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4^th Grade 2009 -2010 Supply List

Dear Parents and Students,

All students are responsible for the following materials.  When something runs out or is lost, it needs  to be replaced immediately.  Organization and care of the materials is imperative for success in all the work that is completed in 4^th grade.

Thank you,

Ms. Finke and Mrs. Gorman 

Please label child’s name and room number

on each item in a prominent location.

Important Dates

Items of Note

• Thank you to all of the parents who joined us for the Walk-A-Thon on Friday!  We had a fabulous time walking through Hyde Park and along the lake.  Room 203 did a wonderful job raising money for our technology program!
• Class Picnic flyers were sent home on Friday.  There is a suggested donation of $6 per person.  Parents are are invited to join in the celebration.    Please sign the flyer if you are interested in helping set up, cook, run games, clean up, etc.  All money needs to be submitted by Thursday in order to know how many people will be coming to the picnic.

Classroom Materials

At this time I have begun collecting classroom materials.  Students are responsible to return all materials.  Missing materials will result in a fine.  Report cards will not be released until the material has been returned or the fine has been settled-up with Ms. Wicker.

Materials being collected:

• Math Geotemplates - Replacement $6.25
• Choir Shirts - (washed and placed in a zip-lock bag) - Replacement $15
• Library Books - Due by Thursday, June 4 - Replacement $15
• Social Studies Textbook - Checking with office for replacement fee
• Science Textbook - Checking with office for replacement fee

I can’t believe we are nearing the end of the school year!  Hope to see you all at the World Language Assembly and Class Picnic.

Ms. Finke

Items of Note for the week:

• Monday, May 25 is Memorial Day - No School
• The Murray Walk-A-Thon is on Friday, May 29. This is our biggest fund-raiser of the year. Students have received a collection envelop detailing the walk. The money raised helps to finance all of our technology needs including: SmartBoards (which your child has had the opportunity to use all year:), computers, printers, software, support materials, etc.  We will be walking rain or shine.
• I am looking for parents who are interested in helping to organize this year’s Class Picnic.  Please contact me if you are willing to help plan, cook, organize/execute games & activities, and clean up.  Thank you! 
• We have been working on our poetry unit for 5 weeks now.  Students have practiced writing various genres of poetry, transferred them into their poetry books, and added illustrations.  I have seen some amazing work!  Each day we are working to finalize one genre of poetry (finishing illustrations specifically).  Students will be bringing home their books for homework if the work has not been completed in class.

Important Dates

• Monday, May 25 - Memorial Day
• Friday, May 29 - Walk-A-Thon in the morning, Fun Fair in the afternoon
• Tuesday, June 2 -  Honors Tea 11:00
• Wednesday, June 3 - PTO Meeting, 6:00 p.m.
• Friday, June 5 - Last Day Accelerated Reader
• Friday, June 5 - World Language Assembly:  Grades K-3 at 9:30, Grades 4-6 at 12:40.
• Wednesday, June 10 - Class Picnic

READING

We are moving through Maniac Magee with amazing speed!  Students are reading in class and for homework each day.  Students are expected to keep very explicit thinking notes while reading the story.  These notes should include what they are thinking (predictions, character analysis, comparisons, etc) and evidence to suppor their thinking.  In addition, students are having discussions with classmates/whole class and completing various written activities.  Please ask your child about Maniac’s adventures.  You too will quickly fall in love with this story.

MATH

Unit 8 - Area and Perimeter 

This unit revolves around perimeter, area, and scale drawings.  It begins with a review of perimeter and area concepts and and extends to develop formulas for the areas of rectangles, parallelograms, and triangles.

Lesson 8.5 - Formula for Area of a Rectangle

Lesson 8.6 - Formula for Area of a Parallelogram

Every other spare minute we are spending in the computer lab working on our poetry movies.

Thank you for checking in!

