Mrs. Mello's 4th Grade                                                         January 27, 2011

A Peek Into 4M!

Math-
      We have now moved on to Unit 5 in our Mathbook. This unit focuses on larger number multiplication.  To start, the students are learning how to multiply using what we call the expanded method. Once they are comfortable with this they will be taught the shortcut method. We also learned/reviewed coordinate grids and ordered pairs.

Reading-

This week during reading, we shared The Last Dragon which is a fiction story that takes place around the Chinese New Year (which started on Monday). In prepartation for the English Language Arts MCAS, we have been reviewing strategies that good readers use and also have talked about test taking strategies.

Writing-

Look at all of the writing tricks we have learned:

• Start your story with a BANG!!!
• Set the scene
• Use adjectives and adverbs
• Dialogue
• Similes
• Show not tell sentences

Everyone has just about completed their final copy of their tradition writing and are starting their next personal narrative.  This narrative will be about a time they had a great adventure!

Social Studies/Science

In Social Studies, we have been focusing on Map Skills. This week we looked at the Compass Rose and created our own to use in class. The children worked on using Intermediate Directions to read a map and find locations.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at bridget_mello@mvyps.org.

 2011-2012- Schedule of Specials

Lunch/Recess 11:25-12:10

Monday- Library

Tuesday- Spanish and Computer

Wednesday-Art

Thursday-Gym and Music

Friday-Music and Gym