Weekly Updates for November 13th

Please note the following:

Tuesday- Nov 14th- PTA meeting


ELA/Social Studies/Writing
Reading: We are reading Coyote School News this week and talking about teamwork.
Grammar skill: Grammar review
S.Studies: Colonizing the New World

Writing:
Johnson/Maestri/Derry/Fortson/Stansberry/Russ - Informational writing
DeBolt/McCoy- Opinion writing


Math-(Fortson/Maestri)
There will be a Division checkpoint on Wednesday this week. Students will use one of the following to solve problems: place value chart; area model; partial quotients.  They will also have to write an equation using the distributive property that matches the model.  Please see Problem sets 20 and 21 for examples of expectations.  On Thursday, we will begin factors/multiples/prime and composite.  This will be our content through Thanksgiving.  We will review division further as well as start with 2 digit x 2 digit multiplication after the holidays.  There is a classwork packet that is due on Friday. 

Science- (Fortson/Maestri)
We will continue our mini unit Life Science unit- ecosystems.  This week our focus will be the flow of energy in an ecosystem including food chains and webs.  Students have been assigned an ecosystem project that will be due on Monday, November 20th.  Please see the assignment sheet that was given out last week for additional information.

Happy Last week of October!  What a fun time of the year!  Please note the following for this week:

4th Grade ELA and S.Studies (Johnson, Derry, DeBolt and Stansberry)

Reading:  Continue reading Little House in the Big Woods.  We are nearing the end of the novel!  Our focus this week will be on summarizing the text and looking at themes from the novel.
Grammar: Review subjects and predicates/sentence structure. Advanced word study (spelling) focus is -ar and -or words.
Writing: Johnson/Maestri/Fortson/Derry - Informational writing
                DeBolt/McCoy/Stansberry/Russ - Opinion writing
S. Studies: European explorers/Settling of the Colonies

Math and Science (Fortson/Maestri)

Math:  This week we being Module 3 Lessons 14-17 (tentative).  This is our introduction to division.  Please check your student's agenda nightly for homework assignments.  Weekly classwork is due on Friday (Q2W3). 

Science:  This week we will continue our Life Science Unit- mini unit focus: Ecosystems.  Students receive resources for the interactive notebook. Please check your students' agenda for any assignments. 

Weekly updates for October 23rd

Happy Fall! Our month of October is coming to an end quickly!  The end of 2017 will be here before we know it.  There are some important things to note:

All Pro Dads- October 27th
Fall Make-up Pictures- October 30th
Halloween-October 31st
Flu Shots-November 3rd
NO SCHOOL- November 7th

Here is what is happening this week:

Johnson/Stansberry/DeBolt:
Reading: Continue reading Little House in the Big Woods.  We will focus on describing characters and events in depth.
ELA: Advanced Word study focus - plural nouns.  Grammar skill - subject/object pronouns.
S. Studies: Continue learning about and tracing the routes of early European explorers.

Fortson/Maestri Math:
This week, we will continue with our multiplication unit.  Students took a pop quiz on Monday in all four classes.  We have identified students who need additional instruction and will be working in small groups to help struggling students.  We will also focus on problem solving with multiplication word problems. Parents! You can help us by practicing multiplication facts nightly at home.  The process takes quite a long time when students are trying to figure out basic facts! There will be a unit test on FRIDAY, October 27th.

Derry/Fortson:
Reading: Little House in the Big Woods Ch. 9-11
We work on reflection questions weekly where students have to go deeper in their thinking. If students do not complete work by due date, they can turn in late for an automatic 70 if completed.
Language: Subject and Object Pronouns
Advanced Word Study: Unit 2 Week-2: Irregular Plurals
Writing: Informational writing-
Social Studies: We will begin Module Three: Settling the Colonies
Our guiding question is Why did the English and other Europeans build colonies in North America? I do all testing through the Social Studies Weekly's.

Mrs. Fortson's class and Mrs. Derry's class have been working on an in class project on Explorers. Your child is learning how to do research and cite how they found the research. We will continue to work on these during centers and free time. This project is only done in class and students are not allowed to bring home. Right now the project's projected date is October 31st. I plan on extended that date to Friday, November 3rd.

Weekly Update for September 25th

We are counting down the days to the end of the nine weeks! Please remember that the end of the first nine weeks is October 6th.  All late, missing and redo work needs to be turned in by Wednesday, October 4th.  This allows us to get all grades in prior to the post date.  Please note the following:

Field Trips- Next week is our field trip to Smokey Mountain Heritage Center.  Please note the following dates:  Monday, October 2nd-Derry/Fortson/Maestri/Johnson    Tuesday, October 3rd-Russ/Stansberry/McCoy/DeBolt.  Please make sure your child has a lunch if he/she is bringing a lunch.  Reminder- NO cell phones or electronics are allowed on field trips.

