Classroom Update

Wishing all of our families a Happy Thanksgiving!


We had our first all school meeting on Friday. We focused on learning about our first core value, being kind and considerate.

 A Special Presentation from Mr. Whitmore last week. He shared with us his trip to Antarctica! We especially enjoyed learning about the penguins he met!

Reader's Workshop:The past two weeks we have focused on learning about non-fiction text. Students are able to identify non-fiction text features that help the reader to better understand the information presented in the text. We also looked at the way non-fiction text are built (non-fiction text structures). Students worked on using key words to identify the structure of a text and in doing so will help them begin strategic readers. Last week our mini lessons focused on identifying main idea and important details.

Math: Students completed our multiplication unit today with a multiplication assessment. Students learned a variety of strategies to multiply larger numbers, estimate products, and solve word problems.

Social Studies: We have completed our study of our neighbors to the south, Mexico!

Writer's Workshop: We completed our personal narrative writing by finishing up our editing strategies this week. We also used our knowledge of sentence structure to create beautiful festive wreaths!

Classroom Update

Congratulations to all the students who ran for Student Council. You should all be very proud of your speeches!

Math: Students are using the area model to multiply larger numbers. We then transitioned to a more efficient strategy to multiply called "windows", in which students find partial products and then add them together. 

Author SKYPE with Kristin Grey, author of Vilonia Beebe Takes Charge,  last Thursday. Kristin Grey shared with us about the writing and publishing process! 

Homework Help

We have started to learn about the area model as a way to multiply numbers.  Below is a video that shows how to use the area model to multiply 2 digits by 2 digits. 

Classroom Update

Math:

We have started our next Topic in math on multiplication. Students learned to model multi-digit multiplication with base 10 blocks.

Reader's Workshop
We have officially completed our first interactive read aloud, Mr. Popper's Penguins. Students enjoyed many penguin themed activities on last Friday's "black and white" day.

Student's working on various activities during the "Housekeeping" part of reader's workshop.

Book browsing in the Library

Working on a Book Talk together

Adding a pin to the setting map

Partner reading

writing letters to Mrs. Williams about their books

partner book talk

giving a book talk for the class

Social Studies:

4th Grade kicked off our social studies unit on Mexico by learning about the Day of the Dead, a Mexican celebration on November 1st and 2nd. Mrs. Riviera shared her created a special presentation for the 4th grade students. We all learned so much about this Mexican celebration and Mexican culture. Thank you Mrs. Riviera!

Room 21 Celebrating Orange and Black Day!

This week, fourth graders were treated to a presentation about the Natives of the Northeast, and about archaeology.  Students participated in an "archaeological dig" right at JFK.  Mrs. Silvia, of the Haffenreffer Museum at Brown University, brought real artifacts, and explained to the students how archaeologists find artifacts and estimate their age.  We look forward to learning more from this program throughout the year.  Thank you to the JFK PCC for funding this awesome experience!

Project-Based Learning/ Science

In science 4th grade is currently studying weather. In project-based learning each Friday, students are working to use their knowledge of weather conditions and weather instruments, along with using the Engineering Design Process to plan, build, and test a weather station. 

Disco Ball Winners