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May 31, 2021

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Happy Memorial Day Parents and Students!

 

I am glad the weather finally warmed up today with sunny skies above. We are now in the home-stretch of the school year 😊! 

I was pleased with the Social Studies Performance Tasks that I was able to view so far – thank you to MOST of the children who uploaded their projects to the designated area on Friday. The Civil War unit was the final one in Virginia Studies for this year. The students will continue Virginia’s history as well as U.S. history in grade 5.

We will now focus on the Earth, Moon, and Sun Relationships for the next week and a half in science.  I’ve decided to work on this topic across the curriculum, so we will also be reading and doing skills in Raz Kids that supports this topic. At the latter part of the week, the children will read an “older” Scholastic News article debating whether the U.S. should send astronauts to the moon or not.

In math, our final concept for the year is Elapsed Time. This skill can be a bit tricky, but I will be working through a detailed PowerPoint with the children that has been helpful in the past. We will complete assignments to practice the concept, and the students will also work through digital games for comprehension too. I do not plan at this time to give any assessments on this math unit.

I continue to appreciate your support at home. Please encourage your child to remain attentive and engaged – especially this week, as it will be the final week I will be taking grades for the quarter.

Have a pleasant week – thank you for reading the Update.

 

May 23, 2021

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Good HOT Afternoon Parents and Students,

 

I hope you are having a pleasant weekend 😊. 

 

In Virginia Studies, we will continue discussing and completing the Civil War unit. We will be taking two short quizzes on this topic during the week. The children will be able to refer to their Civil War notebook in order to complete the first one (focused on the “leaders” in the Civil War). The second quiz will be completed together as a group. If your student is attentive during this lesson, he/she will do very well. We will conclude the week and the Civil War chapter by uploading your child’s project that was posted in the Social Studies Schoology page last Monday (May 17) . The assignment is to be done asynchronously, and is due on May 27.  I will be taking a grade on this task based on completion and effort (following all directions for the task).

In Language Arts, our story focus this week will be a StoryWorks play titled Chicken Little. This play retells the popular children’s tale “Chicken Little” in a fun and humorous way. On another level, it delivers important messages: don’t jump to conclusions without knowing the facts, and don’t follow along without thinking about whether it’s a wise thing to do. I am excited to incorporate a “slide deck” with this story that will include pre-writing questions, vocabulary review, comprehension questions, and post-writing discussions as well. 

Our English skill will be on Fact and Opinion. The children will receive instruction and practice through a PowerPoint presentation and a google slides companion too.

Finally, in math we will continue and complete the Patterns unit. The children will be able to describe, create, and extend patterns with objects, pictures, numbers, and tables. They will be able to identify the rule in a numerical pattern found in a list or table.  Additionally, students will also solve problems that involve identifying, describing, and extending input and output rules.

We will follow our “normal” schedule as the SOL tests are not scheduled for 4th grade this week. “Wellness Wednesday” will include all the children staying at home and working virtually.

I wish you all a wonderful week ahead and a fabulous 3-day weekend and Memorial Day next Monday too. 😊

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May 16, 2021

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Good Afternoon Parents and Students,

 

Happy 2 weeks before Memorial Day (the unofficial start to the summer)! 😊   It has taken me quite a while to plan for the week because we have a lot to cover in a relative short period of time – especially during the next two weeks. Our focus will be on MATH and VIRGINIA STUDIES this week and next. With that said, our reading and writing lessons will be directly related to our next social studies unit: The Civil War in Virginia.

 

In Math, we will work diligently on Monday and Tuesday wrapping up our Measurement unit – which includes linear, weight, and capacity in both customary and metric units. Additionally, I will be reviewing previously learned skills in preparation of the Math SOL and VRSPT tests that will be administered this week. Please be sure your student completes all math assignments – especially on Monday and Tuesday.  I have decreased the Dreambox target to 50 minutes this week due to the other review assignments I will be giving.  When your student takes these important assessments on Wednesday or Thursday, please encourage him/her to take time and caution and show his/her work on the provided scratch paper. If the children have a positive attitude and work in a careful manner, I’m confident that the results will be great.

 

In Virginia Studies we will start (maybe?) our final unit for the year: The Civil War in Virginia.  In this unit, the students will identify events and issues that divided our nation and led to the Civil War. They will understand that economic differences between the North and the South caused the South to secede from the United States. Students will also recognize that Virginians were divided about secession, which led to the creation of West Virginia. Additionally, the children will understand  Virginia’s role in the war, including identifying major battles that took place in Virginia. They will also be able to describe the roles played by white Americans, enslaved African Americans, free African Americans and American Indians.

Normally the students would be participating in a History SOL test. In replacement of this assessment, the county has directed the 4th grade teachers to assign a Performance Task to complete and be scored by a rubric. Due to the limited amount of instructional time, I will have the children complete this assignment asynchronously.  The project will be posted in the Social Studies Schoology page on Monday (May 17) and will be due on May 27 in order for us to uploaded in the appropriate place as directed. Although I will be taking a grade on this task, I will not be too stringent on the score as long as I feel your student spent time and effort with the assignment.

I have been very proud of how hard the children have been working. I also received positive reports how cooperative they were last week during the Reading SOL administration. Keep working hard – the finish line for this year is in sight!

Thank you for your support and encouragement – have a pleasant week. 😊

 

May 9, 2021

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Dear Parents and Students,

 

Happy Mother’s Day to all of the mothers in our class! I hope your student(s) made special plans to show you how very much you’re cared for and appreciated! 😊

 

This week’s schedule will be quite different from our usual line-up of activities. The only “regularly” scheduled days this week will be on Monday and Friday. On Tuesday, the “in-person” students (who did not opt out) will be taking the Reading SOL test. The virtual students on this day will have asynchronous learning by following the assignments posted on our schedule in Schoology. We ALL, however, will join the class link at 8:00am for viewing of the morning announcements and attendance. The students will then be excused until 11:30 (after lunch) for the tasks listed above. I will complete the afternoon with the children in our Teams link.

