Hello Parents!
I feel like I begin every newsletter telling you how busy we have been but...we've been so busy!!
We started our fraction unit in math. I was pleased to find so many students that remember fraction concepts from third grade. BIG shout out to those third grade teachers!
Our unit on fractions will continue for several more weeks. You may have noticed that I have not been sending fraction concepts home for home yet. That is because I have realized that students really need to review some things that were taught at the beginning of the school year. This week's homework was focused on rounding and solving word problems that involve rounding. Thank you for continuing to give awesome support at home!
This week we also practiced applying ideas surrounding cause and effect. I noticed that this was a concept that has popped up on many students' Lexia reports as something that needs reteaching. We started the week by reading a nonfiction passage about endangered frogs in Equador, we listened to a fabulous story called Pink and Say by Patricia Pollaco (see video) , and by the end of the week we will discuss cause and effect in a folktale. All of your child's reading homework has been centered around this skill. The students have done a great job with their thinking and I know this review has helped.
We are still learning about Native American tribes specifically the Cherokee. This week we read a passage about a man named Sequoyah. He was part Cherokee and part English. He developed a written alphabet for the Cherokee tribe that was based on syllables. So.... he saw that his people didn't have a way to preserve their culture in writing and he made a way. Talk about being PROACTIVE!
Next Thursday we will change classes for science.
This week we talked about being drivers and flat tires. The students made a list of flat tire behaviors (flat tires won't get you far) and driver behaviors (pedal to the metal). It was a great conversation and the analogy is one that would be easy to transfer to a home situation!
Thank you for helping your child to keep up with their homework and behavior charts. I appreciate you taking the time to sign the charts every night.
Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Lemus
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