Weekly Fourth Grade Update (11.20.20.)

Weekly Update

(11.16 - 11.20.)

Parents, thank you so much for your continued support and patience as we navigate the difficulties of this year. We hope everyone has a great time of rest with family and friends, sharing meals and laughs. Please enjoy this well-deserved time of rest, and we'll see our scholars back in a week!

Announcements:

Progress Reports

Progress reports will be sent out on Monday, 11/30. Please reach out to your teacher with any questions, but note that responses will not be given until we come back from the break. We love having your scholars in class, and they are so much more than their grades. If you have concerns, we are partnering together to help support your scholars in the ways they need.

Literary Character Day

Thank you to any parents who joined for reading aloud during our literary character day. It has been a blast to see all of the fun costumes our scholars and families have come up with for today!

Scholars of the Month:

Shoutout to the following scholars for embodying our virtue of honesty this month!

4A: Camela Castillo

4B: Sabeen Zaqtan

4C: Aliyah Gonzales

4D: Joshua Ramirez

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ELA:

Our scholars have wrapped up The Adventures of Robin Hood and are excited to begin Carry On, Mr. Bowditch upon returning from Thanksgiving break! They have also completed their recitations of Shakespeare’s “Sonnet 116” and will move forward with learning “Paul Revere’s Ride.” If all that was not enough newness, our scholars will also come back from their break ready to start a new section in their grammar workbooks about Direct Objects! You’re going to do great, 4th Grade!

Math:

Students have been working so hard to improve their understanding of fractions. We have been so impressed with the depth of their discovery! As we move forward, we will be focusing on finding the Fraction of a Set using various methods. We encourage scholars to continue practicing their math facts to make their problems 

History:

Scholars did great work creating brochures to reflect what they have learned this week about the Black Death. Some brochures included awesome drawings or pictures glued inside! We finished up reviewing what we have covered in Medieval History, and we will start our week back from break reviewing and assessing our history knowledge!

Science:

This week, scholars put their own sensory response into practice with an investigation. Scholars tested our speed of response by sight only, sound only, and both by catching rulers with visual, audio, or both kinds of cues. Then, we learned a little more about how plants and animals respond to stimulus in their environments. Next week, we’ll take a look at these different responses more in depth! Have a wonderful break and enjoy lots of good food!

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. Have a fantastic Thanksgiving! Eat well! 👋🍗

 

- 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

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

4D

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

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

Weekly Fourth Grade Update (11.13.20.)

Weekly Update

(11.9 - 11.13)

Your scholars were hard at work this week completing interim testing on top of regular class work. We so appreciate all our parents are doing to keep scholars on track. Our next break is just around the corner!

Announcements:

Book Fair

If your homeroom teacher has made a book fair wish list, you can order books online at thetwig.com for the classroom. In addition, for both distance learners and Brick and Mortar students, book fair orders can still be placed online all through the next week.

Class Supplies

In efforts to keep classrooms organized and streamlined, please make sure your scholar has a pencil pouch to store extra pencils, erasers, and other items within their desk. Please also ensure your scholar has a sketchbook for art class and folders to store papers and take home graded work for you to see.

Literary Character Day

As a reminder for DL students, you can film a video to submit for a compiled video that will feature DL scholars and their awesome outfits for Literary Character Day. Next week, on Friday, November 20th, scholars may dress as a character from any of the GH Classics to Keep list or a historical figure that your child has learned about at our academy.

Water Bottles and Dress Code

Please remember to send your scholar with their water bottle each day and review the handbook for dress code reminders and standards.

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ELA: 

Our scholars are almost finished with The Adventures of Robin Hood. They’ve loved the action-packed stories and drama within its tale! We will start Carry On, Mr. Bowditch after the next break. Scholars are also continuing to practice Shakespeare’s “Sonnet 116” to recite next week. In addition to enjoying literature, our fourth-graders continue to develop their writing technique and style. Scholars are also working in reading groups and have moved into “List R” of their Spalding words--you’re doing great, 4th Grade!

Math:

Scholars practiced working with improper fractions and mixed numbers all this work. We encourage you to keep practicing math facts (times tables and division facts) with your scholars at home to improve their math fluency! We’ll keep working with fractions next week!

History:

This week in Medieval History, we focused on The Hundred Years’ War and the role the young hero, Joan of Arc played in supporting the French side. Scholars learned about the impact weapons can have on the outcome of a war while diving into Joan’s inspiring story and tragic execution. We took a little time to discuss Harriet Tubman as well, another heroic woman in history that was driven by her religious conviction. Next week, we will learn about the massive impacts of The Plague.

Science:

At the beginning of this week, scholars finished writing about the structures and functions of a plant or animal they had researched. We then learned about how our eyes and ears work to perceive images and sounds. Next week, we have a fun lab activity planned to measure how our senses help us respond to our environment quickly and effectively.

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

Have a 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

Weekly Fourth Grade Update (11.6.20.)

Weekly Update

11.2 - 11.6

Announcements:

Reading A to Z

Make sure to take a look at the resources on the RAZ kids website. You should have received login credentials for you scholar from your homeroom teacher. Be on the lookout for more information on better utilizing this resource with your scholars at home.

Book Fair

There will be a book fair at school next week. Your homeroom teacher may also make a list of wish list books for their classroom if you are interested in purchasing extra books for use in your scholar's class.

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ELA:

Our scholars are nearing the end of their time with The Adventures of Robin Hood. They’ve loved the action-packed stories within its tale! They also continue to learn Shakespeare’s “Sonnet 116” for their poetry recitations due on 11/18. In addition to enjoying literature, our fourth-graders continue to work on their own writing. Not only do our scholars complete weekly writing and grammar exercises, but they have now begun to hone their skills in expository writing by working on an additional prompt each day--you’re doing great, 4th Grade!

Math:

This week, scholars will dive even deeper into fractions. We are learning about mixed numbers, improper fractions, and converting between the two. Please continue to encourage your scholar to practice his or her math facts!

History:

This past week, scholars learned about the roles women played in Medieval history and the importance of the Magna Carta. We discussed Eleanor of Aquitaine and how she was able to influence England and change laws, difficulties that women faced in the Medieval period and the jobs they held, and finished with a look at how the Magna Carta took power away from the crown.

Science:

In science this week, scholars looked at ways plants behave and function. We thought about what a wilting flower is trying to communicate, why trees need thick bark, and saw a clip demonstrating how plants actually grow towards the sun! Then, we started our outlines for our final reports on a chosen animal or plant that we’ll finish up next week before discussing hearing and vision. 

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

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

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

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:

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

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

4D

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

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