August 28

Quick Curriculum Notes

Evaluate How Authors Create Meaning and Create Meaning Strategically in Reading & Writing

• This week, we are focusing on the reading strategy of visualizing. Good readers are able to picture in their heads what is happening in the story. As your child reads at home this week, ask your child to tell you what he/she visualized while reading. 

• In writing, we are learning how to write complex and compound sentences with correct punctuation. Students will also learn a new plan that will help them to write better paragraphs. 

Create a Process to Solve a Problem and Demonstrate the Process of Inquiry

• In health, students will learn more about how exercise keeps their bodies healthy, dental health, and hearing. 

• In math, students will finish up chapter one (place value concepts) and apply these concepts to real-world situations as they try to solve problems though inquiry. 

DLT

For thirty minutes every day, we have differentiated learning time. Based on assessments, I've identified areas in which your child needs further challenge or extra practice. Each day, your child's learning is personalized to your child's needs. This week, our DLT gets into full swing. Students will be working in groups with me, Mrs. Surritte, Mr. Martin, Mrs. Maslanik, Mrs. Messana, and/or a parent volunteer based on this personalized learning plan. (These groups are focused on reading, writing, and math.) If students are not working in a group that day, they will be working on a computer program that helps them to improve their language and vocabulary skills (which is based on their individual level). 

Field Trip
To kick off our next big unit, we will be headed to the Denver Zoo on Friday, September 11th. If you would like to chaperone, please email me. To register your child for this field trip, please follow these directions:
FIELD TRIP LINK:
https://dcsdk12.revtrak.net/tek9.asp?pg=prairiecrossES

1) Click on "Registration"

2) Click on "Field Trips"

3) Find "PCE - Denver Zoo Registration" - underneath that, you'll see all 4th grade teacher names...click on correct teacher 

4) Then in the right box click "Register for this class" and then you either login or set up a new account.

If you have questions/problems with the online registration/payment, please contact: RegWorks directly at 1-888-848-2194 or Kathy in our office at 303-387-8200.

Homework Corner

• By now, your child should have completed at least one book at home as part of the 20 Book Challenge.
• This week's spelling words are harder than the last two weeks, so your child may need to practice a little bit each night at home.
• Keep practicing those math facts. Xtra Math, Moby Max, and Front Row (Fact Practice) are all websites your child can use to improve their fact fluency. 1s, 2s, 5s, and 9s should be mastered by Labor Day. 
• When your child passes all of his/her math facts, I reward them with their own bag of popcorn right then. They get to brag, and stink up our classroom to make us all jealous, that they've "popped through their multiplication facts". I've already used my current popcorn supply (This is a good problem to have!); so if you can donate some individual-sized bags of microwave popcorn, we'd greatly appreciate it! 
• Your child can also login to his/her Ten Marks account at home (same username and password that your child uses to login to their email) to do some Jam Sessions or complete work that was not finished in class. 

Book Orders

This month's Scholastic Reading Club flyer is ready for you to explore with your child and was in this week's Thursday Folders, which were sent home on Friday this week. This month's book orders will be due Friday, September 11th. Children read more when they choose their own books, so I encourage you to look at the flyer together. Each flyer is filled with grade-specific, affordable titles.  Books make wonderful gifts! Please let me know if your order includes a gift, and I will contact you when it arrives. Remember, for every book you order, our class earns FREE Books and supplies.
Ordering online is fast and easy and provides more choices beyond what you see in the flyer. 

•  VISIT scholastic.com/readingclub
•  ENTER the one-time Class Activation Code MHWJW
•  SHOP from a carefully curated selection of the best books and value packs
•  SUBMIT your order and earn FREE Books for our classroom
•  All book orders will be shipped to our classroom so we can celebrate the joy of reading together!