August 30th-September 4th

Ms. Hewitt’s Fourth Grade Class Newsletter  

Sunday, August 30th, 2015

Good Afternoon Guardians and Students,

Thank you all so much for coming to Back to School Night. It was so amazing to have almost all families there showing their support and excitement for the year ahead! This year is going to rock! The BTSN presentation is linked in a tab at the top of our website. If you didn’t get a chance to sign up for a volunteer jobs please CLICK HERE. In class volunteer jobs will begin the week of September 14th. Thank you in advance for your time. If you want to add a special talent job that you have at the bottom of the form, please feel free!

I am so excited that both you and your children have their correct username and passwords to mostly all of the websites we will be using this year. Please note that I have not showed them how to log onto all 15 accounts...yet. We are strategically rolling out Chromebooks and these websites so they are used accurately and effectively. So far in class we have been on IXL, SpellingCity, Accelerated Reader and XtraMath. This week we will also go on TypingWeb and Google Classroom.

“Journey to California” projects were incredible!  Thank you for taking the time to answer interview questions and prepare your child for success. The class and I loved hearing all about each others backgrounds. Grades for this project will go home this week.

We will continue learning about digital citizenship, and growth mindset (as your children about the words yet and ish). Also on Friday all baseline assessments will be completed and recorded. A sheet will go home for parents to look over and sign to see where their children are academically now.

Language Arts-

• Spelling City List #3 - words include: fact, begin, rapid, clasp, etc. Students will complete assigned activities at home and will take the test in class Friday morning on their Chromebooks.  
• Vocabulary: Westing Game Vocabulary through Google Classroom.

• AR point goals: will continue to conference with students.

• Grammar: Types of Sentences- Brainpop video and in class activities.

• Writing- Learning good characteristics of a writer diving deep into main idea and expository writing.

• Genre Study: We learned about all the different types of reading genres the last two weeks. Now we are going to dive into a mystery book called, The Westing Game.

Math- Add and Subtract Whole Numbers

IXL Strands- Complete IXL strands to ensure success on the test. 30 minutes a week is the minimum requirement.

Chapter 1 strands: A.1, A.3, A.9, A.6, A.2

Chapter 2 strands: B.4, B.6, C.4, B.3, C.3, B.8, C.6

Students can practice studying for this test further by going on McgrawHill (link to the right) and work on the study guide that is identical to the math test. This website also has videos, games, and lessons for extra support at home.

Monday- Chapter 1 Math Test/ Chapter 2 pre-test

Tuesday- Lesson 1 for chapter 2: Add and Subtract Whole Numbers- B.4

Wednesday- Lesson 2: Addition and Subtraction Patterns- B.6, C.4

Thursday- Lesson 3: Add and Subtract Mentally- B.3, C.3

Friday- Lesson 4: Estimate Sum and Differences- B.8, C.6

Students should also go on XtraMath daily to become fluent in their math facts. Students can also utilize Mangahigh at home to practice math facts using the game titled, Sundae Times. This resource also helps their math fluency. Also I assigned some challenges on rounding if students are looking for more math resources. Our school ID is 67993.

Social Studies/ Science-

• Students will continue taking notes in their ISN (Interactive Student Workbook) on California’s location. Learning about latitude and longitude. We will begin a PBL project on Exploring California’s regions.

Reminders/Mark Your Calendars-  

• Thursday, September 3 Coffee Talk and Wave Board Meeting at DP
• Wave meeting Thursday, September 3rd 6:30-7:30 in DP Base Room
• Parents get Googley on Wednesday, September 9th from 6:00-8:00
• Age of Sail mandatory meeting Tuesday, September 22nd at 6:00 pm in Miksits' room

Newsletter for August 23rd- 28th

Ms. Hewitt’s Fourth Grade Class Newsletter  

Sunday, August 23^rd, 2015

Good Evening Guardians and Students,

Thank you to all the families who turned in all of their WCS paperwork. We have been anxiously waiting to go on our Chromebooks but haven’t been able to due to unreturned or unsigned paperwork. I am hoping we can jump on the Chromebooks THIS week! Thanks for your patience. The students are SO excited about having their very own Chromebook!

I would like to apologize about the students username and passwords changing mid week. Westlake is moving in the direction of having all online resources to be the same as their Google accounts, so they do not have to remember 15 different logins. Thank you for your patience with this change. I am almost finished changing and enrolling them in all of their online accounts. They will have IXL, SpellingCity, Scootpad, AR, Mcgraw-Hill, Xtramath, Mangahigh, Typyingweb, Newsela, CA Studies weekly, Google Classroom, and more. I will give both students and parents a sheet with all of their online resources as soon as that is complete.