Here are a few updates:

Johnson/Maestri:
Reading-Continue work on Little House in the Big Woods.
ELA-Common and Proper nouns and pronouns.  The word study will focus on the long u sound.  Test will be Wednesday, October 4th.
Social Studies-We are learning about European exploration of the New World.
Writing-Opinion writing using text evidence
Math- We will take a unit assessment on Tuesday/Wednesday.  We will begin Module 3 on Thursday.


Fortson/Derry:

Math- We will take an assessment on Tuesday/Wednesday.  We will begin Module 3 on Thursday.  

Science- We have started our new mini unit on cells.  Students have some good resources in the interactive notebook.  A homework assignment will be given this week and students will need the resources in the notebook to complete it.  We will also look at some cells under a microscope!  A cell project will also be assigned.  Please look for an email with detailed information on Tuesday. 

Reading: Little House in the Big Woods. We will continue to read this novel and analyze characters, setting, and time period. 
Advanced Word Study: Long U sound (Dictation will be on Monday).
Grammar: Pronouns
Social Studies: Discussing Explorers and the routes they took in the New World.

Writing: Opinion Writing 

Weekly Updates for September 18th

Happy Monday!  Here is what is happening this week!

Derry/Fortson:

Reading: We will begin a new novel Little House in the Big Woods. The students will be answering many questions through out this novel. 

Grammar: Proper Nouns/Common Nouns

Writing: Opinion writing using texts to form an opinion.  Students will begin the process of writing to a prompt and using text evidence to support their reasons. 

Social Studies: The Age of Exploration: The students will trace the routes of early explorers and describe the explorations of the Americans. We will be answering these questions over the next few weeks: How did the arrival of Europeans in the Americas affect the people who lived there? How did exploration and settlement impact the indigenous peoples and the environment?

Math:  This week we will focus on fluently adding and subtracting multi-digit numbers using the standard algorithm and to apply it through problem solving. Please check the assignment sheet nightly for assignments. Focus lessons: Mod 1 Lessons 11-17

Science:  We will begin our cells unit this week.  Students will receive resources in their interactive notebooks.  

Johnson/Maestri:

Reading: We are starting our next class novel, Little House in the Big Woods, this week.  We will continue to refer back to the text when citing text evidence and describing story elements in detail.

ELA: Continue work on adjectives and review common and proper nouns.

S.Studies: We will wrap up the Cherokee, Chickasaw, and Creek Indian unit this week and start talking about European explorers. 

*Test Tuesday for Johnson's homeroom over the Indian study guide. Test Wednesday for Maestri's homeroom.

Math: This week we will focus on fluently adding and subtracting multi-digit numbers using the standard algorithm and to apply it through problem solving.  Please check the assignment sheet nightly for assignments.  Focus lessons:  Module 1 lessons 11-17

Johnson/Maestri writing: Opinion writing with text evidence

McCoy/DeBolt- weekly lessons 9/18

Weekly Updates for September 5th

What a weekend for some football!  And resting?? and relaxing!  Here is what is happening this week:

Johnson/Maestri:

Reading: We will be starting Lewis and Clark and Me this week. This selection overlaps with some of the Social studies curriculum your child will be learning this year.

ELA: Continue diagramming sentences. Start working on adjectives.
Word study this week focuses on the long e and long o sounds. *Words will come home tomorrow, and the test will be Monday.

S.Studies: We will be learning about the Cherokee, Chickasaw, and Chocta Indian groups.

Johnson and Maestri writing: Opinion writing

Math:  This week we will be working with our Engage NY curriculum. We will be working on Lessons 1-6. These should be review lessons over the material we have learned in August. There will be a quiz on Friday.  Please check the assignment sheet nightly for homework assignments.

Derry/Fortson

Reading: Lewis and Clark: We will be talking about What opportunities can be found in new places? This will be our story for the next two weeks.

Language: Adjectives
Advanced Word Study: Long e and o

Writing Fortson and Derry: Opinion

Social Studies: We will discuss religious beliefs, customs, and traditions of Cherokee, Creek, Chickasaw Native Americans.

Math: This week we will cover ENY lesson 6 and review lessons 1-6 for our quiz on Friday. Please check the assignment sheet nightly for homework.

