Mrs. Alabakoff's 4th/5th GradeDearborn Public Schools

Dec 4th Multiplication/Division practice

We have begun multiplication in 3rd grade and we are reviewing facts for 4th grade.  Third grade parents please take some time to practice facts with your child.  We have worked on the 0. 1. 2, 3 facts and are moving on to the 4’s.  The students need to practice these facts.  Flashcards are helpful, as well as numerous sites online.  Everyday Math online also has some multiplication games.

Remember when practicing, short frequent sessions work best.

Fourth graders definitely need to “brush up” on their multiplication and division facts.  I have lowered to the time for them.

Thank you for your support!

Oct 27th Halloween!

Mr. Aytes has volunteered to make caramel apples, cookies and crafts with the students in the afternoon.  We are looking for any parent who would like to volunteer to help on Friday afternoon to supervise and help with these activities.  We will begin around 2:00.  Please let me know if you are interested in helping.

Oct 27th Week of October 27th-31st

Reminders for the week:

Friday (October 31st)–Halloween!  Remember to check the sign-up for our Halloween Breakfast.

Halloween parade at 3:00.  Students may bring their costumes to dress up.  Please refer to Mr. Hartley’s note about the guidelines for costumes.

We are learning:

Spelling–Our focus this week for third grade is digraphs.  Fourth grade is working on the ure chunk.

Daily5/CAFE–Third grade is exploring the genre of folktales including fables.  Fourth grade will be focusing on legends.  We will be identifying the elements of these folktales and will also compare/contrast various folktales and legends.  We will also be finishing up with our first book club book. Students are really enjoying their books and discussing them within their groups. Lastly, our strategy focus will be asking questions.

Writer’s Workshop–We will be starting our persuasive/opinion writing this week.  Students will have a couple prompts to choose from and will be planning, organizing and drafting this week.  We will be learning about the elements of persuasive writing.

Math–Third grade will be starting Unit 3 with some review of subtraction and addition with ballpark estimates.  We will then be working with measuring to the nearest inch. 1/2 inch, 1/4 inch.  Please review at home by having your child measure objects.  It really helps to reinforce the concept.

Science–Third graders are working on Earth’s Materials.  We are exploring properties of rocks and minerals and will identify what these rocks and minerals are used for in everyday life.  Students should be finding rocks to bring into class.   They should also be starting on their take home minerals projects.  Have fun and be creative!

Enjoy your week!

Oct 22nd Halloween Dance

OOPS!  I got the time wrong on my previous post–the dance starts at 5:30 p.m.

Oct 20th October 20th-24th

Hope everyone had a great weekend!  The weather is getting chillier so please be sure your child is dressed for these cold mornings!

Reminders for the Week:

PTA Meeting — Tuesday, October 21st–7 p.m. in the cafeteria

Halloween Dance — Friday, October 24th–6-8 p.m.  PTA is looking for baked goods donations.

Please check outside the classroom for the breakfast sign-up for our Halloween breakfast on Oct. 31st.

We are learning:

Spelling–The focus for third grade this week is blends.  Fourth grade will be working on long e words.  We will be making connections with these spelling patterns throughout the week.

Daily 5/CAFE–We will be working on the genre of folktales this week and probably next.  Third grade will focus on fables and fourth grade will focus on legends.  We will be identifying the elements of folktales and will also compare/contrast several examples.  Students will be working on their own individual goals in their books as well.

Students have also begun book club.  We had our first discussion groups on Friday.  They are really enjoying their books and discussing them with their classmates.

We also are doing book talks where students get to share books they are reading with the class.  It has really tuned other students into a variety of books.  Ask your child if they have shared a book yet.

Writer’s Workshop–We are finishing up with our realistic fiction stories (3rd) and Haiku poetry (4th) this week.

Math–Both grades will be having the Unit 2 assessment this week.  Fourth grade will be tomorrow and third on Wednesday.  We will then move onto factors and prime numbers for 4th grade and measuring to the nearest inch, 1/2 inch and 1/4 inch for 3rd grade.

Science–Third graders are exploring the properties of rocks and minerals.  Look for a take home project which will be coming home later this week.  Students will have an opportunity to extend their learning with this project.

Have a sunny week!

Oct 16th Halloween Breakfast

The sign-up sheet has been posted outside the classroom.

Happy Halloween!

