Mrs. Neumann's 4th Grade

We had a great transition back to school after our long holiday break. I was excited to see our class full of friends and hear about their holiday adventures. We jumped right back in to our routine here at school.

BOXTOPS! Please clip, save, and send in your BOXTOPS. Our wonderful CM PTO has challenged our students to collect Boxtops and have offered a yummy incentive! I have added to that challenge with our class and am excited to see if 4N will be able to collect the greatest amount. Please send your Boxtops this week!!! This is a great easy way to help earn money for our school!

Don’t forget…If you want to go out for Envirothon, the qualifying test will be given this week. Those of you who requested the study guide were given the information before the holiday break.

What are we learning?

ELA: This week we will continue to apply what we have learned as we continue with our non-fiction text features, text structures, and creating our two-column notes to answer our text dependent analysis questions. Ask your child to share with you our whole brain and movement learning strategies to help us remember the text structures and even our new robust vocabulary words. We will be taking our Unit 3 Assessment early next week. In grammar, we will continue to understand and apply common and proper nouns and also focus on verbs and helping verbs.

Science:   Last week we introduced the concept of the Law of Conservation of Mass which states that you cannot create or destroy matter, you can only change matter into a new form. We enjoyed a fun POPCORN Law of Conservation Investigation. This experiment also lead us right into what we will be focusing on this week as we explore the physical and chemical changes of matter. We will be wrapping up our chemistry unit this week. Look for a study guide to come home to review together with your child. The test date will be in your child’s planner.

Math with Mrs. Piatt: We started to take a look at how to find equivalent fractions using a set based model. We will continue to practice finding equivalent fractions by using a peer coaching activity during guided math group time. Spiral review homework will continue this week. Again, the students are encouraged to use calculators on all problems except basic addition, subtraction, multiplication and division problems. I strongly encourage students to write the equation that is being solved for any word problems. Again, using a calculator is encouraged so that students are able to focus on truly understanding the problem.

Word Study with Mrs. Piatt: New word lists were given upon our return to school on Wednesday. I’m seeing huge growth in students accepting responsibility for working to understand the features of words and in taking ownership over studying words. Thank you for your support with helping your child to prepare for these tests.

Looking Ahead…

*January 17 – End of 2nd Marking Period

*January 18 – In-Service Day (No School)

*January 21 – Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (No School)

*January 25 – 1:30 Early Dismissal

*February 1 – Report Cards Sent Home

We loved seeing everyone dressed their best today and celebrating with our special lunch in our Central “Manners” Cafe!

• Tuesday –  Tacky Sweater Tuesday 
• Wednesday – Wear red and green
• Wednesday Winter Wonderland!  We are looking forward to creating a Winter Wonderland Snack Mix, Creating Crafts, and continuing to grow our team building skills. Thank you for your donations! 
• Thursday – Wear your PJs!
• Friday – Holiday Hats!
• Friday – 10:15 Shine Time and Carol Sing
• Friday – 1:30 Early Dismissal

Looking Ahead…

December 24 – January 1 – Holiday Break

Reading Calendars – Please return signed reading calendars on January 2.  

This week in ELA: We are reviewing text features and text structure.  Text features help readers determine what is important in the text while also helping readers to better comprehend what they are reading. Text structure refers to how the information within a written text is organized.  

This week in Science:  We continue to investigate our study of Chemistry with focus on Atoms and Molecules, as well as, the Properties and States of Matter. 

Next week we will be enjoying some Winter Wonderland fun and we would love your help!  Please follow the link to the sign up if you are able to donate items to our class.  We are looking forward to creating a Winter Wonderland Snack Mix, Creating Crafts, and continuing to grow our team building skills.  Please have all donations to school by Monday, December 17, 2018.  Thank you for your help!  https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60b0b49adab2ba0fd0-winter

                                                                     

Our PARENT SURVEY ends this Friday.  If you have not taken a moment to complete this survey, we would GREATLY appreciate your support.  This is NOT a new survey.  If you completed this survey earlier in November, we thank you and you do not need to take it again. One survey per family. 

www.paschoolclimatesurvey.org

When you reach the survey website, please look for the “CLICKING HERE” hyperlink near the top of the web page.

Invitation Code  BYTRD1

As part of our 4th grade team reward our class earned a CRAZY CLOTHES DAY! Just a reminder that tomorrow is our day to dress CRAZY!!!  Mis-match your clothes, wear them inside out, wear cool socks …be creative and have fun! We can’t wait to see how you decide to go CRAZY!!!

