Dear 4th Grade Families,

Happy Monday! We are nearing the end of our 2nd trimester and are hard at work!

Here’s an update of what we are currently learning in class!

Important Dates and Reminders:

• Monday, February 26: Art with Ms. Sofer
• Wednesday, February 28: Stations of the Cross – 1:50pm
• Friday, March 1: 2pm Dismissal
• Monday, March 3 – Friday, March 7: Read Across America Week (Daily activities led by middle school)
• Friday, March 8: End of 2nd Trimester & 12pm Dismissal

Our Learning:

• Math: Our studies in math this week will cover division strategies. We will be learning and practicing the method, Partial-Quotients, to solve larger division problems. In this method, students learn to break up the dividend into smaller, more “friendly” numbers, to divide. For example: We could solve 64 / 4 by knowing that 4 x 10 is 40 and 4 x 6 = 24. 40 + 24 = 64.
• Reading: We have been loving Island of the Blue Dolphins! Today we read that the Aleuts were coming back to the island. Students are practicing using text evidence to answer comprehension questions as well as to make inferences. We have reading groups this week too!
• Writing: Students are finishing up their drafts of their essay on if students should or should not have homework.
• Religion: Our class discussions have recently focused on how we can use our consciences to make good choices. This week, we will discuss worship. A song we are learning in class is, “Here I am to Worship.”
• Science: On Friday, students got on their feet and transformed into the different types of rocks! We did an activity created by NASA to help us learn about Metamorphic, Igneous, and Sedimentary rocks. We learned a song to help us…. ask them to share with you!
• Social Studies: Students continue their CA Mission project. We will discuss the mission era in more detail this week. On Friday, we were able to create an abalone and acorn necklace, inspired by the Chumash.

Homework: Due Wednesday, March 5

• Reading Homework: 5 reading responses
  • Students are encouraged to read 20-30 minutes each night. After reading, students will select a question/task from their reading menu to answer in their journal. 5 responses are to be completed by next Tuesday. Students may read either fiction or non-fiction and choose a corresponding task.
• Math Homework:
  • IXL:
    • K.1: Division patterns over increasing place values
    • X.6: Convert fractions and mixed numbers to decimals – denominators of 10 and 100 

Let’s have a great week,

Ms. Schmaeling