4AW Weekly Newsletter March 18- April 5

Grade 4

Weekly Newsletter

March 18 - April 5, 2019

This newsletter covers the week before Spring Break and also the week after Spring Break.

Language Arts

In Language Arts throughout the next couple of weeks we continue to follow our topic across texts, cross-referencing information to ensure accuracy. Students continue to use notes to add any missing information to their writing, documenting sources used in their reference section. Students continually revise their work, adding and deleting parts to ensure that the reader is hooked and that essential paragraph elements are included namely a main idea sentence, details including facts, examples & data as well as an ending. We introduce transitions and figurative language to help the students link their information and to keep the reader interested. The students will work to collate their information into their typed slide show presentation, using ARMS and CUPS to self, peer, and teacher edit their work.

Math 
In the next two weeks, the students will be continuing the unit on fraction operations. They will continue to work on using visual models to add and subtract fractions. They will also be introduced to mixed numbers and improper fractions. Another area of focus with be an introduction to be using line plots to display and answer questions about fraction data.

Science
In the next two weeks in Science, students will discuss and model what they know about the past environments of Desert Rocks National Park and are introduced to the question What is the order of the past environments of Desert Rocks National Park?  They construct ideas about the order in which rock layers form by using relevant models and the Fossil Hunter’s Handbook and then model their understanding. Students then gather and organize evidence for two claims about the order in which layers formed in a rocky outcrop. Next, students read and discuss how scientists use data and ideas about rock layers to make arguments about what caused the dinosaurs to go extinct. Later, students write about which argument is most convincing and why.

Announcements
March 18th: NO SCHOOL - ISKL Faculty Inservice
March 25th -March 29th: NO SCHOOL - March Break
April 1st: Coffee Chat & Resource Fair @ 8:00am - 9:45am  This is a great opportunity for you to learn about the resources that the Student Resource Team (SRT) offers to support all students in their learning and development at ISKL. In addition to learning about speech and language therapy, educational psychology, and counseling available at ISKL, parents will learn about additional supports that can be accessed outside of school to support their child and family.  Coffee and snacks will be provided. RSVP Required.  Registration Link 
ES Dress Up Days: plan your days in advance click HERE for dates and details.

Resources
Below is a link to our ES Library page filled with incredible reading resources including current event links to news sites such as Newsla (news site with the capability to adjust reading level), DOGOnews (news site with the capability to read articles out loud). Support our Grade 4 scientific exploration of the natural world or search articles related to interests, either way, all readers can access and engage in news and information.


Below is a link to Splash Math: Fraction Games for 4th Graders. There are a number of games to play that support our unit related to building fractions greater than one whole.
Note: a free login is required to play past the demo stage.
https://www.splashmath.com/fraction-games-for-4th-graders

Inclusive Schools Week Events and Dress up Days

Inclusive Schools Week at ISKL

April 1-5, 2019,  Inclusive Schools Week. #kaleidoscopeoffriends. The ISKL Community School-wide will celebrate the progress that we have made in providing a supportive and quality education to an increasingly diverse student population. The week will also provide an important opportunity for educators, students and parents to discuss what else needs to be done in order to ensure that ISKL continues to successfully educate all children. Events will be planned to engage the students, teachers, and parents. 

There will be three dress-up days:

March 21, 2019, Down Syndrome Awareness Day- Wear Mismatched Socks Day !

• This day is World Down Syndrome Awareness Day. #WorldDownSyndromeDay. The ISKL ES community is encouraged to wear mismatched socks to raise awareness and highlight that our differences are what make us great.

April 2, 2019, Autism Awareness Day  - Wear Blue for Autism Awareness

• April 2 is World Autism Awareness Day. #LightItUpBlue The ISKL ES community is encouraged to support the Autism Speaks Light it up Blue Campaign by wearing blue to increase understanding and acceptance of Autism.
 

April 5, 2019, Diversity Day- wear clothes that show their uniqueness

• As Inclusive Schools Week wraps up, ES students are encouraged to dress in clothes that highlight them as unique individuals. #kaleidoscopeoffriends

• For Parents: There will be a Coffee Chat & Resource Fair happening on April 1st. RSVP is required Click Here for the invitation.  

