Week of January 28- February 1

Families of 4C,

There will be no Khan Academy this week (1/30)  or next week (2/6) in order to allow time for other lessons, as our geometry unit progresses quickly. Thank you for your understanding.

Grade reports will be sent on a bi-weekly basis for the remainder of the quarter. You can expect to see the next grade report after week 4.

Athletic Field Day will be this Friday, February 1. Students are to bring their lunches, and will eat in the classroom that day. There will not be any hot lunch provided on February 1. We will need a couple coolers with ice to hold drinks and snacks. If you are interested in lending your cooler with some ice to the cause, please visit the sign-up genius here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0B4FAAAF2FAAFC1-coolers

This Week:

Writing: Students will continue their third major writing assignment on Endangered Species of animals. This will be an expository essay and will still be teacher-guided; however, students will have more freedom in outlining, constructing sentences, and choosing the information that goes into their essay.

History: History tests and quizzes will be open-note for the remainder of the school year. Since all tests and quizzes are open-note, spelling counts! As long as students take effective notes in class, they should have all the information they need for the exam. This week, students will continue their study of the American Revolution by learning about the Boston Tea Party and doing a group activity on Parliamentary Acts. On Friday, students will take their Unit Test on chapters 1-10.

Literature: In literature, students will continue reading Prince Caspian, reading chapters ten through twelve. Students can expect to have regular journal entries in their literature notebooks, summarizing each chapter as we read. The journal entries are included in the participation grade for literature.

Math: This week will be a busy week as we finish up our geometry unit. On Monday, students will learn about the radius and diameter of a circle, and will learn about the six geometric solid figures. On Tuesday, students will be tested on this concept. On Wednesday, students will learn area and perimeter of rectangles, and will be tested on this concept on Thursday, concluding our study of geometry. On Friday, we will begin learning about tenths and decimals, and students will take their first test on decimals the following Monday (2/4).

Poetry: Students will learn their newest poem for recitation, “Paul Revere’s Ride” this week.

Greek and Latin Roots: Students will learn Greek and Latin roots 61-63. The review check for this Wednesday will be over roots 58-60.

Science: In science, students will continue their study of geology. This week, students will learn about the formations of different types of mountains and geologic formations on the ocean floor. Throughout the week, students will be taking review quizzes for Chemistry (1/30), Electricity (1/31), and Life Sciences (2/1).

Spalding: This week, students will be studying their next 29 words, secret ----- volume. We will typically study 30 words every week; however, this is subject to change by a word or two from week to week depending on word groupings. A family member should dictate the words to the student each night for homework. Students will review words on Thursday and take the final test on Friday.


--Mrs. Conforti

Math Test 4.3A Correction

Families of 4C,

Upon looking through the tests, it came to our attention that the shape in question 4(b) is drawn a bit confusing and it was difficult to pinpoint the exact number of right angles in the figure. For this reason, students will be getting a point back on this test so the question does not count against them.

Thank you for your understanding!

--Mrs. Conforti

Week of January 22-25

Families of 4C,

There is no school on Monday, January 21 in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Grade reports will be sent on a bi-weekly basis for the remainder of the quarter. You can expect to see the next grade report after week 4.

Please note that our class had some low averages on quizzes this week. Do not be alarmed if you are seeing your child bring home quizzes with lower averages than what you might be typically used to. Our first Geology quiz had a class average of 68 percent, and our math quiz for week 2 had a class average of 50%. Most of the questions answered incorrectly on these exams was due to not reading the question fully or carefully. On the math quiz, many students did not complete all portions of every question, particularly the word problem and the prime vs. composite questions. In the third quarter, we are emphasizing the importance of taking time and persevering through difficult or lengthy problems. Students are encouraged to at least attempt every problem, even if it might be challenging or they might get it wrong.

This Week:

Writing: Students will continue their second major writing assignment by finishing the final drafts of their Middle Ages Essay on Tuesday and Wednesday. In the latter part of the week, students will begin their next major writing project. This will be another teacher-led workshop lasting a couple weeks, and the topic will focus on Endangered Species of animals.

History: History tests and quizzes will be open-note for the remainder of the school year. Since all tests and quizzes are open-note, spelling counts! As long as students take effective notes in class, they should have all the information they need for the exam. This week, students will continue their study of the American Revolution by learning about the importance of the Stamp Act, Patrick Henry, and the Boston Massacre.

Literature: In literature, students will continue reading Prince Caspian, reading chapters nine through eleven. Students can expect to have regular journal entries in their literature notebooks, summarizing each chapter as we read. The journal entries are included in the participation grade for literature.

Math: Fourth grade will continue our study of geometry this week. Students will learn about quadrilaterals and triangles and will take a test on these concepts on Wednesday and Friday.

Poetry: Recitations for “Concord Hymn” by Ralph Waldo Emerson will be on Friday, January 25. Every student is expected to perform their recitation on that day, and will not be granted additional time if they are not prepared on that day.

Greek and Latin Roots: Students will learn Greek and Latin roots 58-60. The review check for this Wednesday will be over roots 55-57.

Science: In science, students will continue their study of geology. This week, students will learn about the different types of volcanoes, famous volcanoes, and the impact that erupted volcanoes can have on the atmosphere. Later in the week, students will be constructing their own volcanoes and later on Friday, making them erupt.

