Grade 4 is CARROÇÃO!

Inspire. Challenge. Succeed. 

Every Student... Every Heart... Every Mind... Parabéns Grade 4! We are inspired by your participation at o Sítio do Carroção! You embraced challenges during the different adventures and team building activities, and soared to success both personally and socially. 

Ms Arcenas' class uses a thinking routine to reflect about their experiences at o Sítio do Carroção during BRSS with Dona Sandra.

Reflecting on our journey... Grade 4 had the opportunity to reflect on their experiences and make connections to Graded's Mission Statement: Inspire, Challenge, Succeed. 

Parents, it can be challenging to get our children to talk about the experiences we had at o Sítio do Carroção in depth and in detail. Please take the time to discuss with your child the following questions so that he/she can open up and reflect deeply on his/her experiences: 

• In what ways did you feel inspired?
• In what ways were you challenged?
• In what ways did you find success?
• In what ways did you help others or in what what ways were you helped?

Grade 4 describes their learning... Take a look at the student reflections below about o Sítio do Carroção. In what ways could you connect your experiences to that of the following student examples? 

Ana Helena

Fernanda

Grade 4 Carroção photos... Follow the instructions to view the photos from our field trip!

1. Open the Carroção website

2. Select "ESCOLAS"

3. Select "FOTOS E VIDEOS DE ESCOLAS - VER TODAS"

4. Select "AREA DO CLIENTE"

5. Select "SOU CLIENTE E POSSUO UMA CONTA"

6. Enter Email: lara.baines@graded.br

7. Enter Password - 150971

8. Click 2018 and Graded

9. Access Key: 608555

Curriculum Corner

Literacy. Students are completing their information writing piece. We will soon launch our author study reading unit where students will apply their narrative reading skills. In groups, students will discuss and analyze the author's craft in order to identify the themes in his/her stories. Students will select specific text evidence to support their ideas and interpretations in a literary response. Also, students should be reading at least 30 minutes a day. You can support your child by asking him/her questions about the reading, and/or reading aloud with them.

Copy and print this image and create your own reading bookmark!

Use the strategies below to help guide your discussions about the fiction and nonfiction texts your child is reading.

Reading Fiction

Reading Nonfiction
   

Math. We will begin a new unit in Math: Fractions and Their Uses; Chance and Probability. Please review the Unit 7: Family Letter that provides important background information, vocabulary, do-anytime activities and homework support. Additional resources, including information about all Grade 4 math units, can be found under "Math Links" on the blog. 

Students, watch the videos to help strengthen your understanding of both new and old mathematical concepts. It is important that you continue to practice your multiplication facts and division strategies at home on a regular basis.

Fractions

Division

Multiplication

Students, review the skills and concepts learned in our previous math units by rewatching the Math Antics Video Lessons. Sharpen your skills by playing the math games and watching the BrainPop videos listed below.

• Shepard math games
• Funbrain multiplication games
• Virtual math manipulatives
• Create a graph
• Time games
• Points, Line Segments and Rays - BrainPop Jr.
• Congruent and Similar Shapes - BrainPop Jr.
• Angles - BrainPop
• Order of Operations - BrainPop 
• Mean, Medium, Mode and Range - BrainPop 
• Coordinate Plane - BrainPop

Parents, encourage a growth mindset in your child for Math!

Units of Study. Students have began to explore and extend their understanding of energy and matter transformations through their participation in investigations, observations, and shared reading of our science textbook. Students are applying the scientific method in various science experiments, and are using the design process to create their own version of the Bottle Rocket Experiment (you may try this experiment at home too!)

Students, rewatch the following videos to help strengthen your understanding about energy and matter transformations. 

• Forms of Energy - BrainPop
• Energy Sources - BrainPop Jr.
• Energy - Bill Nye
• Phases of Matter - Bill Nye

Students, remember to make connections to our Transformations expert vocabulary throughout our unit!

Homework Expectations

Exploring our passions will teach us to be lifelong learners. With this in mind, we feel that time outside of the classroom is important in order to pursue our interests. 

The following are our homework expectations for Grade 4:

• Read 30 minutes
• Complete one Math worksheet every 2 days
• Complete unfinished class work
• Review our Grade 4 blog for additional curricular information and/or to extend the learning at home

Grade 4, practice and develop a growth mindset!

Parents, make your thinking visible at home! Learning to be flexible in our thinking allows us to reflect and make meaningful connections to the world around us; therefore, a culture of thinking for active, healthy and mindful living is created! 

Provide Time to Pursue Passions... Our Maracujá (passion learning) journey is well underway! Continue to help your child prepare for this meaningful learning experience by providing the space he/she needs to pursue passions and interests. Throughout the Maracujá process, let your child explore further his/her passion in order to foster a love for lifelong learning. Purposely provide the time for your child to fully engage in it! Pursuing our passions allows us to be inspired, to face challenges and to succeed (Ron Ritchhart, 10 Parent Applications, Project Zero at Harvard Graduate School of Education).

Students are documenting their learning in their Maracujá Digital Notebook. Parents, ask your child to share his/her Maracujá process with you!

One School. One Community. One Graded.

Grade 4 Gives! WOW Grade 4! As a result of your participation in our Trade and Economy Marketplace Activity, collectively, you have raised a grand total of R$5,371.20 for The Graded Scholar Program! Your desire to give back to our Graded community is an inspiration to us all! Stay tuned for information regarding a celebration ceremony in the near future.

MAP Testing May 9, 11 and 16... MAP tests are computerized tests to measure students' growth throughout the school year. While these tests are not tied to your child's grades, they are still considered important indicators of his/her growth; therefore, it is important that we encourage our children to do their best! Your child may practice for the MAP tests (Math, Reading and Language) by using online resources such as BrainPop, Mathletics and NoRedInk (links can be found on the sidebar to the right of the blog). Practicing these skills online may help your child become more comfortable taking the test using a computer format.

You can support your child during MAP testing by taking the following actions:

• Make sure your child gets a full night's sleep the night before the test
• Make sure your child eats a healthy breakfast the morning of the test
• Encourage your child to do his/her best - remember, the focus is growth in your child's skills

News from the Library... Creating a culture of reading in a school, and at home, is about promoting reading and discussing books as a positive, fun thing to do for our whole lives! Students in some classes have been using Biblionasium online to make recommendations to each other and see what their friends are reading. A 5th grader recently told me that with Biblionasium, "I never have to wonder what I should read next because I have so many good recommendations from friends!"

Your child can use Destiny Discover to access the online library resources at home! Students can open them directly on their devices once they've logged into Destiny Discover. Please ask Dr. Purcell if you have any questions about accessing the eBooks. Enjoy! Also, check out the following book recommendations!

Maracujá Guest Presenters... Grade 4, get ready to be inspired! Parent guest speakers will be coming to share their passion during our Maracujá work sessions. Our next session is May 3. Please take this wonderful opportunity to learn more about others' passions, and also make connections to your own!

Important Dates and Events...

May 1... No School (Labor Day Holiday)
May 4... Learning Community B Assembly (Ms. Arcenas)
May 9... Math MAP Test
May 11... Reading MAP Test; Learning Community C Assembly (Mr. Andrew)
May 12... Graded's Run Against Cancer
May 16... Language MAP Test
May 19... PTA Festa Junina
May 25... Learning Community D Assembly (Ms. Gehrels)
May 31... No School (Corpus Christi Holiday)