Math Inquiry

We've spent the last two days working on a math inquiry problem!  All of the groups ended up getting the problem right on their own, but guess what... it was a division problem!!!  While none of the groups used division to solve the problem (because we haven't learned it yet), EVERY  group came up with a different strategy to solve for the right answer!  These kids really blow my mind sometimes!

Strategizing

Planning

Cooperating

Gallery Walk Comments

Presenting

Presenting

Presenting

Weekly Update

Hey Families!

We had a great week at BEU!  It started off with a bang on Monday for Grandparents'/Veterans' Day and didn't slow down one bit!  We worked hard and got a lot done!

Reading

   Students are still on the edge of their seats each day for our read aloud, Jack's Run.  This week, we worked on understanding theme within a book.  This is a tough concept for kiddos to understand.  We talked about how theme is reallyTHE MEssage the author wants you to take away from the book.  We have also talked about problems and solutions in a text.  This was a great conversation since last week we talked about cause and effect.  They noticed lots of similarities and differences between these two concepts.    

   Next week we are going to be doing some fun Thanksgiving readings and activities.  The week we get back from break, we will be talking about answering short response questions and beginning our study of words.  We will begin by talking about parts of speech.  Be sure to ask your child about words they are learning! 

Writing/Social Studies

   For the next few weeks, we are going to combine writing and social studies times.  When we return from Thanksgiving break, we are going to begin our study of the regions of Missouri.  In writing, we are beginning our study of informational writing.  We thought this would be a perfect time to combine writing and social studies.  Students will be writing about a specific region of Missouri.  They will study the region, take notes on the region, and teach the region to others.  Our final goal is for students to know how to research, write an informational piece, learn all the regions in Missouri and to teach others about what they have learned.  

Math

   We are now finished with our unit of study on multiplication.  Multiplying by a one digit number seemed super easy for this class.  Multiplying by a two digit number turned out to be a little more difficult.  We will continue to work on this as a class for those that need it.  I was impressed with everyone's hard work and effort.  For our short week next week, we are going to do some fun Thanksgiving multi-step word problems.

   After break, we are going to begin an investigative unit on division.  Students will be given situations and they will have to solve problems using any skill they can.  The objective will be to understand place value better and to introduce division.  I am super excited to get this started and let them dive into this unit.  

Etiquette

   This week we focused on dinner etiquette to get ready for our Thanksgiving feast.  On Tuesday, we talked about all of our favorite foods that we hoped would be at our feast:).  On Thursday we talked about table manners and Friday we talked about dinner conversation (hopefully the kids can help with any awkward silences at your Thanksgiving Dinner:).  

Important Dates

• November 21st- Thanksgiving Feast in our Class (thanks for all the donations!)
• November 23-25th- Thanksgiving Break
• December 15th- 4th Grade Music Program (6:30-7:30)
• December 20th- Winter Party
• December 21-January 3rd- Winter Break
• January 4th- School resumes
• January 16th- NO SCHOOL Martin Luther King Jr. Day
• January 20th- School Spelling Bee
• January 30th- Beulah Ralph's 90th Birthday
• February 6th- NO SCHOOL (teacher work day)

Busy Week!

We have been super busy this week!  On Monday we had our Veterans' Day/Grandparents' Day celebration and this place was packed!  It was so fun meeting all the kids' grandparents and special friends!  We were so proud of Lucas for being chosen by his 4th grade peers to read his "What America Means to Me" paper in front of the school and guests.  Thank you also to everyone who donated books to our class from the book fair!  What a treat!

Way to go, Lucas!

Have a great day!