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

Dec 3rd Camp Meeting

Dec 3rd Week of December 2-6

Welcome back!  I hope everyone enjoyed time with family and friends with good food!  The holidays will be here before we know it!  We will be planning our holiday party — details to follow.

This Week:

Spelling–Students are working on individual lists.  Remember that if your child spells a word wrong on his/her test, the word will become part of the next week’s list.  We are focusing on students spelling the words correctly in their writing.

Daily 5/Cafe–Our focus this week is using main idea and details to summarize the text.

Writer’s Workshop–We have finished our narrative stories and will now move on to opinion writing.  Students are using think, pair, share to develop ideas.  We will then write a letter stating our opinion with reasons and details.

Math–Third grade students are beginning Unit 3.  We are measuring using various units.   Students will be estimating and measuring objects to the nearest 1/4 inch and cm.  We will also develop a list of personal references to estimate lengths of objects.  It would be very helpful if your child practiced measuring the lengths of various objects at home in inches and cm. As mentioned at conferences, we are also starting with practice of multiplication facts.  I am giving some practice sheets, but it is important that your child practice their facts at home.

Fourth grade focus for Unit 3 is Multiplication.  We are working on identifying factors, multiples and prime numbers.  Students should be sure to practice their facts for multiplication and division.  We are taking timed tests that are 6 minutes now.  Many of the fourth graders need to still master these facts.

Science–Both grades are working on the study of animals.  We are discussing characteristics of vertebrates using our lapbook.  We will also focus on animal adaptations.  Finally, we will be moving on to food chains and food webs.

Keep Warm!

Nov 21st Camp News!

Nov 19th Unit Two Math Test

Changed to Thursday!  Please be sure to look at Review note sent home yesterday!

Nov 18th Pizza Kit Delivery

Fourth grade parents:

It looks like we are in need of more volunteers for Monday, the 25th, Pizza Kit delivery day.  Val mentioned there are only 3 volunteers so far.  We are hoping to get more parents to help out.  The time would be 12-4 or even for part of the time would work.

Nov 18th November 18th-22nd

Hope everyone enjoyed the mild weekend and survived the wind!

Be sure to remind your children to dress for the weather as it is going to get colder!

Reminders for this week:

Please send in permission slip and money for the IMAX trip to see the Polar Express by Friday.  If parents are seeing the movie they must also pay.  Thank you in advance!

Walk to School Survey–Please fill out the survey and send back to school.  We are encouraging students to participate in the walking school bus program.  We will start on Friday.

Conferences–Wednesday and Thursday 4:00-7:00.

SAVE THE DATE–DEC. 12–6:30

Duvall will be combining with Snow and Long Elementary schools to present a Holiday Community Concert.  Come watch your children shine!

We are learning:

Spelling–Students should be learning their high frequency words with their individualized list and then using these in their writing.

Daily5/Cafe–Our focus this week is making predictions and using the text to confirm.  We will also be working on informational text.  Students will also be starting another book for book club, and will work on individual goals.

Writer’s Workshop–We are currently working on a narrative piece of writing.  Students have learned how to describe characters and the setting of the story.  We will work on turning point of the story and will also discuss adding voice to our writing.

Math–Third grade is reviewing estimating using rounding and is also revisiting addition and subtraction with regrouping.  We will finish up Unit two with missing addends and patterns with addition and subtraction.  Students will be assessed on Wednesday.  Students can also start practicing multiplication facts even though we will not be starting multiplication and division for a little bit.

Fourth grade will also be reviewing rounding and will complete some What’s My Rule problems with patterns,  They will also be assessed on Unit two on Wednesday.

Please be sure to utilize the Everydaymathonline.com site.  When I assign Home links, those with access to a computer will print them and complete them at home.  Students are not required to return them to school, but I do expect them to do them.  If your child has trouble, they can let me know and we will review that concept at home.  The site also has a lot of great resources, including games that your child can use.

Science–We finished our study of plants and will now focus on animals.  Both groups are identifying characteristics of the vertebrates.

Have a good week!

Nov 11th Week of November 11-15

Reminders for this week:

Wed. 11/13–Late start

Thurs. 11/14 Conferences

Candle order fundraisers forms for camp are due Wednesday.  We need to sell $1500 to get free shipping so we are hoping everyone sold at least 2.

We collected 132 pounds of candy for the troops!  Thank you for all the candy donations to support our troops!

We are learning:

Spelling–Students are working on individual list words.  We are using word work to practice words using various hands-on materials.  Tests are taken on Friday.

