Monday, March 18, 2019

Weeks of March 19 - April 12 (Q4 W1-4)

Families of 4C,

I hope our students enjoyed their well-deserved time off and are eager to come back to school!

Tutoring will begin week 2 on Monday, March 25. If tutoring is recommended for your child, you will receive an email invitation at the end of week 1.

With AzMERIT and AIMS Science around the corner, much of what we are doing over the next four weeks is in preparation for that. Thus, instead of writing the same thing over and over for the next four weeks, I'm going to just give you one long blog post so you know what to expect. Before the break, Mr. Naaktgeboren sent out a post about AzMERIT and how we will be preparing for that. If you’d like to read it, you can take a look here.


Lessons:

Math: In math, over the next four weeks, students will spend time learning about data analysis, graphing, and units of measurement. However, the majority of the time will be spent reviewing things they have learned in prior units such as factors and multiples, fractions and decimals, and the four operations. There will be nightly homework and weekly quizzes in math, but no tests.

Literature: During the literature time over the next four weeks, students will be reading short stories and articles to practice their comprehension skills. Hopefully, this time spent focused on reading fluency and comprehension will help them practice the skills necessary to grow in this area.

Spalding: Students will not be assigned Spalding words over the next four weeks. Instead, this time will be allotted to more ELA practice. Some of this time will be used to review vocabulary and other word features such as rhyme, synonyms, and antonyms. There will be no Spalding homework for the first four weeks.

History: During the third quarter, students learned how patriots fought against tyranny to gain their independence. Once the colonists defeated Britain, the challenge turned to how they should govern themselves. That will be the focus over the next six weeks. The test and quiz schedule for this unit is as follows: a quiz during week one, a quiz during week two, a test during week three, a quiz week five, and a test week six. All of these quizzes and tests are open notes. Students may find it helpful to complete the study guides at home for the two tests.

Writing: Students will have two writing assignments over the next couple of weeks. Both of these will be completed in one day to simulate the expectations for AzMERIT. Week one's essay will be an opinion essay. The prompt is would you rather serve as a scientist in the Amazon or Antartica. Week two's essay will be an expository essay. The prompt is to explain how the Three R's and composting are helping solve the trash problem. In addition to these activities, students will start their second major project. Each student will be assigned a signer of the constitution. They will then write a short biography (five paragraphs) on this individual and create a board for an oral presentation. This project is similar to the Europe project they did earlier this year, but it requires less work. Students will be provided with the information for their research, and only a posterboard is required (students are not expected to dress as the individual or to bring any food or other items in, however they may bring in items if they think it is beneficial). This will be due at the end of week six.

Science: Over the first few weeks of the quarter, students will spend time reviewing for the AIMS Science test. This assessment is on a variety of topics and requires students to apply facts and concepts in critical ways. During the review period, the goal will be to review the content so students can access information what has been taught this year but also to help them be able to use the information in new ways to come up with original ideas about how the world works around them and to solve problems.

Poetry: During the first three weeks, students will memorize part of "The Declaration of Independence." Then, from week four through week six, students will memorize the preamble to the "Constitution of the United States."

Greek and Latin Roots: Students will continue to learn new Greek and Latin roots and quiz on previous roots every Wednesday. They should now know 75 of the 100 they will be taught this year. Here is what the first four weeks will look like:


  • Week 1 - learn 76-79
  • Week 2 - learn 79-81, assessed on 76-79
  • Week 3 - learn 82-84, assessed on 79-81
  • Week 4 - learn 85-87, assessed on 82-84


I look forward to a very strong start to the final quarter of fourth grade!


-- Mrs. Conforti