Fourth-Grade FLYER
April 2014
B r o u g h t t o yo u b y:
Mrs. Engle, Mrs. Erdman, Mr. Tolerton
Language Arts NEWS
Fabulous Fraction News
Mrs. Engle
Students have been exploring
point of view in language arts and
applying their knowledge to characters’
perspectives within literature and
articles they have been reading in class.
They have been able to differentiate
between first person and third person
points of view, even writing pieces that
assume the point of view of a character.
Additionally, students have performed
close readings of expository articles,
lyrics from songs, poetry, and literature.
Students have been able to annotate a
piece of writing, using the symbols we
have discussed in language arts. As
students have practiced annotating
text, they have been able to see
tangible evidence of their thinking, and
they have been able to utilize their
thinking as text evidence to support
viewpoints. It has been eye-opening to
listen to the deep thinking stemming
from close reading texts. There is much
more to an author’s thinking than meets
the eye!
Language Arts/Vocabulary
homework will continue as in the
previous weeks, culminating in a test of
spelling and definitions each Friday.
This year the fourth grade ongoing focus
has been with fractions in order to be ready for
grade 5. A baseline was given on student
knowledge in September and monitored
throughout the year using a series of Student
Learning Outcomes (SLO), unit tests, and two
similar multiple choice quizzes to determine
individual and class needs concerning fractions.
So far our grade has met with great success.
Our student’s base knowledge concerning
fractions has improved 70% from the beginning
of the year. As we proceed with addition,
subtraction, and multiplication of fractions in
unit 10 we believe fraction knowledge will
increase even more! We feel that by focusing
on this difficult area of math we are
successfully preparing them for next year.
Social Studies NEWS from Mrs. Erdman
As part of our Patriots and Defenders schoolwide program the fourth graders will have the
chance to become a PATRIOT! In order to
reach this level your child will need to be able
to demonstrate the following:
Fourth-Grade Flyer-Page 2
Continuation of Social Studies, page 1…
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Recite the Pledge of Allegiance.*
Explain why we recite this pledge.*
Recite America the Beautiful
Recite The Star Spangled Banner
Recite American’s Creed
Recite an excerpt from Martin Luther
King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream Speech”
Recite the Bill of Responsibilities
Identify the 50 states on a map
Identify the 24 Counties in Maryland.
Cherry Barb, Electric Green Tetra, and
Bushy Nose…
What do these creatures of the sea have in
common? They are all alive and well in our
office aquarium! Yes, still alive and
*Answers must be exact and recited in
verbatim.
swimming!
Our fish committee has divided all tasks
A Study Guide for the Patriots and Defenders
evenly and is working independently to
was sent home earlier this month. Please let
keep the “undersea” home of our finned
your child’s homeroom teacher know if you
friends happy and healthy.
need another copy.
It is my hope that 100% of our class will be able Thanks to these fourth graders for the care
to achieve this goal.
and keeping of this habitat.
Our classroom volunteers will be assessing
Luca and Toshi – siphon tank
students on these skills throughout the coming
Jack and Maren – feed fish
weeks.
Maggie and Liam – Newsletter
All students will be recognized for their
Rory – lights
achievements at a special Patriots and
Michael – clean gravel
Defenders Assembly in late May.
Collin and Casey – scrub the sides
There are many websites with games for the
Each job is important to the health of the
students to practice, here are just a few:
tank. Each club member takes great care of
http://www.fasttrackteaching.com/burns/Geo
their fishy friends. Keep up the awesome
graphy/Geo_Unit_Map_Memory_Tips.html
http://www.primarygames.com/states/questio effort!
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n_8.htm
http://www.yourchildlearns.com/mappuzzle/u
s-puzzle.html
http://www.ilike2learn.com/ilike2learn/united
states.html
http://coolmath-games.com/0-geography Please remember that, should you desire a
state-the-state/
conference, a phone call, or an email, simply
notify
at our email
or leave
There are
alsousvarious
songsaddresses,
on YouTube
to a
message at the office, 410-887-3582.
help memorize the Songs and States.
[email protected]
Please feel [email protected]
to contact your child’s
homeroom teacher
with any questions.
[email protected]
Other News
Please let us know what we
can do to support you. We are
here for your children!