December 19-22

It is last week of school before winter break! Students will have off on Friday, December 23 and will return to school on Tuesday, December 3. This Thursday, December 22, we will be having an ice cream party and watching the movie "Shiloh", as many students in the class have read the book for book clubs. An email has been sent out if you would like to sign up to send something for the party. We will also be attending the Holiday Concert in the commons on Thursday from 1:30 until the end of the day.

In science last week, the students tested out the effects different variables had on the rate of erosion of a "soccer field" built on a hill. Some students tested the difference in the amount of eroded material at different slopes and some students tested different types of soil. It was quite a messy experiment, but the students seemed to enjoy the activity!

We are finishing up our division unit in math. The final test is today, Tuesday, December 20.

Happy Holidays!

Mrs. Becker

December 12-16

It was great to meet with all of you at conferences earlier this month. It's hard to believe that in just a few short weeks we will be on winter break already!

During conferences, I shared your child's guided reading level with you. I also showed many of you the website to look up the guided reading levels for books your child is reading. Unfortunately, I have found that the website is only available to teachers. Here is a different website for parents to find book levels and recommendations for their children.

http://www.scholastic.com/parents/

In reading this week, we are working on growing ideas about characters and having constructive debates about the text.

In writing, the students are deciding on their opinion essay topics. They will be developing reasons and examples to support their thesis.

We are focusing on division word problems and division review in math this week. The students will need to understand the meaning of remainders in different scenarios.

The students will conduct an erosion experiment this week called "The Case of the Disappearing Soccer Field". There will be an erosion, weathering and deposition quiz on Thursday.

We are attending a band and orchestra concert on Tuesday morning in the commons. There is also early release on Wednesday at 1:50 for students.

Have a great week!

November 28- December 2

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving break! We are back with a short week this week for students. There will be no school on Thursday or Friday due to parent-teacher conferences. I am looking forward to meeting with all of you about your child's progress!

Last week in science, the students brainstormed ideas about how mesas and buttes are formed. They got to design a model to show the process and share it with the class!

In writing, we are moving on to the persuasive essay unit. Students are learning to use boxes (thesis statements) and bullets (reasons) to persuade readers. We are currently discussing what persuasive essays look like and brainstorming ideas for topics.

In math, we are focusing on long division. The students are using the place value sections, expanded notation, and digit by digit methods to divide large numbers. We are asking students to explain how to divide using place value language and strategies, not just the classic method of divide, multiply, subtract, and bring down. Videos for each strategy will be posted this week.

In reading, the students are working on growing ideas about characters. We are focusing on what they do, say, and think in order to understand them on a deeper level. Students are working on citing page numbers and writing reflections in their reader's notebooks.

November 14-18

We had a great time at the Riversedge Nature Center last week. The kids got to see all kinds of landforms created by glaciers such as kames, eskers, moraines, and kettles. They also got to use tools to test soil, wind speed, and temperature.

This week we have a math test on Tuesday on multiplication (any method), estimation, and word problems. The students are coming home with a study guide tonight which they started in class. We will begin our division unit on Wednesday.

In reading, we will continue to work on summarizing using story elements and choosing good fit books.

In writing, the students are working through the writing process for a narrative piece on their own. They are taking what they have learned in class throughout the unit and applying it to their student lead piece. Final published pieces will be due on Thursday. The next unit will be on persuasive writing.

We are starting science this week. The unit is on the changing earth and includes erosion, deposition, landforms, earthquakes, volcanoes, and fossils. This week the students will work in groups to create a mesa or butte using sand, clay, and other supplies from the classroom.

In morning meeting, we are discussing ways to choose partners kindly and to include others in class discussions and group work.

Have a great week!

November 7-11

Our field trip to the Riversedge Nature Center was canceled at the last minute last week due to the terrible weather. We were able to reschedule the trip for this Thursday, November 10. As of now, the weather looks good! Remember to send a bag lunch and have your child wear appropriate clothing for a morning outside.

The students are finishing up their book clubs in reading this week. They are having some great discussions about symbolism and point of view. We celebrated the completion of the narrative unit in writing last week. The students will take this week to write one more complete piece on their own using what they have learned from the unit. 