 

On Wednesday, ALL the children will once again join the Teams link at 8:00am for viewing the announcements and for attendance. The virtual students scheduled to take the SOL reading test will have come into the building for this assessment. The “in-person” students will be at home working on asynchronous assignments that will be posted in Schoology. I will not be meeting with the children after lunch on this day, however, as it will be “Wellness Wednesday”. Please be sure your child(ren) refer to the posted schedule for homework assignments during the week.

 

Thursday is a student and staff holiday – no classes or work will be assigned.  On Friday, we will resume our normal school day. The children will be viewing part 2 of a virtual program from members of the National Parks Service. Students will learn about the financial end of maintaining the parks., and the responsibilities of the rangers.  Additionally, there will be information shared about how each 4th grade student can obtain a National Parks Pass. The viewing of this program is the same as last week’s: 10:45-11:45 on a special link posted in the Social Studies Schoology page. The children can eat their lunch while attending the program. It is important for your child to attend this session, as information will be provided to aid with a near-future project/assignment in Virginia Studies.

 

On Friday morning, the children will also be taking an assessment on the Oceans unit in science. Looking at the interactive notebook – especially slide 3 will be helpful.

 

Please be sure you child(ren) gets rest and a healthy breakfast before each SOL test this week and next. Reassure him/her that he/she will do a wonderful job if time and caution are taken during the tests. If you have not yet practiced samples on the following sites, I would strongly encourage it before Tuesday and Wednesday.

 

I suggest that your child practice the test features by working sample problems at home.  Please click on this link  in order to do so.  A login is not needed as you may click on “SOL Practice Items” and go to any subject and grade level. Explore the many tools and technology enhanced questions for extra practice with test taking strategies. Be sure to select the most recent testing year.  

 

 

Thank you for reading this update carefully, and for you encouragement at home. 😊

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May 2, 2021

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It has been a lovely weekend weather-wise. I hope you all were able to spend sometime outside to enjoy the delightful sunshine!

 

In math, we will be starting our Measurement unit. The main focus this week will be on customary length measurement. The children will not only learn the 4 units of customary measure, they will also practice measuring items to the nearest 1/8 inch. Additionally, the children will compare the various units of (customary) length. The children’s Dreambox target this week will be at least 60 minutes and 5 lessons.

 

In Language Arts, our skill focus will be on Fact and Opinion. At the start of the week, the children will read a Scholastic News article about “What a Year” it has been, and how we all have had to learn about resiliency. This will lead into a journal activity where the children will reflect and write about how they have been resilient during the past 13 months. Later in the week, we will be reading a nonfiction story in Raz Kids about Oceans to support our current science unit. The student’s Lexia Core goal this week will be at least 60 minutes and 12 units.

 

We will continue learning about Oceans in science. I am excited about a planned Tinkercad lesson the students will have this week with Mrs. Deal (Innovative Learning Coach). They will learn how to use this program to model the features of the ocean floor. As the week progresses, we will learn about the ocean’s currents, the effect the moon has on the tides, and the interactions of organisms in the ocean.  A test will be planned for the start of next week (May 11 or 12?). Looking at the Oceans Interactive notebook (especially p. 3) in Schoology will help prepare for the assessment.

 

Many of the children will soon be taking the Reading and Math SOL tests. Because our time is limited during the school day, there will not be much time for reviewing skills together.  Going to solpass.org will give your child  a few released tests that would provide good practice. I would recommend checking out this website. Additionally, I suggest that your child practice the test features by working sample problems at home.  Please click on this link  in order to do so.  A login is not needed as you may click on “SOL Practice Items” and go to any subject and grade level. Explore the many tools and technology enhanced questions for extra practice with test taking strategies. Be sure to select the most recent testing year.  

 

Thank you for your wonderful assistance at home! I wish you a happy week ahead.

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April 25, 2021

Happy “last week in April”! Can you believe that May actually starts next weekend? I understand that to some of you, this year has seemed rather lengthy – but to me, it has zipped by quickly.  I am still excited about the curriculum that I have left to teach, and I will keep the children busy learning until the last week of school. I am especially enthusiastic about many lessons planned for this week😊.

 

In Language Arts,  we will continue to work on inferencing skills through the story, The Wreck of the Zephyr. Towards the latter part of the week, our skill focus will change from inferencing to fact and opinion.  We will continue to use reading resources like Achieve 3000 and Lexia Core for strengthening skills. Most of our “story” spotlight will come from Scholastic’s StoryWorks. The Lost Ship tells the story of a ship that was torpedoed and sank during World War II, leading to disgrace for the ship’s captain, and the 11-year-old boy who, 50 years later, helped to exonerate him (the captain). I was so thrilled with this story and the activities that support it, that I had to share it with my husband. I’m certain the children will enjoy this historical nonfiction story as well. The student’s Lexia Core goal this week will be at least 60 minutes and 12 units.

 

In math, we continue our lessons on Area and Perimeter.  At the start of the week, we will work through the “area” section of a powerpoint. A variety of activities will be done to reinforce the concepts of BOTH perimeter and area – including a few digital games as well. We will conclude the week with a 10-question checkpoint (quiz) on this skill.  The children’s Dreambox target this week will be at least 60 minutes and 5 lessons.

 

Finally, we will transition back to Science from Social Studies. Our next unit is all about the Ocean. The students will learn (this week) about the ocean floor. They will also be able to label and describe the major features of the ocean floor, including their relative depths.  We will review these concepts by creating a Tinkercad model of the ocean floor (with the guidance of Mrs. Deal).

 

Ms. James (art teacher) will have a clay pick-up day for  virtual students, grades 3-5 on Wednesday, April 28. There will be a bin outside in front of the school’s office from 8am to 4pm for you to retrieve your child’s clay for a future art project.