HawkEye information for this year

4^th grade Hawkeye time has started!  

Our groups meet daily from 9:15-9:45.  This is a time for our teachers to provide interventions to those students who have been identified as needing a math or reading intervention program.   With the exception of Mrs. Maestri’s class who has been divided into 6 groups, the classes travel as a homeroom to Hawkeye .  Throughout the year these groups will rotate through 6 classes that are academically centered, but do not involve graded assignments.  This is simply an enrichment time for those students not attending an intervention.

***Please note your child’s Hawkeye group may be changed throughout the year based on your child’s needs.

Weekly Updates for August 29th

It's hard to believe that we are in our last week of August! Here is what is happening this week:

Russ/Stansberry:

Math: We are reviewing Lesson 3 on adding and subtracting whole numbers. We will be giving the assessment for Lesson 3 by the end of the week and start rounding soon after that. 

Science: We will be finishing up Scientific Method and team building activities. Next, I am going to talk about science tools. I will give a short quiz by Friday on the Scientific Method.

Writing: Paragraph Construction with an emphasis on Topic Sentences and Details

Fortson/Derry:

Reading: Continuing with Because of Winn Dixie. Remember any work that's in the classwork part of the red folder is not homework unless otherwise stated. 

Grammar/Advanced Word Study: Breaking apart sentences; AWS: We will have a dictation quiz Monday and start working on a new list. 

Social Studies: Quiz on Tuesday and Wednesday over Geography. They have a study guide in their red folder.  Continuing with Early Native Americans (Paleo, Archaic, Mississippian, Woodland)

Math:  We will begin Lesson 3.  Our goal will be to finish Lesson 3 and have a quiz on Friday. This unit is over adding and subtracting multi digit numbers.  Please check the agenda sheet nightly for homework assignments. Also, Lesson 2 quiz will be going home on Monday.  Please remember that students should return quizzes to class. They have the option to make test corrections.  An email was sent out to both classes explaining this process. We keep all quizzes at school until the unit assessment. This will be your study guide. Morning work will be given on Monday and is due on Friday. 

Science: This week we will finish with Scientific Method and the Engineering Design Process. Students will complete two labs this week.  Lab sheets will be due on Friday.  Next week we will begin with science tools and data collection.  

Writing:  Our writing focus has been understanding the traits of good writers.  This week, we will shift our focus to opinion writing. We will be identifying other's opinions, reasons and evidence in their writing.  Students will receive resource information for OREO in their writing folders.  

McCoy/DeBolt: 

Maestri/Johnson:

Math: We will begin and finish Lesson 3 this week.  This lesson focuses on addition and subtraction of multi digit numbers.  Students will learn various strategies including the standard algorithm.  There will be a quiz on Friday. Please check the weekly assignment sheet nightly for homework assignments.  Classwork will be given on Monday. Students should turn this in as they finish. This is due by Friday. 

Science:  We will continue with Scientific Method and Engineering Design Process. Students will participate in two labs. Lab sheets will be due by Friday.  Next week, we will begin with science tools and data collection. 

*Reading: We are continuing Because of Winn Dixie and will be working on referring back to the text when discussing the characters, plot, and setting.
*ELA: Sentence diagramming with subjects and predicates.  Our word study pattern this week will be long a and long i. Test Friday over words with this pattern. Your child will also be receiving an individualized list this week of high frequency words that he/she will be expected to spell correctly in 4th grade. A note will be coming home with this list on how to help your child with these words.
*S. Studies: The culture and legacy of the 4 Indian time periods (Paleo, Archaic, Woodland, and Mississippian). Test Wednesday (Johnson) and Thursday (Maestri) over the Module 1 study guide that was given out last week.

*Johnson writing: We will start working on opinion writing this week.

Weekly Updates for Aug 22nd

WoW!!! What an eclipse!  What an amazing experience for all of us!  Even though we have a short week, we do have some things happening to note:

Johnson/Maestri:

Reading: We are continuing Because of Winn Dixie.  We will be focused on characteristics of fiction (characters, plot, setting, problem/solution).  We are also working on citing text evidence within the text.

ELA: Diagramming subjects and predicates in sentences; Word pattern test in both classes on Friday. 

Johnson writing: Continue 6 traits of writing

S.Studies: Archaic, Woodland, and Mississippian Indians

*A study guide will be coming home this week for the 4 Indian groups.  Test will be next Wednesday (Johnson) and Thursday (Maestri).

Math:  This week we will continue to work on Lesson 2- comparing numbers using place value and expanded form.  There will be a quiz over lesson 2 on Friday. 

