Dear Parents, Test week is here and your students are ready! Make sure they are getting good sleep and a good breakfast every day. We will not have homework on Tuesday or Wednesday to make this easier. As most of you doubtless know, this will be my last year as a teacher at Archway Trivium East. Thank you so much for being a part of my time here! You are amazing parents and have amazing kids, I can't wait to see what they accomplish. This Week...Spalding - A Victorious Return We are returning to our studies in Spalding starting this week. We will be gently easing our scholars back into the world of Spalding this week by classwork only. We will resume Spalding homework next week. History - Condition of the Human Spirit This week near closer to the end of our study of the American Revolution. We will be learning the value of success in battle in reference to the human condition. The start of the war was difficult for the Americans but as they gathered more and more minor victories they were able to accomplish greater things. Science - Final Exam Now that the AIMS test is past, we will be focusing more on history. We will wrap up this year’s science with a final on Friday that will cover much of what we have been going over the past few weeks. Math - It’s the same on the Left as the Right As we travel farther down the path of lines and shapes; our scholars will begin to understand the concept of symmetry in Geometry. They will also work through a Review for their Unit 8 Test on Friday. Literature - The Princess and the Goblin In Literature,we continue reading The Princess and the Goblin. We will explore what happens to Curdie as he ventures deep into the realm of the goblins. Lyceum - AzMerit Math Review As we finally approach the date for our AzMerit for Math we will take time on Monday and Tuesday to review previous practice math tests to help support our scholars the best that we can. Language Arts - AzMerit Reading Review In language arts this week, Scholars will focus on the Declaration of Independence in a few intense close reads designed to enlighten and deepen the scholars grasp of the enormity and grandeur of this historic document. Upcoming AssessmentsMonday, April 16th ~ None Tuesday, April 17th ~ History Reading Quiz (open reading) Wednesday, April 18th ~ AzMerit Reading I & Math I Thursday, April 19th ~ AzMerit Reading II & Math II Friday, April 20th ~ Science Final Exam, Math Unit 8 Test Upcoming EventsUpcoming Events
Monday, April 23 ~ History End of Unit Exam Thursday, May 10 ~ Music Concert King of Kings Church Friday, May 11 ~ Arts Walk May 18 & 19 ~ Drama Club’s Production of Annie Thursday, May 24 ~ Last Day of School Dear Parents, AZMerit testing is here, and your students may be feeling some stress at the moment, however they have no reason to fear. Remind them that they have been preparing for this test all year, and that no matter how they do, no test is a measure of their true value. Make sure they get good sleep, a good breakfast, and good encouragement! When we finish tests next week, I highly encourage taking them out and celebrating their efforts. They have earned it! This Week...History - Preparing for War We are very excited to get back to our History Curriculum. We return to the Second Continental Congress petitioning the King all while creating their own Continental Army. Scholars will also understand the importance of the pamphlet written by Thomas Paine known as “Common Sense” in conjunction with the creation of the Declaration of Independence. Science - AIMS This week we will be taking the AIMS science test! We have been working hard up to this point! Your students will take a practice test on Monday and the AIMS exam on Wednesday. Math - What’s in a line? We are quickly learning so many different things about lines and shapes this week. Scholars already learned the basic concept of what constitutes perpendicular lines last week. This week we travel through parallel lines and learn about how those lines begin to create shapes. Literature - The Princess and the Goblin In Literature,we continue reading The Princess and the Goblin. We will explore what happens to Curdie and the Realm of the Miners. Lyceum - The Beauty of the Fraction This week in Lyceum will continue reviewing multiplying and dividing mixed numbers. Scholars will still benefit by their daily review of their math facts in all mathematical facts. Help your scholars by having them review their math fact flash cards. Language Arts - AzMerit Writing Practice Test In language arts this week, Scholars will have their AzMerit Writing test. Please make sure that scholars receive a good night's rest and bring headphones/earbuds to school. Upcoming AssessmentsMonday, April 9th ~ AzMerit Practice Reading Tuesday, April 10 ~ AzMerit Writing test Wednesday, April 11 ~ Science AIMS test Thursday, April 12th ~ Math Quiz Perpendicular and Parallel Lines Friday, April 13th ~ AzMerit Practice Math Upcoming EventsWednesday, April 18 ~ AzMerit Reading/Math
