It was a short week but we were busy growing and learning!

In writing workshop we have been working on responding to reading this week in preparation of the ELA test.  Much of this work is familiar to the students because we are just coming off writing our first drafts of our literary essay.  Much of the written response that the students will see can be planned out and completed using the boxes and bullets structure that we learned back in November during our personal and persuasive essay writing units.  The types of questions and written responses that the students are practicing now are things that they will see when they get to middle school, high school, and college, and I continue to remind them that these skills are ones they will carry with them as they get older.

We have been reading short passages of  different genres, and thinking about the strategies we need to be able to answer questions that go along with different types of text. We discussed that in fiction stories we should be able to answer questions about the characters, about the problem and solution, about the main idea, and about vocabulary.  We will take a closer look at nonfiction texts next week.

In math we wrapped up topic 12 with a topic test yesterday.  This topic taught us how to add and subtract fractions and mixed numbers with like denominators. Overall, the understanding of fractions seemed very strong, I was impressed!  Mrs. O'Donnell is occasionally in our room for math and shared with the students that when we add and subtract fractions and rename them, it's like a puzzle!  I liked this analogy, not just for fractions.  It can ring true for much of what we learn in math.  It can truly be fun if you let it!

We have been reviewing for the science test in May and June and this past week we discussed the water cycle!  In Social Studies the students worked in small groups to look at documents and answer questions.  Each group presented to the class and taught their peers about the games, foods, and new words that the Native American, Dutch, and English have contributed to present day America. 

We were able to get outside with our buddies on Thursday and brighten up the entryway of Glenmont School! We enjoyed the sunshine and being creative with chalk!

On Thursday, after school, I volunteered at the South End Children's Cafe.  The Cafe provides after school programs for children in grades K-6 and serves free, healthy dinners to the children who attend.  I ran into some familiar fourth grade faces while I was there!

Just a reminder that NYS testing will take place over the next few months for our fourth graders.  

ELA: April 5-7

Math: April 13-15

Science (performance): May 26 

Science (written): June 6

I hope you all enjoy the weekend!