Ms. Finke

Items of Note for the Week:

• The Chicago Children’s Choir trip is on Monday, May 18.  Students need to wear their choir shirts, black pants, and black shoes. 
• After the concert, students will need to wash, fold, and return their shirt in a large zip-lock bag with the shirt size noted on the outside.  Missing shirts will result in a $15 replacement fee.
• Unit 6 Math test will be on Wednesday.
• There will be no spelling words this week as we work to finish our poetry books.
• Monday, May 25 is Memorial Day - No School
• The Murray Walk-A-Thon is on Friday, May 29. This is our biggest fund-raiser of the year. Students have received a collection envelop detailing the walk. The money raised helps to finance all of our technology needs including: SmartBoards, computers, printers, software, support materials, etc.  We will be walking, rain or shine, and will need a handful of parents to join us on the walk. Please let me know if you will be able take to the streets and footpaths of Hyde Park.
• I am looking for parents who are interested in helping to organize this year’s Class Picnic.  Please contact me if you are willing to help plan, cook, organize/execute games & activities, and clean up.  Thank you! 

READING

Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli

Students quickly discovered this past week what a wonderful story Maniac Magee.  We have had some wonderful initial conversations and look forward to learning more about Maniac and the people he encounters through his adventures.

Students are reading in the classroom as well as for homework.  Please be on the look out for the book as students will have nightly reading assignments.

WRITING - Poetry Movies

We have officially begun the work of putting our movies together. Students are quickly learning that the role of an movie editor takes great care and patience. The children are learning that the first effort, is not necessarily the last effort

We will continue work in the personal poetry books as well.

MATH

The Unit 6 math test will be on Wednesday. Students will receive a review packet on Monday to complete for homework. We will review the major concepts in class on Tuesday.

• Dividing 2 and 3 digit numbers
• Solving multiplication and division number stories
• Measuring acute, obtuse, and reflex angles with a circular and 1/2 circle protractor

Unit 8 - Area and Perimeter

Lesson 8.1 - Perimeter

Lesson 8.3 - Area

Thank you for checking in!

Ms. Finke

Items of Note for the Week:

• Progress Reports were sent home on Friday 5/8/09.  Please review, sign, and return the reports by Tuesday, May 12.
• The Murray Science Fair will be on Wednesday, May 13.  All Room 203 boards will be on display from 1:00 - 2:00 pm.  Please stop by and check out the hard work done by our budding scientists.
• Murray Science Night is Wednesday, May 13.  There will be hands-on activities in the multi-purpose room from 5:00-6:30 pm.
• Friday we will be going on our Cross-Cultural Field Trip.  The buses will be leaving at 8:45 a.m. so it is imparative that all students arrive on time.
• The Chicago Children’s Choir trip is on Monday, May 18.  Students need to wear their choir shirts, black pants, and black shoes. 
• After the concert, students will need to wash, fold, and return their shirt in a large zip-lock bag with the shirt size noted on the outside.  Missing shirts will result in a $15 replacement fee.

READING

We have saved the best book for last!  We will begin reading Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli this week.  This is an amazing story about a young boy who helps to bring together a town that is divided by social issues.  We will read together as a class, listen to audio, meet in small discussion groups, and read independently. Students will be expected to read in the evening for homework as well.

Independent Reading

We have many students doing an amazing job with independent reading this quarter.  KEEP IT UP!!!  Students are to read 30 minutes each evening and take advantage of the independent reading periods during the school day.  Reading and committing to appropriate leveled books will help your child improve his/her reading skills which apply across the curriculum.

WRITING

We are making progress in our poetry books.  This week, students will add their haiku poems to their books.  In addition, students will begin organizing their table of contents, dedication, and “about the author” features.

We will be returning to the computer lab to continue work on our poetry movies.  All students have recorded the reading of their poems on the computer.  Most students have found music and images and are ready to put their movie together.  This is a fun process and I am sure the students will enjoy the finished products

MATH

We will continue our short break from long division.  I strongly recommend taking a few minutes each evening to complete a few long division problems to further master the concept. 

Lesson 6.7 - Measuring with a 1/2 Circle Protractor

Lesson 6.9 - Finding locations on a map using coordinates

Lesson 6.10 - Lines of Latitude and Longitude

SCIENCE

Science Fair Presentations

Science Fair on Wednesday, May 13 - Out projects will be on display from 1:00-2:00 pm.

