updated for April 2, 2020

(link updated for 4-1)

Writing to Persuade

This week we begin our unit on persuasive writing. Fourth graders already write to persuade. You may remember their paragraphs persuading their wagon train family to use an ox or a mule, a prairie schooner or modified farm wagon, to include an item in the packing list or a rule in our train constitution. This will be a longer writing unit with drafts and revisions based on self-selected topics. This week students will brainstorm topics they feel passionately about and write opinion statements. These have two parts: statements about big issues and the exact thing being argued. Next week we state reasons, asking, “How is this a good thing?” and provide evidence to support each reason. Later we write leads that capture the audience, write anecdotes to use as evidence and conclusions that restate opinions and urge action.

Zoom:

I was hopeful for our class Zoom meetings last week. I hoped that five or six students would attend. WOW! That first meeting had over 24 participants. I then thought, “Well, the attendance will drop off.” Nope. Our numbers stayed in the twenties all week long. We will continue at this same 8:30 AM- 9:00 AM time slot, Monday – Friday. This is a recurring meeting, using the same url code.

Our Zooms serve many needs. First, we just like to see each other. Next, I am able to share my desktop and go over the daily checklist and bring up pdfs or links in an attempt to make assignments clear. Also, students are able to share accomplishments and work (such as the Oregon Trail posters and acts of kindness). Finally, I am able to respond to questions (such as “How can I show a mixed number using a google.doc?”)

Yes, there are bumps along the way. The first time I shared my screen I had no idea how to unshare it. Students accidently shared their screens and were similarly stuck. It took me a full session to figure out how to keep participants from unmuting themselves… and it is really hard for folks when the technology doesn’t work as we hoped (video off, microphone not working). I can tell you from a teacher’s perspective, the real lesson comes from how we handle these challenges. We can model calmness and good humor when things go wrong, all the while affirming the struggle.

If possible, please help your child join the meeting using the url https://zoom.us/j/472197431

Ongoing Communication:

I will continue to send out this weekly newsletter. As always, it serves to update my OLG website classroom page. Now, instead of hard copy, it is sent as a pdf via email. With parents on the front lines of your child’s daily academics, it is vital that I hear from you too. Feel free to email me at any time. You can expect a prompt response during regular school hours (8:30 – 3:00). I appreciate those who have told me “too confusing, like the videos, need student email, getting better, not going to happen, login not working, too much work, not enough work, turning in work is a pain, help me prioritize, love the zoom”.

This last week I’ve been able to reach out to some students 1:1. It is completely appropriate for you to ask for a phone call or facetime. (I prefer facetime as my hearing is not so great.) Sometimes a 10 minute conversation can set a new tone. Be sure to email first, so we can agree on a time and number.

I will continue the routine set last week with the daily checklist with links as an updated pdf, posted on the top of my classroom webpage each and every day. Previous days will stay on the page for the week they are posted. This requires no email access whatsoever. Walk your child through the process of finding the OLG classroom webpage and clicking on the link that says, “Checklist with links for….”

https://www.guadalupe-school.org/classes/4th-grade-home/

Finally, I’ve been doing more and more videos, realizing that for some students hearing the teacher voice is vital for better understanding. They also serve as an archive for this remote learning journey.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzwbzT7L7eyRQnAIlFihlXA/videos?view_as=subscriber

Dates to Remember

Pet Supply Drive, March 9-20

Care Kit Supply Drive thru March 27

Friday, 4/10: Good Friday

Helpful Websites

Reading

Kids A-Z

Login Instructions

Step 1: Go to www.kidsa-z.com

Step 2: Enter or choose the teacher’s username, cwilson329

Step 3: Your child finds his or her username on the class chart, same username as used for MathWhizz

Step 4: Your child enters his or her password, GUAD4green, same password as used for MathWhizz

Science

https://www.fossweb.com

User Name: OLG4Science

Password: OLG4Science

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPZI2M1fDi8

Producers, Consumers, Decomposers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XV2-2Ym3IIc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wvzoIL4S7w