Thursday, April 19 ~ AzMerit Reading/Math Friday, April 20~ Half-Day Dismissal 12:00 pm Thursday, May 10 ~ Music Concert King of Kings Church Friday, May 11 ~ Arts Walk May 18 & 19 ~ Drama Club’s Production of Annie Thursday, May 24 ~ Last Day of School Dear Parents, There are only 4 days this week but we have a lot of big lessons, from AZMerit prep to the beginning of our geometry unit. Keep encouraging your kids and make sure you are asking if they feel lost or confused in class. If they are, tell them to feel confident to speak up! Also remember that next week is our field trip to the Arizona State Capitol Museum. Your student must have their field trip permission form in by Thursday (the 29th). This Week...Science - Water and Erosion In Science scholars will learn about the how water affects the world around us. We will learn about the water table that exists under our feet (further down in Phoenix than in other places…) and about how water erodes and shapes the landscape from the smallest hill to the Grand Canyon! Math - Farewell Decimals, Hello Angles We will see the end of our experience with decimals this week. We will have a Unit 7 Test on Tuesday, March 27. We will then begin our learning experience with Geometry. Scholars will explore points, lines, and angles this week. It would still be very helpful for you child to focus on all math facts. Literature - The Princess and the Goblin In Literature, on Tuesday we begin reading The Princess and the Goblin. We will continue our journey into George MacDonald’s wonderful world. We will be following her as she explores her country home. Lyceum - The Beauty of the Fraction We will finish this short week in Lyceum by reviewing adding and subtracting mixed numbers as well as the multiplying fractions. Scholars will still benefit by their daily review of their math facts in all mathematical facts. Language Arts - Writing Week In language arts this week, students will continue their study of grammar through a new week of fix-it grammar sentences. Students will also begin the construction of their persuasive essay They will begin by creating a keyword outline and then from that a rough draft and spend the rest of the week editing and rewriting their draft to form a complete five-paragraph essay.
Dear Parents, We are finally in the 4th quarter. We have had our ups and downs (that third quarter is always rough!) but we are closing in on the finish long and have to buckle down to finish strong. This is a very busy quarter, full of tests and labs and essays...but each of us has the ability to challenge ourselves and succeed. Keep it up encouraging your students to do their best! Each of you is doing an amazing job, and I see the fruits of your labor every day in class. This Week...Science - Meteorology In Science scholars will learn about the four different layers of the atmosphere, how clouds are formed and the water cycle. We will solidify this learning with three experiments throughout the week and a quiz on Thursday. Please ask your scholar what wonderful new things they learned about in Science this week. Math - Dividing a Decimal As we come to the end of our experience and practice with decimals students will be learning the necessary skill of dividing decimals and the power of estimation in division of the decimals. Please have your scholar focus on studying their multiplication and division math facts. Literature - The Princess and the Goblin In Literature, on Tuesday we begin reading The Princess and the Goblin. We will begin our journey into George MacDonald’s wonderful world. We will be introduced to the charming princess and the begin the investigation into the mysteries surrounding her heritage. Looking ahead, in the following week on Tuesday, March 27 we will have a reading quiz on the first four chapters. Lyceum - The Beauty of the Fraction As we continue with our studies in Lyceum our scholars are revisiting the recent concept of fractions. This is a great opportunity for our students to freshen up on this aspect of Math as well as get clarification on anything they are not sure about. Language Arts - Writing Week In language arts this week, students will continue their study of grammar through diagramming their fix-it grammar sentences. Students will also be continuing the construction of their essay on courage. They will begin by reviewing their rough draft from the week before break and spend the week editing and rewriting their draft to form a complete five-paragraph essay. Poetry - Paul Revere’s Ride This week we will be reciting Paul Revere’s Ride on Thursday and Friday. Upcoming AssessmentsMonday, March 19th- Tuesday, March 20th- Wednesday, March 21st- AZMerit Practice Test Thursday, March 22nd ~ Recitation of Paul Revere’s Ride, Meteorology Quiz Friday, March 23rd~ Recitation of Paul Revere’s Ride, AZMerit Practice Test Monday, March 24th- Tuesday, March 25th- Literature Quiz on chapters 1-4 Field TripOur field trip to the Arizona State Capitol is coming up on April 4th! Permission forms are coming out tomorrow so make sure you sign them and send your student in with 10 dollars so they can go. If you are interested in being a chaperone for the field trip, please email me to confirm your availability and that you have been fingerprinted.
