4AW Weekly Newsletter Oct 29- 2 Nov

Grade 4

Weekly Newsletter

October 29 - November 2, 2018

Language Arts
This week, we will begin our Realistic Fiction reading and writing units. In Reading, we’ll be reviewing expectations for independent reading and add onto our ThinkMarks with a focus on character traits and how characters grow/change. In writing, students will examining mentor texts to identify features of realistic fiction writing.

Math
Students will be finding the multiples of a number, using various strategies including skip counting. They will be demonstrating their understanding of factors and multiples of whole numbers. As well, students will be exploring the use of the area model for solving multi-digit multiplication.

Science
We are launching our Force and Motion,  Science unit by investigating a phenomena, and asking ourselves how do various forces impact the motion of objects?  Our next step is to find out more about applied forces and how they create a balanced or unbalanced force. We will be asking the following questions throughout the unit:

• How do various forces impact the motion of objects?
• ​How can force be applied or changed to make work easier?
• How does the transfer of energy impact the motion of an object?
• How does the design process help us find solutions to our problems?

Announcements
Wednesday, October 31st will be the elementary Halloween Dress up Day (School Policy: NO weapons, NO masks, NO scary costumes)
A Heads up: Tuesday, November 6,  there is NO SCHOOL, due to Deepavali

Resources
As many classes introduce the area model this week, here are a few resources that may help you help your child and may help YOU understand this strategy.

• Using the area model (two digit number x single digit number)
• 
  
• Multiplying two digit numbers (two digit number x two digit number)

Grade 4AW Weekly Newsletter 22-26 October

Grade 4

Weekly Newsletter

October 22- October 26, 2018

Language Arts
This week, we will be finishing up both the nonfiction reading unit and personal essay writing unit. The children are publishing their essays in writing and working closely with partners to revise and edit their writing.

Math
Students will be learning about factor pairs and determining which numbers are prime and which numbers are composite and even some that are square numbers. They will also be playing games that involve multiplication and division in order to solidify their facts.

Social Studies
This week will bring us to the end of our unit on culture and global citizenship. Students will be sharing their presentations with a partner, taking notes on their partner's culture and comparing and contrasting how similar and different their culture is from their partner. They will also reflect on how understanding different cultures makes them better global citizens.

Announcements
October 31st will be the elementary Halloween dress up day, (School Policy: NO weapons, NO masks, NO scary costumes)
Nov 9th, Friday - ES International Festival Flag Parade: Students and Parents encouraged to dress up! Students can dress in costume: country of origin, country of self identification (one or more!) , country of citizenship: it’s their choice! Parents are also encouraged to attend , dress up (optional) to celebrate this fantastic morning! Bring your cameras… Each child will receive a mini flag that represents their recorded passport with Admissions. This is the day before our Annual International Festival.

Resources
As we are studying prime and composite numbers in math here are a few games that will give your child practice at recognising these numbers. Both games help with recognizing prime and composite numbers Prime and Composite sorting game and another is a helping game about Prime and Composite numbers.

4AW Weekly Newsletter October15-19 2018

Grade 4

Weekly Newsletter

October 15 - October 19, 2018

Language Arts
In reading this week, students will continue to use nonfiction texts to better understand the major world religions. Students will be finding the main ideas of texts and also taking notes so that they become mini-experts on two world religions. We will also be revisiting the compare and contrast brain-frame.

 Last week in writing,  students were able to give specific feedback to their classmates about what they are doing well in opinion writing and what they need to improve based on their first piece of opinion writing. This week in writing, students will be starting a new opinion piece by brainstorming ideas, rehearsing with partners, planning using a planner as well as drafting using all of the knowledge and skills we have covered so far.

Math
The Unit 1 math assessment will be sent home this week. Please look at it with your child. The front page used the letters N- not yet meeting, P- progressing and M-meeting. The benchmarks are year-long and so we will be revisiting these during our Ongoing Cumulative Review  (OCR) time at the start of each math lesson. Please sign the front page and send back to school once you have seen it.

 This week we will begin to explore math thinking connected to our new unit on multiplication and division.  The unit will include multiplication and division of larger numbers through the use of concrete strategies.  We will make these math ideas visible with models and drawings! We start off by examining some color-coded numbers and seeing what patterns students can see...introducing prime and composite, even, odd as well as multiples- what patterns do you see?

