Saturday, October 31, 2020

Weekly Fourth Grade Update (10.30)

Quarter 2!

(10.26 - 10.30)

Announcements:

B&M Schedule Changes

The on-campus schedule is changing to implement some new focused times to improve skills, including guided reading small groups. Keep an eye out for information from your homeroom teacher regarding reading items to use and practice with at home.

DL Office Hours

Office hours with different 4th grade AT’s will take place Monday - Thursday from 2:30-3:30pm. A Friday office hour will also be available each week with the lead teacher of each classroom. Please come by to practice phonograms, math concepts, grammar, and bring questions about lessons or the homework. We’d love to see your scholars there!

New Google Classrooms

For Monday, please ensure you have joined the new Google Classroom created for your homeroom class. All assignments and lessons for the quarter, including for Specials classes, will be posted in this new classroom. If you are having trouble accessing or joining the class, please reach out to your homeroom teacher as soon as possible.

Big shoutout to our scholars of the month for their exemplary display of responsibility! 👏😀
4A: Emma Martinez
4B: Simon White
4C: Joshua Reyes
4D: Elleigh Werner

Read on for an overview of the past week.

_________________

ELA:

Our scholars continue to read The Adventures of Robin Hood. They are enamored by the dramatics of Robin Hood’s life and are doing great in making predictions as the story unfolds! Additionally, our scholars continue to learn poetry as they practice reciting “Sonnet 116” by William Shakespeare. For Grammar/Writing, our scholars are learning to identify and analyze sentences that contain adjectives--great work, 4th Grade!

Math:

This past week, we worked hard to practice finding equivalent fractions. Scholars used their knowledge of factors and multiples to compare and simplify fractions. This coming week, the scholars will use this solid foundation to begin adding and subtracting fractions. We encourage your children to also continue practicing their math facts.

History:

Our scholars reviewed what we have learned about social classes in Medieval history, including several important rulers and religious figures, by creating yearbook entries for William the Conqueror, Thomas Beckett, and Henry II. Scholars demonstrated their knowledge of William of these concepts with a quiz, and soon we’ll be wrapping up this unit in history with some important women from the Medieval age!

Science:

Scholars started the week thinking about the important functions of our own bodies with breathing exercises and a model that shows how the heart pumps blood. We then practiced researching how different plants and animals behave and what parts they need in order to survive. Next week, we’ll write a report on a favorite plant or animal - identifying interesting facts and important structures and functions!

If you'd like to see what your scholars are learning and doing in their specials classes CLICK HERE !

Have a great rest of the weekend! Please reach out to your teachers with any questions, and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.👋

- The 4th Grade Team

Contact Information:

4A
Lead Teacher - Carolyn Conlon: carolyn.conlon@greatheartswesternhills.org
Assistant Teacher - Ashley Poritz: ashley.poritz@greatheartswesternhills.org

4B
Lead Teacher - Aaron Cho: aaron.cho@greatheartswesternhills.org
Assistant Teacher - Seth Kitchens: seth.kitchens@greatheartswesternhills.org

4C
Lead Teacher - Vania Vasquez: vania.vasquez@greatheartswesternhills.org
Assistant Teacher - Saranya Sundararaman: saranya.sundararaman@greatheartswesternhills.org

4D
Lead Teacher - Gwen Cunningham: gwen.cunningham@greatheartswesternhills.org
Assistant Teacher - Rebecca Ortega: rebecca.ortega@greatheartswesternhills.org

Friday, October 16, 2020

Weekly Fourth Grade Update (10.16.20.)

End of Quarter 1

(10.12 - 10.16)

Thank you to everyone for all of your hard work this first quarter. We are so proud of your scholars and how they have navigated the changes of this time, and we are so thankful to have the support of parents at home. We've made it through Quarter 1, and we all deserve this Fall Break!

Announcements:

Quarter 1 Grade Reports
Grade reports for Quarter 1 are being sent out this afternoon. Please do not be alarmed if you notice low grades for your scholar. This has been a tough year with lots of transitions. Your scholars mean so much more to us than their scores, and we will be working hard to support them, set goals, and also provide ways for parents to better assist at home if there is time. A big factor in low scores is often missing, late and incomplete work.

