This week was filled with both learning and testing.  We are becoming more comfortable with the routines and procedures of the classroom.  We are working on responsibilities and listening. Most everyone is doing a great job getting their planners initialed by parents, remembering to charge and bring in their iPad, and do the homework.  Great job!

This week in reading we discussed retelling the story in chronological order or doing a synthesis retelling in which they use pertinent information from previous parts in the book to highlight the significance of what they are retelling.  We also reminded ourselves of how to make movies in our mind as we read.

In math we finished the unit by practicing rounding of large numbers, then going through the testing cycle. What we do in 4th grade is first give a practice test so students see what they really need to study before the test.  Then we spend a day reviewing together, and then on the last day, we take the final test (unless they scored 85% or better on the practice test).  The paper test will come home Monday.  Your child can show you their online test on their iPads.

We began our first writing unit – writing realistic fiction stories.  First we brainstormed ideas for our story the way real authors do – looking at ordinary life in a new way, and looking for issues for characters to have in our story.  We then developed our characters using internal and external characteristics, and wrote about the major problem that character would be facing in our stories.

In science we looked at what causes day and night, studies the phases of the moon more closely, and created a Venn diagram comparing the sun, moon, and Earth.

Each week your child will be writing about their learning from that week in a student blog.  These blogs give a chance for your child to reflect on their learning, and write for a real audience. We wrote our fist blog today!  Check out your child’s entry, and read a few others too!

https://kidblog.org/class/MsVandenBosch4thGrade/posts

You are doing a great job selling the Wesco popcorn buckets!  We have more if you think you can sell more.  (We cannot return the buckets we have, so we would like to sell out!)  If you think you cannot sell the ones you currently have, you may return those by the end of next week, and maybe someone else could try  to sell them.

Our Holmes Student Council begins soon!  Information will be coming soon about how our 4th graders can run for a student council position.  Student Council runs the school store and the box top drawing for the entire school.  We have a few notes from the council leaders about each of these events:

School store expectations

• • Be Respectful:

    • You may only bring a maximum of $2

    • You may only buy 4 items per visit

    • If other people are waiting, make decisions quickly

  • Be Nice

    • Use your manners

    • Patiently wait your turn

  • Be Responsible

    • After purchasing, school store items should be put away in your pocket or your locker. It is your responsibility to keep it safe.

Box Tops:

• Students collect box tops at home

• When a child has collected 10 or more, he/she will put them in a plastic bag with their first and last name labeled on the bag only (no need to write your name on each Box Top)  (example:  10 box tops-1 bag with name,   30 box tops-3 bags of ten each with the child’s name)

• There is a box in the office (next to the train ticket box) for teachers to turn in the bags at any time.

• A few times a year we will announce a drawing is coming up.

  • At this time Student Council will reach into the box and pull out a BAG. The name on the bag is the winner

Important Dates

Tuesday, September 26 – Picture retakes

Thursday, September 28 – Planetarium Field Trip