In math, we are continuing to practice two digit by two digit multiplication as well as one digit by four digit multiplication. We will also focus on multi-step word problems this week. The chapter 2 test is tentatively scheduled for Monday, November 14. The kids will not need to use all of the multiplication methods on the test, they will only need to use the method that works best for them. 

In social studies, we are finishing up chapter 3 on the first people in Wisconsin. The test is tomorrow (Tuesday). It is an open book/open note test.  After this unit, we will be moving on to science!

Please remember to turn in your conference sign up forms that went home in the Thursday folder last week.

October 31- November 4

We are going to Riversedge Nature Center on Wednesday from 8:10-1:15 to hike part of the Ice Age Trail and to learn more about glacial landforms. Students should dress warmly and bring a bag lunch. On Tuesday, we will be celebrating the completion of our narrative pieces in writing. Students will get to share their favorite part of their story and we will have a special treat. In math, we have finished timed tests up until 10's. Your child will be bringing a letter home this week indicating which facts they have passed. Retests for any number will be on Tuesday and Thursday.

Here are some pictures from Art for Youth this past week...

Place Value Sections Method for 2 digit by 2 digit multiplication:

Expanded Notation Method for 2 digit by 2 digit multiplication:

October 24-29

We had two spirit days at Glen Hills last week. Students participated in Packer Day and Hat Day. They also had their Halloween YAC which was all the talk this morning! This week we have Art for Youth on Monday, a visit from the North Shore Fire Department on Thursday, and boys have swimming in P.E. on Friday.

Book clubs are starting this week and students chose to read Rules, Shiloh, Wayside School, and Dragon Slayer. We are also finishing up our final drafts of our narrative stories in writing with a focus on editing this week. In math, there will be a quiz on Wednesday where students will need to solve multiplication problems using some of the new methods learned in the unit. We will be moving on to two digit by two digit multiplication as well as multi-step word problems.

Algebraic Notation

Students will use the distributive property of multiplication to solve problems using the algebraic notation method demonstrated below.

October 17th

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend! This week, we will be having our first Art for Youth with Mrs. Gapinski and the kids are looking forward to it! The girls will be swimming in P.E. on Friday. The Halloween Y.A.C is also on Friday. This is always an exciting event where students get to spend time together with their classmates outside of the school day. The costumes are always fun to see!

In reading, the students will be starting book clubs. Mrs. Sgarlata and I will be giving book talks for 10 different books and students will be able to list their top 3 or 4 choices. Students will mostly be reading these books in class, while sometimes bringing them home to keep on their reading schedule. They will be meeting regularly with their book clubs to have discussions.

In writing this week, students will continue to work on their rough drafts of their narrative essays. We will work on weaving in setting and creating strong endings.

In math, students will continue to work on multiplication using place value sections method (video for this method was posted in last week's blog entry), expanded notation method (see video below), and algebraic notation method (coming soon). They will also take their 7's and 8's timed test.

Author Visit and Homework Update

Last week, Ben Hatke, author of "Mighty Jack" and "Zita the Spacegirl", came to speak to the 3rd, 4th, and 5th-grade students in the commons. He talked about how he comes up with his ideas for graphic novels. He showed the students how he illustrates his graphic novels using action in replacement for dialogue. It is wonderful for the students to see writers in action, as they themselves are working on narrative pieces of writing during writers workshop. We even used Hatke's idea of drawing small actions to plan out how their stories will go in class.

We started our second unit in math which focuses on multiplication. I will be giving the students periodic timed tests for each set of basic facts. Last week, the students took the 1's and 2's test. Today they will take 3's and 4's, and on Friday, they will take 5's and 6's. As they pass each set, they will receive a sticker. One day a week I will allow students to choose a set to retake to earn their stickers if necessary. Please continue to work on these facts at home! I appreciate all of your help with this!

The students will have a test in social studies on Friday about glacial landforms in Wisconsin and where Wisconsin falls on the map. We will have a review day in class on Thursday. The students can bring home their social studies books and vocabulary lists to study at home during the evening this week.

As a reminder, students should be reading for at least 20 minutes per night as part of their homework assignment. If children are reading silently, they should be reading "good fit books", which are books they can read and understand independently without help from an adult. These books are not too hard and not too easy. I have taught the children strategies for finding good fit books, so hopefully they will use them at home!

