October 8- October 12

This week in 4th grade:

Math: We are starting our next unit in Math, Multiple Towers and Division Stories. During the first part of this unit, students will develop strategies for multiplying that involve breaking apart numbers, reviewing multiplication combinations to 12 x 12, and multiplying multiples of 10. Again, automaticity with basic multiplication combinations is extremely important in this unit. Students will be assessed on knowing these facts, so keep practicing at home! Please use the Math Investigations textbook for more help if needed. 

Vocabulary: This week is a Spelling week. The long i sound is our focus for Spelling this week. All of our words follow the long i pattern with i, igh, y, ey, uy, or i-Consonant-e. Students have nightly assignments to complete for homework. Words can be found behind the Spelling/Vocab tab in the BEE Binder and online at www.spellingcity.com.  I will let you know when I have our class SpellingCity account set up.  It has just been purchased so now the students will be able to log in and complete homework after it has been set up correctly. 

Reading: We are continuing our study on allegory and theme.  Students are inferring theme from short allegorical texts.  Students are defending interpretations by using details from the text.  

Our City of Ember read-aloud is going great! This read-aloud just so happens to connect to our current Science unit on Magnetism and Electricity.

Finally, students are excited about tracking their reading online through www.reading-rewards.com . Students need to enter their minutes read each night on their own at home. If this is a problem, please just send me a note and students can enter the data here at school.

Writing: We are starting our study of verbs this week. It is important that students recognize verbs not only as words that show action, but also a state of being. Our focus will be on the three types of verbs: action, linking, and helping. We will also begin working on a Veteran’s Day writing piece that all 4^th graders participate in as part of the SSC Veteran’s Day Program. 

Science: Science continues this week with our study of electricity. Our goals this week include: building and comparing simple circuits, identifying the essential components of an electric circuit, demonstrating the flow of electricity, and identifying materials that are conductors and insulators.

Other Reminders:

• Graded papers will likely come home later this week.  Please take time to review these WITH your child. For questions that are missed, please have your child go back and rethink/rework to find the correct answer and write all corrections directly on the paper with a pen. If I have already corrected the item, please have a discussion with your child about what he/she missed.
• Information about Fall Conferences and Sign up times if you would like one: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0E4DADA629A13-fall
• I handed out the October Scholastic book orders last week.  They are due this Friday, October 17^th. Remember, if you order online with our class code: JT2TW, we receive free books for the classroom.
• Dr. Mims is sponsoring a Chess Club for 3^rd and 4^th grade students. Chess Club will meet on Thursday mornings from 7:20 – 7:45 a.m. For more information, please see the flyer that is came home today.
• SSC is partnering with The Assistance League of Birmingham to collect books and distribute them to specific schools that do not have access to many books and distribute them to children who may not have access to books at home. If you would like for your child to participate, please have them bring in new or gently used books during the week of October 22 – 26^th. For more information, see the flyer that went home yesterday.
• The Dolphin Echo was sent out on Monday so please make sure to read it over.
•  Join us on October 19th for Bedtime Stories & More at the South Shades Crest Elementary Media Center, 6:30 - 8:00 PM.  Parents and grandparents can come and shop at the Book Fair while children enjoy juice, cookies, and stories. You never know who might show up to read stories? Kids are welcome to wear PJ's!
• Mark your calendar for our next FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT! Friday, November 9^th, we will be showing Madagascar 3.
• Finally, stay tuned for more information about our 1^st field trip of the year…It’s going to be a big one!

Thanks for sharing your children with me each day!

Mrs. Wilkes