Items of Note for the Week:

• Science Fair Presentations begin on Monday, May 4.  Please remember your child has been advised to keep the board and materials at home until the dayof  his/her presentation.
• The Murray Science Fair will be on Wednesday, May 13.  All Room 203 boards will be on display from 1:00 - 2:00 pm.  Please stop by and check out the hard work done by our budding scientists.
• Bud, Not Buddy - Test on Wednesday.
• Field Trip Slips for the Cross-Cultural Field Trip on 5/15 are past due. 
• The Chicago Children’s Choir trip on 5/18 is due on Wednesday, May 6. 

READING
Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis

We have come to the end of this wonderful story.  We will review key events in the story and revist relevant themes including:  abandonment, family, and acceptance.

 There will be a test on Wednesday. Students are encouraged to use their thinking notes and reading packets with the questions they have answered throughout the novel to help them study for the test.

 Independent Reading

Has your child shared his/her thoughts about the latest great read?   Students are to read 30 minutes each evening and take advantage of the independent reading periods during the school day.  Reading and committing to appropriate leveled books will help your child improve his/her reading skills which apply across the curriculum.

WRITING

Poetry -  We will study the syllable patterns found of Cinquains and Haikus.  Students will create original  poems to include in their book of poetry.  

We have begun work on our poetry movies.  Students have collected images and will be moving on to selecting music that fits the mood of the poem. 

Students need crayons/colored pencils for this project.  All students are responsible for having the needed supplies.

MATH

This week we will be taking a small break from long division to learn how to measure angles with a circular protractor and a half-circle protractor.  I strongly recommend taking a few minutes each evening to complete a few long division problems to further master the concept.

Lesson 6.5

Lesson 6.6

Lesson 6.7

Science Fair Presentations will be daily beginning at 12:35.

Items of Note for the Week

• The blog has moved with just a few minor kinks.  Thank you for all who let me know they are still receiving the updates.
• Friday, May 1 is the World Language Fair.  The Children’s Choir will be performing.  Children need to come in their choir uniform and be in Room 206 at 6:00 pm to warm up. The performance will be at 6:30.
• Science Fair:  Research Papers are due on Friday, May 1.  This week we reviewed how to cite sources (books, encyclopedias, databases).  Please remember, students are to go to the library to gather resources to help support their experiments and findings. 
• Science Fair Presentations begin on Monday, May 4.  Please keep all display boards at home until the day of your child’s presentation.  We do not have room to store them in the classroom.
• Field Trip Slips for the Cross-Cultural Field Trip on 5/15 and the Chicago Children’s Choir trip on 5/18 have gone home.  Please observe the deadlines for returning the slips and money.

The Murray Blogs have moved to a new host server.   The new address for Ms. Finke’s blog is:  http://finke.murrayblogs.com/         

Your subscription to receive weekly updates should have transferred.  This is a test to make sure it works.  Please reply to confirm that you received this update.

Thank you!

Ms. Finke

The address looks similar but please note that this is now a .com address instead of .org.  

Attention Room 203 Parents! 

The Murray Blogs will be moving to a new host server this weekend.  Mr. Mills is working hard to make the transfer as seamless as possible.  Please be on the lookout for a flyer to come home with the new web address.  In addition, there will be a link on the Murray website to the new blog.  One thing to note - you will need to resubscribe for weekly updates once the blog has been moved. 

Items of Note for the Week:

• Science Fair:  Students should be working on developing their project and conducting experiments at this time.  Research papers are due May 1st.  On Thursday 4/16, we spent a great deal of time breaking down what should be included in each paragraph of the research paper.  Students took notes in their science notebooks and should reference them to make sure they are including all of the components. Please remember, students are to also go to the library to gather resources to help support their experiments and findings. 
• We have many exciting events in May and June.  Please refer to the yellow calendar that was included in the report card envelop.
• Chapter 10 Social Studies Test on the Southwest is planned for Thursday.
• Independent Reading:  Each child should be reading for 30 minutes each evening.  As a class, we are working to meet our independent reading goals.

