Week of September 15 - 19, 2014

Friday HW
1.  I handed back the Math Number Sense diagnostic quiz our class wrote earlier in the year today.  Students should correct the errors on the reverse side and ask their parents or guardians to sign at the top.  The diagnostic is based on grade 4 outcomes.  We practiced the questions on four practice pages prior to the quiz and the quiz questions were taken directly from these practice sheets.  We conducted extensive corrections in class with corrective feedback and strategies named and modeled.  What I noticed is that times tables control is generally weak and long division steps are similarly uncertain.  We continue to practice these skills on a daily and weekly basis in class.  Some home practice would be a good idea if your child is struggling.  The method I use in class for division is the long division "divide/multiply/subtract/bring down" algorithm, which is the standard technique.  I do model other ways and reinforce the place value concepts at play with base ten blocks.
2.  Terry Fox donations.  Students can bring in toonies, or cash or cheques or use the online donation portal at terryfox.org/SchoolRun/.  Receipts can be processed online or, if complete legible information is provided, at school for donations of $20 or more.  Thank you for your generosity.  The run day is next Wednesday, September 24, rain or shine unless there is thunder and lightning.  Wear red in memory of our dearly departed school friend Alex Shapiro.
3.  Student Registration Verification sheets were distributed Wednesday.  Please check them for accuracy and return that as soon as possible.  I have eleven sets still to collect out of 30.  Make any changes in red please to assure than we have correct contact information in the event of an emergency.  Thank you!
4.  Book report reading.

Thursday HW
1.  Journal completed for tomorrow -- 1 page.  The topic is "How do estimation techniques help me add and subtract mentally?"  Students could write 2 or 3 paragraphs on the page.  We brainstormed vocabulary (guess and check, compensation, rounding, adding on, friendly numbers, front end, place value, compatible numbers, narrowing down) and paragraph topic possibilities (1st:  what is easy/my favourite way of estimating; 2nd: what is harder to do, but still useful; 3rd:  what I still am unsure about using).  We have been discussing and practicing estimation for the previous two weeks while also spending time on math facts practice.
2.  MMS HW book page 18 only, for tomorrow.  We will do page 19 in class tomorrow.
3.  Book report reading.
4.  Student Registration Verification sheets were distributed Wednesday.  Please check them for accuracy and return that as soon as possible.  Make any changes in red please to assure than we have correct contact information in the event of an emergency.  Thank you!
5.  Terry Fox donations.  Students can bring in toonies, or cash or cheques or use the online donation portal at terryfox.org/SchoolRun/.  Receipts can be processed online or, if complete legible information is provided, at school for donations of $20 or more.  Thank you for your generosity.  The run day is next Wednesday, September 24, rain or shine unless there is thunder and lightning.  Wear red in memory of our dearly departed school friend Alex Shapiro.

Wednesday HW
1.  MMS pages 16 and 17 are due for tomorrow.
2.  Book Report Reading.
3.  Terry Fox donations.  Students can bring in toonies, or cash or cheques or use the online donation portal at terryfox.org/SchoolRun/.  Receipts can be processed online or, if complete legible information is provided, at school for donations of $20 or more.  Thank you for your generosity.  The run day is next Wednesday, September 24, rain or shine unless there is thunder and lightning.  Wear red in memory of our dearly departed school friend Alex Shapiro.
4.  Student Registration Verification sheets were distributed today.  Please check them for accuracy and return that as soon as possible.  Make any changes in red please to assure than we have correct contact information in the event of an emergency.  Thank you!


Tuesday HW
1.  MMS pages 14 and 15 are due for tomorrow.
2.  Book Report Reading.  We had our first Library period of the year on Tuesday and students had an opportunity to sign out up to two books.  Students are asked to have a book at school every day for DEAR time.

Monday HW
1.  A DEAR time book should be in class every day for all students.  This could be the book report novel or another interest book.
2.  MMS HW book pages 12 and 13 is due tomorrow.
3.  The Future paragraph rough draft is due in class tomorrow.