4th Grade

Jeffers Journal

Week of February 10^th – February 14th

“Let your heart be your compass this week!” 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:

February 10^th – February 14^th: I-Ready Math Diagnostic

February 14^th: Happy Valentine’s Day-Valentine’s Day Party

February 17^th: President’s Day

February 17^th– February 21^st: February Vacation-No School or CASE

February 24^th: Mass with Father Ennis @ 8:50AM

February 24^th: Happy 100^th Day of School

February 28^th: Read Across America Day

March 2^nd: Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!

March 5^th: Ash Wednesday

March 7^th: A Knight Out Event

March 14^th: Happy PI Day!

March 14^th: Penny War Fundraiser

March 17^th: Happy St. Patrick’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. To begin the week, we will review the factors for different numbers. What are factors? They will also apply the problem solving strategy of repeated reasoning to word problems. Next, they will learn the difference between prime and composite numbers.  Then they will learn about multiples.  They will review what they learned throughout the topic in preparation for the test on Friday, February 14^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, and the different kinds of sentences. We will continue exploring verbs this week as we learn about how to use helping verbs and also the progressive forms of verbs. The past, present, and future verb tenses all have a progressive form which shows an action is ongoing.
   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. Social Studies: The next chapter focuses on the government and economy of New York.  In the first lesson we will learn about how the government was formed.  How did each state create its own government?  What challenges did New York face in its early years as a state? The second lesson is about the economy of the New State. What is an economy?  When we return from February vacation we will begin learning about the settlers who were coming to New York, new ways to travel and also how New York begins to grow and change.
4. Religion: To begin the week, students will demonstrate what they have learned in the Chapter 9, The Holy Spirit Guides Us, by completing the chapter test. The theme of Chapter 10 is Confirmed in the Spirit.  When has the Holy Spirit been present in your life? What is the Sacrament of Confirmation? When can you receive the Sacrament? Is there a link between the sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation?
5. 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 email.
6. Monday of the 7^th Week in Ordinary Time Mass: Our next Mass with Father Ennis will be held on Monday, February 24th 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.
7. 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 next day to bring in pennies and/or bills is Friday, February 14^th!!! Start collecting your change and help our class win a prize!