During Quarter 2, we have focused on writing realistic fiction. We are in the publishing phase of the writing process. Students have had teacher conferences and are working on final revisions. We will share our writing with each other in class.
We will begin Quarter 3 with a focus on persuasive essay writing. By the end of the unit, writers should be able to provide support for a claim in ways that chunk the supportive evidence into logically grouped categories. Writers will use transitional words, use phrases that convey the relationship between the chunks of text and the main claim, and draw on detailed specifics to support their claims.
We will begin by thinking about a topic that the students have strong feelings about. They will write their opinion and give reasons that tell why they feel this way. This pre-assessment will allow them to use everything they know about essay writing, letter writing, speeches, and reviews which will help teachers plan for future mini-lessons.
We will write four persuasive essays before focusing on our social studies topic: "If I Were Mayor" (see Social Studies section below).
A link to a website for information on the 6 Traits of writing is below:
http://writingfix.com/classroom_tools/post_its.htm
http://writingfix.com/classroom_tools/post_its.htm
Natural Reader:
This tool can be downloaded on your home computers to assist students with reading text that may be challenging. We use this in class for webpage research and for revising our writing. Students can listen to what they have typed and determine if it sounds right to revise. In addition, when gathering research, this tool allows them to read difficult text. We have this program at school, but it is a great tool for home use as well:
www.naturalreader.com
Social Studies: Working to Create Change in Our Communities:
This month students will examine the lives of different people in history and today who are creating change in the community. Our first example was Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and other civil rights leaders. We examined several video clips from the 1950's and 60's to discuss how to bring about social change.
Our next study will be various musicians who have worked to create change. Some include John Mayer, Jack Johnson, Garth Brooks, and U2. We will study how the impact of their music has inspired many changes around the world.
We will also discuss how kids can have a positive impact on their community and make a difference in the world. We will discuss Blake Mycoskie (founder of TOMS shoe company), dosomething.org, and Tristin & Tyler, two elementary students who host their own web video series to promote eco-activism. This will lead the students to think about change in our community of Laytonsville/Gaithersburg in order to complete an essay about being Mayor of our community.
The "If I Were Mayor" essay contest is a state-wide contest open to all fourth graders in Maryland. Students will write an essay as part of their social studies grade and will have the option of entering the statewide competition. Last year was the first year that LES participated. Although no student from our school went on to win the state-wide contest, Mayor Prats chose 3 winners from our school contest. On Friday he presented them with certificates.
First Place: Fadilah Farrin
Second Place: Erin McClure
Third Place: Lauren Smith
Their essays were about building more parks/recreation, protecting the environment, and ending discrimination. Below are a few photos from the event.
This month students will examine the lives of different people in history and today who are creating change in the community. Our first example was Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and other civil rights leaders. We examined several video clips from the 1950's and 60's to discuss how to bring about social change.
Our next study will be various musicians who have worked to create change. Some include John Mayer, Jack Johnson, Garth Brooks, and U2. We will study how the impact of their music has inspired many changes around the world.
We will also discuss how kids can have a positive impact on their community and make a difference in the world. We will discuss Blake Mycoskie (founder of TOMS shoe company), dosomething.org, and Tristin & Tyler, two elementary students who host their own web video series to promote eco-activism. This will lead the students to think about change in our community of Laytonsville/Gaithersburg in order to complete an essay about being Mayor of our community.
The "If I Were Mayor" essay contest is a state-wide contest open to all fourth graders in Maryland. Students will write an essay as part of their social studies grade and will have the option of entering the statewide competition. Last year was the first year that LES participated. Although no student from our school went on to win the state-wide contest, Mayor Prats chose 3 winners from our school contest. On Friday he presented them with certificates.
First Place: Fadilah Farrin
Second Place: Erin McClure
Third Place: Lauren Smith
Their essays were about building more parks/recreation, protecting the environment, and ending discrimination. Below are a few photos from the event.
Science:
During quarter 3 students will engage in a hands-on environmental project that will promote habitat restoration in the Chesapeake Bay. This project is an extension of our first quarter science unit on Ecosystems.
Together with WSSC, students in each class will make reef balls out of cement. These reef balls will be deposited at the Memorial Stadium Reef where oysters will attach to them to increase their habitat and population. Click on the video below to see how we will be doing this in class. We are in need of parent volunteers on Thursday mornings for this project. Please contact your child's teacher if you are able to join us.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2mUnvk79Mw
Math 5: Unit 3
NUMBER RELATIONSHIPS AND COMPUTATION
Students need to:
Compute with whole numbers.
Translate among fractions, decimals, and percents.
Compare and order decimals to the thousandths place.
Solve problems with fractions, decimals, and percents using a variety of strategies.
Mrs. Johnson's math class will take the Measures of Academic Progress-Math on Wednesday, January 16.
Mrs. Johnson's math class will take the Measures of Academic Progress-Math on Wednesday, January 16.
Looking Ahead: Unit Assessment will be February 11 & 12
Math 4: Unit 3: Probability, Fractions and Decimals.
Our focus will continue to be on number relationships and computation. Students will use manipulatives to compare and order fractions.
Equivalent Fractions
Mixed Numbers
Improper Fractions
Order fractions from least to greatest
We will then move ahead to compare decimals to the hundredths using numerals, pictures and objects. By the end of this unit, students should be able to describe the relationship between fractions and decimals.
Looking Ahead: Unit Assessment on February 12 & 13
Our focus will continue to be on number relationships and computation. Students will use manipulatives to compare and order fractions.
Equivalent Fractions
Mixed Numbers
Improper Fractions
Order fractions from least to greatest
We will then move ahead to compare decimals to the hundredths using numerals, pictures and objects. By the end of this unit, students should be able to describe the relationship between fractions and decimals.
Looking Ahead: Unit Assessment on February 12 & 13
*A great website that allows students to work at their own pace on word problems/real world application of multiplication & division:
http://www.thinkingblocks.com/
We continue to use the Khan academy website to help practice our math at home. This is a great site where students (if a log in is created) can track their progress and have example problems to work on. It has been featured in CNN as an up and coming way for teachers to assess individual students learning.
http://www.khanacademy.org/
Reading:
Our focus in reading will shift to test preparation. A major aim of this unit is to support students in using strategies for each genre that have been taught throughout the year. This unit is about supporting students in thinking logically and flexibly to transfer all they know to their test-taking. http://www.thinkingblocks.com/
We continue to use the Khan academy website to help practice our math at home. This is a great site where students (if a log in is created) can track their progress and have example problems to work on. It has been featured in CNN as an up and coming way for teachers to assess individual students learning.
http://www.khanacademy.org/
Reading:
Our reading workshop will teach students how to read, talk about and answer questions about short, test-like texts as well as strategies for answering selected-response questions. We will first focus on narrative reading. Students will also use chapter books to deepen their discussions and practice of reading strategies.
Spelling:
*Our spelling program involves the use of developmental word study rather than traditional spelling books. This“Words Their Way” approach allows students to practice target spelling patterns that best address their individual needs as a speller. Students work in spelling groups to analyze the pattern and look for clues as to how to generalize the correct spelling of words within that pattern/sound. Our next spelling assessment will be January 18.