I update the homework assignments on my school web page each week. Please note that we are switching around the way math homework is done. The students will complete what they can of the "Homework" side in class and they will complete the entire "Remembering" side at home.

Here is the link to the homework site:

Mrs. Becker's Homework Page

Have a great week!

Happy October!

I hope you all enjoyed your long weekend! We had a busy week last week. I had the pleasure of helping out at the Glen Hills cross country meet on Wednesday. It was fun to watch current and former students run. Go Glen Hills!

In reading RtI class, some of the students have been reading Newsela articles, all centered around a current event topic of their choice, with a partner. They are compiling the information they have found and creating a video to post to Padlet to teach the rest of the class about their topic. All students can access Newsela at home to work on reading comprehension at their individual reading level.

Sharing Artifacts and Subject Area Updates

Last week, the students each brought in an artifact from home for the class to study like historians. They made observations and asked "I wonder..." questions about each artifact. Each student got to answer the I wonder questions and share a bit of information.

A quick update on what we are working on in each subject area...

Social Studies- We are studying Wisconsin's glacial land formations and learning where we live in comparison to the rest of the world through maps.

Math- The final test for chapter one will be this Friday. The test will include adding and subtracting into the hundred thousands place, checking subtraction with addition, estimating, rounding, comparing, and solving multi-step word problems.

Reading- We are studying literacy elements and working on independent reading stamina.

Writing- The children are learning to develop a character's internal and external traits, as well as their struggles and motivations. They will learn to build realistic fiction stories off of these characters and plot arcs.

Many websites that we use at school can also be accessed from home. Children can continue to practice reading non-fiction text at their own level through newsela.com. They can also work on the adaptive math website frontrowed.com.

Save Fred!

We have been doing some team building activities during the first couple of weeks to get to know each other. One of the activities that the students participated in was called "Save Fred". The challenge was to save "Fred" (a gummy worm), whose ship (a cup) had capsized. They needed to get Fred into his life preserver (a gummy life saver), which was trapped under the boat. The catch was that students were not allowed to let Fred touch the water and they were not allowed to use their hands!

Welcome to 4th Grade!

Hello!

I am sorry I wasn't able to make it to the parent information night. I hope that all of you had a great evening. We are off to an AWESOME start to the school year! Here is some general information that I would normally go through on information night.

Schedule 

The daily schedule was sent home in the 4th-grade pamphlet last week. My class has Art and P.E. this trimester, Music and P.E. next trimester, and Tech. Ed. and P.E. third trimester.

Just for your information, Ms. Timmerman is the P.E. teacher. Ms. Malcolm is the Art teacher. Ms. Donaldson teaches music and Mr. Savagian teaches tech ed. Feel free to reach out to them at any time!

We fill out assignment notebooks together as a class at the end of the day. Students also have their snacks at the end of the day due to lunch being at 11:05.

Expectations

I like to focus on kindness, empathy, and teamwork in my classroom. I expect that students are safe and treat peers and adults with respect. I expect that all students try their best and keep a growth mindset. We set up our classroom rules together during the first week of school.

    1. Raise our hands
    2. Be respectful
    3. Be responsible
    4. Be a good listener
    5. Be safe

Management

I use classdojo.com in the classroom. Each student has an icon that is projected onto the Active Board throughout the day. Students can earn points for being kind, helping others, working hard, being responsible, and etc. There is an option to lose points as well, but I only use that for missing homework. The student/s with the top score on Friday will get to choose a reward from a list of many.

Homework

There will be math homework most nights. This year, I am only expecting the students to complete the homework side at home. They will complete the remembering side as a warm up during math class. We correct the remembering side together so that students can see where they are making mistakes.

Beginning next week, there will be a Daily Geography packet that will be homework each week. The students get the packet on Monday, and it is due on Friday.

Students are expected to read at least 20 minutes per night in the first trimester, 25 minutes per night in the second trimester, and 30 minutes per night in the third trimester.

There will be other miscellaneous homework assignments throughout the year as well.

Students who do not turn their homework in will lose a point from Class Dojo. If the missing assignment is not turned in by Friday, the student will need to stay in during the Friday bonus recess to complete the missing work.

Technology

I am excited to announce that we will be getting brand new Chromebooks to use in our classroom this week! The students will use these for different activities in all subject areas. We will also be using Google Classroom and Google Docs once everything is set up.