Dear Parents, This is the last week of our third quarter. Ahead of us lies a much deserved break, and then the final push to finish out the year as fourth graders. Each of your students has grown tremendously over the past three quarters, and each has a lot of learning to do yet. Continue to encourage and support your students as they keep growing as both scholars and men and women of virtue. This Week...Science - Natural Disasters In Science we will be exploring the causes and consequences of several natural disasters this week. From earthquakes and tsunamis to hurricanes and tornadoes, human civilization must live with the reality of natural disasters of massive scale. We will focus on understanding the causes of these disasters from the perspective of physics, and discuss what can be done to mitigate the damage caused by them. There will be a quiz on Thursday reviewing what we have learned. Math - The Wonderful World of Multiplication Decimals have been a powerful tool that our students have been given to put into their Mathematics Toolbox. Learning how to add and subtract decimals has been quite an adventure for our clsses Literature - Carry on, Mr. Bowditch In Literature, on tuesday we will have quiz on the chapters 21-22. We are continuing to read the story of Nat in Carry on, Mr. Bowditch. In this week we will finish the melancholy story of Nathaniel Bowditch. In this weeks chapters we will witness Nat gain a masters of arts and Harvard and remarry. On Friday of this week we will have a seminar on the book as a whole. We will begin fourth quarter with The Princess and the Goblin. Lyceum - Arrays and Area Models We are moving deeper into the concepts and the vocabulary of Division. Students have explored the term partial quotient to learn how to break down a division problem. In addition, looking at the use the divisor to regroup the dividend into the quotient. You can assist in your scholars preparation by having them review their Multiplication and Division Math Facts. Language Arts - Writing Week In language arts this week, students will continue their study of grammar through the daily use of fix-it grammar. Students will also be working on the construction of a keyword outline from three sources, all three concern the virtue of courage. The first is drawn from a passage of The Book of Virtues, the second is one of Aesop’s Fables entitled, The Hunter and the Woodsman and the third is the seventh chapter of Wizard of Oz. From these passages scholars will create a keyword outline, which they will use to write five-paragraph essay. Poetry - Paul Revere’s Ride This week we will be focusing on practicing stanzas the entire poem as we move toward reciting the poem in the week following break. Upcoming AssessmentsAssessments Monday, March 5th- Tuesday, March 6th- Literature Quiz on chapters 21-22 Wednesday, March 7th- Thursday, March 8th~ Seminar on Carry on Mr. Bowditch Science Quiz on Unit measurement Lyceum Assessment (not for a grade) Friday, March 9th~ NO SCHOOL SPRING BREAK Curriculum Message: ScienceOver the course of the year we have worked to invest in our scholar’s scientific understanding through intensive units like the circulatory system. In the month of March, we will be working through another intensive science unit as we study geology. We are excited to explore with our scholars the wonder of the earth and look forward to all we will learn together through that exploration.
