Announcements:
Have a happy spring break! We will be going on a field trip to Greenfield Village this year, and the cost will be $22. Transportation is expensive this year! You'll get a note home about in on April 14th. Reading: Stories are made of story elements, specifically plot, characters, and setting. We went through all sorts of books looking for those this week. Writing: The kids put a lot of pencil lead onto paper this week, we are writing rough drafts of our opinion papers. Math: Believe it or not, WE DID IT! We got through all of 4th grade math before spring break, and we'll be ready to start reviewing when we get back. Social Studies: We spent this week focusing on two main things: Geography in the form of games online (the kids showed me that they needed practice with things like states and capitals after the Geography Bee) and the automotive industry and its impact on Michigan in Studies Weekly. We did not have a test this week and we will not have one next Friday either. Science: Mrs. Charlebois did a whole lot of measurement math this week, and the kids did a great job. Announcements:
Congratulations to the overall Geography Bee winner, Mitchell! Way to go! On Wednesday we had an OK2SAY presentation this week where the kids learned about the program, which is an app or phone number that they can use to report anything that seems unsafe. We will not have a social studies quiz next Friday because it's a half day and the day before Spring Break. Reading: Every story has a narrator, and there are different types of narrators. We looked at the difference between first and third person narrators. Writing: We've finished the planning of our five paragraph essay today, and we'll start doing the rough draft next week. Math: We broke out the protractors this week! The kids have done a great job working with angles and we did a little quiz today. Social Studies: The United States is a huge country, and there are many different regions that are all very unique. We spent this week looking at what they are and what they are like. Science: The kids had a great week with Mrs. Charlebois doing "Ketchup Math" (because we have to catch up, dad jokes.) They've been doing area and perimeter this week, and they've been doing well. Announcements:
Little Inventors is over now, so be sure to ask your student what his or her invention was, and cross your fingers that they'll be chosen to win the contest and have their invention come to life! Because of all the missed days this year, we are a little behind in math. In order to catch up, we're pausing science for a few week to make sure we cover all of math. To make this extra math time a little easier to swallow, Mrs. Charlebois and I are switching classes for an hour a day for math time. They'll still have regular math with me, but they'll do the catch-up math with Mrs. Charlebois. We plan everything together and do everything the same way every day, so it won't be too much of a shift. Reading: We continued working on theme this week, but the kids enjoyed it. We use picture books because they often have very clear and defined themes, although even then it can be quite tricky. If have have time this weekend, read a picture book or two with your student and see if he or she can find the theme. Have them look out for the actions, emotions, or lessons that appear again and again in the book. Writing: We're still working on the five paragraph essay, but we're still in the planning stage. It's the most important part, but the most often overlooked. Math: We're measuring angles now! The kids are doing a great job understanding degrees and angles, and next week we break out the protractors. Social Studies: What is culture? It's the things that are normal to a group of people. We learned about all the different parts of culture tonight and the kids got a chance to talk about all the things that are a part of their culture and the culture of Richmond, Michigan, and the United States. Science: Like I said above, science this week was finishing Little Inventors, and then we started switching to do some catch up math. The kids worked on line plots with Ms. Charlebois, which is a way to track information. Announcements:
The geography bee was a great success, the class had a lot of fun! Reading: We have moved on to one of the toughest reading ideas for a fourth grader to wrap their head around: theme! What is a book about? What is the difference between theme and plot? We'll be investigating for the next couple of weeks. Writing: The kids have finished researching and are just about ready to start writing their big five paragraph opinion essay. Be warned: when my daughter learned to write these she used them all the time to try and convince me of things, and now we have a trampoline. Math: Fractions are over for good now, and the class blew the test out of the water, wow! That test should be in the Friday Folder. We are doing a quick detour into decimals and then it's on to measurement next week. Social Studies: We did the geography bee this week! Science: We had just a little bit of time to come up with inventions that can save energy, but for the most part the half days meant no science. Announcements:
We finally had a full week, and it was great! Thanks to everyone who is participating in March is Reading Month, if you need a new copy of the activities, please let me know. Reading: We spent another week on reading and picking apart people's opinions to find their reasons and evidence. They have become pretty good at it! Writing: A new big project is upon us! We are writing our own opinion pieces by looking up evidence and putting it into a five paragraph essay. Math: Fractions are over! We started reviewing this week, and there will be a test on Tuesday. Social Studies: The history of Michigan starts with the early American Indians who were here before the first European explorers, and continues to this day! We took a look at the different groups who have lived here and what life was like for them. Science: Travel creates a lot of pollution, so the class spent this week coming up with new and fun ways to move around. From flying cars to floating bubbles and underground tubes, the kids had all sorts of neat ideas. We're getting closer and closer to the final Little Inventors invention! |
Old Newsletters
June 2023
Non-Discrimination Statement
In compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education amendments of 1972, Section 504 of Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, Title II of the Americans with Disability Act of 1990, and Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act of 1977, it is the policy of the Richmond Community School District that no person shall, on the basis of race, color, religion, military status, national origin or ancestry, sex (including sexual orientation), disability, age (except as authorized by law), height, weight, or marital status be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to, discrimination during any program, activity, service or employment. Inquiries related to any nondiscrimination policies should be directed to the Superintendent, 35276 Division Road, Richmond, MI 48062, (586) 727-3565. |