Back to School Night is this Wednesday from 6:00-6:30 or 6:35-7:05, come to whichever session works best for you. We have lots to discuss and I look forward to sharing all the things your student will be learning and involved with this year.

Tomorrow students will share about their families’ history through the “Journey to California” project. Students will present a 2-3 minute presentation and should bring in one item representing their families’ background. Thank you for your assistance and cooperation in this project. I know they are all going to be amazing!

We will continue learning about digital citizenship, growth mindset, and how to work in a group through STEM challenges along with the curriculum listed below. I will go into more detail about each of those during BTSN. 

Language Arts-

·      Spelling City List #2 - words include: attach, where, sandwich, change, etc. Students will complete assigned activities at home and will take the test in class Friday morning on their Chromebooks.  Username and passwords are their google username without @westlakecharter.com and same passwords.

·      Students will take their STAR AR test to find out their current reading level and will start working towards their AR point goals.

·      Fluency tests will continue and conference with students about their AR point goals.

·      Grammar: Types of Sentences- Brainpop video, in class activities, and Scootpad assignments.

·      Writing- mini lessons and baseline assessments of narrative, expository, and opinion writing. Then we will dive in deep into main idea and expository writing.

·      Genre Study: We have been learning all about the different reading genres while learning Café strategies. This is helpful for many reasons but especially for them to complete their 40 book challenge.

Math- Place Value

IXL Strands- Complete IXL strands to ensure success on the test! IXL username is first initial last name @ Westlake charter with google password now.

Should be completed: A.1, A.3, A.9

McgrawHill also has videos, games, and lessons for extra support at home. Username and passwords are google account info. Link is on our class website.

Monday- Lessons 4: Order Numbers (none)
Tuesday- Quiz lessons 1-4

Wednesday- Lesson 5: Use Place Value to Round- A.6

Thursday- Lesson 6: Problem Solving Four Step Plan- A.2

Friday- Practice, Review, Reflect

Social Studies/ Science-

·      “Journey to California” project- Students will interview a family member and present to the class. Due: Monday August 24^th for a speaking and listening grade.

Reminders/Mark Your Calendars-  

·      Back To School Night August 26^th from 6:00-7:30 on Del Paso Campus. Parents only.

·      Thursday, September 3 Coffee Talk and Wave Board Meeting at DP

Newsletter August 16th- 21st

Ms. Hewitt’s Fourth Grade Class Newsletter  

Sunday, August 16^th, 2015

Good Evening Guardians and Students,

The first half-week of school was a total success! I had so much fun getting to know each student! I loved watching the students get to know each other as well. They worked on their first STEM project together creating the tallest tower using index cards, completed a lunch challenge everyday, learned class procedures, and some fun things we will be learning in 4^th grade! Below is some information about what they will be doing this week!

Our Specialty Schedule

Monday Spanish 9:40-10:40

Tuesday Art 12:40-1:40

Wednesday P.E. 8:30-9:30 (be sure to wear comfortable tennis shoes)

Thursday P.E. 9:40-10:40

Thursday Library 12:40-1:10

Friday Spanish 9:40-10:40

Language Arts-

·      Spelling City List #1.  Students will complete assigned activities at home but will take the test in class Friday morning on their Chromebooks.  Username and passwords will be distributed tomorrow as well. 

·      Students will take their STAR AR test to find out their reading level and to be able to start working towards their AR point goals.

·      40 book challenge! Ask your son or daughter about this and the million-word challenge. Encourage your children to read books of every different genre!
    Order Scholastics books online using our class code J2RYM. Books make the BEST gifts!

Math- Place Value

IXL Strands- Complete IXL strands to ensure success on the test!

Monday- Lessons 1: Place Values-A.1 

Tuesday- Lesson 2: Read and Write Multi-Digit Numbers-A.3

Wednesday- Lesson 3: Compare Numbers-A.9

Thursday- Lesson 4: Order Numbers (none)
Friday- Quiz lessons 1-4

*All math timed tests will be given this week. Use the learning links posted on our website to study. 

Social Studies/ Science-

·      “Journey to California” project- Directions will get handed out to your child tomorrow. Students will interview a family member and present to the class. Due: Monday August 24^th.

Reminders/Mark Your Calendars-  

·      Back To School Night August 26^th from 6:00-7:30 on Del Paso Campus. Parents only.