Intent to Return
If you have not notified the school about wanting your scholar to return for on campus instruction, please do so immediately so there is adequate time for your homeroom teacher and administration to prepare. The deadline has technically passed, but they may be able to make an exception if you reach out quickly.

Fall Break
We hope you and your scholars can take some time over the break to rest and have fun. We so appreciate all of our scholars’ hard work, and all of the work of our parents in this difficult time.
You have all earned this!

Big shoutout to our scholars of the month for their exemplary display of responsibility! 👏😀
4A: Emma Martinez
4B: Simon White
4C: Joshua Reyes
4D: Elleigh Werner

Read on for an overview of this last week of school.

_______________________

ELA:
Our scholars presented their recitations of “the Tyger” this week--the perfect way to end a quarter! In addition to this recitation, our scholars have been active in reading The Adventures of Robin Hood, always being quick to make predictions and connections about the story. We are excited for our scholars to take some well-deserved rest before coming back to learn next quarter!

Math:
Math was busy this week with a quiz and a test! Scholars persevered in learning multiplication by a two-digit number and then combining all of their knowledge over the past two units thus far. When we return for quarter two, we will begin our deep dive into fractions!

History:
The past week in history, scholars enjoyed imagining and discussing the political intrigue and drama of the medieval court. Scholars learned about the connection between William the Conqueror and why we say that we eat beef and not cow. (Ask your scholar about how beef came from boeuf!) We then moved into discussing the boy king Henry II and both his friendship and feud with Thomas Becket. We’ll continue in medieval history in our next quarter!

Science:
Scholars were introduced to our new science unit this week by starting with an investigation on celery! While not a flashy plant (and one not everyone would eat), our classes enjoyed examining how the structure of a celery stalk enables it to draw water up the plant by placing a cut stalk inside a cup of colored water. Scholars made great predictions and considered different cells that make up all living organisms. When we return from the break, we will continue to examine different functions living organisms need to survive and explore some functions of human organ systems as well!

If you'd like to see what your scholars are learning and doing in their specials classes CLICK HERE !

Enjoy the break! Please reach out to your teachers with any questions, and we'll get back to you when we resume the second quarter.👋

- The 4th Grade Team

Contact Information:

4A
Lead Teacher - Carolyn Conlon: carolyn.conlon@greatheartswesternhills.org
Assistant Teacher - Ashley Poritz: ashley.poritz@greatheartswesternhills.org

4B
Lead Teacher - Aaron Cho: aaron.cho@greatheartswesternhills.org
Assistant Teacher - Seth Kitchens: seth.kitchens@greatheartswesternhills.org

4C
Lead Teacher - Vania Vasquez: vania.vasquez@greatheartswesternhills.org
Assistant Teacher - Saranya Sundararaman: saranya.sundararaman@greatheartswesternhills.org

4D
Lead Teacher - Gwen Cunningham: gwen.cunningham@greatheartswesternhills.org
Assistant Teacher - Rebecca Ortega: rebecca.ortega@greatheartswesternhills.org

Friday, October 9, 2020

Weekly Fourth Grade Update (10.9.20.)

Week Nine!

(10.5-10.9)

Announcements:

Fall Break

We have Fall Break approaching after our next week of school! Quarter 1 grades are being finalized and report cards will be sent out next week.

Birthday Celebrations

For students on campus, birthdays can be celebrated with pre-packaged store bought treats only if they are to be shared in class.

Changes Incoming in Quarter 2

Keep an eye out for changes that will come in Quarter 2. Thank you for staying flexible and patient as we work out the best way to serve our scholars and manage our time.

Deadline for Intent to Return

If you are currently distance learning, please verify your intent for your scholar to return on campus by Monday. This will help the administration and teachers to plan appropriately for the next quarter.

_____________________

ELA:

This week our scholars began to read The Adventures of Robin Hood by Robert Lancelyn Green. They are already captivated by the tales of its story! They are also preparing to perform their recitations of "The Tyger" next week. In addition to reading the great works of others, our scholars continue to practice their own writing skills. Each week, our scholars read a narrative passage and summarize its events--they are learning how to identify important details and how to relay information with original wording. Great job, Fourth Grade!