 

I wish you all a WARM and wonderful week ahead. Thank you for your continued help at home.

 

April 18, 2021

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I have recently been sharing inspirational quotes of the day with the children. This is a quote they’ll be seeing one day this week that I particularly like: “It’s not what happens to you, but how you react that matters.” -Epictetus 

The students did a nice job last week focusing on their work during the school day. I appreciate the children who also worked hard achieving their Dreambox and Lexia Core minutes and units. I will continue to average these weekly goals for a math and reading grade during the 4th quarter. As I realize the children will be busier with extra-curricular activities this spring, I will try to keep the weekly goals as reasonable as possible. Please continue to encourage your child(ren) to reach these targets each week.

 

We will be reading passages in Scholastic News, Studies Weekly, and Achieve 3000 for our reading content this week.  I have also planned to listen to and discuss the story Two Bad Ants as we review inferencing skills in Language Arts (the latter part of the week).  We have been away from our Reader’s Response journal for a bit now, so I have planned for several entries during the week. 

 

In Virginia Studies, we will be completing the New Nation (VS6)  unit. This week we will talk about the western migration after the American Revolution. Many Virginians needed to move west and south in search of more fertile land. The Appalachian Mountains presented a problem with the move. However, in 1775, Daniel Boone finished cutting a trail called the Wilderness Road through a gap (Cumberland Gap) in the mountains.  So when it was time to migrate, the Virginians had a route to use – thanks to Daniel Boone!   An assessment is planned for Friday, April 23. I would suggest reviewing the VS6 interactive notebook as well as the study guide that are in the Social Studies Schoology page.

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In math,  we will take a short quiz on Quadrilaterals at the start of the week. Our next unit that we’ll start on Tuesday will focus on perimeter and area, which follows our Geometry chapter nicely.

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Thank you for your continued support at home – together we are working through a very extraordinary school year!

 

April 11, 2021

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I have enjoyed the lovely warm weather we had during our Spring Break. I certainly hope you all had some “fun in the sun” and relaxing time away from the computer screen. We are now in the final quarter of the school year – and I’m certain we all are looking forward to the warmth and outdoor activities yet to come this spring. We will continue to be busy during the school day as I will push on to complete many academic units. Therefore, I appreciate your continued encouragement and (the students’) perseverance until June 18.

 

In Language Arts, we will focus this week and next on context clues. This skill is important to understand for strengthening reading comprehension as we learn how to determine the meaning of unfamiliar words. The reading passages during the week will come from Scholastic News, Newsela, and Achieve 3000. The children’s weekly goal for Lexia Core will be 80 minutes and 16 completed units. As I have viewed the students’ recent weeks’ usage, I was very pleased with the hard work the children have shown. 😊 I am certain that with continued determination reading skills and fluency will strengthen.

 

This week in math we will continue to talk about the term polygon as well as some of the varying types of these straight-sided plane figures.  We will also delve more deeply into the classification of the different types of quadrilaterals. The students will take a checkpoint on Friday that will include these concepts as well as understanding parallelograms (to include squares, rectangles, and rhombi) and trapezoids. The Dreambox goal for this week is 70 minutes and 5 completed lessons.

 

We will continue to work through our Virginia Studies curriculum.  This week we will be discussing the Political Growth and Western Expansion in Virginia (VS 6). We will talk about George Washington and why he is called “The Father of Our Country”. The students will also be able to explain why James Madison is called “The Father of the Constitution”.  They will also identify the ideas of George Mason and Thomas Jefferson in the Virginia Declaration of Rights and the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom. My plan is to complete this unit next week in order to quickly begin our next Science unit on Oceans.

 

I look forward to “seeing” the children in the morning as we start the final part of our academic year. We welcome two new children to our classroom. Lina has joined our class in the past weeks from Chesterfield County, and  Muhibullah’s first day will be on Monday. He is joining us from Springfield Park Elementary. We certainly hope they will enjoy being in our class this spring.

 

Thank you for reading this update and for your continued support at home😊.

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March 28, 2021

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Happy last week before Spring Break 😊! I know that we are all excited about the upcoming break from school AND (hopefully) break from a lot of “screen time”. 

We will be busy this week as we will be finishing up units of study in both Virginia Studies and English before Friday’s dismissal. Because this is also the last week of the 3rd grading quarter, we will be completing a few assessments and graded assignments. I’m hoping that all of the children will be present each day through Friday (which is a half-day dismissal). If your child will not be present on these days, please let me know earlier in the week so I can ensure assignments are done prior to the vacation.

 

A study guide for the American Revolution in Va. test (planned for Friday) was placed in the Social Studies Schoology page. I would also recommend reviewing the American Revolution Interactive Notebook as well in preparation.

 

In math, we will continue reviewing geometric solids (3-d shapes) at the start of the week. A short checkpoint will be given on Wednesday. Our focus will be on quadrilaterals towards the latter part of the week.

 

In English, we will complete our Figurative Language unit as we review onomatopoeia, and learn and practice alliteration and idioms. Our reading passages will mainly be in Newsela supporting our American Revolution unit in Social Studies.

 

Because the Wellness Wednesday’s Choice Board focuses on “Matter” (which is not part of the 4th grade science curriculum), I am not requiring work from this resource on Wednesday. I am assigning something (simple)  in science that will be graded as a substitute.

 

I wish you all a joyous Easter next weekend and a restful and safe Spring Break. I will welcome the students back “in class” on April 12.

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March 21, 2021

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I hope you all are enjoying the first weekend of spring😊. It is hard to believe that we only have two weeks in the 3rd grading quarter AND before our Spring Break! We will be busy in school, as I will be trying to complete our Figurative Language unit in English and The American Revolution unit in Social Studies before our week-long vacation.

