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Spelling: We finished our review of rules for suffixes, learning that words ending in s, sh, ch, z, and x use the -es suffix.

Cursive: Cursive workbook pp. 69-72 are due Monday.

Reading: Students performed monologues by reading a passage today with speed, tone, volume, and accuracy.

Writing: We learned about the core democratic values of equality, diversity, popular sovereignty, and patriotism.

Our next piece of writing is a persuasive essay, due Friday, February 28.

Math: We practiced rounding to estimate products. For example, an estimate of 27 x 3 would be 30 x 3, which is 90. Rounding 27 to 30 makes the problem easier to estimate. Students also worked on MobyMax Math today. Some students are encountering problems with our multiplication unit because of not knowing multiplication math facts. Practicing 10 minutes a night using MobyMax Fact Master would be a good way to help them learn their facts and be successful in math.

Science: We reviewed matter and measuring matter today. We’ll have a science test about matter and energy next week.

Social Studies: None today due to extra time with reading.

Behavior Update:

• Yellow magnets: 0
• Orange magnets: 0
• Red magnets: 0
• STAR Awards: 0
• Magnets moved this week (goal: 9): 0
• Hours with no magnets (Last time: 22): 37

Check your student’s Personal and Social Growth grade online to see if your student moved their magnet.

Multiplication Madness

We need to keep practicing our multiplication facts!

Notes:

• Our Feb Factor Valentine’s Party is Friday, February 14, from 12:30-3:30. See our guest and volunteer item list here.
• View Career Day pics here!
• View the second marking period report card here.
• Visit our Links page: keep track of all the websites we use for learning, or try something new.
• Check out our class calendar to stay up-to-date.
• View grades, report cards, behavior, assignments, and attendance online.

Our Mission:
All students in Room 130 will do their best and get ready for 5th grade.

Spelling: Today was a preview of upcoming spelling words.

Cursive: Cursive workbook pp. 69-72 are due Friday.

Reading: Students practiced reading a passage today with speed, tone, volume, and accuracy. They will read their selections tomorrow to the class.

Writing: We learned about the core democratic values of justice and common good today.

Our next piece of writing is a persuasive essay, due Friday, February 28.

Math: We practiced mental math multiplication today and also learned how to use compensation to adjust an answer to make it exact. For example, to multiply 27 x 3, the problem could rounded to 30 x 3, which is 90. Since the 27 was rounded up, the answer is too high, and needs to be adjusted down. The 30 we used was 3 higher than 27, and the problem is multiplied by 3, so our problem is 3 x 3 too high, or 9 too night. Subtracting 9 from 90 gives us the exact answer of 81. Students also worked on Khan Academy or MobyMax today. Homework is to work on MobyMax or Khan Academy for at least 15 minutes tonight, since our internet connection caused a slowdown in our worktime today.

Science: We reviewed measuring mass, weight and volume today. Homework is to finish two Investigation Review pages about matter and measuring matter.

Social Studies: None today due to art.

Behavior Update:

• Yellow magnets: 0
• Orange magnets: 0
• Red magnets: 0
• STAR Awards: 0
• Magnets moved this week (goal: 9): 0
• Hours with no magnets (Last time: 22): 31

Check your student’s Personal and Social Growth grade online to see if your student moved their magnet.

Multiplication Madness

We need to keep practicing our multiplication facts!

Notes:

• Our Feb Factor Valentine’s Party is Friday, February 14, from 12:30-3:30. See our guest and volunteer item list here.
• View Career Day pics here!
• View the second marking period report card here.
• Visit our Links page: keep track of all the websites we use for learning, or try something new.
• Check out our class calendar to stay up-to-date.
• View grades, report cards, behavior, assignments, and attendance online.

Our Mission:
All students in Room 130 will do their best and get ready for 5th grade.

Spelling: Students continued to make Words to Learn lists by correcting words missed on the last spelling test.

Cursive: Cursive workbook pp. 69-72 are due Friday.

Reading: Three final groups performed Literature Circles Reader’s Threatre plays today.