April 1, 2019: Coffee Chat & Resource Fair. To kick off Inclusive Schools Week there will be a Coffee Chat and Resource Fair in the Community Room from 8:15 - 9:45 am.  This is a great opportunity for your parents to learn about the resources that the Student Resource Team (SRT) offers to support students in their learning and development at ISKL. In addition to learning about speech and language therapy, educational psychology, and counselling available at ISKL, parents will also have the opportunity to learn about additional supports that can be accessed outside of school to support their child and family.  Coffee and snacks will be provided. Parents need to RSVP - Click Here.

4AW Weekly Newsletter March 11-15

Grade 4

Weekly Newsletter

March 11 - March 15, 2019

Language Arts 
This week we will be examining author’s perspectives in non fictions texts. Students will review their main idea statement based on the perspective of their chosen texts. They will continue to put their ordered notes into paragraphs while also identifying ‘gaps’ in their research. They will do this through looking back at what has been done and what still needs to be done in order to move forward in the research process. Students will also be learning how to quote websites, books or people and include this in their article.

Math 
This week in math the students will begin to decompose fractions by using connecting blocks, the area model as well a number line. The students will be adding fractions with like denominators, writing word problems to match. Student will also be subtracting fractions with like denominators and writing word problems that match too. They will be using models to help cement their ideas with addition and subtraction.  They will be using both unit fractions and sum of fractions to add and subtract.


Science
This week students consider data and inferences they can make about fossils, and help construct a scientific argument about what the environment of Desert Rocks National Park was like in the past. They use data from fossils found in the area to help construct their arguments. Students then use what they discussed in their Evidence Circles to write a scientific argument. At the end of the lesson, the whole class briefly reflects on the Chapter 2 Question: What was the environment of Desert Rocks National Park like in the past?

Announcements
March 11th - March 15th: ES Library Book Week!
March 13th: Book Swap - Students bring in their coupons to choose new/used books                        (10 coupons maximum) 
March 15th: Red Hat Book Character Dress Up Day
March 15th: Cartoonist/Author visit - Matt Smith
March 18th: NO SCHOOL - ISKL Faculty Inservice
March 25th -March 29th: NO SCHOOL - March Break
ES Dress Up Days: plan your days in advance click HERE for dates and details.

Resources
Here is a video and a game to reinforce how to decompose fractions
Here is a game to reinforce fraction skills too. Game
To further support our exploration of non-fiction text log on to Newsela, which is an online news website that has the capability of breaking down the text into different reading levels that all readers can access.  (focus on Science)

4AW Weekly Newsletter March 4-8

Grade 4

Weekly Newsletter

March 4 - March 8, 2019

Student Led Conferences are this week. Thanks to you all for working with our new system and signing up through powerschool.  During the conference your chid will be teaching you some of the strategies or games in the different content areas such as Math, Writing and Science/Reading. Your child will also have a time at a station where they can share with you their reflections- honestly- on Semester 1 goals and set new goals. 

Your child will do most of the talking. This is not a time for 1:1 parent teacher conferences as many of you will be in the classroom with 3 other families. I will be in the classroom and will join in some sharing. I would like to request that mobile phones are turned off- so that your full attention can be given to your child. I look forward to seeing you all soon.

Language Arts
In Language Arts this week, students are continuing to gather different types of visual material, such as diagrams, data and charts to add to their collection of information on their non fiction research topic. Students are continuing to synthesize, - using the notes from different sources that students have collected to begin drafting our non fiction texts, ensuring that information is grouped into sections and paragraphs. This week we will be focusing on conclusions.

Math
This week the students will continue with working on decomposing fractions using a number line and the area model. They will then be adding and subtracting fractions with common denominators. The students will continue to use drawings to help make deeper connections while adding and subtracting fractions.

Science
Due to our preparations for our Student-led Conferences this week we have limited science lesson times. However, we will be learning about different rock layers. We will also be using our inference skills about fossils in preparation for writing a scientific argument. The argument will be based on a claim about what past environments used to be like, using evidence from rocks and fossils.

Announcements
March 7th & March 8th - Student Led Conferences (SLC): Thank you for signing up for a time slot on POWERSCHOOL. If you are unable to attend, please contact your child’s teacher so that an alternative date can be set up.

Resources
To further support our exploration of non-fiction text log on to Newsela, which is an online news website that has the capability of breaking down the text into different reading levels that all readers can access.  https://newsela.com/text-sets/#/science (focus on Science)