 

In Language Arts, we will learn about Onomatopoeia and Alliteration in literature. The students will listen to a couple of picture books to reinforce the understanding of this figurative language. Our main story focus will be on an assigned Raz Kids story, Coral Reefs. We will have response questions in our Reader’s Response journal and a comprehension quiz at the end of the week. Another selection we will read and discuss is a debate Should We Get Rid of Paper Money? in Scholastic’s StoryWorks.

 

In our American Revolution unit in Virginia Studies, we will identify the various roles of American Indians, white Americans, enslaved African Americans, and free African Americans in the Revolutionary War era, including George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, and James Lafayette. I will be pushing forward (quickly) next week to complete this chapter before we depart for Spring Break. I will plan for a test at the end of next week (April 1 or 2).  I suggest looking at the Unit 5 Interactive Notebook during the next 2 weeks. I will also be posting a study guide in Schoology at the end of the week to help prepare for the assessment.

 

In math, we continue learning about Geometry as we move on from line segments, lines, and rays to solid figures.  During this part of our Geometry unit, the students will be identifying solid shapes (cube, rectangular prism, square pyramid, sphere, cone, and cylinder) using a variety of representations.  We will also be focusing on using the characteristics (of these geometric solid figures) such as number of angles, vertices, edges, number of faces, and shape of faces to describe the 3-D figures.  Additionally, we will be comparing and contrasting these shapes with similar flat (plane) shapes. For example, how are a circle and sphere alike, and how are they different?

 

 

I wish you all a fabulous week ahead, and I thank you for your encouragement at home.

 

March 14, 2021

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Happy sunny Sunday afternoon!  I hope you are all having a pleasant weekend 😊.

 

We will be listening to a variety of literary selections this week as we continue to learn about figurative language. I love incorporating stories to reinforce different skills, as my hope is that the lessons will be more understanding with the connection to literature. The two specific types of figurative language this week will be hyperbole and personification. On Wednesday, we will listen to and discuss The Leprechaun in the Basement in honor of the Irish and St. Patrick’s Day. A reflection and  journal response will follow.  Towards the end of the school week, the children will be reading a story about the ocean’s Coral Reefs (in Raz Kids).

 

We started our 5th unit in Virginia Studies last week on the American Revolution. As we continue this chapter during the week, we will learn about the reasons why the colonies went to war with Great Britain, as expressed in the Declaration of Independence. We will also identify the various roles of American Indians, white Americans, enslaved African Americans, and free African Americans in the Revolutionary War era, including George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, and James Lafayette.

 

Lastly, in math we will start the week practicing more fraction calculations. The students are having challenges with adding and subtracting fractions with unlike denominators, finding common factors and the least common multiple between numbers. These are all very difficult skills – practice will be necessary for full understanding. On Wednesday, we will start a unit on Geometry. Points, line segments, lines, rays, intersecting lines, parallel lines and perpendicular lines will all be discussed and practiced this week in school.

 

As usual, the students will be expected to work on Dreambox and Lexia Core digital resources during the week. I am happy that the children are doing much better reaching their individual goals and completing units (Lexia Core) and lessons (Dreambox) as we progress through the year.

 

Our dismissal on Wednesday will be at 10:00am. I will be asking a group each week to stay on the computer with me for Extended Learning. In addition to assignments that I create, the children are also expected to complete 1 activity on the Wellness Wednesday Choice Board.

 

Thank you for reading the latest Update and for your continued encouragement and support.

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March 7, 2021

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We are all in for a “weather treat” this week 😊. Unlike the many weeks in our recent past, this one should be rather rain-free and warm. I am happy to say that my schedule this week includes an afternoon without homework assignments (on Thursday). Looking ahead at my weather app, the outside temperatures should reach 70 or more that day, so I hope the children can spend a while outside in the fresh air.

 

Our unit in science on Ecosystems will conclude on Tuesday with a test. Reviewing the Interactive notebook for this unit will be a good practice for the short assessment.  On Thursday, we will return to Virginia Studies as we begin the 5th unit on the American Revolution in Virginia.

 

In math, the children will continue learning about adding and subtracting fractions with unlike denominators. They will become familiar with and practice finding the GCF (Greatest Common Factor) and the LCM (Least Common Multiple) of different fractions. Please continue to encourage Dreambox usage and lesson completion. The required amount this week is only 60 minutes, but additional time is always helpful.

 

Our main passage focus this week in reading is a StoryWorks selection called The Vanishing Beast. This story is also paired with a short passage The Return of the Buffalo. The students will also be comparing and contrasting the two texts. Our English focus will be on similes, metaphors, and hyperboles. Understanding this “figurative language” will not only strengthen reading skills, but also will enhance writing as well.  The children will continue to work diligently on Lexia Core and Achieve 3000, as they work through units designed especially to help each individual.

 

This is a reminder that Wednesdays are shortened “synchronous” days. However, along with assignments that I give, your student should also be choosing one activity on the Wellness Wednesday choice board (found on the Homeroom Schoology page).  These activities are designed by the Art, Music, PE, and STEAM teachers in the county, and support the science and social studies curriculum.

 

This Friday, March 12, is a half-day dismissal for the children (10:30am).

 

I wish you a wonderful and WARM week ahead!

 

 

February 28, 2021

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It is really hard to believe that we will be starting a new month, and soon we will be in spring! 😊 I was very proud of the scores last week on both the Probability and Reading Checkpoints! The students are indeed progressing forward, and we will keep pressing on as we work diligently through the curriculum.

 

Starting tomorrow, March 4, we will be welcoming a few more classmates in the building. Mrs. Sheena Kunnuth has been working with a few children already, and she will continue to monitor the returning children during the school day while I teach virtually.  I am sure this transition for those students will be a positive one.