Homework through March will consistent of mathematics, science, literature, and writing/grammar, to include some literary and historical writing assignments. Dear Parents, This week the conflict that has been brewing between the American colonists and the English parliament will finally explode into full scale conflict. We will see both sides take action that will lead to bloodshed, and the consequences of such action spilling over into the every day lives of American colonists. Keep track of what your students are picking up in class and see if they can teach you anything new about the story of our nation's birth. This Week...Spalding - Word Section T As we continue forward in Word Section T we will come across a phonogram that we rarely ever come in contact with, (cu). We will be reviewing the word “biscuit.” This will be a fun time for some and a confusing time for others. Monday and Tuesday the scholars will have 11 words for homework but it will balance out with 8 words on Wednesday. Science - The Metric System In science we will be practicing converting between metric and customary units on Monday, and on Friday we will be putting our practice into action as we get into the lab and measure out cornstarch and water to make Ooblek! We will have an assessment on unit measurements next Monday. History - The American Revolution: The War Begins Learning about the Boston Tea Party our scholars explored why the colonists chose to dump the tea overboard instead of keeping it for themselves. As we continue on our journey, scholars will be assessed on the key players, events, and places in which they have learned about thus far. This will be a comprehensive test of what they have learned this quarter so please remind them to review their notes in their History Journal. Please help your scholar get more familiar with the 13 Original Colonies. Here is a link to a simple song to help them remember. It is sung to the tune of Yankee Doodle. 13 Colonies Song. The labeling of the 13 colonies will be on their Test on Thursday. The map they will be tested off of is actually glued into their History Journal. Math - Subtracting, Estimating, and Word Problems Last week we had intended to have a Quiz on Wednesday, but we rescheduled this examine. We thought that it was in the best interest of the scholars to keep the concepts of Adding and Subtracting decimals together. This week before we transition into Multiplying and Dividing decimals we will be assessing the comprehension of our students on Thursday. Literature - Carry on, Mr. Bowditch In Literature, we will begin this week with a quiz on the chapters 11-17. We are continuing to read the story of Nat in Carry on, Mr. Bowditch. In this week we will watch Nat as he takes on the challenge of losing his wife and dealing with the beginning of a war with France. On Friday of this week we will have a seminar on the chapters 1-20. With special focus on the chapters 11-20. Lyceum - Arrays and Area Models As we slowly move toward our goal of solidifying necessary Math skills we begin to review major concepts in Multiplication and Division. We will not only be reviewing vital vocabulary but tips for multiplying large numbers. You can assist in your scholars preparation by having them review their Multiplication and Division Math Facts. Language Arts - Writing Week In language arts this week, students will continue their study of grammar through the daily use of fix-it grammar. Students will also be working on the construction of a keyword outline from two sources, both concern the Battle of Lexington and the events immediately preceding it. This event is considered by many to be the true beginning to the American Revolution. From this passage scholars will create a keyword outline, which they will use to write five-paragraph essay, which they will begin to type in class with any portion that is not finished in class being sent home for homework on Friday. Poetry - Paul Revere’s Ride This week we will be focusing on practicing stanzas 1 - 10 as we move toward reciting the poem in the week following break. Upcoming Assessments...Monday, February 26th~ Literature Reading Quiz on chapters 11-17
Tuesday, February 27th~ None Wednesday, February 28th~ None Thursday, March 1st~ Math Quiz (Adding and Subtracting Decimals) and History Mid-Unit Assessment Friday, March 2nd~ Spelling Test and Literature Seminar on chapters 11-20. Monday, March 5th-Science Quiz on Unit measurement. Dear Parents, As we head into the final few weeks of the third quarter we are getting into some exciting content. The American Revolution is brewing, we are adding and subtracting three place decimals, and we get to explore the metric system of measurement. Make sure you are continually asking your students about what they are learning in class. Turning them into teachers will always make them better students. This Week:Spalding - Word Section T We continue on in our learning fully engrossed in brilliant words such as “accept,” “except,” “impossible,” and “decision.” Please be sure to help them by work through their Spalding daily. Science - The Metric System