Daily5/CAFE–Our focus this week is character traits.  We are using evidence in the story to help determine the traits of the characters.  Students are also finishing up their book club projects.

Writer’s Workshop–We are beginning to write a narrative story.  We will begin with a grahpic organizer to organize the parts of our story.

Math–Third graders are working on number stories this week and we are also reviewing subtraction and addition with regrouping.  Along with the addition and subtraction is ball park estimating.  Be sure to utilize the Everyday Math website to practice and reinforce at home.

Third graders are also starting to practice multiplication facts.  We will not be starting the unit on multiplication quite yet, but thought we would start practicing!

Fourth grade is working on larger number values and rounding.  We will then be collecting data, making charts and graphs and analyzing the data.

Science–We are focusing on plants and how to classify them.  We will also learn about various types of plant adaptations.  Be sure to ask your child about the experiment with seeds they did.  We planted three different kinds and determined if seeds need sun to germinate.  Students are observing how they grow.

Enjoy your week!

Oct 28th Week of October 28-November 1

Reminders for this week:

Our Halloween/Fall celebration will be on Thursday morning.  We will start cooking our pancakes in the morning and will enjoy a nice breakfast together!  We are still looking for an extra griddle to make pancakes if anyone has one.  There are a couple slots on the signup that are available as well.  We still need holiday plates, napkins cups and forks.

Parents are also welcome to attend the breakfast as well!

We are learning:

Spelling–Students continue to work on their own individualized lists.  This seems to be working quite well.  I am reminding the students that words spelled correctly on their tests should be spelled correctly in their writing.

Daily5/Cafe–Our focus this week is Making a Picture/Mental Image.  We will also be working on identifying characters and the traits that describe them.  Students finished their book club books and will be collaborating on a project to present the book.

Writer’s Workshop–We are working on informational writing and will be grouping facts about bats to inform readers.  Students will write a two paragraph piece using those facts.

Math–Third grade finished up Unit 1 with an assessment and will now move on to Unit 2.  We will begin the week with fact families with extension of those facts.  We will also be working on problem solving using parts and total number stories.

Fourth grade is also finishing Unit 1 and we focus on different names for numbers and place value.  They will also do a little work with collecting, organizing and analyzing data.

Social Studies–Third grade finished up their geography study of Michigan with their assessment on Friday.  Fourth grade will be looking at the regions of the U.S. and will compare/contrast two regions.

Science–We will be moving on to Science with the study of plants and animals.  We will begin with identifying plant parts and describe the functions of these parts.   We will then move on to animals.

Enjoy your week!

Happy Halloween!

Oct 21st Week of October 21-25

Thank you to parents who walked with us to the Farmer’s Market on Friday.  The kids had a great time and learned a lot about all the products made in Michigan!

Reminders this Week:

Math MEAP this week for both grades.  We will finish up on Tuesday!

We will be having a Halloween/Fall Celebration on Thursday, October 31st.  We will be having a breakfast to celebrate this year.  I will be posting a signup sheet outside the room this week.  Please sign up for what item you are willing to donate.   Thank you in advance!

We are learning:

Spelling–Students made their list today and the test will be on Friday.  We are continuing to work on their high frequency words.

Daily5/CAFE–Our focus this week is Expanding Vocabulary by tuning into interesting words and we will also work on Using Prior Knowledge to Connect to the text.  Students are continuing to work on their individual goals and I am conferencing with them individually and in small groups.  Be sure to ask your child about their goal and what strategy he/she is working on for their reading.

Writer’s Workshop–We are working on informational writing and students completed a quick write about their favorite book.  We will be now using facts to complete an piece of informational writing.  Third grade will be using Michigan facts and Fourth will be using information about the United States regions.

Math–Third grade is working in Unit 1 and is currently looking at graphs and information.  We will be discussing maximum, minimum, range, median and mode.   We will then move on to money and making change.

Fourth grade is working in Unit 1 on lines, line segments, polygons and will also do some practice with mental math patterns with addition and subtraction.

Social Studies–Third grade is finishing up their study of Michigan Geography.  They will be bringing home their folders with a study guide for review.  They will be assessed this week on the information.

Fourth grade is working on spatial maps and their purpose.  They will then look at the regions of the United States and compare/contrast them.

After both groups are finished with geography, we will move onto Life Science toward the end of the week.

Have a warm week!

Oct 17th Field Trip!

Tomorrow is our field trip to the Farmer’s Market!  Students will be able to identify Michigan products and the cities where they are located.   Please make sure you dress for the weather and if you are purchasing items, you may want to bring a bag to carry them.

We will not be going if it rains.