Responsible Fourth Graders!

As I mentioned during Back to School Night, I expect STUDENTS to be responsible for getting their agendas signed.  When a child tells me, "my mom forgot to sign my agenda," I remind the student that it is HIS or HER responsibility to ask you to sign it, not the parents!

This being said, students will unfortunately have to face the consequence if they don't get their agendas signed and fill out their reading log... ask them what that means!

As you saw, new reading logs went home yesterday.  Students are STILL expected to read a minimum of 20 minutes nightly, but I told students that if they only read 15 minutes one night, they should be honest, and be sure to read 25 minutes the next night so their reading will average out to 20 minutes a night!

Thanks for helping your child study tonight for their science test tomorrow, I'm confident they'll do well!

Weekly Update, October 4th, 2015

Happy Sunday!  Thank you in advance for reading the lengthy email ahead :)

Pinebrook sent home interims on Friday, why didn’t my child get an interim?  As you know, LCPS rolled out a new grading system called Phoenix.  The county has been learning this system since August and the fourth grade team received its first training from the county on Friday.(The day interims were due!) I personally did not feel as though I could portray an accurate snapshot of your child’s progress without going back into the system and entering more data.  Students who currently have a 2 or below in any subject area will receive an interim tomorrow, please cut off the bottom portion of the interim, sign it, and have your child return it to me on Tuesday.  If your child does not receive an interim, he or she is meeting expectations and will not receive an interim.

Here's a brief overview of what went on last week and what's coming up.

Last week in...

Science: We wrapped up our resources unit and learned about Virginia’s native species and how trees provide us with so much more than wood!  Ask your child if he or she can name 5 ways trees help us!

Virginia Studies: Students showed me what they know about our regions, waterways, and bordering states last week and began our One to the World project.  Students are expected to create a commercial or poster “SELLING” the benefits of their region.  The challenge given to them was, “Create a poster or commercial to show/persuade kids how to be healthy in your region, be creative!”  We will finish this project this week.

Writing: Students finished/ are finishing up their fictional narrative about the journey how a raindrop makes its way through a watershed. Students also took their first Word Study Test, those will go home on Thursday!

Reading: Students were assigned reading partners this week and learned what it means to hold their reading partner accountable for their thinking!  Ask your child what kind of questions they ask their partner to explain their thinking.  (Why do you think that? What evidence do you have in your book that makes you say that? Can you explain your thinking more?)  Students are learning the importance of EXPLAINING their answers in reading. 

Next week in...

Science: The NATURAL RESOURCES TEST will be on Wednesday, October 7^th!  Please make sure you review all the notes in your child’s green, science notebook and review the study guide that went home last week!

Virginia Studies: We will begin learning about Virginia’s first, true citizens, the Native Americans!  Students will receive the next edition of their Virginia Studies Weekly, as a reminder, they need to complete the crossword, highlight where they found their answer within the newspaper, and complete any other assignment given in the newspaper.  They will have an open-note quiz on this newspaper on Friday, October 9th. Students will also become archaeologists on Thursday, I wonder what they’ll find!

Writing: Students will receive their new Word Study words tomorrow.  They will continue to learn how to write persuasively and include evidence in their writing. 

Reading: We will finish reading The Tiger Rising this week and students will start responding to their reading more intensely.   Also, new reading logs will go home tomorrow as well, please make sure your child is reading at least 20 minutes a night!

Please let me know if you have any questions, comments, or anything you think I need to know!  

Homework and Next Week

Good evening parents.  I just wanted to remind you to check your son or daughter's homework folder nightly.   On Thursdays all the graded papers and information sent out by the school will be in this folder.  Please send back any correspondence you want me to see in this folder.

Here's a brief overview of what went on this week and what's coming up.

This week in...

Science: Students had a great time building and creating a watershed!  We polluted our watershed models with glitter, confetti, and food coloring - ask them what each of these materials represented during this project and what they learned about where the pollution goes!  We also had a great time with our 1st grade STEAM buddies, ask your child about it if they haven't already told you!

Virginia Studies: Students continued learning about Virginia's waterways.  Students will have an open-note quiz on the waterways and may use their Virginia Studies Weekly to complete it.  The Virginia Studies Newspaper is due tomorrow.  The newspapers were assigned on Monday, and students are expected to complete the crossword on the back, highlight where they found their answers within the newspaper, and complete the "Let's Write" section on the back page.  (They may use a blank sheet of paper for the "Let's Write" part.)  Students who completed it early were rewarded today for being responsible!

Writing: Students are writing the second draft of their expository essay on the five regions of our state.  We learned about editing marks and how to correct capitalization, indenting, and so on.  You'll be impressed when these essays go home!  Word Study is due tomorrow, students were expected to complete assignments totaling 100 points for the week and were given time in class to complete this.  The Word Study test will be next Friday.

Reading: Students have worked hard to think deeply about what they're reading and respond to their books.  Please make sure your child is reading at home nightly and practices reading aloud for a few minutes using expression.  Ask you child about his or her goal this week!

Next week in...

Science: We will finish learning about Virginia's natural resources (trees and minerals) and I will distribute the study guide for the first science test.  This test will be the week of October 5th, I'll keep you posted about a definite date.

Virginia Studies: We will have our first test on Virginia's bordering states, regions, and waterways on Wednesday of next week.  I will send home the study guide tomorrow.  A great resource to study with is www.solpass.org.  The password is Pinebrook.  Students used this resource last week and should be familiar with it.  Students will also receive another VA Studies Weekly on Monday, this is an excellent resource to use to study.

