Readers Workshop This month, students are beginning exciting units of study. In reading, students will participate in historical fiction book clubs. Clubs are important because it is beneficial for children to interact and have meaningful conversations with their peers. Historical fiction is complex. The characters live in places and time periods which our students are not familiar with. The reader must figure out the setting, how people lived during that time period, and the relationships between characters. Throughout this unit, students will focus on the following priority standards: Inferring about characters and other story elements Determining themes/cohesion Analyzing parts in relation to the whole Analyzing perspective Writers Workshop In Writing, students will write informational pieces about the American Revolution. At the start of the unit, students will use what they know about essay writing. For example, they will introduce a topic and group related information and then develop the topic, elaborating with some facts, definitions, and details. Then students will select more focused topics and narrow in on a subtopic of their choice. Throughout the unit students will draw evi- dence from texts to support analysis, reflection, and research. The following standards will be addressed: Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly. Introduce a topic clearly and group related information in paragraphs and sections Develop the topic with facts, definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other exam- ples related to the topic Link ideas within categories of information using words and phrases Use precise language and domain-specific vocabulary to inform or explain the topic Provide a concluding statement or section related to the information or explanation presented Literacy Fourth Grade January 2020
Transcript
Readers Workshop This month, students are beginning exciting units of study. In reading, students will
participate in historical fiction book clubs. Clubs are important because it is beneficial for children to interact and have meaningful conversations with their peers.
Historical fiction is complex. The characters live in places and time periods which our
students are not familiar with. The reader must figure out the setting, how people lived during that time period, and the relationships between characters. Throughout this unit, students will focus on the following priority standards:
Inferring about characters and other story elements
Determining themes/cohesion
Analyzing parts in relation to the whole
Analyzing perspective
Writers Workshop
In Writing, students will write informational pieces about the American Revolution. At the start of the unit, students will use what they know about essay writing. For example, they will introduce a topic and group related information and then develop the topic, elaborating with some facts, definitions, and details. Then students will select more focused topics and narrow in on a subtopic of their choice. Throughout the unit students will draw evi-dence from texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.
The following standards will be addressed:
Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly.
Introduce a topic clearly and group related information in paragraphs and sections
Develop the topic with facts, definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other exam-ples related to the topic
Link ideas within categories of information using words and phrases
Use precise language and domain-specific vocabulary to inform or explain the topic
Provide a concluding statement or section related to the information or explanation presented
Literacy
Fourth Grade January 2020
This month, students will work on Chapters 4 and 5,-Dividing by 1-Digit Numbers, and Factors, Multiples, and Patterns .
This month, students will:
Find whole-number quotients and remainders with up to two-digit dividends and one-digit divisors
Solve multi-step division word problems including problems in which remain-ders must be interpreted
Divide tens, hundreds, and thousands by whole numbers through 10
Estimate quotients using compatible numbers
Find whole-number quotients and remainders with up to three-digit dividends and one-digit divisors
Use models to identify factors of a number
Use divisibility to decide if one number is a factor of another
Solve word problems involving common factors
Identify factors and multiples of a number in the range 1-100; Distinguish be-tween factors and multiples of a number; Solve word problems involving com-mon multiples
Determine whether a number is prime or composite using its factors
Use a rule to generate a number pattern or find a certain tern in the pattern
Science During the month of January, students are continuing to work in Unit 2, Vision and Light. They are focusing more closely on how animals adapt to their environ-ments and the differences between behavioral and structural adaptations. By the end of this month, students will: Understand the differences between behavioral and structural adapta-
tions Provide examples of unique adaptations for different animals and spe-
cies Explain how an animal’s habitat influences their adaptations Complete a project where they create an animals and its adaptations
based on the environment
Math
Social Studies
Students are learning about the American Revolution to understand the deci-sions and choices the colonists had to make leading up to the Revolutionary War. By reading texts and working on their writing pieces in their Writer’s Workshop, students express their understanding of the concept of “taking sides” and how people that may have different points of view about an issue or situation, can still share common ground.
Student Council
Our Student Council has been busy! In December, Student Council sold and
delivered candy cane o’grams. Thank you to everyone who participated. Every student in the school received a candy cane o’gram! In addition, we raised over $300! This money will be used for school-wide events and activities.
Door Decorating Contest
In December, Student Council sponsored our 6th Annual Door Decorating
Contest. Congratulations to our winners– Classes 404 and 507. They will receive pizza parties!
Buddy Program
Once a month, several fifth grade students visit P.S. 255. P.S. 255 is a school which educates students with Autism and it is located in the P.S. 7 main
building. Our students visit during the social skills class and assist with
various activities including games, partner reading, and arts and crafts.
Beautiful Me
This month, fifth grade girls will have the opportunity to participate in a program called “Beautiful Me...the Emma, Alyson, and Katie Hance Project.” This program is designed to help enhance participants’ self esteem, increase positive body awareness, improve problem solving skills, and build healthy
relationship skills. This program provides meaningful character education opportunities to further develop students’ tolerance and respect for others, as well as enhance self-esteem and dignity.
Students of the Month Congratulations to our November Students of the Month. These students were celebrated at a special assembly during December’s Family Thursday.
Fourth Grade Students of the Month
Class 401: Leon Metaj , Sara Tahiyah
Class 402: Joshua Garcia, Vivianna Sanchez
Class 403: Tenzin Sangpo , Jayla Treamvicharnkul
Class 404: Ivan Chen , Kayli Dugllay
Class 405: Bryant Sosa , Ariana Galvez
Class 406: Leanna Lin , Shree Patel
Class 407: Jeremy Castro , Anabia Anjam
Class 408: Anthony Gomez , Khloe Garcia
Class 409: Lizbeth Morelos
Fifth Grade Students of the Month
Class 501: Bryant Frane, Nuzima Shara
Class 502: Charles London, Breeana Bernabe
Class 503: Hagen Chahjono, Mayiesha Zithne
Class 504: Prapti Paudel
Class 505: Jia Hong Ni, Nicole Fernandez
Class 506: Keesha Pevidal, Su Pyae Moe
Class 507: Sandra Flores, Giana Eduave
Class 508: Farrah Young, Stephanie Romero
Class 509: Cristofer Medrano
Upcoming Events
January 13-15,2020: Dr. Smiles visits The Academy
January 16,2020 Family Thursday and Student of the Month Assembly
January 20,2020 Martin Luther King Jr. Day, no school
February 15– 23,2020: Mid-winter Recess
New York State Testing Dates
March 25-27,2020: New York State English Language Arts Exam
April 21- 23,2020 New York State Math Exam
April 6-May 15,2020: Testing window for NYSESLAT Speaking
May 4-May 15,2020: Testing window for NYSESLAT Listening,
Reading, and Writing
May 18– May 29, 020: Testing window for Grade 4 Science
Performance Test
June 1,2020: Grade 4 Science Written Exam
My Reading goals for this unit are:
Inferring about characters and other story elements
Find whole-number quotients and remainders with up to two-digit dividends and one-digit divisors
Solve multi-step division word problems including problems in which remainders must be interpreted
Divide tens, hundreds, and thousands by whole numbers through 10
Estimate quotients using compatible numbers
Find whole-number quotients and remainders with up to three-digit dividends and one-digit divisors
Use models to identify factors of a number
Use divisibility to decide if one number is a factor of another
Solve word problems involving common factors
Identify factors and multiples pf a number in the range 1-100; Distinguish between factors and multiples of a number; Solve word problems involving common multiples
Determine whether a number is prime or composite using its factors
Use a rule to generate a number pattern or find a certain tern in the pattern
