Viewing: October, 2022
October 18, 2022
Launching Science
Today, room 209 students were treated to a DOUBLE science day! Our new science unit is all about how the earth changes, and in the course of the unit, students will learn about plate movement, earthquakes, tsunamis, erosion and weathering, and so much more! To start off the unit, we learned about the four layers of the earth: the crust, mantle, outer core, and inner core. We used Play-Doh to model the four different layers, and students are bringing home their big blue model of the earth today. I would LOVE for them to be able to cut open their models at home with a grown-up tonight, if your schedule permits. Kids know to share with their “Aunt Petunias” (their grown-ups at home) what they learned about the four layers of the earth. Here are some good questions you can ask them:
- What layer is this?
- What is the layer made out of?
- How thick/thin is it compared to other layers?
- How hot/not hot is it compared to other layers?
- Is it made of solid material or liquid material?
- Why is the inner core solid, even though it’s so hot?
If you are willing, I’d love for you to share photos of your students as they open their models! (They know to let you handle the knives, unless you give them permission to cut them open themselves.)
This afternoon, we were able to participate in a special live program from the Smithsonian Zoo in Washington, D.C. Students learned about different adaptations that animals have to survive. While we don’t start our animal and plant adaptation unit until later this year, this was too perfect of an opportunity to pass up! The kids loved getting to see seals and learn about different physical features that allow them to survive! You can ask your kids about Gunther the seal, why they trim his finger nails, and why he needs eye drops to see! (Hint: Ask how old he is.)
Posted in Class Updates|By Jon Moss
October 14, 2022
Crafting Narrative Stories, Learning about Place Value
October has been a busy month in Room 209! Today, we wrapped up our first math unit, and students worked very hard on their math assessment. (I don’t return graded assessments until all students complete the test, so you won’t see them coming home for at least another week, as we have students who were absent today and who didn’t get to begin the assessment. We have been learning about place value, addition, and subtraction (as you’ve seen on homework).
Next week, we will kick off our second unit, which focuses on factors and multiples. You can best support your student by helping him or her to practice multiplication facts. My math department colleagues over at Avon Middle School and Avon High School continue to tell me that math fact mastery is the SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT skill kids need in order to be prepared for upper grades, and it’s SO critical that they practice at home. While this was a focus of in-class time in third grade, in fourth grade, the expectation is that kids practice at home (if the skills aren’t yet mastered).
Over the past few weeks, we’ve started having math groups, which will ensure that all students receive the support and small-group instruction that’s right for them. These will continue to phase in over the next few weeks. Many students have worked in small groups with me already, but this will grow in coming weeks.
In reading, we are learning all about characters. This week, we have been focusing on developing higher-level thoughts about characters, in turn, how to interpret complicated characters. As kids mature as readers, the books they read tend to evolve from having characters that are all-good or wholly-evil (Think: Cinderella vs. her step-mother) and instead have flawed protagonists who are imperfect but still the hero of the story, and complicated antagonists who may be “the bad guy” in the story, while still having some redeeming qualities. Students are also working on developing detailed written responses about these characters, which will be a bigger focus next week.
In writing, students are working on drafting their narrative pieces. We’re learning how and when to add storytelling details to better develop a key part, and when to fast-forward (summarize) a part that’s less important. Students need to finish their drafts next week so that we can begin to revise. This will be a homework assignment next week for students who aren’t yet finished with their drafts. I asked all students to bring home their writing and their story arcs (see photo) today because I know week nights can be busy for families, and I wanted to give you/them the OPTION to continue working this weekend if that is preferable for your family’s schedule. Please understand that it is certainly not required to work on this over the weekend; I just wanted to give the option to students (and they know it’s really up to their families to decide how to best schedule in the work time). I do ask that if your student works on his/her writing at home, please resist the urge to work with him/her to put your grown-up finesse on the draft. We’re working together in class, and I enjoy getting to conference with many, many students each week, so everyone will get one-on-one time to work with me. I’d ask that you allow me to be the one to work with your kids on THIS piece, and that you take on the role of being your fourth grader’s best cheerleader and supporter, because your kids’ writing DEFINITELY is worthy of cheer! They are doing great work!
Science will be starting up soon, so you can expect to hear more from your kids! Lastly, in the middle of dismissal today, a kind student reminded me that I had a pile of school photos that I hadn’t yet passed out to students. Many students brought them home today, but if your child didn’t, don’t worry! They’re in your student’s mailbox to be brought home on Monday. I apologize for the delay! Your kids’ photos are terrific! 🙂
Posted in Class Updates|By Jon Moss