Theme Quiz

    I'm very proud of the students' progress on identifying key evidence!! Now we need to have them make the connection of evidence with the theme vocabulary. I have gone over the quiz and answers. I gave the students the opportunity to ask questions to further explain the theme. We have discussed that the text may use synonyms or antonyms of character traits to teach the theme.
    Tonight's task is for your child to go over their quiz with you and share what they have learned. Please initial the quiz and send it back to school Thursday. I will return it to review again for homework.
     Friday's test will include the following theme words-honesty,cooperation,compassion,loyalty,friendship,and acceptance. The students will need to support their answer with 2 details from the text. They will be expected to write complete sentences and rephrase in their own words.
    How can they prepare? Have your child write 2 synonyms or 2 antonyms of character traits for these themes listed for the test.

Thank you for your support!

Ending Theme Unit

The reading comprehension test grades have been posted. Here's what I have done. Usually these tests are counted as a primary grade (60% weight), however I have taken into consideration that this is their first exposure to fourth grade testing. I have therefor counted it as a secondary grade (40% weight). Students are adjusting to identifying key words in questions which is extremely important to understanding what is being asked to answer. Please check your child's agenda as I have stapled tests to be signed that were not passing grades or low grades. I have made small notes on the tests.

Monday there will be a theme quiz. The quiz will consist of short passages and a theme vocabulary word bank. Only one answer is accepted so the students must read carefully and pay attention to the details to identify the correct theme. Please remind your child to identify key details as they read.
We will continue practicing through out the week and take the final assessment on Friday. To help them prepare, students should have their journals to be reviewing theme vocabulary and reviewing previous reading passages.

Change in plans! We are going to have vocabulary for the next two weeks. After looking at the calendar, we have decided this inorder to get the unit covered before the September break. Can't believe it's almost here!  Each day, Monday -Wednesday, the students will make 4 flashcards in class. They will bring these home to study. I also give them the opportunity to practice with a partner after morning work and during Daily 5. They quiz each other on spelling, definition, and synonyms & antonyms. This unit also includes application of context clues and character traits.

Writing is beginning to pick up. Students have completed their planning sheets and have begun expanding their ideas into paragraphs. As they do so, I have revisited hooks and transition words that are applicable to narrative writing. I also provide feedback on how they are developing and what may need improvement.
Here's a suggestion to help your child develop creativity in their ideas. Start creating a story (verbally) with them. You begin it one night for about 10 minutes. The next night, have them add on to the story. The following night is your turn again and so on. Have it be about an alien, monster, princess, knight, or something of this sort. This will give you the opportunity to interact with your child, give them guidance, and get a picture of their development. Have fun with this and don't make it seem like work for them 😃.

Our room moms, Mrs. Zoladz and Mrs. Duke , request that you sign up for PTA if you haven't yet done so. We're missing about 13 parents. On Monday, they will be sending home some information so please look for it in your child's Gator notebook.

                             Hope to see you at the Fall Carnival!!

Reading Comprehension test

  I would like to provide some feedback on yesterday's test. Mrs. Tansill's and Mrs. Stewart's students who did not finish the test during the reading block were given the opportunity to come during lunch OR recess to try and complete it. Even with this extended time, a handful are still not finished. They will have the opportunity this morning after morning work to do so.

   Mrs. Gerber's homeroom students had a shortened recess to try to finish. Some students are still working on completing it and have the same opportunity this morning to work on it.

   Some sections I am allowing students to revisit. I have identified key words in the directions that were not paid attention to. Students have been taught the strategy of boxing or highlighting key words in passages and questions to help focus on what is being taught or asked. This will be reinforced all year to improve true comprehension, not word call.

**Please make a plan with your child. When they have incomplete work, will they come in early (7:15 Addison's doors open), work during lunch, or part of recess?

**Theme quiz is moved to Monday!! I wish to go over the reading comprehension test on Friday and have a mini-lesson on theme. I will need to finish grading the tests on Thursday as students are just completing them today.

     Please email me if you have further questions 🙋

Guided Reading

STEM day was a hit! Three of four of the transport constructions were successful. As soon as I can, I will get the pictures from the Ipad to my computer. You may remember me mentioning at Open House that I'm a little tech challenged,lol.

Students have a practice comprehension test to review with you. I walked the class thru how to read the questions for understanding and how to go back to the text to identify the evidence for their answers. We box,highlight,or underline important clue words. Also numbering in the text the corresponding numbers of the questions.These are the strategies they should always apply when reading. They will have a test on Tuesday with the same format. There is nothing to study, this is comprehension.

Whole group instruction continues to be teaching theme. We will read a few fables and short texts. There will most likely be a quiz on Friday.
I will begin guided reading groups based on student assessments and in-class observations. One focus will be on identifying the main idea. These students will learn vocabulary and developing clear and specific answers to comprehension questions for supporting the main idea of a text.They will recognize and identify details from the text.
The other small group will read literary text .They will identify details and character analysis. The groups are based more on students' individual needs.

We are a tad behind in writing. Some students have chosen a "theme" to be the focus for their narrative writing. They will move onto completing their organizer. Others need to get started. During this block, I am meeting in small groups to work on developing detailed sentence structure. I have been modeling "show" don't just "tell". Example: I was mad. vs I slammed the door and yelled into my pillow. The class is learning how to describe actions so the reader can make a picture in their mind.

There is NO vocabulary workbook for the next 2 weeks. We are rotating with math standards.

                  Have a wonderful Labor Day!

New Unit-Theme

In reading, we have finished the unit on plot. I'm still grading tests and will decide if a bonus needs to be given based upon the class average.
We will be reading texts to learn about theme. The students will have an anchor chart as a resource. As we have been reading, students are learning how to "think mark". This is identifying clue words and phrases that support their answers. Evidence for characters actions, words,thoughts, and lessons learned will be focused on. I model this with every activity. Your child should have these notes on their papers. if you are not seeing these strategies on their work, please remind them to be active participants.
In writing, we are working on developing a narrative. I will be working with small groups based on the pre-assessment. Some will work on creating more developed sentence structure . Others will strengthen their paragraphs. All students are learning to add more details to "show" feelings, thoughts, and actions.

There will be a vocabulary test on Friday. Students should be studying the definitions and parts of speech. Nightly homework will be given this week.

Wednesday is early release. Addison will have its first STEM day!

Welcome 2019 -20

     Welcome to fourth grade! It's been a blast getting to know the students. Thank you for attending our Open House and I hope that it was informative.
       The students have been learning the elements of plot in a text. We have spent the last week labeling "Think Marking" on the 2nd read of the text. We are learning to read for true comprehension of a text and the author's purpose. The students are looking for changes in a character from the beginning of a story to the end resolution. Yes, there can be more than one answer. The students must explain their reasoning by referring to the text evidence.
       The plot test is planned for Thursday but may be moved to Friday if needed. Please focus on the in-class work and homework assignments this week. The test will be the same format!

       We have just begun writing. There was a need to go back to writing a paragraph. Many still struggled with developing an introduction topic sentence. They will learn to write creative introductions by describing not stating. Another area we need to work on is varying our sentence starters. This will all come together as we progress.

       Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend! 

       

Now until Milestone

2 weeks until we begin Milestone testing!

We have begun practicing questions and understanding how to take the test online. This is the link if you wish to preview : http://www.gaexperienceonline.com/

In math we have started the unit on geometry. The students will need to understand the vocabulary,
identify models, draw models, measure angles, and find the missing angle.

Reading and comprehending allusions in Greek mythology will be taught between practicing for Milestone.