 

We will be completing our science unit on Ecosystems this week with a Checkpoint (test) planned for next Tuesday, March 9.  I suggest reviewing the interactive notebook in the science Schoology page in preparation. As we continue learning about Ecosystems during the week, our discussions will include food chains, food webs, and niches. Our lessons and activities will enhance understanding of these concepts and will be good practice for the test.

 

In math, we will return to our Fractions unit. This week we will learn how to simplify fractions, and add/subtract fractions with like and unlike denominators.

 

At the start of the week, our reading selection will be about Amelia Earhart. After written discussions and an assessment on Wednesday, we will then read a StoryWorks passage, My Rows and Piles of Coins. This realistic-fictional story takes place in a village in Tanzania, where a boy saves his money to buy a bicycle to help his mother carry produce to market. It is a story of working toward a goal, perseverance, and selflessness.

 

I wish you a wonderful first week of March!

 

😊,

Marcie A.

 

Monday: Art

Tuesday: Library

Wellness Wednesday (Virtual for All)

• 8:00am- Start of school

• 8:15-8:25 – Morning Meeting

• 8:25-9:10 - Reading/Writing/English

• 9:10 -          Stretch Break

• 9:15-10:00 – Math

• 10:00 – 11:00  – Extended Learning (when necessary)

Thursday: P.E.

Friday: Music

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February 21, 2021

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I know this weekend remained cold, but somehow it didn’t feel so bad because the sun was shining . I certainly hope you all were able to get outside at some point and enjoy the fresh air. 😊

Our daily schedule will be changing a bit from this point forward through the end of the academic year. Our new schedule starting tomorrow, Feb. 22, will be as follows:

 

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday

• 8:00am- Start of school

• 8:15-8:25 – Morning Meeting/Read aloud

• 8:25-9:35 – Reading/Writing/English

• 9:35 – 9:45 – Stretch/Bathroom Break

• 9:45-10:30 – Math

• 10:30 – Stretch Break

• 10:35-11:00 – Social Studies/Science

• 11:00 – 11:30 – Lunch

• 11:30-11:45 – Social Studies/Science (continued)

• 11:45-12:15 – LAMP (Library, Art, Music, P.E.)

• 12:15-12:30 – Completion of tasks/day

• 12:30-12:55 – Recess

• 1:05-1:35 – Extended Learning for Virtual students (when necessary)

 

Wellness Wednesday

• 8:00am- Start of school

• 8:15-8:25 – Morning Meeting

• 8:25-9:10 - Reading/Writing/English

• 9:10 -          Stretch Break

• 9:15-10:00 – Math

• 10:00 – 11:00  – Extended Learning (when necessary)

 

 

This new schedule was created to support the children who will start in-person instruction on March 1. Because our recess will be at the end of the instructional day, I will probably dismiss all the students between 12:25-12:30 and expect only those that will be scheduled for Extended Learning (varying “virtual” students each day for different purposes) to report back in the virtual classroom at 1:05.  I will also be working with varying groups/individuals on Wednesdays from 10:00-11:00. Homework will be a bit lengthier on Wednesdays as well to include some Asynchronous learning due to our shortened day.

 

This week in Language Arts, we will continue learning about and practicing the varying suffixes that are most commonly used. We also will be starting the week reading an interesting Scholastic News passage that will require the students to read about whether we (USA) should send astronauts to Mars, and then they will cast a vote of their own in support of their opinion.  In the middle of the week, we return to Raz Kids with an assigned book about Amelia Earhart. The children will not only practice comprehension skills, but also sequencing and homophone concepts as well. Lexia Core continues to be a reading digital program where the children should not only work towards their weekly minute goal, but also work towards completing units within their personalized program. Achieve 3000 is another resource that is used at least once a week, and records the progress each child is making every time he/she logs into the site.

 

Probability will continue to be our focus in Math. In this short unit, the children will determine the likelihood of an outcome of a simple event, represent probability as a number between 0 and 1, and create a model or practical problem to represent a given probability.  At the end of the week, I will review with the students for a quiz they will be completing on Friday.

 

In Science, The students will investigate and understand that organisms, including humans, interact with one another and with the nonliving components in the ecosystem. Key ideas for this week include the idea that interrelationships exist in populations, communities, and ecosystems.

 

• Thank you to all the students who worked diligently on Lexia Core and Dreambox last week. 😊 Upon reflection, however, I have decided not to include last week’s minutes (and units) in the gradebook due to possible internet issues during the ice storm.

 

 

 

Thank you for reading this update and your continued support at home! 😊

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February 14, 2021

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Happy Valentine’s Day Parents and Students,

 

 

I hope you are all having a warm and relaxing weekend – and a particular “sweet” Sunday 😊.

 

This is a reminder that tomorrow (Monday, February 15) will be a half-day of instruction for the children. Our Teams meeting will end at 11:00am. 

 

This week in Language Arts, we will continue learning about and practicing the varying suffixes that are most commonly used. Our primary source of reading passages will come from the most current issue of Scholastic News. We will be reading about Bessie Coleman, the first African American female pilot to acquire her license. Another interesting passage will require the students to read about whether we (USA) should send astronauts to Mars, and then the students will cast a vote of their own. Lexia Core continues to be a reading digital program where the children should not only work towards their weekly minute goal, but also work towards completing units within their personalized program. Achieve 3000 is another resource that is used at least once a week, and records the progress each child is making every time he/she logs into the site.

 

We will be taking a short break from Fractions this week as we discuss and work through problems that focus on Probability.  Our Social Studies unit on Colonial Virginia will conclude with a test on Tuesday, February 16. Reviewing the Unit 4 interactive notebook (in Social Studies Schoology page) will be helpful. I will also be reviewing a few concepts previously learned earlier in the year on Monday as well.

 

Thank you for reading this update and your continued encouragement at home as well! 😊

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February 7, 2021

 

Happy “post- snow” and “pre-Super Bowl” Day! 😊 I enjoyed looking at the pretty snow this morning, but I am surprised (and disappointed) how quickly it melted. ☹ I hope the children were able to experience the snow as much as they were able to this morning!

