We Are Engineers

Spring!

Spring is a busy time of year in fourth grade.  Conferences, book fairs and MCAS 2.0 are coming up, we are heading into more project-based learning, and are starting to synthesize and apply the learning we have gained this year!

Science & Engineering Project

Thank you so much to all of the families that donated supplies for our project.  Students have been working in teams to build prototypes that may help to solve the issue of coastal erosion.  In doing so, they are utilizing their knowledge of weather and erosion and are practicing many of the scientific and engineering practices that are so important in the world today.  I'm including some pictures below of our learning so far.

Conferences

Conferences are next week on Wednesday and Thursday.  If you haven't signed up for a conference yet, please make sure to do so.  If you are having difficulty logging in please let me know and I can help. 

I also sent home a conference questionnaire yesterday.  Please take a moment to fill it out so I know how I can be the most help to you during our conference.

MCAS 2.0

I am currently familiarizing students with the new online testing format so that they know what to expect the day of the test.  They have also been practicing the different types of questions that they will see that day so they can walk into testing feeling confident.  I try to take a confidence building, low stress approach to test preparation and explain to students that we are spending some time now with the test, so when they go to take it, they can "beat it." 

If you find that your child is feeling overly stressed about the test, please let me know so I can help.  I want to make sure my students feel good everyday when they walk into my classroom. 

I have included the testing dates below:

April 25th, 26th, 27th - ELA

May 9th, 10th - Math

 

Supplies

We are almost completely out of hand sanitizer.  If anyone could donate some, it would be greatly appreciated!

Fluency Is Key

More Snow?!

The added daylight in the evening is telling me that we should be seeing signs of Spring any day now.  Any...day...now!  Instead we are expecting....snow! 

Fluency

Last week, students took various math assessments to check for enduring understanding of math concepts already taught this year and to check on the fluency of different math operations.  I will be emailing families with areas of weakness that students can practice.  Increasing research shows that when students are fluent with the basic math operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division, confidence and success in math grows.  I will also offer to send home extra practice in the areas of weakness.  If you do not hear from me, that means that your child is solid across the board.  Feel free to email me though if you have any concerns or questions.

Book Order

Due to the impending snow, I will hold the book order until Thursday.  If you wish to order online, the classroom code is H3M9C.

Math Vocabulary Test

The vocabulary assessment has been pushed back to this Thursday, giving students more time to study!

Engineering

We will be starting our engineering project this week!  Thank you so much for all of the donations sent into school.  The only item that we need more of in order to make this project happen is soil.  If you have any bags of soil or are willing to purchase any, it would be greatly appreciated!

Chromebooks

You may recall in the Fall that our classroom was given $500 towards Chromebooks by donors through a website called Adopt a Classroom.  I received word last night that we were adopted again!  Another 3 Chromebooks are on their way to be used by students every day.  We couldn't be more excited!