Writing: We learned about the core democratic values of life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness today.

Our next piece of writing is a persuasive essay, due Friday, February 28.

Math: None today due to an assembly.

Science: Students practiced measuring mass, weight and volume today, and also practiced choosing an appropriate tool for measurement. Homework is to finish the “Practicing Measuring…” activity started in class.

Social Studies: Today was an economics test.

Behavior Update:

• Yellow magnets: 0
• Orange magnets: 0
• Red magnets: 0
• STAR Awards: 0
• Magnets moved this week (goal: 9): 0
• Hours with no magnets (Last time: 22): 24

Check your student’s Personal and Social Growth grade online to see if your student moved their magnet.

Multiplication Madness

We need to keep practicing our multiplication facts!

Notes:

• Our Feb Factor Valentine’s Party is Friday, February 14, from 12:30-3:30. See our guest and volunteer item list here.
• View Career Day pics here!
• View the second marking period report card here.
• Visit our Links page: keep track of all the websites we use for learning, or try something new.
• Check out our class calendar to stay up-to-date.
• View grades, report cards, behavior, assignments, and attendance online.

Our Mission:
All students in Room 130 will do their best and get ready for 5th grade.

Spelling: None today.

Cursive: Cursive workbook pp. 69-72 are due Friday.

Reading: Three groups performed Literature Circles Reader’s Threatre plays today.

Writing: We started working on our next writing project, which will be a persuasive essay. This week, we’ll review core democratic values that can be used as part of a student’s argument in their essay.

The persuasive essay will be due Friday, February 28.

Math: We practiced multiplying using partial products. For example, to multiply 36 x 5, the 36 can be separated into 30 + 6. Those parts can be multiplied by 5. The problem becomes 30 x 5 = 150 and 6 x 5 = 30. Add the parts back together for the answer, 150 + 30 = 180. Journal P5-3 corresponds. Students also practiced math using MobyMax. Many students are working on area, perimeter, or partial products at the moment.

Science: Students completed an experiment about measuring the volume of colored liquids using a graduated cylinder to make a color spectrum when mixed (here are some pics of the experiment). Homework is to finish the “Color Spectrum” experiment if not done in class.

Social Studies: None today due to art. We’ll have an economics test this week.

Behavior Update:

• Yellow magnets: 0
• Orange magnets: 0
• Red magnets: 0
• STAR Awards: 0
• Magnets moved this week (goal: 9): 0
• Hours with no magnets (Last time: 22): 17

Check your student’s Personal and Social Growth grade online to see if your student moved their magnet.

Multiplication Madness

We need to keep practicing our multiplication facts!

Notes:

• View Career Day pics here!
• View the second marking period report card here.
• Visit our Links page: keep track of all the websites we use for learning, or try something new.
• Check out our class calendar to stay up-to-date.
• View grades, report cards, behavior, assignments, and attendance online.

Our Mission:
All students in Room 130 will do their best and get ready for 5th grade.

This note will be sent home with students this week:

As you already know, the fourth graders at McGrath will be given the opportunity to participate in field trip to Mackinaw in May.  It is a wonderful opportunity to spend time with fellow classmates and teachers while seeing the historic places they’ve learned about throughout the year.  It is a nice way to end the fourth grade experience; one that both students and teachers look forward to annually.

Students earn the privilege to attend this field trip by following the “High Fives” and working hard during the school year.  Unfortunately, students who continually choose to not follow the “High Fives” receive office referrals.  Students who receive three office referrals, beginning February 10, 2014 and ending May 8, 2014, which is the day before the field trip, may lose their privilege to attend the field trip.  Our hope is that every student will earn the right to go and not miss out on this wonderful experience.  We ask for your support in talking to your child about the importance of school rules to help ensure that all students will earn the privilege of going to Mackinaw.  Please take a minute to go over this letter with your child.  It is important that they understand the expectations, and then sign, have your child sign, and return this form to your child’s teacher by February 17, 2014.

Find out more details about the Mackinac trip here.