May Blog

  - Ask Your Child About -

• We are starting division- are you fluent in your 1-12 multiplication facts?
• What is long multiplication?  Show how to use the box method and the standard algorithm. 
• How do you find a common denominator?
• What can you do for the 4th grade family talent show?

• Math
• Unit 11 multiplying and dividing
•  double digit multiplication
• division as the inverse operation of multiplication
• IXL whole class challenges

• Literacy (Read Aloud, Word Study, Reading, Writing)
•  Read Aloud-  Refugee
• What is an example of a motif?  
• studying how characters change over time (character development)

• Science/Social Studies/Global Perspectives
•  Continents
• Wild Weather!
• How do we actively listen to others?
• Kindness bingo- choose a random act of kindness square

• Homework
• nightly reading 30 minute minimum
• practice math facts!!!! Math review page sent Monday due Thursday
• Thursday reflections signed and returned weekly

- Announcements 

We are on the home stretch now and there will be many events to look forward to!  

• First Annual Forth Grade Family Talent Show  June 4th
• Buck Island Beach Day  June 8th 
• Field day is TBD at present...
• Attention any families looking for academic support or nannying this summer- Ms. Lang is AMAZING with your students and I would highly recommend her services for any child needing some support over summer break so that they are strong and confident coming back to school in the Fall.  If interested please text or email me and I will provide her contact details.

  - Ask Your Child About -

• We are starting division- are you fluent in your 1-12 multiplication facts?
• What have you learned in literacy about refugees?
• How do you find a common denominator?

• Math
• Unit 9 adding and subtracting fractions
•  double digit multiplication
• adding decimals
• division as the inverse operation of multiplication

• Literacy (Read Aloud, Word Study, Reading, Writing)
•  Read Aloud-  Refugee
• strengthening reading stamina
• studying how characters change over time (character development)

• Science/Social Studies/Global Perspectives
•  Nifty 50 specifically the South Eastern region
• Wild Weather!

• Homework
• nightly reading 30 minute minimum
• practice math facts!!!! Math review page sent Monday due Thursday
• Thursday reflections signed and returned weekly

- Announcements 

Welcome back to the last trimester of 4th grade! We are continuing to push quickly in our studies and we know this trimester surely goes the fastest of all.  Conferences are optional this trimester.  If you would like to schedule a conference with me on Thursday April 2nd please email me.

 Welcome back all!  Happy New Year and I hope you all had a relaxing and delightful Winter vacation.  I am so grateful to all of you and the thoughtful and generous gifts you chose for me!  We are slowly getting back in the groove so that we can finish up 4th grade (sad) strong! This announcement will contain the academic focus for the next two weeks.  Please reach out if you need anything or have any further questions.

~Dana

 - Ask Your Child About -

• How do you do the standard algorithm in double digit/single digit multiplication?
• We are starting division- are you fluent in your 1-12 multiplication facts?
• What have you learned in your research about the systems of the human body?
• How does the brain send messages to the body?

• Math
• Unit 6
• Unit 6 3D shapes
• Beginning double digit multiplication
• adding decimals
• division as the inverse operation of multiplication

• Literacy (Read Aloud, Word Study, Reading, Writing)
•  Number the Stars in our historic fiction unit- 
• Weekend news
• Author study
• strengthening reading stamina

• Science/Social Studies/Global Perspectives
•  Nifty 50 specifically the North East region
• Animal and Human adaptations- the systems of the human body

• Homework
• nightly reading 30 minute minimum
• practice math facts!!!!
• Thursday reflections signed and returned weekly

- Announcements 

• It's division time!!!  Please practice multiplication facts on the car ride to or from school, at dinner, breakfast, anytime you can.  This is the foundation for all the math to come.  Make it fun but please start this practice.  We have added fluency practice to our math block but repetition is key!
• Valentine's Day will focus on friendship and building strong relationships with peers.  We would love to host a pancake breakfast on Friday Feb. 13th open to families and siblings, grandparents or your favorite neighbor!  Our amazing Ms. Rosa will be sending out feelers for donations and volunteers to lend skillets or their flippin' stacks skills.  

Welcome back all!  Happy December and I hope you all had a relaxing and delightful Thanksgiving vacation.  I spent much needed quality time with a few books of my choice, a chair in the sand and a puppy to cuddle.  It was delightful and now it is equally delightful to be back in the swing and to wrap up 2025!

We are happy to welcome our amazing Ms. Lang!  She has wonderful experience and her philosophy of teaching and nurturing children blends perfectly with our GHCDS beliefs.  The kiddos have been welcoming and very respectful of her and her support position in our classroom community. 