Oct 16th DoVall Club

The DoVall Club is looking for good 4th and 5th grade leaders and well behaved students who have great ideas and want to lead projects and help promote a positive school culture and help those in need in our school and community. If your child would like to be a part of the DoVall Club please look for the note being sent home today. You will find a note and attached application to be returned by Wednesday, October 22nd, no later then Friday, October 24th. Mrs. Grahl and Mrs. Goranson will then review the applications and choose students for the club. Members will meet one, possibly two Tuesdays a month to plan projects. Thanks!

Oct 13th Week of October 13th-17th

Reminders for the Week:

Tomorrow is picture day!

Fun Run money due Friday the 17th.

I will be posting a sign-up this week outside the classroom for our Halloween Celebration.  We will be having a breakfast!  Details to follow.

We are learning:

Spelling–Fourth grade spelling sound is long i and third grade sound is short u.  Each week we also work on the spelling patterns for the sounds.  I usually check to make sure the students have copied the words correctly, but I am working on them taking responsibility for the words themselves.  Please be sure to review words and spelling patterns with your child.  They should be able to identify both.

Daily5/CAFE–We are finishing up with our text features in our informational books.  Fourth grade is working on Biographies for their nonfiction reading.  We will be discussing the books together in groups and each student will also be working on their own individual goals and strategy.  We will also use these books as well as the Treasures books to identify main idea and details.

Writer’s Workshop–Third grade students are planning with a graphic organizer for their realistic fiction stories.  They will begin their first drafts and work through the writing process.  Fourth graders are doing the same with writing Haiku poetry.

Math–Third grade is focusing on addition and subtraction number stories.  We will be identifying key words within these problems.  They will also transfer their knowledge by creating their own number stories.

Fourth graders are finishing up Unit 2 with collecting data and creating different graphs–specifically bar graphs and line plots.  They are also identifying the landmarks for the sets of data.

Social Studies–Students in third grade finished their Geography of Michigan study and assessment.  I will be sending home their grade but not the assessment.  We will eventually transfer their answers to the computer, so they will need the original test to transfer their answers.  If you have specific questions though, you can email me.

We will be moving on Science.  Our focus will be continuing with natural resources and how humans are protecting, extending and restoring resources and how we use the 3 R’s.  Students will also be examining rock samples and identifying the properties of the rocks and minerals.

Have a great week!

Oct 2nd Camp News

CAMP NEWS: Due to the lack of volunteers to run a fundraiser we will NOT be having one this year. I have sent out 5 letters requesting donations and another 6 have been taken by some parents to distribute. I have yet to get any response. For now, the cost will be 85$ more BUT it could drop by the time we have the final meeting. I will keep you posted. The final meeting with payment due will be Tuesday, October 7. It will be 7:00, 4th graders in room 201, 5th graders in room 202. You will get the paperwork and packing list at that time with all final details included.

Sep 29th Week of September 29th-October 3rd

Hope everyone had a relaxing weekend!  The weather was so beautiful.  Hopefully you were able to enjoy a cider mill or apple orchard!

Reminders for this Week:

We will be starting the MAP test.  A yellow note went home explaining this new assessment.  Please make sure your child gets plenty of rest and eats a good breakfast.

No School Friday (Oct. 3rd) and Monday (Oct. 6th).

We are learning:

Spelling–Fourth Grade is focusing on Long o vowels and the spelling patterns that go with the word.  Third grade will be working on both long and short o.

Daily 5/Cafe–This week we will be working on main idea and details.  Students will be using a graphic organizer to identify main idea and details with a nonfiction selection.  Fourth graders will also be working on biographies.  We will also be starting book club this week.  Students will be working in small groups to read and discuss their book.

We have also begun “Book Talks.”  This is a great way for students to share books they are reading and enjoying.  Many students choose to pick up the same books that are shared and get really excited about reading these books.  Each student will have an opportunity to share a book.

Writer’s Workshop–Students are finishing up their descriptive writing pieces about their favorite place.  We will then move on to one more narrative piece.  Students will use a graphic organizer to organize their ideas before they write.

Math–Both grades are beginning Unit 2.  This week third grade will be working on fact families and extension facts.  They should be practicing their basic facts at home as well.  We will be starting basic addition and subtraction timed tests.   We will also focus on rounding to estimate a sum or difference for larger numbers.

Fourth grade is working on large numbers and how to write these numbers in the three different forms.  They will also round these numbers to estimate as well.

Social Studies–Third grade students are doing a great job learning about the geography and resources of Michigan!  This week we will focus on how humans use and change/modify the environment.  If there is time, we will move on to learning about Movement to and from Michigan.

Thank you to Emily Kudreiko’s family for the delicious windmill St. Claus cookies!  Yum!

Also thank you to Audrey Malone’s family for the sweet peanuts–also so delicious!

Have a great week!