 

In this week’s ELES Newsletter, Mrs. Foust discussed the up-coming Virtual Parent-Teacher Conferences that will be held on Feb. 18. I will be creating a Sign-Up Genius for this during the week, and I will be sending an email out with the link when we are directed to do so. I will certainly be happy to meet with any of you who wish to have a conference. However, if your child is receiving strong averages and there are no other concerns, it is not necessary to sign up for a discussion at this time.

 

In the newsletter, Mrs. Foust also mentioned that some rosters may change with the expected gradual in-person learning starting in a few weeks. I am happy to report that our class roster will remain the same. I will continue to teach all of the students in our class whether they will be attending school in-person or remaining virtual.

 

This week in reading, we will continue our StoryWorks nonfiction selection The Search for Bigfoot. We will be discussing comprehension questions as well as the text features of this passage. We will also be reading, discussing, and responding to several Newsela articles that support our Colonial Virginia unit in Social Studies. Our focus English skill this week will be on suffixes.

 

The children will be completing  the 4th Virginia Studies unit this week on Colonial Virginia. There is not a study guide for this chapter, but I would suggest looking through the Unit 4 (Colonial Virginia) Interactive Notebook. The students and I will be working through this notebook together during the week as we discuss the various topics. A test is planned for next Monday, Feb. 15.

 

In math, we will continue to work with our Fractions unit. The children will be recognizing “fractions of a set” and comparing fractions to decimals and division. A checkpoint will be administered the latter part of the week. 

 

Monday: Art

Tuesday: Library

Wednesday: Art

Thursday: P.E.

Friday: Music

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January 31, 2021

 

I have to confess that I was crossing my fingers for a potential snow day tomorrow – haha.  I hope your student was able to enjoy some fun earlier in the day with the nearly 5 inches that fell!

I am happy to report that the children worked especially hard last week as I gave and scored the final assignments for the 2nd quarter. I will be completing the report cards during the upcoming week, and they will be accessible on the PowerSchool Portal on February 15.

 

We will continue working with Fractions this week in math. We will be ordering fractions on a number line, identifying equivalent fractions, and working with mixed numbers. Most of the homework in this subject will be on Dreambox this week. I will be scoring a total number of minutes on this digital resource out of 90 minutes. Please encourage your child to log onto this site throughout the week.

 

Our new English skill that we will work on for the next two weeks will be prefixes and suffixes. Understanding how certain grouping of letters at the beginning and end of base words can help the children expand their vocabulary. We will also continue to read articles and stories in StoryWorks, Newsela, Achieve 3000, and Lexia Core. I will even try to incorporate some passages focused on the “Super Bowl” as many of  us will be anticipating the Big Game this weekend!

 

Many of the children did well on last Friday’s Jamestown test. 😊 This assessment was created by curriculum specialists in the county and was very challenging. As we progress forward,  I have decided to double up on our Virginia Studies units, as there is so much information to cover this academic year.  Therefore, we will begin the 4th unit, Colonial Virginia, at the start of the week. My plan is to complete this chapter within a week and a half/two weeks.

 

Mrs. Franklin, our music teacher, is planning to distribute recorders to all 4th grade students this Wednesday, February 3 from 4:30-5:30pm in front of the school. It is my understanding that she sent an email last week explaining this process, and will send another reminder this week as well.

 

Thank you for your attention with this update and your continued support at home too.

 

Monday: Library

Tuesday: Guidance

Wednesday: Art

Thursday: P.E.

Friday: Music

 

 

January 24, 2021

 

I hope you all had a pleasant weekend while staying warm from the cooler outside temperatures. 😊 I’m wondering if that snowflake that I see on my weather app (for Wednesday night/Thursday) will produce enough “white stuff” for us to enjoy? Lol

This is the final week of the 2nd grading quarter – which marks the HALFWAY point in the school year – Wow! There will be a handful or so of graded assignments this week to finalize subject averages. Please discuss with your student (s) the importance of completing these final activities with caution.

On Monday, we will have a representative from the Jamestown/Yorktown settlements virtually visiting with the class from 9:30-10:15am discussing concepts focusing on the Revolutionary War. We are a bit behind in Virginia Studies, so this facilitated discussion will be an introductory lesson.  We will also be completing the Jamestown unit this week. There is a Jamestown Study Guide in the Social Studies Schoology page for your child(ren) to review in preparation for an assessment planned for Friday, Jan. 29.

We will continue to work with Fractions in Math. The skills this week include ordering and comparing fractions with like numerators and denominators. Toward the end of the week, I will review questions for a “Checkpoint” assessment that is scheduled for the start of next week.

Lastly, in Language Arts we will practice and review “complete sentences” and quotation marks skills. We will also be reading (text) and viewing (videos) from the Discovery Science Tech book to complete written activities. Our main story source will come from Scholastic News StoryWorks. The children will be practicing Text Features and Character Development with the stories from this digital resource.

I will be recording grades for both Dreambox and Lexia Core usage during the week. The children are expected to work on Dreambox for 80 minutes (mainly assigned for homework) and Lexia Core for 65 minutes (assigned both during class and for homework as well).

Thank you for reading this update and sharing it with your student(s). 😊

 

Monday: Music

Tuesday: Library

Wednesday: Art

Thursday: P.E.

Friday: Music

 

January 18, 2021

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I hope you have enjoyed your extra day off from school as I have 😊.  The wind is blowing quite a bit for a “blustery day”, but I hope you were able to enjoy some activity time outside nonetheless.

 

We will have a shorten week not only because of the Martin Luther King, Jr.  holiday (today), but also because Henrico County is scheduled for a half-day dismissal (11:00am) on Friday. Therefore, we will not have our usual recess time that morning. I will work with the children up until dismissal, and there will not be Extended Learning time that day either.