Derry/Fortson:

Reading: Because of Winn Dixie: They will be doing workstations all week in characterization, setting, and plot. 

Advanced Word Study: Unit 1: short a vccv pattern; there will be no quiz on Friday. 

Language: Breaking apart sentences: Subject and Predicate

Social Studies: Module 1: There will be a Geography quiz next Tuesday in Mrs. Derry's class and a quiz in Mrs. Fortson's on Wednesday. The study guide went home today with Mrs. Derry's homeroom. Mrs. Fortson's class will get it tomorrow. This will be a closed note quiz. We are studying the early Native Americans: Archaic, Paleo, Mississippian, and Woodland Indians. 

Math:  We will work through Lesson 2-comparing numbers using place value and expanded form.  There is a quiz over Lesson 2 on Friday.  Please check the assignment sheet nightly for homework assignments. 

Russ/Stansberry:  Math- There will be a doubles fact quiz on Friday!

Weekly Updates for 8-14

Here is what is happening this week:

Please remember that we have PARENT NIGHT, tomorrow night from 5-6pm. We have important information to give you, including our Fourth grade handbook.  If you are able, this is a important night to attend!

Reading/ELA/Social Studies:

Derry/Fortson-
Reading- WE will be introducing Because of Winn Dixie.  Students will complete a 4th grade pre-assessment for reading fluency and comprehension.
ELA/Writing- We will introduce the Advanced Word Study.  Students will be taking a pre-test on "No Excuse Words" that they should already know.  We will discuss how we use AWS in our class on a weekly basis.  For writing, we will read and write a response to The Secret Knowledge of Grownups. Our writing trait this week is "Generating Ideas".
Social Studies- Our first unit is, The Lane and the People before the European Exploration. Students will learn how native cultures of Tennessee are alike and different.  We will discuss geographic terms such as bluffs, swamps, isthmus, gulf, sea, bay and cape.

Johnson/Maestri:

Reading- We will start the book Because of Winn Dixie.  This is our first novel of the year and we will be learning how to dig deeper into our reading and discuss our ideas.
ELA/Writing- This week, we will learn about our "No Excuse Words".  These will be used in our spelling and writing.  We will also review the types of sentences.
Social Studies-our first discussion will be over landforms and Indian cultures.

Math and Science:

Fortson/Derry and Maestri/Johnson-
Math- Our new math series is Ready Math.  Please check the blog page under math for additional information and resources.  Our first unit is over place value. This week, students will be using place value charts to discuss the value of numbers, compare numbers and write numbers in multiple ways.  There will be homework assigned this week, so please check the weekly assignment sheet daily.

Science- This week, we will do two labs.  They will be an introduction into the scientific method and the engineering design process.  Students will get a hands on opportunity to practice these processes. Next week, we will connect the actual process with the labs we do this week. There will be a lab sheet for both labs and this is a graded assignment.  On Friday, we will do a fun mini lesson over the solar eclipse.  Students will receive their Knox County eclipse glasses this week.

First Week Fun Pictures!

Check out our some of our first week pictures!

Mrs. Russ's class:

         

Mrs. Derry's Class:

 




Mrs. Fortson's Class:

As you can see, we had a GREAT first week!  

Don't Forget!

Don't forget that we will have our Meet and Greet tonight from 3-5pm.  We cannot wait to see you!

Welcome New Fourth Graders!

If you have discovered our website already and are a new fourth grader---WELCOME! We have waited to meet you all summer.  Our teachers have already spent time in their classrooms getting ready for you to come.  It's going to be an amazing year!  We update this blog every week with important information. The fastest way to receive these updates is to follow by email.  If you no longer wish to receive these emails, please "unsubscribe" to any email and you will be removed from the list.

Here is a copy of our supply list:  4th Grade supply list

Don't forget that we will see you on Friday, August 4th from 3-5pm!  Here is a picture of your fourth grade teachers having a little fun this summer:

Happy Summer 2017

Our Fourth Grade team is enjoying summer vacation!  We are already planning to meet our new fourth graders on August 4th.  Don't forget that class assignments will be posted online through Aspen.  Now is the time to contact Knox County if you are having problems getting logged onto the system!  We hope that you and your family have had many wonderful memories this summer!

Weekly Updates for May 8th

Here are some things to note for this week:

* All Graded work is due by this Friday, May 12th for Maestri, Fortson and Derry.  Please check with your child's teacher if you are concerned about missing work.  Aspen is being updated daily.