This is one of my favorite weeks all year.  Yes, there is an extra hustle and bustle at school, but this is a time where I get to share with you a little glimpse of the progress and growth each student is working towards.  I am looking forward to meeting with each family on Wednesday and Thursday this week.

Fourth Grade continues to collect canned sweet potatoes for the food drive.  If you are able to donate please have your child bring in their donation and place it in the collection bins in the hallway near the office! We would appreciate all donations by this Friday, November 9. Thank you for helping our Penn Manor Community!

Special Reminders:

*Monday – PA Native American Projects due

*Tuesday – PA Native American Exhibit (Parents are invited to view our exhibit open house between 2:45-3:10. Please park in the side gym parking lot and sign in at the office. Other grade level classes will be walking through our museum of projects during this time as well. )

*Tuesday – Our class visits the book fair.  We will be exploring the book fair during our Library time this week.  If your child chooses to purchase books, he or she should bring their money today.

*Wednesday – Fall Book Fair (The Book Fair will be open during conferences on Wednesday afternoon and evening.)

*Wednesday – Sub Sale Pick up in the gym between 3-6 pm.

*Wednesday and Thursday – Parent-Teacher Conferences- please refer to your conference appointment time.

*Wednesday, Thursday and Friday – 1:30 Early Dismissal Days

Looking Ahead…

*Monday, November 12 – PTO Meeting (6:30 PM in the CM Library)

*Monday, November 12- PA Native American Test

*Tuesday, November 13 – 4N Word Study Test and Parent Signature Sheet due

*Tuesday, November 13 – Picture Retake Day (Please send in your original packet.  Students that were absent on the first picture day will also have their pictures taken.)

*November 21 – 1:30 Early Dismissal

*November 22-26 Happy Thanksgiving (No School)

What are we learning this week?

ELA: We are diving in to interpreting Text Dependent Analysis Prompts.  Students will be dissecting the task in order to ensure they touch on each component.  We will focus on responding in writing with accurate big ideas, supporting evidence, inferring details and analyzing the story events.  We continue to analyze the main idea of text selections and integrate supporting details. 

Math:  In Mrs. Piatt’s class we continue to use the CRA Approach for learning the multiplication of larger numbers.  Please continue to encourage your child to master his/her math facts.  Our test is scheduled for Thursday.

Word Study:  Please see above for the new dates for the next word study test.

Social Studies:   Projects are due Monday. We are so excited for the PA Native American Exhibit on Tuesday.  We will have the PA Native American test next week on Monday, November 12th.  Your child can prepare for this test by studying the yellow shutter book and the resources in their content folder.

*Each year all of Penn Manor works together to support a food drive.  Requested donations are designated by grade level to help provide families with a Thanksgiving Meal.  Fourth Grade is collecting canned sweet potatoes for the food drive.  If you are able to donate please have your child bring in their donation and place it in the collection bins in the hallway near the office! Thank you for your help!

Special Reminders

*Wednesday – Chapter 4 Math Test Corrections Due  for Mrs. Piatt            (colored pencil corrections)

*Thursday, November 1 – Facts due; 3-5 facts about your topic for the PA Native American project – we will be writing our paragraphs this day in class.

*Friday – No School (In-Service Day)

What are we learning this week?

 ELA: We continue to focus on identifying and interpreting the main idea and supporting details of a non-fiction text selection.  Looking ahead we will discuss how to write a summary, and begin our two column note process for writing TDA’s (Text Dependent Analysis questions). 

40 Book Challenge: Students should be keeping track of the books they have completed on their blue 40 Book Challenge sheet kept in the front of their blue home/school communication folder.  Be sure to work towards meeting your goal each night, “sneaking” a few minutes here and there to snuggle up with their book.

Math:  The Chapter 4 Math Test will be coming home on Monday.  The multi-step problems made this test a challenging one.  I strongly encourage math test corrections.  The math test corrections can be done in colored pencil directly on the test.  We will be moving to double-digit multiplication next.  I’m asking for your help in encouraging your child to practice his/her math facts.  Knowing math facts makes learning new skills much more manageable and meaningful.

Word Study:  I love that students are using word study skills to take a closer look at how words are spelled.  Our next test dates are listed below.  Thank you for your help in encouraging your child to prepare for these assessments.

Social Studies: The students are so excited to learn about PA Native Americans each day!  PA Native American Projects are due next Monday, November 5th.  The project is to be completed at home, however we will work on writing the mini-report in class.  Students should have their 3-5 facts about their topic ready by Thursday, November 1st.  We will use the facts to help write their “note card paragraph”. We can’t wait to see each of the fun projects!  