 

Because our grading quarter ends next Friday, January 29, we will remain quite busy as I will be trying to get as many lessons in as I am able. Usually, at the end of a marking period, the children have more graded assignments. Please reiterate with your student that it is really important to give all work 100% effort as a lower score could affect the overall average.

 

In Social Studies, we will continue to discuss concepts relating to the colonization of Jamestown. This week’s focus is on Pocahontas as well as the importance of the charters given to the colonists and the start of America’s first General Assembly.  I will be administering another BrainPop quiz on Wednesday. Some students experienced difficulty last week with the Jamestown quiz. It is important for them to carefully listen to and then refer back to the video for confirmation of the answers. I am certain all results will be positive if careful attention is given.

 

We will begin a new math unit: Fractions. At the start of the week, I will give a brief review of the concept. As we progress through the week, the children will be comparing and ordering fractions through a variety of activities. I continue to encourage independent  Dreambox and Reflex Math practice.

 

Lastly, in Reading we will take a short break from Raz Kids. Our focus will be on Newsela, Scholastic News, StoryWorks, and Achieve 3000 as we read articles and stories about Martin Luther King, Jr., Inauguration, Jamestown, and the way “Food Flavorists”  try to entice people to crave certain (processed) foods. The children are also expected to work on Lexia Core each weekday for 15-20 minutes.

 

Thank you for reading this update. I appreciate your continued support at home, and I wish everyone a happy week ahead!

 

 

January 10, 2021

 

I hope you are all enjoying the weekend (after the hustle and bustle of the past holiday time) and staying warm inside 😊.  The children did a nice job last week in “school” after a long, two-week break. We will continue to stay busy, and the homework may be a bit lengthier for this up-coming week. Please be aware that the students will have a science homework assignment given on Monday (that we actually started in class last week) that will due on Wednesday, and will be graded. Please be sure your child completes this work. On Thursday afternoon/evening they will be assigned work in Social Studies that will be necessary to complete for a reflection in our journal on Friday.  Most homework assignments this week will also include math division practice and Dreambox work as well. Like always, I encourage Reflex Math fact fluency practice during the week too.😊

 

In Language Arts, we will continue to practice Cause and Effect relationships. There will quite a variety of topics in varying resources for reading. The Achieve 3000 scores aren’t as strong as I was expecting, so we will be reading and discussing 3 passages from this source during the week. The children will also be discussing/working with an assigned Raz Kids story – and some (students) will have an additional story to listen to and read. The rest of the passages will be centered around our next Social Studies topic – Jamestown.

 

Now that we have completed our Natural Resources unit in Science, we will transfer back to the next unit in Virginia Studies – Jamestown. My goal is to try to finish this chapter in 2 – 2 ½ weeks. There is a lot of information that goes with this settlement, but it’s all very INTERESTING! I hope the children will find it as fascinating as I do 😊.

 

Lastly, in math we will continue to practice long division concepts. We will review traditional algorithms for this skill, but the children will also be introduced to the “partial quotients” method as well. Although they are expected to recognize the varying techniques for solving these (division) problems, the students ultimately will use whatever method for problem solving that suits them best.

 

Thank you for reading the weekly updates and sharing them with your student. I wish you a healthy and warm week!

 

 

Monday: P.E.

Tuesday: Library

Wednesday: Art

Thursday: P.E.

Friday: Music

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January 3, 2021

 

 

Happy New Year Parents and Students!

 

I hope that everyone enjoyed a restful and relaxing Winter Break! 😊 Now that the hustle and bustle of the holiday season is over, it’s a great time for new beginnings. Returning from the long break will require some extra self-control in the (virtual) classroom.  We are ready to get back to learning, and I ask for your assistance in making sure that your student joins our class meeting each day well-rested, prepared, and with a cooperative attitude. 

 

In Language Arts, we will discuss and write about a couple of (attainable) goals for the 2021 new year. We will also read articles in Scholastic News, Newsela, Achieve 3000, and a new assignment in Raz Kids. The variety of resources should keep your child’s interest and strengthen reading skills as well. For this week, I will take a reading grade based on your child’s participation in Lexia Core (number of minutes out of 80).  It is not only important for him/her to log onto this site each day, but also focus on the lessons being taught.

 

Division is the concept in math for this week and next. We will begin discussing the definition of division and the inverse relationship between multiplication and division. We will also review how to model division using groups, repeated subtraction, arrays, and number lines.  The students will practice dividing some two and three-digit numbers by one-digit divisors where the quotient equals a number with and without a remainder. I continue to encourage additional independent practice with Reflex Math for fact fluency in multiplication and division, as this will truly help with more difficult (long division) problems. Please understand that when any digital program is assigned (in any subject), it is just as important to complete as any other (written) work. With that being said, I will be assigning Dreambox in math more frequently now for homework. Please be certain your child is completing these activities.

 

Our discussion on Virginia’s Natural Resources will continue this week in science. We will conclude the unit on Friday with a quiz. Your child can review concepts by looking at his/her Natural Resources Notebook (in Science Schoology) during the week as we complete the pages together.

 

I look forward to seeing all of the friendly and happy faces tomorrow morning, January 4.  I wish you a warm Sunday afternoon, and a wonderful first week of the new year!

 

Monday: Art

Tuesday: Library

Wednesday: Art

Thursday: P.E.

Friday: Music

 

December 13, 2020

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Happy “week before Winter Break”! I know you all are excited about the festive weeks ahead, and the time away from the academic day. 😊 We do have a few fun things planned during the week in preparation for the up-coming holidays, but we also have important academic work to get through as well.