*Permission slips for the Smokies game were due last Friday!  Please check with your child's teacher if you are concerned we might not have gotten it.  We must have a permission slip.  Please remember that this is a free event for your child and they will receive a lunch.

*Field Day and Awards Day information is coming!  We are making some changes, so please look for this information.  We will try to post it here on the blog later this week.

*Mrs. Derry's book project was due TODAY!!! Fortson, Maestri and McCoy menu projects are due tomorrow, May 9th.

*Mr. DeBolt will have an open note Social Studies quiz on Friday.

*Yearbooks will be coming home this week.

Weekly Updates for May 1st

Whew! We have made it through testing!  Thank you for helping us get our students here on time each day and for making sure they had plenty of sleep and something good to eat.  We feel confident that our students will make great gains in all areas this year.  There are many important things happening this month.  We will try to update each week to keep everyone informed.  Please note the following for this week:

Important Dates:
May 8- Derry Book Project
May 8 - Art Walk
May 9 - Menu Project-Math all classes
May 15- Field Day
May 16- Smokies Game

Reading: Derry and Johnson: We will finish James and the Giant Peach this week. Derry- There will be a final assessment on Wednesday May 10th. The Roald Dahl project is due Monday, May 8th. This will count as a project grade. Johnson-Classes will begin end of the year projects this week.  Please check with your child about specifics.

Writing: Derry - We will be finishing up our narrative that we've been working on for the last two weeks. We are also working on a writing project for the end of the year. All of this writing will be going in their Leader in Me Binder and completed in class.

Social Studies: Derry - We are on our last Social Studies Weekly #30 which is Trouble Between the States. We will be discussing The Missouri Compromise of 1820.

Math:  McCoy, Fortson and Maestri - We have assigned the Menu Project that will be due in all classes on Tuesday, May 9th.  Please note that this counts as a test grade.  This is a school project with some ability to work on at home.  Please check with your child's teacher for specific requirements for this project.  Fortson and Maestri - Students have been asked to bring in a menu on TUESDAY, May 2nd for an in-class assignment.

Science- We will begin a new unit addressing some of our health standards. Students will have class activities that might be homework if they are unable to finish them in class.  These will be graded assignments.  Please check with your child about specific assignments and due dates.

Fortson, Derry and Maestri:
All redo's and makeup work needs to be turned in by Friday, May 12th. Students were notified of this and we will not be accepting work past this date.  

Weekly Update for week of March 20th

Welcome back!  Here is what is happening this week:

*Don't forget that we have field trips scheduled on Tuesday and Thursday!

Johnson: Reading - We are working on text structure this week and will be starting our next novel, James and the Giant Peach, on Wednesday!

Derry: Reading- We are beginning to read James and the Giant Peach. Mrs. Derry's class has a booklet that they will be working in the next 9 weeks. This packet will be in their red folder or binder. All assignments will be put in this book. Our class will pick a Roald Dahl book to read on their own time. We are also doing an in-class activity. The book selection has to be made by  this Friday and approved by Mrs. Derry. Mrs. Derry's class will be going to the Library on Monday to check out the book. Mrs. Fortson's class will be going on Wednesday. Of course they are always able to go to the local library in their own time.  This is part of their reading grade and is not an option. They have 9 weeks to read the book. This will help promote reading at home and will also count as a reading homework grade. 

Johnson: ELA - We will work on prepositions this week. Week 16 Root test is this Friday.

Writing: Derry-The students will be grading and correcting a writing piece they have already completed.

Social Studies: Derry-We are discussing the War of 1812, Trail of Tears. The students will be also dissecting the National Anthem and why its important to our country.

Math:  All math teachers will continue with Module 6 lessons 4-6 this week. Our focus is decimals to the hundredths place.  We will use tape diagrams and area models to model decimal equivalence.  The blog link for module 6 is not currently working.  We would suggest simply searching for "Engage NY module 6 resources" and we know that there are many great ones out there! Please check your child's agenda nightly for assigned homework.  

Chaperone Update for MUSE trip

Parents-  a letter went home last week explaining that we are limited on the number of chaperones we are able to accommodate on this field trip. Due to this, we have asked any parent who wanted to be considered to let the homeroom teacher know by today.  We will only be able to pick two parents to help this time. We will do this by a drawing if necessary.  Please remember that we have one more field trip to the Smokies Baseball game in May and this trip allows us to take more parents.  We appreciate your willingness to be flexible and understanding.  Your child's teacher will let you know if you are chosen to be a chaperone for the upcoming MUSE trip.  Thanks!