4th Grade

Jeffers Journal

Week of April 21st – April 25th

Happy Easter! May the risen Christ bring you and your loved ones plentiful joy! Are you ready to board the learning train for another week of excitement and adventure? Please come to school each day with an open mind, positive “I can” attitude, a friendly smile, and eager to be a member of our team! 

Important Dates to Remember:

April 20^th-Happy Easter

April 21^st: Easter Recess-No School or CASE

April 23^rd: New York State English Language Arts Test

April 23^rd: Happy Administrative Professional’s Day-Thank You Mrs. Diehl!

April 24^th: New York State English Language Arts Test

April 28^th: Second Week of Easter Mass with Father Ennis @ 8:50AM

May 5^th – May 9^th: Teacher Appreciation Week

May 5^th: Third Week of Easter Mass with Father Ennis @ 8:50AM

May 7^th: New York State Math Test

May 8^th: New York State Math Test & Annie Kids Production

May 9^th: Penny War Fundraiser and Annie Kids Production

May 11^th: Happy Mother’s Day

Here’s a breakdown of our learning:

1. Math: Its important children learn math facts for addition/subtraction and multiplication/division with the goal of automatic recall. This week, we are going to learn about Fractions and decimals. The key vocabulary words are: numerator, denominator, and equivalent fractions.  In the first lesson students will explore fractions and decimals with denominators of 10 and 100.  How are fractions and decimals with denominators of 10 and 100 related?  Next, students will locate fractions and decimals on a number line.  The next lesson explores comparing decimals. To end the week, they will add fractions with denominators of 10 and 100. We will continue to review line plots throughout the week in addition to other math concepts in preparation for the New York State Math Test on May 7^th and May 8^th.  Each day the students will complete an Exit ticket as a way to check their understanding of the lesson. It is a great way for me to check and see who is ready for the next lesson and who could use a re-teach of the material. We will also play different Math games to review previously learned concepts and skills. Students will also continue to work on their independent lessons in I-Ready Math each day. This is a great way to practice their skills.
2. English Language Arts:
   1. Grammar: Students will learn how to proofread their writing for subject-verb agreement, capital letters, and punctuation using the proofreading symbols.  We will continue to review complete subject, complete predicate, simple subject, simple predicate, different kinds of sentences, verbs, and adverbs. What is a preposition?  Can you identify a prepositional phrase? Could a sentence have more than one prepositional phrase?  What is a pronoun?  What is the purpose of a subject pronoun? Do subject pronouns and verbs need to agree in sentences?
   2. Vocabulary: Each week students have 12 new vocabulary words and complete different activities each day (sentence completion, synonym/antonym, matching, word meaning, and context clues).
   3. Reading: An important skill we will be practicing is reading articles or passages and answering comprehension questions.
   4. Spelling:  Each week the students will be given a list of words that contain a certain spelling pattern. They will complete activities each day using the words. They will also learn some commonly misspelled words and mnemonic devices to help them remember how to spell them.
3. Science: Our next Science unit is about Sound. How far can a whisper travel? What is the connection between sound and vibrations? Do you think it is possible to scream in outer space? How does sound move through the air? Did you know that sound is a wave?  Some sounds are high, while other sounds are low. The Sound Unit test will be on Monday, May 5^th.
4. Religion: The theme of Chapter 15 is Sin and Conscience. How do you forgive someone who has done something that hurts you? Is it easy to forgive someone? What is a conscience? What is the purpose of the Seventh through the Tenth commandments? How can you make good moral decisions?
5. New York State English Language Arts Test: The New York State English Language Arts Test will be given on Wednesday, April 23^rd and Thursday April 24^th in the morning. On Wednesday morning, students will read passages and answer 23 multiple choice questions and two short answer questions. On Thursday morning, students will answer about 7 multiple choice questions, a few short answer questions, and one extended response question.
6. Google Classroom: Students have been using my Google Classroom to complete assignments and quizzes in English/Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies. Please check with your son/daughter to show you what they have been doing.  If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to send me an emai
7. Monday of the Second Week of Easter Mass: Our next Mass with Father Ennis will be held on Monday, April 28^th at 8:50. Students will have the opportunity to volunteer to be an altar server and/or a lector for future Masses. If your child signs up to be a lector, he/she will receive their reading in advance to have time to practice both in school and at home.
8. Annie Kids Production: Come and see the St. Jude the Apostle School Drama Club production of Annie Kids on Thursday, May 8^th and Friday 9^th! The students have been working very hard and are excited to share it with everyone!
9. Penny War Fundraiser: We will have a jar to drop pennies or bills in for positive points! The class with the most positive points wins a prize! The last day to bring in pennies and/or bills is Friday, May 9th!!! Start collecting your change and help our class win a prize!