Ms. Simon’sClassroom News

March 11, 2012

Persuasive WritingStudents are working on their, LET’S EAT persuasive essay about a favorite restaurant. Their job is to write a strong paragraph, filled with descriptions that can paint a picture in the readers’ minds. This paragraph needs to serve as an advertisement that will get people to come to the restaurant. Just thinking about all this work is making us hungry!

Reading Street:We will start Unit 4 in Reading Street right after spring break. This week we will not need parent volunteers for reading groups as we will be working on writing.   If you are interested in helping out with groups following break, just send an e-mail in the morning and we will put together group of lovely fourth grade readers for you! Thanks again for all of you that have volunteered with this already this year!

   

Math:

Last week Wednesday students took the Unit 7 Math test on fractions and probability. Ms. Simon & Mrs. Sinila were super excited with the results of the test-it was evident that students studied hard and understood what we learned throughout the unit! WAY TO GO 4th GRADERS!

Last week we began Unit 8 in which we will be exploring area and perimeter. Everyone seems to be catching on very well! We are practicing these concepts using real-life problems and I think we may have some future architects on our hands! Today we discovered an equation (area=length X width) to help solve for area. Later in the unit, we will work on reading and deciphering word problems to determine whether we should solve for area or perimeter. THIS IS A CHALLENGE and everyone could greatly benefit from extra practice at home related to real life situations! A parent letter was sent home in Friday folders with strategies to use at home to help practice these skills

Last Friday, Cornell students had a special visit from this year’s visiting author Phil Hoose who came in to talk to the students about shorebirds and the importance of preserving nature. Hoose dazzled the fourth grade audience with humor, song, and story!Students had the opportunity to hear about his latest book “Moonbird” which is based on a red knot shorebird named B95. Hoose also told the students that the red knots fly from the bottom of the world to the top each year, even through hazardous weather like hurricanes! His visit made a BIG impression an the students and undoubtedly reinforced then need to read. Make sure to ask your child what they learned about this amazing birds and keep encouraging the reading at home!! As of now, Ms. Simon and Mrs. Sinila’s classroom has the HIGHEST amount of reading minutes in the WHOLE school-we are ROCKIN READERS!! Thank you to OEF and Summit Bank for funding our author visit!

3/20: Early Release Day & First Day of Spring3/22:  Consumers Energy Presentation to 4th Grade - 4th graders receive at-home energy kits and

surveys to complete at home. Surveys are due Monday, March 25th.

3/27:  Unit 8 Math TestIf you are leaving for spring break early, please let us know

so that we can give your child the test before leaving.March 28-April 7 Spring Break

Last week, students began their science unit on Force and Motion with both Mr. Mowry and Mrs. Tucheck.

During our science switch time (1:40-2:30 M-Th) Ms. Simon has started her unit on Slavery and the Underground Railroad. Students will learn about the railroad from the beginning to end and listen to personal testimony from people who were a part of it. Along with this, students will be studying slave spirituals, songs, and the daily lifestyle of African American slaves in the early 1900s. On March 20th, 4th graders will come together in the library as Ms. Simon and Mrs. Sinila read-aloud the book January Sparrow by Michigan author Patricia Polacco.  Below is an excellent website to help your child further their understanding of the Underground Railroad and how it progressed.  I encourage you to explore  and discuss this excellent website from Scholastic with your child. 

http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/bhistory/underground_railroad/index.htm

March Is Reading Month!

Wow! Our fourth graders can be compared to book worms this month! Our school wide goal for March Is Reading Month is 200,000 minutes and fourth graders have taken on the challenge to surpass this goal! Please continue to read 60 minutes each night and bring in those reading slips on Monday mornings! We are so impressed with how much reading our class has already done and we’re hoping this continues even after March is complete!! Keep reading

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