Students are welcome to bring in a favorite holiday book to share with the class.  If you are interested in being a special guest reader anytime in the next 2 weeks please let me know!  Otherwise, we will borrow your treasured story and either I or your student will read it to the class.

~Dana D. Noe

 - Ask Your Child About -

• How do you do the standard algorithm in double digit/single digit multiplication?
• Want to review those spelling words one more time before Thursday?
• How many frog species to scientists believe exist?
• What is "walk about" writing?

• Math
• Unit 5
• Unit 5 adding and subtracting with decimals
• Beginning double digit multiplication
• adding decimals

• Literacy (Read Aloud, Word Study, Reading, Writing)
•  Number the Stars in our historic fiction unit- 
• Weekend news
• Author study
• strengthening reading stamina

• Science/Social Studies/Global Perspectives
•  Nifty 50 specifically the North East region
• Animal and Human adaptations  - tree root systems

• Homework
• nightly reading 30 minute minimum
• Thursday reflections signed and returned weekly

- Announcements 

• Monday the 8th raffle tickets on sale each morning for donation raffle
• Thursday the 18th music concert at 8:45 and an in class cookie exchange (details to be announced)
• Friday the 19th The Polar Express celebration of learning in the afternoon (volunteers and donations will be requested shortly for this in class event)
• Christmas break 12/22-1/6

  Happy short week and then vacation!!!  Upcoming events this week include...

 - Ask Your Child About -

• Multiplication fact practice, favorite tool to use in class
• Teach me the fifty nifty song please?

• Math
• Unit 5
• Unit 5 adding and subtracting with decimals
• Beginning double digit multiplication

• Literacy (Read Aloud, Word Study, Reading, Writing)
•  Number the Stars in our historic fiction unit- 
• Weekend news
• Author study
• November gratitude challenge

• Science/Social Studies/Global Perspectives
•  Nifty 50 specifically the North East region (Connecticut this week)
• Animal and Human adaptations  - tree root systems

• Homework
• nightly reading 30 minute minimum
• Thursday reflections signed and returned weekly

- Announcements - 

• Remember- Thursday is a full school day.  The feast will end around 1:00 just let me know if your kiddo is leaving early with you or another family. 
• In classroom spelling bees will be held on 12/8, top two spellers will go on at the end of the month to be in the schoolwide spelling bee.
• Report card work is beginning...  End of the first trimester is next Thursday. 
• Family Gathering of Thanks for the lower school is next Thursday the 20th.  Please sign up if you can send a dish or volunteer!

 Happy short week and then vacation!!!  Upcoming events this week include...

 - Ask Your Child About -

• Multiplication fact practice, favorite tool to use in class?
•  Why do some trees have shallow root systems vs. deep systems?
• Can I quick quiz you on your spelling words?
• Who is Patricia Polacco?  How is she inspired to think up her stories?
• Teach me the fifty nifty song please?

• Math
• Unit 1-4 review
• Unit 5 adding and subtracting with decimals
• Beginning double digit multiplication

• Literacy (Read Aloud, Word Study, Reading, Writing)
•  Number the Stars in our historic fiction unit- 
• New spelling words
• Weekend news
• Author study
• November gratitude challenge

• Science/Social Studies/Global Perspectives
•  Nifty 50 specifically the North East region (Connecticut this week)
• Animal and Human adaptations  - tree root systems

• Homework
• nightly reading 30 minute minimum
• Thursday reflections signed and returned weekly

- Announcements - 

• In classroom spelling bees will be held on 12/8, top two spellers will go on at the end of the month to be in the schoolwide spelling bee.
• Report card work is beginning...  End of the first trimester is next Thursday. 
• Family Gathering of Thanks for the lower school is next Thursday the 20th.  Please sign up if you can send a dish or volunteer!

Upcoming events this week include...

 - Ask Your Child About -

• What is rare about a frog fish?
•  Why do our stomachs growl
• May I see your new spelling list?
• What does mode mean in math?

• Math
• 4th grade mid year assessment
• Unit 4- Averages
• Identifying number patterns

• Literacy (Read Aloud, Word Study, Reading, Writing)
• Beginning Number the Stars in our historic fiction unit
• New spelling words
• Weekend news

• Science/Social Studies/Global Perspectives
•    Nifty 50 specifically the North East region (Rhode Island this week)
• Animal and Human adaptations   

• Homework
• nightly reading 30 minute minimum
• Thursday reflections signed and returned weekly

- Announcements - 

• Our pumpkins were a BIG hit!  They looked great and it's all thanks to this amazing group of adults supporting kiddos and our school, many thanks!
• 12 learning days until Thanksgiving break!  If you have a student traveling please let me know so that we can say goodbye :)
• We will be writing more in our gratitude journals (great conversation starter at home)

-