Bullies

The novel Wringer, the book we have been reading in fourth grade, examines the topic of bullying.  This is an important issue in schools.

Homework for today:
1.  Math Mr. Spaulding: p. 145-146
              Miss W:  Practice Test
              Mrs. Thompson: no homework
2.  Write about a time when you were bullied.
3.  Read for half and hour.
4.  Get parent initials.

Similes

Homework for today:
1.  Math Mr. Spaulding: p. 139-140.
               Miss W: p. 119-120.
               Mrs. Thompson:  p. 95-96.
2.  Create a simile for one of the characters.
3.  Read for half an hour.
4.  Get parent initials.

Properties of Addition

Knowing the properties of addition will help you in mathematics!

Today's homework:

1.  Math Mr. Spaulding:  Practice test.
              Miss W: p. 85-86.
              Mrs. Thompson:  Worksheet
2.  What did Dorothy do?  Did she do the right thing?
3.  Read for half an hour.

ASB (Associated Student Body) Elections

Fourth and fifth grade students at Rio Vista can run for ASB offices.

Today's homework:

1.  Math Mr. Spaulding:  p. 121-122
               Miss W: p. 103-104
               Mrs. Thompson:  Adding Worksheet
2.  If you were Nipper, where would you go every day?
3.  Read for half an hour.
4.  Get parent initials.

Dragon the Cat

Fourth graders are learning to compare and contrast.  Today they are contrasting two different cats from two different stories.

Today's homework:

1.  Math Mr. Spaulding:  p. 117-118

              Miss W:  p. 101.

              Mrs. Thompson:  p. 91-92

2.  Write about how Dragon and Panther are the same and different.

3.  Read for half an hour.

4.  Get parent initials.

Writing Well

Fourth graders are learning to be more effective writers.  The best ways to become a good writer are:

1.  Read a lot!
2.  Write a lot!
3.  Revise, edit and rewrite a lot!

Today's homework:
1.  Math Miss W:  p. 97-98
              Mr. Spaulding:  p. 111-112.
              Mrs. Thompson:  Reteach page
2.  Draw four of the ways the boys in Wringer bully Dorothy.
3.  Read for half an hour.
4.  Get parent initials.

Jerry Spinelli

Jerry Spinelli is an award winning author of children's books.  He wrote the novel we have been reading in fourth grade, Wringer.  It is about a boy growing up in a small town, and the moral choices he has to make.  It deals with themes of peer pressure and bullying.  It was a Newbery Honor Book in 1998.

Today's homework:

1.  Math Mr. Spaulding: p.103-104.
              Miss W: p. 92.
              Mrs. Thompson:  p. 82-83.
2.  Draw four things the bird does in Wringer.
3.  Read for half an hour.

Organization: The Key to Good Writing

Fourth graders are learning to organize their writing.  For essays we expect clear topic sentences supported by relevant details and examples, wrapped up with a conclusion.

Today's homework:
1.  Math Miss W:  p. 83-84
              Mr. Spaulding: p. 83-84.
              Mrs. Thompson: p. 77.
2.  Writing:  In Wringer, where did the pigeon come from?
3.  Read for half an hour.
4.  Get parent initials.

Close Reading

Fourth graders are learning to read texts carefully.  We do that through close reading of a text or portion of a text multiple times for different purposes.  Above is an example of a typical way to do close reading.

Homework for today.
1.  Math Mr. Spaulding:  p. 77-78.
              Miss W:  p. 69-70.
              Mrs. Thompson:  p. 65-66.
2.  Who do you think was at the door when the doorbell rang?  (Wringer p. 64)
3.  Read for half an hour.
4.  Get parent initials.

Producers, Consumers and Decomposers

Fourth graders are learning about the science concepts of producers, consumers and decomposers

Today's homework:

1.  Math Miss W: p. 65-66.
              Mr. Spaulding:  p. 71-72.
              Mrs. Thompson:  no homework.
2.  Consumers worksheet.
3.  Read for half and hour.
4.  Get parent initials.

Class Dojo

Dojo is a Japanese word meaning a room or hall in which judo and other martial arts are practiced.  But Class Dojo is different.  Class Dojo is a way for teachers, students, and parents to communicate, and to reinforce appropriate classroom behavior.  Please look for the Class Dojo information you child should be bringing home today, showing you how to access your account.


Today's homework:

1.  Math Miss W:  Practice test
               Mr. Spaulding: Practice test
               Mrs. Thomspon:  p. 50-51
2.  Similes.  Make up at least five new similes.
3.  Read for half an hour.
4.  Get parent initials.

Sensory Details

Fourth graders are learning to recognize and use sensory details.

Today's homework:
1.  Math Miss W: worksheet.
              Mrs. Thompson:  no homework
              Mr. Spaulding:  p. 65-66.
2.  Write a description of some event in your life.  Use lots of sensory details.
3.  Read for half an hour.
4.  Get parent initials.

Similes

It is a fourth grade standard for students to be able to recognize and use similes.  A simile is a figure of speech comparing one thing with another thing of a different kind, used to make a description more interesting or memorable.

Today's homework:

1.  Math Mr. Spaulding:  p. 47-48
              Miss W: worksheet
              Mrs. Thompson: p. 47-48.
2.  Write about your group of friends.
3.  Read for half an hour.
4.  Get parent initials.