WELCOME TO FOURTH GRADE Mary Hofman

SPECIAL HIGHLIGHTS! Service Squad Tutoring Buddies Speech Contest Michigan Biographies Field Trips Henry Ford: If I Had a Hammer Nov. 16 RIF? Lansing: March 12 Opera? March 23 Picnic – Spencer Park: June 15

READING WORKSHOP! Genre Study Fiction: Realistic and Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Poetry, Myths/Legends, Adventure Non-Fiction: Autobiography, Biography, Almanac, Newspaper Read Alouds Making Meaning Reading Groups/Book Clubs Storyworks and Scholastic News Monthly Reading Log (To, With, & By) Sept. 30 Book Reports

READING WORKSHOP! Make Connections Ask Questions Make Predictions Visualize Summarize Draw conclusions Determine Main Idea Repair Comprehension (Does it make sense?) Retelling (character, setting, problem, solution, main idea, theme) Reader’s Notebook:

SPELLING AND GRAMMAR! Words assigned every Friday Test every Friday Homework due every Friday Grammar, Punctuation, and Dictionary Skills are taught through the spelling workbook and packets.

WRITING WORKSHOP Genres: Narrative Expository Persuasive Creative Writing Examples: Poetry, Advertisements, Recipes, Fun, fun, fun!!!!

WRITING WORKSHOP! Six (Plus One)Traits Ideas Organization Voice Word Choice Sentence Fluency Conventions Presentation Writing Process Pre-Write - Brainstorm Rough Draft - Write Conference - Talk Revise – Look and Change Edit – Check Publish – Final Copy! Writer’s Notebook!

MATH! Number Sense and Operations: Place value to 1,000,000 Addition/Subtraction to 4-5 digits Multiplication/Division of 2-digit numbers Addition/Subtraction of fractions Patterns, Relationships, and Algebra Geometry Measurement Data Analysis, Statistics, and Probability ADD Math: Due Daily By the end of Fourth Grade, students should be able to do: 100 Multiplication Facts in 5 minutes and 100 Division Facts in 5 minutes

PROBLEM SOLVING STEPS! Circle the question Read questions first for focus Underline important information Highlight Box key words Choose a strategy Check your work Write a complete answer

PROBLEM SOLVING STRATEGIES! Draw a diagram or a picture Make a model Make an organized list Make a table/graph Find a pattern Predict and test Guess and check Work backward Solve a simpler problem Write a number sentence Logical reasoning Process of elimination

SCIENCE! Scientific Process Question, hypothesis, experiment, data collection, and conclusion Hands on Experiences Science Units Sun, Earth and Moon Magnetism and Electricity Ecosystems

SOCIAL STUDIES! Concepts will be taught through: Geography History Government Economy Core Democratic Value Maps, charts, timelines, tables Michigan to U. S. Current Events Michigan Biographies

COMPUTERS! Word Processing Power Point Presentations Graphs Internet Searches Skill and Concept Practice

School Improvement Goals Writing: All students will increase their proficiency in written expression. Math: All students will increase their ability to compute math facts. Reading: All students will increase reading comprehension. Students will use their three ring binders to track the progress of these goals.

MISCELLANEOUS MEAP Testing in October Healthy breakfast, good night’s sleep, positive attitude! Grades: Percentages and A, B, C, D, E High Five/Bucket Fillers Be responsible, kind, respectful, safe, and cooperative Healthy Snacks AM and PM Goal Binders: Reading, Writing, and Math Take Home Folder and Weekly Folder Planner Please continue signing the planner every day.

UNITY I dreamed I stood in a studio and watched two sculptors there. The clay they used was a young child’s mind. And they fashioned it with care. One was a teacher. The tools he used were books and music and art. One, a parent with a guiding hand and a gentle, loving heart. With a touch that was deft and sure, the teacher toiled day by day, And each night the parents followed through in their own way, And when at last their task was done. They were proud of what they had wrought. For the things they had molded into the child could neither be sold nor bought. And each agreed he would have failed if he had worked alone. For behind the parent stood the school, and behind the teacher the home.

I look forward to a wonderful year working with you and your child! Before you leave… Please sign up for a conference. If you are able, please volunteer. Feel free to contact me anytime at…