Looking Ahead…

*Thursday, November 1 – Facts due; 3-5 facts about your topic for the PA Native American project – we will be writing our paragraphs this day in class.

*Monday, November 5 – PA Native American Projects due

*Tuesday, November 6 – PA Native American Exhibit

*Wednesday, November 7 – Word Study Test for 4N and Signature Sheet Due

*November 5 – 9 – Fall Book Fair (The Book Fair will be open during conferences on Wednesday afternoon and evening.)

*Wednesday, November 7 – Sub Sale Pick up

*Wednesday, November 7 and Thursday, November 8 – Parent-Teacher Conferences (I’m looking forward to discussing your child’s progress with you!)

*November 7, 8 and 9 – 1:30 Early Dismissal Days

*Monday, November 12 – PTO Meeting (6:30 PM in the CM Library)

*Tuesday, November 13 – Picture Retake Day (Please send in your original packet.  Students that were absent on the first picture day will also have their pictures taken.)

*November 21 – 1:30 Early Dismissal

*November 22-26 Happy Thanksgiving (No School)

We have had a busy week in 4th grade.  In ELA our next unit will focus on understanding the main idea and supporting details of a non-fiction story or text selection.  As we move forward we will continue to build upon our writing process, working to understand sentence structure and complete thoughts, creating a well written paragraph full of “juicy details”.  We will also discuss how to write a summary, and begin our two column note process for writing TDA’s (Text Dependent Analysis questions).  In grammar we will be spending some time learning, identifying, and writing compound and complex sentences. Students continue to work towards meeting their 40 Book Challenge goals, diversifying their book genre selection.  Students should be keeping track of the books they have completed on their blue 40 Book Challenge sheet kept in the front of their blue home/school communication folder.  Be sure to work towards meeting your goal each night, “sneaking” a few minutes here and there to snuggle up with their book. 

In content we have started our unit on PA Native Americans.  Be on the look our for information on our fun 4th grade PA Native American project!

Looking Ahead…

Special Reminders:

*Friday 10/19 – Phys Ed – remember to wear your sneakers!!!

*Friday 10/19 – Early Dismissal @ 1:30

*Friday 10/19 – PTO Sub orders and Money Due

*Conference appointment papers will be coming home in our Monday Folders!

Next Week:

“Teamwork Makes the Dream Work” Spirit Week      10/22-10/26

Monday: 10/22   Favorite Penn Manor Shirt/jersey – or wear blue/gold  (district teamwork)

Tuesday: 10/23   “Scrabble” – Attach a letter to your shirt.  Can you find other students and make some robust vocabulary? (Literacy teamwork)

Wednesday:  10/24    PJ Day – Teamwork Makes the DREAM work! (school-wide teamwork)

Thursday:  10/25   Favorite sports jersey (sports teamwork)

Friday:  10/26     Penn Manor DISTRICT WIDE “PINK OUT!” (district teamwork)

*October 22-26 –Bus Driver Appreciate Week – write a little note of thanks

*October 23 –  PTO MOD Pizza Restaurant Night 

*October 28 – PTO Designer Bag Bingo at Manor Church 

BINGO– We are still in need of donations, as well as volunteers, parents can sign up here https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0d4eafa82eabff2-designer1  Tickets are still available through PTO!  Come join in the fun!

*October 31 – End of the 1st Marking Period

*November 2 – No School; Teacher in-service

*November 5-9th -Fall Book Fair and Conferences

*November 7 – Sub Sale pick-up from 3-6 pm

*November 13 – Picture Retake day (please return your original packet)

We are off to a great start.  Our class has worked hard to learn new routines, establish new friendships and build a sense of class unity.  I am so proud of how the students are making their success in school a priority. 

It was great see and meet so many families at our Meet the Teacher Night.  Thank you for taking the time to join us at school and to encourage your child to put forth their best.

I will be sending home a “Monday Folder” starting Monday, September 10.  This folder will come home weekly with graded tests, quizzes, and assignments.  I ask that you review the graded items with your student, sign the folder and return the folder to school the next day.

Our fourth grade students will have homework each night.  In math the students will have a spiral review packet to complete nightly to ensure that concepts  and problem solving strategies are kept fresh in their math mind.  Each night the students should also be working towards their 40 Book Challenge, carving out time to read.  We have enjoyed finding special cozy places to read in our classroom – under desks, in cubbies, or in a small nook created in the room.  Finding their special reading spot at home will make snuggling up with a “good fit” book an enjoyable opportunity.   

Enjoy your family time this weekend!

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