Our class will celebrate the season with a fun craft project on Tuesday, December 23rd.  

Please send your child to school with a special snack so everyone can enjoy a yummy treat from home after we finish creating the craft.  Thank you!

Happy Holidays!!!

December in Room 49

Math -Division, division, division!  The students have been working very hard to learn new division skills.  In fourth grade we teach long division using the area model (box method) and partial quotients.  After learning both methods, students are asked to choose the strategy that works best for them.  New division skills will then be applied to interpreting and solving word problems

ELA -Greek Mythology!  We have been learning about the different characters and themes in Greek Myths.  This week the students will be performing reader's theater mini-plays highlighting some of the famous Greek characters.  In Writer's Workshop, they are creating a new god/goddess and writing an original myth.

Social Studies - The Southeast Region -we are learning about the physical features, climate, products, resources, landmarks, and culture of all 12 southeast states.  This week students will create a "license plate" highlighting a SE state.

Science -the students are learning about the Periodic Table of Elements and atoms!

Pajama Program

Friday is the last day to donate to this wonderful cause.  I have attached a video with an overview of the Pajama Program.

On Friday, December 5th, MSES will have PJ Day.  Students are welcome to wear pajamas (with regular shoes).  Our class may also bring in books, board games, a blanket or sleeping bag, and a stuffed animal.  We will spend some time in the afternoon "relaxing" in our PJ's!

Thank you for your support!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends!  

Nearing the end of the trimester....

Room 49 Update

This is the last full week of school before marks close.  Besides wrapping up some of our current units, the students will also be taking the Math and ELA Trimester assessments.  All students will receive their first report card on Friday, December 5th.


Time Management

Please help your child manage their time effectively this week and next week (Monday and Tuesday). There are new assignments, which students will need to work on throughout the week.  The assignments are as follows:

Math -Monday and Tuesday nights ONLY this week

Reading - RAZ Kids 

Writing -Thanksgiving story -due Monday

Spelling -Tic Tac Toe activities are due Friday

Social Studies -Northeast Test -Tuesday, 11/25 *study guide sent home on Tuesday 11/18

Thank you for your continued support.  Have a great week!

RAZ Kids!

Raz-Kids is up and running!
This week instead of completing a reading log, I would like students to read (and complete the quiz) for at least two Raz-Kids books.  It's easy...just use the Raz-Kids link, find your name, and start reading!  You can also access the program from any tablet, phone, etc.  The password for ALL users is fsarahb.  Happy Reading!

Halloween Fun!

Here are the pictures from our Halloween Party!

Check out our spiderweb greeting and cool pumpkin craft!

The end of October....

So we wrapped up our week with a fun Halloween Party!  The kids enjoyed making two great crafts. Stay tuned for pictures!

Here are some updates on what we've been learning in Room 49.

Math: This week we wrapped up our unit on Multiplication and Division Concepts.  Next week we will begin learning how to multiply larger numbers using the box method, partial products, and the algorithm.  Keep practicing those multiplication facts!

Social Studies: We are learning about the Northeast Region of the USA.  This includes 11 states (New England and the Mid-Atlantic states).  Our focus has been learning about the land, natural resources, landmarks, and culture of these states.

Science: The class took their first Science test this week on Rocks, Weathering, and Erosion.  Next week they will begin learning about Energy.

Reading: The students are working with their literature circle to read and discuss an Andrew Clements novel.

Language Arts: The students finished writing the first draft of their Fall Favorites story.  Next week they will be bringing their notebooks home to type a final draft.  We have also been learning about figurative language and how it adds detail and creativity to stories and poetry.    Check out this You Tube video, which demonstrates the use of figurative language in songs.  We watched this many times and were able to see that similes and hyperboles are used most often in song lyrics.

Next week there is no school on Tuesday, November 4th because it is a teacher professional development day.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Variables, expressions, and equations...oh my!

Need extra algebra practice?  
Check out the variety of games on Math Playground!  

Halloween Happenings....

Halloween Party!

Next Friday, October 31^st is Crazy Hat Day! 

We will also celebrate in the afternoon

with a pumpkin craft project. J

Please send your child to school

with an individual* special Halloween snack  

and a drink (cookie, cupcake, snack mix, etc.). 

*Information was sent home

this week about the district’s

new wellness policy.

Thank you!

Let me know if you

have any questions.

Rock Detectives!

On Friday our class attended a workshop called Geology: Rock Detectives!  The students explored the different types of rocks and how they form over geologic time.  Working in small groups they rotated through six hands-on stations where they made observations and conducted experiments.  Finally, each group used an identification chart to discover the name and type of rock they were studying.  Thank you to Hannah and the Boston Museum of Science for this wonderful workshop!  