In Science, our week will be short, unfortunately, as we do science on Mondays and Thursdays. We will be introducing the metric system and prepping to learn how to convert measurements between it and the customary system. Be sure to ask your students which system of measurement they like better and why! History - The American Revolution History has been quite an exciting time for all of us in 4th grade. Students have personally felt the frustration of the Proclamation of 1763 and the agony of the Stamp Act. As we continue on our journey this week of the “birth” of the United States, students will be learning about the Boston Tea Party and the repercussions that came with their physical disapproval of the Tea Act. Please help your scholar get more familiar with the 13 Original Colonies. Here is a link to a simple song to help them remember. It is sung to the tune of Yankee Doodle. 13 Colonies Song. Math - Lining Up Decimal Place Values In Mathematics we will be taking a quiz on Wednesday on adding up to three place decimals. The key here is to remind students that WHENEVER we are adding, we must add numbers to the same place value. They can do this mentally by adding tenths to tenths and hundredths to hundredths, or simply use the tried and true vertical algorithm that we all know and love. In the latter half of the week, we will be diving into subtracting decimals, which will deal with applying a lot of the same principles. Literature - Carry on, Mr. Bowditch In Literature, we are continuing to read the story of Nat in Carry on, Mr. Bowditch. In chapter 11 we will begin to watch Nat grow as he takes on the challenge of sailing on a ship and commanding a watch. We also begin to witness his relationship with Elizabeth begin to blossom. Be sure to discuss the readings with your scholars as the week progresses. Our next seminar will be the following week. Lyceum - Long-Term Goals Lyceum is a beautiful section of our day. Not only do we get to interact with different scholars from different classrooms, but we get to get strong in some of the fundamental aspects of Mathematics as well as enter the world of The Wizard of Oz. This is a valuable portion of our day. This week we are looking at Multiplication and Division with Open Responses. Language Arts - Writing Week In language arts this week, students will be working on the construction of a keyword outline from a passage concerning the Boston Tea Party, which occurred prior to the American Revolution in 1773. From this keyword outline, scholars will begin to develop a five-paragraph essay, which they will begin to type in class with any portion that is not finished in class being sent home for homework on Friday. Poetry - Paul Revere’s Ride This week we will be focusing on practicing stanzas 1 - 8. Upcoming Assessments:Monday, February 19th~ No School Presidents Day
Tuesday, February 20th~ Wednesday, February 21st~ Math Quiz Thursday, February 22nd~ Lyceum Assessment (not for a grade) Friday, February 23rd~ Spelling Test Dear Parents, A new year and a new semester bring your scholars closer to being fifth graders than third graders. This second semester is going to be a time of growing up and getting ready to be the leaders of the schools. It won't be an easy semester, but it will be full of valuable lessons and lots of joy. Keep encouraging your students to do their best and love the learning! This WeekIn English Language Arts we are continuing our work outlining and summarizing short passages. It is starting to become routine for your students, which is great! Something you can start to try is having them quickly summarize the plot of a movie or a book you are enjoying together. Get the skill of summarization ingrained into their heads and life will be that much easier when they start having to write larger book reports and papers in the coming years. In History we are exploring the earliest days of the American colonists as they explore a world completely new to them. We will learn how the average colonist boy and girl lived their lives, and the struggles colonists faced. In Science we are learning about the layers of our Earth! This is a great unit to get your students thinking about things they can't see. The vast majority of our planet is made up of layers we never see, but that have huge effects on our daily lives. Get them to reflect on this and they will start pondering how other unseen forces can affect us. In Mathematics we are studying decimals, which your students are well prepared for by their work in fractions. Give them fractions with denominators of ten or a hundred and challenge them to convert them into decimals! The more familiar students become with the relationship between decimals and fractions, the easier it will be for them to work with decimals by themselves. Upcoming AssessmentsFriday (26th)