Writing: As we finish writing our essays, students will begin to write persuasive pieces which will tie into our next big project: creating an advertisement to use Virginia's many resources!

Reading: Students will begin writing me letters to tell me about their reading and we will finish up DRA testing!

Please let me know if you have any questions, comments, or anything you think I need to know!  

Weekly Update, Sunday, September 20th, 2015

My day started with meeting Washington Capitals' superstar Nicklas Backstrom at breakfast!  Anything interesting to share with me?  Any photos you share, I'll be able to put on our morning message to share with the class - feel free to send me any photos throughout the year!

Here is an overview of what's going on in class, and what's coming up:

Science: We learned about our watershed address, which is the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, and why it's important to keep it clean.  This week we will build our own watersheds in a STEAM project, pair up with Ms. Syme's 1st grade class (they're our STEAM Buddies), and continue to learn about Virginia's natural resources.

Virginia Studies: Students did well demonstrating their knowledge of the regions and their land forms, this week we will learn about Virginia's waterways.  Ask your student what, "Please Remember Your Jacket" means!

Writing: We began writing an expository essay on Virginia's five regions, which we will finish next week.  Tomorrow we will begin Word Study.  I will provide ample time for students to complete their Word Study in class over the next two weeks to ensure they are completing assignments correctly.  After this period of word study, students will be expected to complete these assignments at home.

Reading: Students are LOVING The Tiger Rising by Kate DiCamillo.  We've been "talking back to books," ask them what that means!  Please make sure your child is reading and filling out his or her reading log every night, and ask him or her to read out loud for a few minutes each night too.  Last week students set a weekly goal for themselves as well, please discuss the goal your child chose for him/herself and if he or she was able to meet it.

Math: Fourth grade wrapped up its Place Value unit and will begin adding and subtracting larger numbers next week, as well as estimating sums and differences.  Please make sure your child is going on Reflex Math at least twice a week.

Please make sure you look at the flyer sent about Ellie's Hats in this week's Pinebrook Message and Spirit Week.  

Also, please sign up for a conference if you have not done so already.  If the available times do not work for you, please email me directly with a date and time that you'd prefer.  I can meet before school!  Click here to sign up for a conference!

Regions Quiz MOVED to THURSDAY!

Good evening!  After class today, I feel confident that the class is ready for their quiz on Virginia's regions so I am moving it up a day to Thursday!  Students are expected to be able to locate the region on a map of Virginia and know its land structure.  For example, they need to know the Coastal Plain is the eastern most region and has flat land, the Piedmont region has rolling hills, and so on.   All the information is in their notebooks!  If students want to review more, they should visit www.solpass.org, select "Elementary School," select "Virginia Studies," then "VS.2 Geography" on the left hand side of the screen.  (If you are prompted for a password, it's "pinebrook."  They can play the "Regions and Borders" game, quiz, and drag and drop activity.  Although we  discussed each regions products and industries, they are not required to know that for this quiz... maybe it will come up in a bonus question!?  To sum up, the Regions of Virginia Quiz is Thursday, September 17th!

September 13th, 2015 Weekly Update

September 13th, 2015 Weekly Update
Thank you to those of you who came to Back to School Night on Thursday!  If you were unable to come, I sent home the overview of the information  that I discussed that evening with your child on Friday, it should be in his or her silver homework folder.  If you need a copy, please email me directly!

Parent Teacher Conferences
If you have not already signed up, please visit Akbar Parent Teacher Conference Sign Up and sign up for a conference!  Please note that I accidentally made myself available for two slots for each time, please only sign up for a time if nobody else has signed up for that time. If you are unable for the times listed on that sign up, please email me to let me know your availability and some dates and times that work better for you.

Scholastic News and VA Studies Weekly Newspaper Subscriptions
There are a few of you who have not yet submitted the $12 needed for the yearly subscriptions of Scholastic News and VA Studies Weekly Newspaper subscriptions.  For those of you have not sent in money yet, I sent home a copy of the letter that explains these two publications and how the fourth grade team uses them to support the content we teach this year with your child on Friday.  Please check his or her homework folder and return the money tomorrow!  Thank you!

Upcoming Dates
September 14th @ 6:30 PM: PTA Meeting
September 21st to the 24th: Spirit Week to Raise Awareness for Childhood Cancer
September 28th through October 2nd: After School Enrichment Programs (ASEP) begin
September 29th @ 6:30 PM: Watch Dog Dad Sign Up Night
September 30th: Believe Kids Fundraiser Ends

As always, please feel free to email me with any questions at aakbar@lcps.org.

Week of September 8th, 2015 Update
Thank you for a great first week!  Here are a few important reminders:

• BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT is Thursday, September 10th.  This is an event for parents only and is an opportunity for you to learn about student expectations, classroom information, and general fourth grade information.  The first session is from 6:00 - 6:45 pm and the second session is from 7:00 to 7:45 pm.  This will be the first opportunity for you to sign up for Parent-Teacher conferences.  I look forward to seeing all of you!
• BOX TOPS and LABELS for EDUCATION are due on Friday, September 11th.  Please turn in whatever you have, our class has an opportunity to earn a prize this year for most labels and box tops collected!
• If you have any other documents, forms, or payments for the Scholastic News/ VA Studies Weekly subscription, please have your child bring them in as soon as possible

I hope your students enjoyed their first week as fourth graders!  Now that I know them a bit better, I will be changing the seating arrangement to provide them with an ideal learning spot!  As always, please feel free to email me at aakbar@lcps.org with any questions.