We are continuing with Book Bingo. Remember, it is due Friday Jan. 29th. Some kids have already made a Bingo and are working to make more. Please encourage your child to keep reading and working on filling out the forms.
Most of us have completed our Picture Book Project. On Friday we got to share them with our Buddies. Soon, we will have a 4th grade sharing day and share amongst all three of the 4th grade classrooms. Eventually, Mr. Burleson will also make them available to access via the web. We will keep you posted.
This week we started our Keyboarding lessons. We are using a new program called Typing Club. A letter was sent home so kids can access their account from home and continue their progress. Please encourage your child to log on about 3 times a week or more to practice. We are allowing for 3 times a week here at school over the next 6 weeks. Also, it is most beneficial for kids to use the correct fingers. Please encourage that as well.
This week we introduced the Expert Report. It is a long term project. Our Expert Report Fair date is not until April 27th, but it is time to get the ball rolling. This week the kids got a brief overview and we began some Topic Brainstorming. Kids are making a list of 10 ideas that will eventually pare down to 5, then 3, then down to THE topic. I am encouraging kids to think of multiple topics and to keep an open mind. We are trying to avoid animals, as they already did an animal report in 3rd grade. Also, we are trying to avoid duplicate topics within our classroom. Next week the Expert Report booklet will come home and I ask that you review it with your child so you can be helpful and supportive with the materials and due dates.
As we point toward the Expert Report, we have changed our focus in writing to Non-Narrative writing. We will be exploring expository, informational, opinion and personal essay. These skills will assist them in building strong essays for their Expert Reports and build a stronger foundation of technical writing skills to take with them into middle school.
We are finishing up our study of the South East Region. We will be taking some time to learn about Slavery and the Underground Railroad, which will lead us into our study of the Mid West.
But first, with Martin Luther King Day just around the corner, we will take some time to learn about the Civil Rights movement.
This week we completed our unit and Math Assessment for Multiple Towers and Division Stories. These concepts will be revisited again in the spring, but for now we will shift to fractions then decimals.
FYI - Conference are just around the corner. They are much earlier this year - Feb. 11 & 12. I will be sending out a sign up very soon. If you ever have technical difficulties with signing up, please just email me a choice of times that would work for you and I'll plug you in to the schedule.
Low Temps will be back next week. Please bundle your kids - the fresh air is very important, even if it is for a short period of time.
Enjoy your weekend & a few pictures from the week:
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