Math:

For math this week, we took a quiz to measure progress with multiplication and division. We finished out this short week practicing quick multiplication by tens and introducing multiplication by a two-digit number. While this is a tricky skill to learn, scholars have been persistent and persevered through the difficulty. Next week, we’ll finish out our multiplication practice and prepare for a cumulative assessment over our math studies so far!

History:

Hello families! This week our scholars have been working hard on our skits and diary entries, showing a morning on a manor! I have loved seeing history come to life, through these students! This week we are going to be learning about some important figures in medieval history, but don’t worry! We are still going to make sure it is fun and informative for everyone!

Science:

For Science this week, we reviewed what we have discussed in meteorology with a review game playable at home or on campus. Scholars took a quiz to celebrate their science knowledge, and next week, we will begin talking about Structures and Functions of Living Things! There are some fun little labs and demos planned ahead so stay tuned!

If you'd like to see what your scholars are learning and doing in their specials classes CLICK HERE !

Enjoy the weekend! Please reach out to your teachers with any questions, and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.👋

- The 4th Grade Team

Contact Information:

Lead Teacher - Carolyn Conlon: carolyn.conlon@greatheartswesternhills.org

Assistant Teacher - Ashley Poritz: ashley.poritz@greatheartswesternhills.org

Lead Teacher - Aaron Cho: aaron.cho@greatheartswesternhills.org

Assistant Teacher - Seth Kitchens: seth.kitchens@greatheartswesternhills.org

Lead Teacher - Vania Vasquez: vania.vasquez@greatheartswesternhills.org

Assistant Teacher - Saranya Sundararaman: saranya.sundararaman@greatheartswesternhills.org

Temporary Assistant Teacher - Missy Watts: melissa.watts@greatheartswesternhills.org

Lead Teacher - Gwen Cunningham: gwen.cunningham@greatheartswesternhills.org

Assistant Teacher - Rebecca Ortega: rebecca.ortega@greatheartswesternhills.org

Friday, October 2, 2020

Weekly Fourth Grade Update (10.2.20)

Week Eight!

(9.28-10.2)

Welcome to Fall :)

Announcements:

Monday

There will be no school on Monday since teachers will have a professional development work day. We’ll see everyone for our Zooms and in the building on Tuesday!

Robin Hood

Please make sure you have a copy of Robin Hood and remind your scholar to bring the book to school. This is our next classic, and we are starting on Tuesday!

Work Feedback

Though comments on grades may be delayed as our team adjusts to the workload, please don’t forget to have your scholars view comments left on assignments and quizzes. Remember to check and ensure that proper attachments are submitted with each assignment! You can always request more specific feedback from your homeroom teacher!

Dress Code

A quick reminder for our scholars back on campus. Reminder that bracelets, rings, and necklaces are not allowed unless they are worn for religious purposes. Backpacks, lunch bags, and masks must comply with dress code policies as well. Basic designs are okay, but logos and large text are prohibited. Scholars may wear non-school outerwear when they are outside of the school building but may only wear school branded/approved items inside the building. Thank you for your understanding.

Read on for an overview of lessons this week!

_______________________

Language Arts:

We just finished King Arthur this week! Scholars practiced making predictions about characters and synthesized their knowledge of the characters and knights with our concepts in medieval history. Scholars also got more practice with adverbs, wrote summaries about the Shona people and Great Zimbabwe, and continued memorizing “The Tyger.” We’ll start Robin Hood on Tuesday!

Math:

This past week in math scholars improved their understanding of our four operations. Students worked with place value discs to solidify their concrete understanding of our standard algorithms for multiplication and division. This coming week, scholars will work on reviewing what they’ve learned this chapter. We will then look deeper into multiplication, gradually helping students understand how to multiply two-digit by two-digit numbers.

History:

Hello historians! Our scholars have been working hard learning about the different class systems in medieval history. This week we spent our time learning about the nobility class, and we ended the week with a discussion on knights, where students had the chance to make their own shield! Next week, students will learn about life on the manor by completing a skit!

Science:

This week in science we finished out our material on meteorology by learning about weather patterns! We discussed different weather instruments scientists and meteorologists use to measure weather conditions and make predictions. Scholars learned about four different weather fronts and the changes in weather that follow them. They will put their knowledge together for a review game and quiz next week!