It's hard to believe that our two weeks of break is already over---time really does fly when you are having fun! I hope everyone had an enjoyable break and found time for family and friends over the days off. Hopefully the new year was brought in with health and happiness. The end of 2012 was busy in our classroom and it will only get busier in 2013. Here we go!
* There will not be a MVP this week--we will begin our rotation again next week with Ella.
* We are going to try to keep the germs in the classroom away as much as we can. In order to do this, if you would like to donate any containers of Clorox wipes--it would be much appreciated!
* This week we will get back into the routine of the classroom expectations, written work, homework, and collaboration with students around us. Our goal is independence and responsibility in the new year! Written work is going to be a large part of our daily routine now. Any work that is not of 4th grade quality will need to be redone in study hall or for homework.
* Historical fiction book reports are due Monday, January 7th. I will give the students time in class to record their reports. Our new genre for January is fantasy (due February 1st)! We will review characteristics of the genre in class and our LMC has books available for the kids to look through/check out during our library time. Feel free to use the Arlington Heights Memorial Library as well! The kids will also turn in 3 reading log sheets when they return on Monday!
* During our reading time in class, we will begin to split our time with fiction and nonfiction. This week we will talk about theme in fiction books, plot, and review analyzing character. This study/conversation will continue during our small guided reading groups (which will begin this week as well). We will also use nonfiction to practice the strategy of questioning. The kids will learn how to question to learn new information, clarify confusion, and understand the text. We will be doing this with nonfiction text and return to marking up the text with our notes as we read!
* In writing the kids will work on reflecting on the past year and coming up with goals of the new year. We will work on top ten lists which will be typed up in the computer lab. We will have two lists going: the top ten things we remember from last year and the top ten things we hope for this year. We will brainstorm in class a bit before our day in the lab. The kids may need to finish their brainstorming at home.
* We will take Monday to review multiplication in math. Hopefully the kids have practiced their facts over break--it will make a HUGE difference for things to come! We will finish out our unit this week by also learning about big numbers (numbers up to the trillions), powers of 10, and comparing data. Next week the kids will take a practice test/study guide in class and we will look to have our test over Unit 5 sometime around Wednesday or Thursday. I will have specific details for you next weekend!
* We will review what we learned about circuits in science on Monday and continue to use energy to make sound, motion, and electromagnets! The kids will also experiment with different materials to learn about conductors and insulators. We will also review indoor and outdoor electrical safety.
* I look forward to seeing the kids this week and hearing all about their breaks! As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact me. Happy New Year!
