Math and More!

Helpful Math Websites

During conferences math was a common topic for discussion.  I am including several websites that you may find helpful when working with your child at home.  Many of them include videos that align with what we are doing in the classroom.  If your child is struggling with a concept on the homework and you are unsure of how to help them, videos are a great resource.  You can have them watch the video and the pressure is off of you! 

Helpful hint - look at the bottom of the homework sheet and you will see the concept that students are working on.  This will help you search for the concept on websites.

www.khanacademy.org

 

http://www.oakdale.k12.ca.us/cms/page_view?d=x&piid=&vpid=1391596408603

 

http://greatminds.net/support/parents

 

http://www.ojusd.org/cms/page_view?d=x&piid=&vpid=1391596408603

 

Homework Helper

 

Last week a homework helper was sent home that shows the math that students are learning in class and the strategies they are using.  This is a new district-wide support that will be sent out at the start of each new module.  Please look for this resource in your child's homework folder.  A new one is being sent home on Thursday.

 

Thank You!

 

It was wonderful meeting with all of you last week during conferences.  I always feel as though I have a more complete picture with your child after meeting.  If you ever have any questions please don't hesitate to ask.  I also wanted to thank you for your willingness to donate supplies to our classroom!  They are beginning to come in and will certainly make science more exciting.

 

Glow in the Dark Party

 

Last week our paw print reward for being respectful, responsible and ready was a glow in the dark party!  The class had a blast outfitting themselves in glow in the dark necklaces, bracelets and crowns and boogied in the dark.  Here is a picture from our silliness!

 

 

 

 

How Effective is Our Effort?

Effective Effort

We have been learning about effective effort and how putting forth the right kind of effort will result in more confidence and success in school.  Below is a picture of some definition posters we have in our classroom.

After discussing these definitions and referring to them throughout our day, this past Friday students reflected on aspects of their effort.  Here are a couple of reflections.  (More are posted in the fourth grade hallway on our Celebrations board...feel free to take a look during conferences!)

 

You Can Help!

 

When you're at home with your child, look for opportunities to praise your child's effort.  Breaking effort down into the six different elements helps children to see what effort looks like and it gives parents ways to be specific with their praise.  Don't just say, "Great job!  You worked hard."  Try saying something like, "I noticed that you put a lot of time into your homework and you didn't give up."  or "Great job using the help sheet Mrs. Leger sent home to help you finish your homework."  This will give students a clearer understanding of what effort really is.

 

 

I look forward to seeing you all at conferences tomorrow.  Let me know if you need help signing up.  There is still time!

Struggles & Battles

Conferences

Conferences are next Wednesday and Thursday October 21 & 22 with evening conferences on the 22nd.  I am really looking forward to speaking with all of you about your child's progress and goals. If you haven't already, please go online to sign up for a conference.  If you don't have internet access or are experiencing difficulties, please feel free to send me a note with some times that work for you and I can sign you up myself.

Battle of the Books

Our class has been participating in a book competition where everyone reads the same 16 picture books and then votes, bracket style, for their favorite books.  The books are narrowed down until only two remain and then after a final vote, a champion is crowned!  It is the March Madness of the reading world!  While reading these books students have been learning how good readers jot down their thinking in ways that make sense for them in their reader's notebook.  They are learning how to grow ideas about their reading and how to write about their thinking.  They have learned to push their thinking deeper and how to determine a character's traits by looking at what a character says, thinks, or does.  To say the least, the learning experiences coming out of these 16 books are amazing!  When talking with your child over the next few days, ask them which book they like the best so far and why.  Stay tuned for the winning book!

Struggles

Recently, we began talking about how struggle is part of being successful.  No athlete, successful business person, or adult has made it to where they are today without struggle.  Oftentimes, we do not see the struggle of a successful person, and children often think that people easily glide into these positions of success.  For example, many children think Tom Brady was born good at football and that becoming the quarterback of the Patriots came easily to him.  

It is important for us to teach children that sometimes it is okay to struggle and that we should persevere through these struggles.  I have shared stories of my own struggles as a learner and have also invited other administrators from the district into our morning meetings to share their struggles. I am now inviting families to join us for a ten minute morning meeting to share their own struggles as well.  Feel free to contact me a set up a time to join us for a morning meeting.

Upcoming Events

10/16 - Family Fitness Night
10/21 - Half Day - conferences
10/21 - Ice Cream Social 6 - 8PM
10/22 - Half Day - conference & evening conferences

Google Docs

Today in school we went to the computer lab together and learned how to use Google Docs.  Google Docs is how we will do some of our homework this year.  It allows students to work on a document at school and then pull up the same document at home and continue working on it.  Students will also be able to share these documents with me electronically and I will be able to give feedback immediately.  A letter is going home tomorrow explaining what this is.  Each student has a unique username and password.  This username/password information is also included in the letter coming home tomorrow.  Please put these in a place where they won't be lost.  We are also attaching a copy in our homework planners.  