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHNh5gYH780

Cursive Writing Resources

http://www.handwritingforkids.com/handwrite/cursive/animation/lowercase.htm

To see the animation, move your mouse over a letter. Lowercase

http://www.handwritingforkids.com/handwrite/cursive/animation/uppercase.htm

To see the animation, move your mouse over a letter. Uppercase

http://www.donnayoung.org/penmanship/cursive-animations.htm

Scroll down to the bottom of the page for cursive letter animation video clips for each letter.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PBUYzWXEIQ

Continuous video clip, capital letters first, then lower case… not exactly how OLG teaches them, but clear and concise.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/cursiva-lite/id976052613?mt=8

One of several free apps… Try them and share your experience with the rest of us.

Punctuation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZ4BbyBUSmA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWSfn9oPnJg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTChUiV9rCg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKGV8IvE7j0

clips to help learn punctuating dialogue

Social Studies

Video clips about timelines

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFu-zMjGJJA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccwFRZFsDbk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xc64qurhFng

Video clip explaining the challenge of showing the world on a flat map

Youtube clip guides you to create a map of Washington State. We call the “Puget Sound Lowlands” the “Western Lowlands”. Otherwise, this is perfect for helping us learn our state’s geography.

Video clip showing timeline and explaining BC/AD

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFu-zMjGJJA

Typing Website

http://www.typing.com

Spelling Website

Check out this website for online spelling practice…. Enter our list each week! http://www.spellingcity.com/

Math

Fractions

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5C5PdZ_Yys

fractions on a number line

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEn8AfqemvM

equivalent fractions

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=as7ioM80K38

simplifying fractions

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9me_tSRN2Z8

comparing fractions

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJIqhDSrYB4

ordering fractions

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=017cdlI36JE

adding and subtracting fractions

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkg7370cpjs

shows mixed numbers, represented with visual aids, then shown as an improper fraction, finally shows the multiplication and addition “short cut”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4mqPMdyUYg

shows improper fraction, represented with visual aids, then shown as a mixed number, finally shows the division “short cut”

http://www.mathplayground.com/howto_fractionofanumber.html

Explains how to find a fraction of a set using visuals, using division and multiplication and multiplying fractions

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNRmxDG2jVk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlxIzuIYcRs

Shows Math in Focus method one, subtracting fractions from a whole number

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpdTfe30N1s

Longer video, also shows Math in Focus method two, subtracting fractions from a whole number

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27yggOZ6ODc

Very quick, shows adding and subtracting whole numbers and fractions

Chapter 3

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyWYQYqBbMg

Bar model example, division

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OyvgHvDXStQ&list=PLCrYL64JQwDyAtX_ukOBiLJgEf8ri-u2T&index=1

Bar model example, multiplication

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyyw1gnGAhE&list=PLCrYL64JQwDyAtX_ukOBiLJgEf8ri-u2T&index=7

Bar model example, multiplication, before and after model

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUetnxoI2pE

Division, Math in Focus method

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asX8f0UFmgA

Division, Concrete to Pictorial, Math in Focus method

http://www.internet4classrooms.com/skill_builders/division_math_fourth_4th_grade.htm

Links to websites for division lessons and practice

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Qhw6Tv8780

Reminder, multiplying multiples of 10

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QZnVBlMhNs

Double digit X double digit multiplication using an area model.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xmsEtyOB10

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVUfkN3TImI

Double digit X double digit multiplication showing partial products.

(No time is spent on this in Math In Focus, lesson 3.2, but I think it’s a good bridge between area model and the standard method that is taught next.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZD3YsWbOeA8

Double digit X double digit multiplication, standard method

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXdzUlf5fEk

Multiplication using an Area Model

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_xZfYtk0do

Multiplication using a Place Value Chart

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzupp6Q3epA

Multiplication breaking apart larger factor into place value parts and adding partial products

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhLAe-_D1_o

Multiplication using place value method showing partial products

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QZnVBlMhNs

Multiplication, double digit X double digit, using an Area Model