Language Conventions - "Parts of Speech"

4Plante spent some time today in the Learning P.I.T. working with nouns, verbs, and adjectives. Thankfully we were able to use the following link to help us out. Everyone loved it and we had a great time seeing what kinds of tales our words could create. I encourage you to visit the site with your children and create stories of your own. There is a wonderful 'helper icon' on the site that defines each part of speech (noun, verb, adverb...) and gives excellent examples. Also, if you do create a tale that is worthy of sharing please print it out and I will share it with the class when we need a laugh on a rainy day.

Enjoy!

Wacky Web Tales

Addition of multi-digit numbers

We are now working on adding multi-digit numbers. Today we learned 3 'helpful tips' for success in this area.  Multi-digit questions will range from double-digit numbers to five-digit numbers depending on individual abilities.

Students must always:
1. Be aware of your place value (lining up the numbers properly for horizontal questions)

2. Remember when you need to 'carry over' (when the sum in any column is greater than 9 you must 'carry over' to the next column on the left.

3. Be accurate with your single-digit addition (small mistakes in adding can lead to frustration)

Please visit the 'student portal' link attached to the blog.  Once you've logged in, you can search any of the doors for the Mathematics Icon. There will be a variety of addition games and activities for your children to explore. However, please remember to 'check-in' from time to time while they are playing. Not every game or activity monitors their success rate. Accuracy in quick single and multi-digit addition allows for increased success when more complex questions (word problems) are introduced.

Life Event - Main Ideas and Supporting Details

Next week in Literacy we will be partnering up to create interviews based on 'life events'. One student will assume the role of the 'interviewer' and the other will assume the roll of the 'interviewee'.  Students are learning how to use a Main Idea (Life Event) and supporting details to create an informative interview.  All of our written work and interview practice will be done at school during class time. However, your children may ask some clarification questions surrounding their chosen life event as we progress through the assignment. Students who are chosen as 'interviewers' will still be responsible for writing about their life event.

MATH - Number Sense and Numeration

Our first math strand is Number Sense and Numeration (Whole Numbers to 10 000)

The overall expectations for this strand are as follows:
by the end of grade 4 students will...

• solve problems involving the addition and subtraction of single and multi digit numbers.
• read, represent, compare, and order whole numbers to 10 000. 

Over the next few weeks we will be practicing and working towards achieving these expectations. Our primary resource will be our Math Makes Sense textbook. However, other resources and supplementary hands-on activities will be included regularly. Students can always practice ordering numbers, rounding to the nearest ten, hundred and thousand, or single and multi-digit addition and subtraction (with carrying over and borrowing) at home with or with out their books!

During our daily 60 minute math block, we discuss and practice solutions to key questions and re-inforce strategies that are the most important and effective. We also focus on individual strategies as there are often several ways to arrive at a solution.  We do not 'take-up' every homework question as a class. There simply isn't enough time.  Rather, students are quizzed frequently and complete math journals and independent questions to demonstrate understanding. I also make a point to 'check-in' with small groups of students daily to ensure they are meeting their goals.

Wednesday Masses at Corpus Christi

This year our class will be joining Mr. Cowan's 4/5 for Wednesday morning mass at Corpus Christi Parish. Mass begins promptly at 8:30. We will be leaving for mass (from the school) at approximately 8:20. Mr. Cowan will accompany any late or remaining bus students.  We are blessed to have a wonderful and welcoming parish community. Join us if you can!

Helpful Links

Please take some time to 'check out' some of the Helpful Links that are attached to our Blog. The MONTHLY FEATURE (purple door) on the WECDSB student portal has several great typing programs to motivate your children to begin learning appropriate keyboarding skills. Keyboarding and appropriate computer skills are important in the classroom. If your child can develop these skills early on it will only benefit them as they progress through junior and senior grades. Additional Links will be posted so please check back.

Welcome to 4 Plante

September has arrived!

Our classroom blog is up and running! My objective for this blog is to keep you informed and up to date with what's going on in our classroom.  My goal is to create posts based on what we are learning and post pictures of student work to give you an idea of what happens throughout the day in 4P.  I may also share educational and inspirational video clips from time to time. Although new posts may not occur daily, I will do my best to keep current with what we are covering and use the blog as an added means of communication between school and home.  As the blog moderator I am the only person able to post to this blog.  You as the viewer will have the ability to read and view all posts but can not post comments.  Our classroom blog does not replace your child's agenda. Homework and assignment due dates may not always be posted to the blog.  Please continue to check your child's agenda periodically throughout the week. If you have any questions or concerns regarding our classroom blog please notify me through the agenda.  We have discussed in class the importance of always asking a parent, or adult beforing logging on to the Internet.

Thanks,

Mrs. L Plante