Fierce Fourth Graders: Thursday March 2, 2017

Hi everyone,

This morning after meditating we did a grammar lesson on quotation marks. Afterwards, during Math, we learned how to estimate and measure lengths using centimeters and millimeters. Later, in Science, we had fantastic discussions about the inner and outer planets and I loved all of the questions the students asked. Such budding little scientists they are!

Important information and announcements for parents and students:

There is a lot going on as we bring quarter 3 to a close so I just wanted to touch base and make sure we are all on the same page so that we can best support each other.

*Their final copies of their short story are due on Monday March 6. I will be finished going through them and offering feedback on their drafts by tomorrow so they will have the weekends to edit and polish them.

2 *Monday March 13 their Social Studies final project is due. We are doing a diorama and informational report project in lieu of an exam this quarter. I have already gone over all of the project details and expectations, handed out the outline and rubric, as well as shared a copy of it on Google docs and posted it on the blog. The diorama is worth 15% and the report is worth the other 15% for their final exam grade.

*Tuesday March 14 and Wednesday March 15 are half days for exams. Students will be dismissed at 11:45am before lunch. Tuesday they will write their Language and Math exams and Wednesday they will write their Science and Reading exams.

4 *Wednesday March 15 at 8:30am their final Science project is also due. Again, I have already gone over all of the project details and expectations, handed out the outline and rubric, as well as shared a copy of it on Google docs and posted it on the blog. The project, a solar system model, will be worth 15% of their final exam grade, and the written test will be worth the other 15%.

* *I will do my best not to assign very much or any homework between now and exams. That means, however, that students need to use the class time offered to them to finish work. If they do not, this work will still need to completed in the evening.

5 *April 27 and 28 Dominican will be hosting an Invention Convention which is an exciting updated version of our annual Science Fair. Most of this will need to be done at home but I have created a step by step information and planning booklet to guide students. Although I will be handing this out and going over it with them tomorrow, we will only really get the ball rolling on it after exams. For now their priority is staying organized, and on top of all of their projects and exams. I have talked with them at great length about doing a little work each night and not leaving it all until the end. Slow and steady wins the race!

Today's math objective was to estimate and measure lengths using a centimeter ruler. Here are some snapshots of the action!