Social Studies
This week in social studies students will be continuing to learn about other religions and  look at some artefacts from these religions. On Monday's morning meeting, we have organised Ms. Jag, who is Hindu, to talk about her religion as we look at Hindu religious artefacts.  We will also be continuing to work on their  Cultural Universal slides especially focusing on the Global Citizenship which really asks, "Why is learning about your own and others cultures important?" and " What small things can you do to make the world better?"

Announcements

• October 19th will be a FREE DRESS Day.  If your child chooses to not wear their uniform on this day, the Red Hats will be collecting a 5 Ringgit donation towards a charity.
• October 31st will be the elementary Halloween Dress up Day, (School Policy: NO weapons, NO masks, NO scary costumes) 

Resources
We will be moving into our second math unit on multiplication and division.  Our mathematicians will continue to explain their thinking using math vocabulary.  Here are many of the words they will need to use throughout the unit...Grade 4 Math Unit 2 Vocabulary Quizlet.

4AW Weekly Newsletter Oct 8-12

Grade 4

Weekly Newsletter

October 8 - October 12, 2018

Thank you all so much for attending our three-way conferences. It was great seeing you all and I know that your children gained a lot by formulating and presenting their goals. We will continue to work on these goals throughout the semester....

In Curriculum:

Language Arts
This week in Reading, the children will be using nonfiction texts to explore different religions around the world. As they read, children will be noticing text structures and using brain frames to compare and contrast different religions.
In Writing, our opinion writing continues as we develop our drafts and work on other  ideas for opinion writing using our planner.

Math
Students will also be learning how to solve two step word problems using the standard algorithm for addition and subtraction. They will begin to read both subtraction and addition word problems and use models and strategies to solve them, showing their thinking.

Social Studies
We will begin using the information our students collected on their personal culture to start their personal Cultural Presentation. This may take a couple weeks, especially since students preparing their research and thinking about how they are influenced by their language, culture, clothes etc. Students will select 4 main Cultural Universals and focus on those areas, preparing their work in Google Slides. 

Announcements
If your child is a bus rider and you are planning to pick your child up after school, be sure to notify the bussing office(busing@iskl.edu.my or +603 4813 5070).

• Friday, October 19th -  Free Dress Days for RM 5 Donation to charity
• Wednesday, October 31st - ES Halloween Dress UP Day (School Policy: NO weapons, NO masks, NO scary costumes)

Resources
Most parents stop reading with their child once they become independent readers.  However, research suggests that we must continue reading with our children, into middle school.  This looks different than when we read books to our children.  Consider how you can read with your child. (sourced from Scholastic Parents

Time together. The number one reason for reading each night is quality time together. Period. Life gets nuts when kids go to elementary school. Between homework, lessons, classes, and meetings, it's a crazy time. But carving out that small amount of time—even if it's 10-15 minutes, which is just enough time to read one chapter of a book—is totally worth scheduling into your day.  I'm betting payoffs for this small, scheduled “date” with your child will be big in the long-term.

Listening to fluent reading. If you choose to do the reading, which I strongly suggest you do, then this time together allows your child to listen to what fluent reading should sound like.  You don't need to go crazy with voices and sounds—just read naturally and normally.  The more your younger readers hear what fluent reading should sound like, the better!  It reminds them how their reading should sound.

Talking about texts.  It doesn't need to be an in-depth discussion about characters, plot-line, or style, but you may be surprised at how your conversations evolve after you read together for some time.  You can begin by just “thinking aloud”—every few pages, share your thoughts about the text out loud, kind of like a built-in commentary.  Your child will hear how you think about and process text as you read, and soon it will become habitual for him or her to do the same.   Over time, incorporate questions or thought-provoking statements and involve your child.

4AW Newsletter October 1-5

Grade 4

Weekly Newsletter

October 1 - October 5, 2018

Due to ISA testing ( Mon/ Tues) AND three- way conferences (Thurs/ Fri)  this week there is limited teaching time.

Language Arts
This week in reading and writing, the students will be focused on setting goals for the first semester to present at parent conferences on Oct. 4 and 5. This process requires the children to consider their strengths as readers and writers and areas to focus on for continued growth. As they consider these goals, they will identify specific work to share at their conference.

Math
During math this week, the students will be focused on setting goals, identifying strategies to share and practising presenting these to an audience ready for three-way conferences on October 4 and 5.

