November 19th and Monday, November 23rd.
No school November 24-27.
Book Fair open November 19th and 20th and November 23rd and 24th.