Weekly Newsletter: October 1st - October 5th

Language Arts
This week in reading and writing, the students will be focused on setting goals for the first semester to present at parent conferences on Oct. 1 and 2. This process requires the children to consider their strengths as readers and writers and areas to focus on for continued growth. As they consider these goals, they will identify specific evidence from their work throughout the first few weeks of school to present alongside their goals.

Math
The students will continue to use rounding to determine if an answer is reasonable. They will solve multi-step word problems and assess the reasonableness of answers. Students will also be learning how to solve two step word problems using the standard algorithm for addition and subtraction.

Social Studies
Students will use what they learned from the cultural universal presentations in class to help them collect information about their own personal culture. This is not necessarily the culture of their home country, but more the culture that is practiced in their everyday lives. Parents, students will be asking you many questions as well to fill in some gaps.

Announcements

• October 1st and 2nd - ISA Testing: Please make sure your child gets a good night’s rest and eats a balanced breakfast. 
• October 4th and 5th - Three way conferences: Please be sure to arrive at your scheduled time, as the conferences are scheduled back to back. Your child will be presenting their goals for the year, so please make sure they come with you.

Resources
As your child prepares for conferences next week, take a look at this video putting the power of learning in your child’s hands. After all, it is THEIR LEARNING. This video gives you an idea of why we do this, the hard work your child has done to prepare, and the wonderful experience you will have next week. Enjoy!

EMPOWERING YOUR CHILD DURING CONFERENCES

https://www.edutopia.org/video/student-led-conferences-empowerment-and-ownership

Weekly Newsletter: September 24 - September 28th

Language Arts

In writing, students will be working on their evidence to support their reasons and building stamina to write long and strong! In reading, students will notice how texts are organized in order to help them gain more information while reading.

Math

The students will continue to use rounding to determine if an answer is reasonable. They will solve multi-step word problems and assess the reasonableness of answers. Students will also be learning how to solve two step word problems using the standard algorithm for addition and subtraction.

Social Studies

Students will use their notes on the different universals and create slides using the reading structure of Main Idea and and Details. This will be a class resource, and hopefully students will also get time to present their newly learned information to one another.

Announcements

• September 25th - Individual photos will be taken. Students may wear smart casual. 
• September 27th - Class photos will be taken. The student MUST be in their school uniform (blue collared shirts). 
• ISA Testing Oct. 1st and 2nd - make sure students get a good night’s rest and eat breakfast. 
• October 4th and 5th - Three way conferences. On September 24th, you will be receiving a letter informing you of when your conference time will be. Your child will be presenting their goals for the year.

Resources

As we continue to dig even deeper into learning math, we explore the IMPORTANCE of STRUGGLE. In this video, we explore the need to struggle as an important part of learning! You will definitely want to watch this one with your kids.

The Importance of Struggle:  https://www.youcubed.org/resources/the-importance-of-struggle/

Weekly Newsletter: September 17 - September 21, 2018

Language Arts

This week in reading, the students will be using nonfiction books about Culture to learn more about the Cultural Universals. They will be learning to take notes in order to find the main idea of a text. Our grade 4 writers will be entering the drafting phase of their opinion writing by expanding their ideas and including evidence to support their opinion statement.

Math

The students will continue to use rounding to determine if an answer is reasonable. They will solve multi-step word problems and assess the reasonableness of answers. Students will also be learning how to answer the word problems with complete sentences.


Social Studies

We will continue with our investigation into the different cultural universals through non-fiction texts. Students will be blending their non-fiction reading skills with learning about a specific cultural universal. Many students have finished painting their flag on their identity posters and more work on the posters will continue throughout the next few weeks.

Announcements

• Be sure to refer to the Swimming Schedule to see when your child has P.E. swimming lessons.

• Three way conferences will be on October 4th and 5th. On September 24th, you will be receiving a letter informing you of when your conference time will be. Your child will be presenting their goals for the year.

Resources

ABCya is another great web site for helping students practice rounding.

Weekly Newsletter: September 10 - September 14, 2018

Language Arts
This week, students will be previewing nonfiction books and getting their mental “arms” around their books. This includes making connections to the topic and determining what they know already and what they want to learn more about. In writing, students will continue planning their essay and working on the structure of the text. 

Math
Students will be using their place value understanding to round multi-digit whole numbers to any place value using real world situations. 

Social Studies
This is a short week and students will be looking closely into each cultural universal ensuring they understand what it means and how it is a piece in the bigger picture - Culture. 

Announcements
If your child is late (after 8:00am), please be awarer that they will need a tardy slip from the Elem. Office.

If you plan to pick up your child any time during the school day, you must check in with the Elem. office and then come up to the classroom to pick your child up.

Resources
Let’s face it...the way we think about math nowadays is very different than when we were kids. Teachers have learned a lot about how to teach math and want you to learn with us.

Check out this video from YouCubed that talks about the importance of thinking deeply in math. Speed not as important. How fast you are does not relate to how good you are. Calculation is only a small part of math. Thinking deeply about patterns and ideas in math is more important.

HOW IMPORTANT IS SPEED IN MATH? VIDEO

Weakly Newsletter- September 3 - September 7, 2018

Language Arts

This week, the children will be developing skills to work with partners and
grow ideas as readers. Partnerships are really beneficial when students know
how to communicate well with each other and get the conversation started.
In writing, the children will be focused on planning their opinion essays
using a variety of tools.

Math

This week, students will continue to read and write multi-digit numbers in
word form, expanded form and standard form. They will also begin to round
numbers to the nearest place value.

Social Studies

This week, we will finish up looking at identity and what influences our values
and behaviors. This theme will run throughout the unit as we begin our identity
portraits and start addressing the next part of this unit which is,
“ What is Culture?”.

Announcements

ES Gym - scheduled for use on Monday, Sept. 3

ES Upper Playgrounds - Fence erected and equipment installed in phases.
Entire area ready for use Sept. 25

Turf Field behind ES Pool - Open

25m Pool - Ready for PE swimming Sept. 17 (note that this may take place in
the 50m pool vs. the 25m pool)

ES Lower Playgrounds - Areas are being completed and secured for safety
currently. Target date for lower playgrounds is Sept. 5

Resources

Look here for resources you and your child can access at home to support
their learning and overall development.

Open House Slideshow

When you ask your child, “how was school today?”, does your child often
answer with one-word answers such as, “good”? If so, consider these 15
questions to replace “How was school today?” (Edutopia)

Math Unit 1 vocabulary on Quizlet