Tomorrow night, students will be asked to try to sign in to Google Docs and continue typing up a final draft of a narrative they worked on in school.  I will be eager to see how this goes, as it will be our first try.  As with any technology, there can be issues to work out so please let me know if there are any issues.

Updates!

One Month Down....

This month has flown by!  Our class has really grown in the past few weeks.  We feel more comfortable working with each other and sharing our ideas.  We are learning to challenge ourselves and to not give up when things get tricky.  To keep things running smoothly I have some updates and reminders for everyone!

Thursday Folder

Our Thursday folders will be sent home each Thursday afternoon full of notices and work that we have completed in class.  Please make sure that you sign your child's folder on the sheet in the front cover and send it back to school on Friday.  Please take the notices and school-work out unless it is in the return to school pocket.\

New Project - Character Trait Book

A new project was sent home today that we will work on in school and at home.  Students will often be introduced to a new character trait in school and we will have discussions about what this trait means.  At home, students will be required to complete a book page about that trait.  An explanation sheet was sent home today along with the booklet.  There was also a parent signature page that I am asking families to send back in.  This will help me to make sure that everyone is on the same page.  We may not send this project home each day depending on our schedule and ability to introduce a new word in school.  I will be checking in with students frequently on how it is going to see if there is any further support that students need.  Please feel free to let me know if you have any questions.

MAH

Last week's MAH looked great!  Many students studied their math facts for longer than required!  Please help your child remember to get it signed and brought back to school on Friday.  There will be weeks where students will be asked to study math vocabulary instead of multiplication facts for MAH.  We are working on vocabulary flash cards this week and will switch to studying math vocabulary for MAH next week.

Thank You!

I cannot thank families enough for donating supplies to our classroom during Open House.  They were very much needed and appreciated!  I am still in dire need of 5-subject notebooks.  If anyone has any we could really use them!

Upcoming Events

10/1 Elementary Math Night at Forest Ave - 6 PM
10/7 International Walk To School Day
10/12 No School - Columbus Day
10/13 No School - Teacher Professional Day

Growing Brain

I cannot thank everyone enough for joining me for Open House last week.  It was so nice to meet so many of you and to begin our journey working together to help your child succeed in fourth grade.

Growth Mindset

In my last blog I mentioned Growth Mindset.  If your child shuts down or frustrates easily after making a mistake or chooses the easier option then this could be the gentle push your child needs.  In a nutshell, research shows that there are two types of learners.  The first has a growth mindset and believes that with practice and determination, they can get better at anything.  The second learner believes that they are only born with certain talents or smarts and there is nothing they can do to change it.  Research also shows that learners with a growth mindset are more successful than those who aren't.  Here are two videos that can help you understand it further.  The first was shown at Open House and the second is a little longer but worth the time if you have it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wh0OS4MrN3E&feature=share

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pN34FNbOKXc


Other News

• Please send a water bottle in with your child.  It will keep them in the classroom learning and not at the water fountain!
• Students did great on their RAH last week and most read more than the required amount.  Thank you so much for helping them remember to get their RAH signed and for pushing them that extra mile!
• MAH (Math at Home) was assigned for the first time this week and is due on Friday.  This week we are focusing on studying our multiplication facts.  We discussed different ways to study in school today, but let me know if you need some other ideas!

Upcoming Events

9/23 - Ice Cream Social 6-8 PM

9/25 - School Pictures

Welcome Back!

Welcome Back!

A new year is underway and its shaping up to be a great one!  I am hoping to use this blog to communicate to everyone what we are up to and what you can do at home to support your child.  

For the past two weeks we have been busy getting to know each other and learning the routines and expectations of fourth grade.  We have also been setting the tone by learning about Growth Mindset and how our brains work.  Students have been learning that it will be okay to make mistakes this year because our brains learn and grow better when we learn from our mistakes.  We have also chosen mottos that we would like to live by and are currently creating posters to be hung around the school showcasing our mottos.

I hope that you are all able to join me at Open House on Wednesday night from 6:30 - 8:00.  I look forward to meeting you all!

If you haven't sent in a letter telling me about your child, please feel free to do so.  I'd still love to read it!

Important Dates

Open House - September 16th  6:30 - 8:30  
Book Orders Due - September 17th
School Pictures - September 25th
1/2 Day - September 30th