News and Notes 10/3

News and Notes

From Fourth Grade

Patterns

In math this week the fourth graders became pattern detectives.  Using shapes and numbers, we discovered repeating patterns and sequences that follow various rules.  The fourth grade mathematicians were able to demonstrate great skills of observation by identifying and naming the different rules they observed in these patterns.  By the end of the week we were able to describe, continue, write rules, and create tables for patterns and sequences.  Since much of math is observing patterns, the work we completed this week is foundational to much of the math we will be exploring later in the year.  This week the fourth grade mathematicians proved themselves to be very capable with patterns!

Text Features

Reading nonfiction texts, especially expository texts, requires a very different set of strategies than reading narrative fiction.  The fourth grade readers have been exploring comprehension strategies for reading informational texts.  This week we looked more deeply at text features that help make nonfiction texts more reader-friendly.  From the title and table of contents to the glossary and index, the fourth grade readers practiced using text features to gather information while reading.  As the fourth graders progress through their academic careers, it will become increasingly important that they know how to collect information from nonfiction sources.  Being able to comfortably define a key word using a glossary, or find the correct page number for a given topic using an index is such an essential skill for a reader and researcher!  The fourth graders have been practicing these skills by reading a variety of nonfiction texts, including texts about basketball, school lunches, and immigration.  Regardless of the subject matter, the fourth grade readers are demonstrating great skill and learning on how to collect information from nonfiction texts using text features.

The Unspeakable Word

Of course there are many words that would be unacceptable for the fourth grade classroom, but there is only one word that is "banned" from our daily speech.  This word is posted on the board and quickly becomes taboo for fourth graders.  This word is "can't."  Of course, there are times when we all feel like we "can't."  We can't find time to complete a project.  We can't find energy to do our work.  We can't find the solution to a given problem...  It is easy, and maybe human nature, to look at something that is challenging and determine to give up.  Well, in fourth grade we certainly face our fair share of challenges.  One of our big goals this year is to help each other find ways to address the challenges we face.  Sometimes that might be taking a break to get a fresh perspective or finding a new problem-solving strategy or asking a friend or teacher for help.  Whatever the case, our goal is to stick with the challenge, to live optimistically and expect that if we don't say "can't" that we'll be able to find success, even in our challenges.  So, here's to saying "I can!" and "We will do our best!" and "We will try!"