• Students are to keep 2-3 thinking notes per chapter.  These notes will help to guide our small group discussions.
• Character Analysis - identifying characteristics of Bud and finding evidence from the story to support thinking
• In addition to discussing the story, students will be completing various activities around vocabulary, comprehension, and written responses.
• Reading groups have begun. Students are either meeting with me for guided reading or a group of classmates for literature circles.

Independent Reading

Everyone has a fresh start for the 4th quarter.  Students are to read 30 minutes each evening and take advantage of the independent reading periods during the school day.  Reading and committing to appropriate leveled books will help your child improve his/her reading skills which apply across the curriculum.

WRITING

We have begun our poetry unit!  This past week we played around with writing similes and metaphors to explore how poets are very particular with word placement.  We have created original works and are transferring them into personal poetry books.  This week students will learn the structures of Diamante poems and write their own.

 Throughout the unit, students will be reading published works and writing their own book of poetry.  We need your help!  Your child will be asking for you to share your favorite poem(s) to include in their books. 

Students will need crayons/colored pencils for this project.  All students are responsible for having the needed supplies.

Unit 6 - Division; Map Reference points; Measuring Angles.  In this unit we will divide multi-digit problems using the traditional long division method.  Students need quick recall of their basic facts in order to solve these multi-step problems.  Please continue to encourage your child to practice his/her basic facts for 10 minutes each evening.

• Lesson 6.2 - Strategies for Division
• Lesson 6.3 - Using multiples to solve division problems
• Lesson 6.4 - Interpreting Remainders, writing them as fractions or decimals

SOCIAL STUDIES

Lesson 3 Review - Oil and technology in the southwest

• Gushers and refineries
• Products and uses of oil
• Johnson Space Center/NASA
• Development of electronics, aircraft, space vehicles

Chapter 10 Review and Jeopardy on Wednesday

Chapter 10 Test on Thursday

Items of Note for the Week:

• Thank you for coming in for Report Card Pick-Up. It was wonderful to catch up with all of the families.  Please sign and return the report card envelop by Tuesday, April 14.
• Science Fair:  Students should be working on developing their project and conducting experiments at this time.  May 1st will be here before you know it! 
• We have many exciting events in May and June.  Please refer to the yellow calendar that was included in the report card envelop.
• Unit 5 Math Test on Wednesday
• Independent Reading:  Each child should be reading for 30 minutes each evening.  As a class, we are working to meet our Accelerated Reader goals.

• Students are to keep 2-3 thinking notes per chapter.  These notes will help to guide our small group discussions.
• In addition to discussing the story, students will be completing various activities around vocabulary, comprehension, and written responses.
• Reading groups have begun. Students are either meeting with me for guided reading or a group of classmates for literature circles.

Independent Reading

Everyone has a fresh start for the 4th quarter.  Students are to read 30 minutes each evening and take advantage of the independent reading periods during the school day.  Reading and committing to appropriate leveled books will help your child improve his/her reading skills which apply across the curriculum.

WRITING

On Monday we will begin our poetry unit. This is an exciting unit where students will be reading and writing various types of poems.  Throughout the unit, students will be writing their own book of poetry.  We need your help.  Your child will be asking for you to share your favorite poem(s) to include in their books. 

Students will need crayons/colored pencils for this project.  All students are responsible for having the needed supplies.

Unit 5 - Big Numbers, Estimation, and Computation. In this unit we will begin multiplying 2 and 3-digit numbers using partial-product, lattice, and the traditional method.  Students learn a variety of ways to solve multi-digit problems in order to find the way that works best for them.

• Lesson 5.10 - Rounding and Reporting Large Numbers
• Unit 5 Review
• Unit 5 Test on Wednesday

Unit 6 - Division; Map Reference points; Measuring Angles.  In this unit we will divide multi-digit problems using the traditional long division method.  Students need quick recall of their basic facts in order to solve these multi-step problems.  Please continue to encourage your child to practice his/her basic facts for 10 minutes each evening.

• Lesson 6.1 - Multiplication and Division Number Stories
• Lesson 6.2 - Strategies for Division

SOCIAL STUDIES

Chapter 10:  The Southwest States