 

Our Reading and writing assignments will continue to center around topics associated with the winter holidays. Last week, the children read about a few options for movies being released during the Winter Break. Then they wrote in their Reader’s Response Journal explaining the selection they would be interested in viewing with details supporting their decision. This week, we will read about a young owl that was trapped in the Rockefeller Tree (In New York City). This will lead to a short research on “owls” and another entry inside the journal. I still encourage Lexia Core practice for at least 15 minutes each day during the school week. On many days, this will be assigned during the virtual day, but it is important for the children to reach their goal (usually 80 minutes) each week even if extra minutes are needed after school hours.

 

In Math, we will be finishing our “formal” lessons on multi-digit multiplication by learning traditional algorithms for solving these problems. A step-by-step power point will thoroughly explain the process for solving 2X2 and 3X2 digit problems. The children are expected to work on Dreambox each school day (for 20-30 minutes) per the county’s expectations. As we remain busy in class working through the math curriculum, this digital practice will need to be done in the afternoon after students are dismissed. I will suggest that the children work on Reflex Math several times weekly as well to enhance their fact fluency in multiplication and division. This program will not be frequently “assigned” because the focus will remain on Dreambox.        

 

I am happy to report that many of the students scored very well on last Friday’s Virginia Studies test 😊. We will now turn our focus back to Science as we learn about Virginia’s Natural Resources. This week, we will discuss Virginia’s water resources.  Terms that we will discuss and that the students will need to be familiar with include groundwater, lake, reservoir, river, bay, and watershed.

 

I have enjoyed working with your students this fall, and I am very proud of their progress with the virtual platform. I appreciate their attention, participation, and hard work each day. I am also grateful for your continued support at home as well!  I wish you all a safe, warm, relaxed, and WONDERFUL Winter Break!  I will welcome the children back to school on Monday, January 4. 

 

December 7, 2020

 

It’s hard to believe that the month of December has arrived and that we only have two weeks before the Winter Break! We will remain busy during our virtual day as we continue to work through the Virginia’s Native Peoples unit as well as Multiplication in math. The variety of celebrated holidays in different cultures and countries will be our focus in Reading.

 

Please notice in your child’s Social Studies Schoology page a Study Guide (VS.2d-g). This will help prepare the students for the test that will be administered on Friday, Dec. 11. We will be doing review activities together during the week, but it is also very important for your child to review the pages of this study guide as there is quite a bit of information covered in this chapter.

 

The children will continue to work on multi-digit multiplication problems this week. I am teaching them area model representations as well as the partial products strategy for solving these problems. At a later time, I will also be showing more of a traditional way to solve multiplication problems. The children will need to be able to recognize the variety of ways for a solution, but will be able to use the strategy (ultimately) of their choice.

 

Thank you for your continued support with ensuring homework (and classwork) completion each school day. Please also continue to encourage Reflex Math, Dreambox, and Lexia Core practice during the week as well.

 

Monday: Music

Tuesday: Library

Wednesday: Art

Thursday: P.E.

Friday: Music

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I wish you a warm and wonderful week😊!

 

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November 29, 2020

 

I certainly hope that everyone enjoyed their Thanksgiving holiday, and that you were able to enjoy the extra time off to be with the special people in your life. Thanksgiving marks the beginning of a very busy holiday season for all, and I understand how exciting this time of year can be for the students. We still have quite a bit to learn, however, before the Winter Break. Thank you in advance for your support at home to ensure your child attends the virtual school day focused and ready to learn.

 

Our Language skill this week and next will focus on he concept of Cause and Effect. This can be challenging for the children, but the detailed powerpoint  and practice examples should help with comprehension of this concept.  In reading, we will be using Newsela for current event articles as well as reading information supporting our Virginia Studies unit on Native Americans in Virginia. Additionally, the students will be reading stories in Raz Kids about the variety of holidays celebrated in many cultures and countries around the world. We will also continue writing responses in our (Reader’s Response) journals. As a whole, the students have done a nice job with their descriptions on each page in the journal. I have noticed, however, that some of the children are not capitalizing some necessary letters and placing punctuation (end marks) where appropriate. Please read over these journal responses each week, making sure your child is using proper writing skills.

 

In math, we will begin our multiplication unit. This week’s lessons may be challenging because they are designed to help the children understand the idea of multiplying larger numbers. We will be using base ten blocks for comprehending and solving these math problems. I will be teaching the children several different methods for multiplying numbers together -including traditional algorithms. Ultimately, the students will use whatever strategy that is easiest for them to get the correct answer. With that being said, the children will still need to be able to recognize the varying ways of solving multiplication problems for future assessments made by the county and state.

 

In social studies, we will continue learning about the Native Americans in Virginia. This week’s focus will be on how the Natives adapted to their environment – especially during the 4 uniquely different seasons.

 

I wish you all a wonderful (and warm) week ahead. 😊

 

Monday: P.E.

Tuesday: Library

Wednesday: Art

Thursday: P.E.

Friday: Music

 

November 22, 2020

 

I’m sure many of you (like me) are excited for the upcoming holiday week 😊.  It truly is hard to believe that we are approaching the end of November and December is right around the corner – WOW!

 

Although our week is short – only 2 days, we will remain busy on Monday and Tuesday. In Reading, our focus will be on articles in Newsela about the origins of Thanksgiving food and about the Native Algonquian Peoples. I will also assign a writing response for the children to complete inside their Response Journal (on Monday). Please look over your student’s entry for detail and fluent sentences.

 

In Math, we will be taking a short, two-part quiz that will assess the children on word-problem questions and estimating sums and differences with decimals. We practiced these skills at length last week, so the children should be successful with these tasks.

 

Lastly, in Virginia Studies we will continue to discuss and review the language groups and tribes of the native peoples in Virginia. Our review will include a Kahoot game (which is always a favorite) and a Slides assignment.

 

I wish you all a very restful and joyous Thanksgiving holiday. I surely hope you will find happiness and peace as you are surrounded by your family and friends.

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Monday: Art

Tuesday: Library

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November 15, 2020