Spalding: This week, students will be studying their next 20 words, nickel ----- saucer. We will typically study 30 words every week; however, this is subject to change by a word or two from week to week depending on word groupings. A family member should dictate the words to the student each night for homework. Students will review words on Thursday and take the final test on Friday.


I hope you all enjoy the long weekend! Happy MLK Day!

--Mrs. Conforti

Week of January 14-18

Families of 4C,

Fourth Grade MAP Testing will take place in the morning on Thursday, January 17.

Our class will be visiting the library on Friday, January 18 from 9:00-9:15 AM.

Clubs will begin in week 2 (Jan. 14-18). You can visit this google doc for more information regarding clubs: https://docs.google.com/document/d/18DwPk4-JICmHZG_1ECNFz_ObqUlNc4rkamFSJ_a30t0/edit?usp=sharing

Grade reports will be sent after week two to allow more time for assignments to balance the grade book.

This Week:

Writing: Students will continue their second major writing assignment. This writing project will still be largely teacher-led, but students will have more freedom to form their own thoughts and sentences. This will be an opinion paper on the topic following topic: Is it right to call the Middle Ages the Dark Ages? Students will type their final drafts in-class at the end of the week.

History: History tests and quizzes will be open-note for the remainder of the school year. This week, students will continue their study of the American Revolution by learning about the Seven Years’ War, the French-Indian War, and the allies of France and Great Britain during this time. Students will be taking their unit test over chapters 1-5 on Wednesday. On Thursday and Friday, students will discuss the beginning quarrels between the Colonies and Great Britain as the Revolution began.

Literature: In literature, students will continue reading Prince Caspian, reading chapters five through seven. Students can expect to have regular journal entries in their literature notebooks, summarizing each chapter as we read. The journal entries are included in the participation grade for literature.

Math: Fourth grade will continue our study of geometry this week. Students will learn about parallel and perpendicular lines and will take a test on these concepts on Friday. On Tuesday, students will take a test over last week’s concepts on measuring angles and they will take their weekly review quiz.

Poetry: Students will continue their memorization of “Concord Hymn” by Ralph Waldo Emerson. This is a famous poem about the start of the American Revolution. They will be expected to recite this poem on Friday, January 25.

Greek and Latin Roots: Students will learn Greek and Latin roots 55-57. The review check for this Wednesday, January 16, will be over numbers 1-54 to ensure that students are retaining the ones they learned before the winter break.

Science: In science, students will continue their study of geology. This week, students will learn about the three types of plate boundaries, earthquakes, faults, and tsunamis. They will take their geology quiz on Wednesday and should be studying their notes regularly to stay prepared. They are permitted to use part (not all) of their reading time for literature to read notes when new concepts are taught.

Spalding: This week, students will be studying their next 20 words, college ----- listen. There will not be any Spalding on Thursday due to MAP testing. We will typically study 30 words every week; however, this is subject to change by a word or two from week to week depending on word groupings. A family member should dictate the words to the student each night for homework. Students will review words on Wednesday and take the final test on Friday.


Our students had a very strong first week back! I wish you all a fun and restful weekend!

--Mrs. Conforti

Week of January 7-11

Families of 4C,

Happy New Year!

I hope you are all well rested after the holiday break, and are as eager for a fresh start to a new year as I am.

There will not be any math tutoring this week. Tutoring will begin on Monday, January 14 on an invite-only basis. Invitations will be sent via email later this week with more details.

Grade reports will be sent after week two to allow more time for assignments to balance in the grade book.

This Week:

Writing: Students will start their second major writing assignment. This writing project will still be largely teacher-led, but students will have more freedom to form their own thoughts and sentences. This will be an opinion paper on the topic following topic: Is it right to call the Middle Ages the Dark Ages? This writing assignment will take place in week 1 and week 2.

History: This week students will start their next unit of study: the American Revolution. However, before we get there, students will review the thirteen colonies, which they studied next year, and about the rising tension between the English, who owned the thirteen colonies, and the French, the greatest enemy of the British from their conflict during the 100 Years’ War. There is a test Friday on the thirteen colonies that is open notes so it shouldn’t be very difficult as long as students take good notes.

Literature: In literature, students will start their reading of Prince Caspian. On Monday, students will review The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Please have them bring Prince Caspian on Tuesday, January 8. Students will read chapters 1-3 this week.

Math: Fourth grade will start a study of geometry this week. There is a test later this week over chapter 1. The first test is on right angles. Everything on this test is a review from last year.

Poetry: Students will start memorizing “Concord Hymn” by Ralph Waldo Emerson. This is a famous poem about the start of the American Revolution. They will be expected to recite this poem during week three.

Greek and Latin Roots: Students will learn the next four Greek and Latin roots this week, but there is no review check this week. However, the review check for next week will be over numbers 1-54 to ensure that students are retaining the ones they learned before the winter break.

Science: In science, students will start their study of geology. This week, they will learn about the four layers of the earth, Alfred Wegener’s Continental Drift Theory, and current theory of Plate Tectonics. There is a meteorology review quiz on Thursday.

Spalding: Students will begin the week with the monthly fifty-word spelling test to check their grade level. They will then learn twenty words and be tested on Friday.


I look forward to a strong start to the second half of the school year!

--Mrs. Conforti