Have a great evening!

April

Welcome back! I hope everyone had a restful spring break. The students are well into the final stretch of 4th grade. They can expect to continue working on fractions and decimals for their chapter 7 test next week. After that, they will study geometry for the last math unit of the year. In reading, the students began new listening stations for the books Rain Reign, A Dog's Life, and The Watsons go to Birmingham. They will continue to work on fluency, comprehension, accuracy, and vocabulary expansion. In writing, they are in the middle of their informational research projects. I will be focusing on more grammar than spelling for the rest of the year. Students should be studying their spelling words at home each night for the biweekly spelling tests. The social studies test for our immigration unit will be this Friday, April 8. The next social studies unit will focus on Wisconsin and the Civil War.

Art Museum Field Trip

Making Hats in Art for Youth

Preposition Song!

March Events

We have had a very busy couple of weeks here at Glen Hills! Linda Sue Park visited on March 1 to talk about her new book "Wing & Claw". We also started Art for Youth with Mrs. Pennington-Cross last Monday. Mr. Smalley and Mr. Scheiber were nice enough to read to our class when I lost my voice last week! It was great to meet with all of the parents who attended conferences Thursday. We also had a great time on the Zoo field trip yesterday. There will be no school next Friday, as it is the start of spring break!

Read Across America

The fourth grade students are having a "read-in" today to celebrate Dr. Suess' birthday and Read Across America! They are wearing pajamas and reading all day long. They will rotate throughout different reading stations. Here are a few pictures...

End of Trimester 2

It's hard to believe that this is already the last week of the second trimester! In writing, the students have just finished typing their final drafts of their persuasive essays. Next, they will be working on a research paper about immigration. This paper will align nicely with our next social studies unit on immigration. This is the final week for science before we switch back to social studies. The students will have a final test on oceans this Thursday.

In reading, the kids are working on making predictions and adding new vocabulary words to word collectors. In math, they are continuing to study fractions. This is the last week of the year for music. Our class will move on to tech ed for their last allied arts rotation.

We are all getting excited to have the author Linda Sue Park visit our school tomorrow. We read her book "A Long Walk to Water" in class. Students had the opportunity to order one of her new books, "Wing and Claw", and to have her sign it at tomorrow's presentation.

Conferences are next week Thursday and Friday. The students do not have school on Friday.

We also have our Milwaukee County Zoo field trip coming up on March 16.

More Discovery World

Discovery World

The fourth grade took a field trip to Discovery World two weeks ago. They got to explore the interactive museum with a small group and a chaperone. After that, we had lunch and watched a movie about animal adaptations. It was a great day!

Science Experiments

The kids are excited about our switch to science from social studies. The new unit is all about oceans. They learned about salinity and density this week in class. We did two separate experiments together. One of the experiments was testing if an egg would sink or float in fresh water and/or in salt water. The other experiment was to figure out how to layer colored liquids by changing the amount of salt in different cups to alter the density of the water. The kids used the scientific method to conduct both experiments.

Measurement Olympics

To celebrate the end of our measurement unit in math, the students participated in the Measurement Olympics! They rotated between four events; the discuss toss, high jump, long jump and (modified) javelin throw. They each measured their distances in centimeters. We held an awards ceremony at the end to celebrate our winners. The students really seemed to enjoy it! The test for this unit will be on Tuesday, February 9th, so study those metric and customary units at home!

Wacky Hair Day

Here is a photo from Wacky Hair Day:

The 4th grade orchestra demonstration was a great success last week.

The students are excited to swim in P.E. this week Tuesday and Friday.

We have a field trip coming up on February 5th to Discovery World.

Our school is collecting "Pennies for Patients" to raise money for children with cancer. Each student has received a small box in which to collect coins. They can bring the money in at anytime to add to our class donation. The top class wins an Olive Garden lunch!

Have a great week!

Twin Day

We celebrated twin day a couple of weeks ago. Many students in the class decided to wear their Parkway shirts. Pictures from Wacky Hair day are coming soon.

We will be switching over to science from social studies this week. Our science unit is all about oceans. In math the students are taking their chapter 4 test tomorrow (January 20). Chapter 5 will be about measurement.

The 4th grade orchestra is tomorrow morning at 8:15 a.m. in the commons. Hope to see you there!