Click HERE for more pictures from ROCK DETECTIVES! 

October Happenings...

Creative Writing: 

All stories are due by Tuesday, October 14th.  

An illustration, project, or small craft should also be created to go with the story.  

*Remember to practice reading your story aloud to someone at home so you are prepared to share with the class.

Multiplication:

This week we began our multiplication and division unit.  All students have been making progress with their facts. Please continue to use xtramath.org at home.  

Reading:

This week we began our Andrew Clements literature circles.  Students are working in small groups to read and discuss a realistic fiction book.  

Social Studies:

The students have a Map Skills test on Tuesday, October 14th.  The study guide was sent home this past Tuesday.  Just a few minutes of practice each day will help your child be prepared for the test.

Upcoming events.....the Rock Detective program will be visiting the fourth grade soon!  More details to follow.

Gravestones and Games

Click HERE to check out new photos from two activities this week!

RIP Boring Words!
This week the class created a spook-tacular display outside the library.  Everyone chose a boring word and then used a thesaurus, computer or ipad to find synonyms for the words.

Each gravestone says RIP, here lies........ with a list of awesome synonyms to replace the boring word.  The students will be encouraged to use all the new vocabulary in their writing.


Frindle Jeopardy
To wrap-up this great unit, the class played an exciting game of Frindle Jeopardy, which included questions about the characters, setting, and plot of the book.  "The Millionaires" beat "The Rulers" with a score of $3,000 to $2,650.  Good sportsmanship was showed by all!

Mystery Reader Sign-Up!

Click here to see the Mystery Reader sign-up.

Thank you Mrs. Miller for creating this!

A look at out week...

Math -We continued to practice place value and rounding this week. The students participated in a variety of lessons, which helped them develop a deeper understanding of larger numbers. Next week ww will practice adding and subtracting with numbers through the millions!

Social Studies-Thank you for sending in the poster board! The students are busy learning about grids, landforms, map scale, and more. They will begin working on their Treasure Island maps next week. 

Reading -We finished reading Frindle! Next week we will wrap up this book unit with a final assessment, jeopardy game, and creative art project. Leveled book groups will be up and running soon.

Science -Mrs. Demartini is teaching the class about rocks, minerals, weathering, and erosion right now.

ELA -The students worked on writing personal narratives in their Writer's Journals. They also learned about the root word "uni" and created flashcards and Word Maps to help them learn the meaning of ten new vocabulary words.

Open House

Thank you to all the parents who attended Back to School Night on Tuesday. It was so nice to meet everyone. Please feel free to contact me at any time throughout the year with questions or concerns.

All School Assembly 9-19-14

Enemy Pie Presentation -All School Assembly

Great Job Room 49!!!

Check out more photos in the Photos from the Classroom section!

A look at our week....

Math -We've been working on place value with numbers through the millions.  This week we will practice rounding, comparing, and ordering numbers.  The students will begin their weekly multiplication fact tests on Friday.  Please make sure your child is practicing their facts at home.

Reading - Our class is doing an author study on Andrew Clements this month.  Our first book is Frindle, which is a wonderful realistic fiction about the power of words.  Soon, the students will be divided into book groups and will learn how to read and discuss a novel in a literature circle.  

*This week the students will complete a reading log at home for a chapter book they're reading.  

Language Arts -"Take a LOOK at my Summer Vacation" is the topic of our first writing workshop.  The students are enjoying writing about a favorite summer memory.  A special art project accompanies this assignment.

Social Studies and Science - In Social Studies we're learning about the continents and oceans.  This week we will start a map skills project called Treasure Island.  This interactive project combines geography skills and creativity.  In Science the students are learning about rocks minerals with Mrs. Demartini.

Monday.....the start of our first five-day week!

We started off the day with a presentation from the French Music Company.  If your child would like to play an instrument, please return the form by September 15th.

Math
This week the students will begin receiving math homework (Monday-Thursday).  The challenge is optional BUT students must complete at least one per week.

Reading
Students should be reading at home for 15-20 minutes each night.  Next week they will be completing reading response activities at home.  In class we are using the book Frindle to model reading strategies and book groups.

Language Arts
This week students will have the opportunity to write about a favorite memory from this summer.  A fun art project accompanies this writing workshop.

As a class we will continue to get to know each other and develop our classroom rules and routines.  Feel free to contact me with any questions.

A HOT, but FUN first day!

The students and I had a great first day!  The classroom was VERY hot, but we survived.  We spent the day getting to know each other and the classroom routines.  The students should be working on their "Me Bags" at home.  They are due by Thursday.  Also, please remember to sign your child's agenda Monday-Thursday nights.  We will begin our regular homework routine next week.  If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to email me: fontaines@grafton.k12.ma.us.