Social Studies
Students will use what they learned about cultural universals in class to help them  continue to collect information about their own personal culture. This is not necessarily the culture of their home country, but more the culture that is practiced in their everyday lives. Parents, students will be asking you many questions as well to fill in some gaps.

Announcements
October 1st and 2nd - ISA Testing: Please make sure your child gets a good night’s rest and eats a balanced breakfast.
October 4th and 5th - Three way conferences: Please be sure to arrive at your scheduled time, as the conferences are scheduled back to back. Your child will be presenting their goals for the year, so please make sure they come with you.

Resources
As your child prepares for three-way conferences next week, take a look at this video putting the power of learning in your child’s hands.  After all, it is THEIR LEARNING.  This video gives you an idea of why we do this, the hard work your child has done to prepare, and the wonderful experience you will have next week.  The video is about student- led conferences which are purely student presented. Our three-way conferences all stake-holders will be present. Enjoy! 
EMPOWERING YOUR CHILD DURING CONFERENCES

4AW Weekly Newsletter September 24 - September 28, 2018

Grade 4AW

Weekly Newsletter

September 24 - September 28, 2018

Language Arts
In writing, students will be working on their evidence to support their reasons and building stamina to write long and strong! In reading, students will notice how texts are organised (text structures of chronological and compare and contrast) in order to help them gain more information while reading.

Math
The students will continue to use rounding to determine if an answer is reasonable. They will solve single step and multi-step word problems and assess the reasonableness of answers. Students will also be learning how to solve two step word problems using the standard algorithm for addition and subtraction.  We will do this visually with place value discs and with the standards algorithm. We have the physical discs and these videos will show you how we use them. Adding larger numbers using place value discs and an example with smaller numbers.

Social Studies
Students will continue working on their identity posters through the medium of technology where they will be using thinglink.com to add information to their portrait and even add video. These will be posted on their blog when complete. Students will be using what they learned about the different cultural universals to help them collect information about their own personal culture. This is not necessarily the culture of their home country, but more the culture that is practiced in their everyday lives.

Announcements
September 25th - Individual photos will be taken. Students may wear their chosen outfit. 
September 27th - Class photos will be taken. The student MUST be in their school uniform (blue collared shirts).
October 4th and 5th - Three way conferences. On September 24th, you will be receiving a letter informing you of when your conference time will be. Your child will be presenting their goals for the year.

This week we will be looking at the format of the ISA. This is the International Schools Assessment -a test carried out next week on October 2-3, which tests reading, narrative and expository writing as well as mathematical literacy.  We will prepare students during our morning meetings and at other times so that students are aware of the structure of questions and the type of questions that they may be asked in the test. This is a pencil and paper test, rather than a computer test.

Resources
As we continue to dig even deeper into learning math, we explore the IMPORTANCE of STRUGGLE.  In this video, we explore the need to struggle as an important part of learning! You will definitely want to watch this one with your kids.

The Importance of Struggle

4AW Weekly Newsletter September 17-21

Grade 4

Weekly Newsletter

September 17 - September 21, 2018

Language Arts

This week in reading, the students will be using nonfiction books about Culture to learn more about the Cultural Universals. They will be learning to take notes in order to find the main idea of a text. Our grade 4 writers will be  continuing the planning stage and then  will enter the drafting phase of their opinion writing by including evidence, examples and expert opinion to support their opinion statement. 

Math

The students will continue to use rounding to determine if an answer is reasonable. They will solve real-life world problems, some of which will involve multi-step word problems and assess the reasonableness of answers. Students will also be learning how to answer the word problems, showing their thinking and answering with complete sentences.

Social Studies

We will continue with our investigation into the different cultural universals through non-fiction texts.  Students will be blending their non-fiction reading skills with learning about a specific cultural universal.  Many students will continue to paint their flag on their identity posters and more work on the posters and symbols will continue throughout the next weeks. 

Announcements

Be sure to refer to the Swimming Schedule to see when your child has P.E. swimming lessons. A hard copy and an email has been sent.

Three way conferences will be on October 4th and 5th. On September 24th, you will be receiving a letter informing you of when your conference time will be. Your child will be presenting their goals for the year.

Resources

Continue to learn with us about teaching and learning math. Here is another video from YouCubed that talks about the importance of believing in yourself and accepting mistakes as learning opportunities. Watch this one with your kids! 

Boosting Your Brain with Math

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=438&v=bxrPy1fjVU4