updated December 10, 2018

StoryPath Learning

At first it was just one cabin, then another. Later still, three cabins appeared in our frieze. Then we received notice from settlers advising us to leave the forest so they could clear land for their homes and farms. Finally, we noticed stumps where trees once stood. Some students wanted to protest. For others, peaceful protest was not enough. Next we received an abbreviated copy of the Medicine Creek Treaty. Our chief, Garry, took this home and came back with a counter offer. He explained his goals, “Don’t make them mad because they have more weapons. Keep my people alive for the future.”

Our StoryPath discussion was influenced by a famous speech attributed to Chief Sealth http://www.halcyon.com/arborhts/chiefsea.html and our growing understanding of how some early tribes viewed personal property. We discussed what a treaty is and many of the stipulations of the Medicine Creek Treaty, signed in 1854. Fourth graders are able to experience the complexity of issues, both in the past and present day…. deep learning. During snack time read aloud, I am reading the novel Spirit Quest by Susan Sharpe. This realistic fiction takes place in modern times on a reservation on the Northwest Coast. It is important to show that despite injustices, native tribes exist in our world today.

Math:

Fourth graders have broken open a new chapter in Math, “Whole Number Multiplication and Division”. In this chapter, your child will study multiplication and division of whole numbers. Some skills include multiplying and dividing larger numbers with regrouping, estimating larger products and quotients and solving real-world problems using the bar model method. Look to my classroom webpage for links to video clips showing teachers and students practicing strategies we use in class. Fluency with basic multiplication facts is vital, so keep that basic fact practice routine going!

Two weeks ago we took a huge step forward, double-digit X double-digit multiplication. Last week we continued with more practice and began our in depth study of division. I’ve added links on our classroom webpage to video clips of teachers from all over, eager to explain various methods to support understanding “long division”. Know that we eventually reach the traditional algorithm, very similar to what you and I learned back in fourth and fifth grade. This week we continue our division practice, becoming more comfortable with larger numbers, quotients that include a “0” and quotients with remainders and estimation. Fluency with basic multiplication facts is vital, so keep that basic fact practice routine going!

Dates to Remember

12/2 – 12/24 Canned Food Drive

Wednesday, 12/12: OLG Feast Day All School Mass, all blues

Wednesday, 12/19: Christmas colors free dress, Santa pictures (full class photo)

Friday, 12/21: Half Day, Christmas Break begins

Monday, 1/7: Back to School

Service Trip Dates, VA Medical Center:

11:15 AM – 2:15 PM

Thursday, 1/ 24, Thursday, 2/ 28, Thursday, 3/ 21, Thursday, 4/ 11, Thursday, 5/16

Homework

Monday: Read for 20 minutes

Spelling worksheet – Do one side, read the flip side.

Writing assignment

Tuesday: Read for 20 minutes

Read spelling sheet out loud. Practice fluency.

Reading assignment

Math assignment

Wednesday: Read for 20 minutes

Read spelling sheet out loud.

Try to sound like a news reporter on TV.

Math assignment

Social Studies assignment

Thursday: Read for 20 minutes

Be ready to read spelling sheet out loud

Have spelling worksheet from Monday, ready to turn in on Friday.

Study for weekly quiz and spelling test.

Helpful Websites

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.

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

Chapter 3, Math in Focus

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