1) Spelling Test 2) Math Quiz on tenths and hundredths Next Wednesday (31st) 1) Test on decimals in general. (Includes a review on multiplying fractions) Dear Parents, It is sort of insane that a full semester of 4th grade has flown by so fast, and now it is almost Christmas break! Your students are well deserving of the two weeks they will get to just enjoy the season, but we have one more week to get through, including finals! Keep encouraging them to hang in there and do their best. The 25th is just 15 days away! This WeekIn Spalding we will keep doing words in list R. Be sure that you, or an older sibling, are dictating the words to the students and that they are not copying. Copying the Spalding words will not help your students become a good writer or speller in the long run. In ELA we are gearing up for our final this Friday! Your students will be expected to do a keyword outline on a short story and identify different parts of speech. Remind them that they have done outlines before and to simply focus on the framework they have been given, all the answers will be right in front of them in the story! Also make sure they are reviewing grammar concepts such as nouns, pronouns, and adjectives. In Math we are reviewing reviewing reviewing! We have a Singapore data assessment on Tuesday and Wednesday (not for a grade) and review on Thursday. Students should come home and tell you about the concepts in math they have learned this quarter and show you how they work. Teaching is always the best form of learning! We are putting our play on this Friday! The production is scheduled to begin at 10:10 and will be open to parents! Make sure you get here early if you want good seats! In Science and History we will be reviewing all week! Ask your students what they are learning. Their Project Week assignment will deal directly with the human circulatory system, so don't let them forget all about it over the break! Upcoming Assessments1) Friday Spelling test (Friday 15th)
2) ELA Final (Friday 15th) 3) Science Final (Monday 18th) 4) History Final (Tuesday 19th) 5) Math Final (Wednesday 20th) Dear Parents, Thanksgiving is past and it is finally socially acceptable to start quietly humming Christmas songs. It also means we are coming to the end of our quarter, but we have a lot of learning left to do. As we close out the last three weeks we will be covering a lot of different content, but the most important things to focus on are fundamentals. Students should be making sure they are paying attention in class and getting their homework done. We have had a mini homework epidemic in the past two weeks, in Math in particular. Please remind your students that it is their responsibility to get their homework fully completed and turned in! Their final grade will reflect their diligence directly in this manner. This WeekIn Spalding we will continue to practice our Spalding tools using words in list R. We will also be learning a spelling rule that tells us how to spell words that have an ending that starts with a vowel and a final syllable that looks like a one-one-one word. Something your students will be hearing a lot of is: "My base word is begin, my ending is ing. I must write begin and double the 'n' because my the second syllable of my base word begin looks like a one-one-one word and my ending ing starts with a vowel." That might seem like a lot, but it really does make sense, and it is rules like these that help students make sense of the English language. In ELA we are going to be working with historical texts and learning how to summarize a story that may not have a 'problem' in the strictest sense of the word. What is a story about if it is (a) non-fiction and (b) doesn't focus around any particular conflict? We will be discussing this throughout the week, so feel free to ask your student about their ideas. In Math we are continuing our exploration of fractions. Monday and Tuesday should be fairly simple. we are learning that when we add and subtract like fractions, that it is just like adding or subtracting wholes, just the name of the things we are adding or subtracting are different. On Thursday and Friday we will be getting into mixed numbers and improper fractions, which may take a bit more thought, but we will get through it. In Literature we are continuing to prepare our play, Twelfth Night, for you to see on December 15th! Make sure to get there and see your student perform! In History we will be learning about how Islam spread throughout the Middle East and as far as Spain in the West and the Malaysian islands in the east. Feel free to ask your students questions about what they are learning. In Science we are learning about the function of the Human Circulatory system. This week we are focusing on the human heart. We will have a quiz on Thursday, so make sure your students are studying their notes! Upcoming Assessments1) Math Quiz on adding and subtracting like fractions. Wednesday (29th)
2) Science Quiz on the human circulatory system. Thursday (30th) 3) Spelling Test on Friday (Dec 1st) 4) We have a Math test coming up next week! Students should be practicing and explaining fractions every day to make sure they understand the concept. Get them teaching others! That is what will solidify the content! |
AuthorBurk Ohbayashi is a husband, a father, and an educator. Archives
March 2018
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