Hello 4th Grade Families! 

Here’s a look into our week in 4th grade.

Reading Poetry wrap up/begin nonfiction text features.

Writing Expository essay introductions

Grammar Revising/editing passages

Social Studies Texas Studies Weekly - The Alamo

**Upcoming Assessments**

Poetry assessment

Editing/Revising assessment

Expository Intro writing

**At-Home Help**

You can help your child in ELA this week by:

1. Poetry Study Guide
2. Revising & Editing extra practice
3. Review the expository introduction “No No” and “Yes Yes” presentation with your child.
4. Read about/talk about the Alamo with your child.  There are resources available in Texas Studies Weekly via their Clever account.
5. As always, read!  Books, magazines...anything your child is interested in.  Talk about any unknown words.  See if they can use context clues to figure out the meaning.  The goal is to expand their vocabulary and comprehension skills.

Hello!

I hope everyone is enjoying the long weekend.  My family and I are enjoying the sun and spending time together in our backyard.  We’ve even started a couple of DIY projects - wish us luck!

Here’s a look into our week in 4th grade.

Reading We’re reading poetry and continuing to review poetry terms (lines, stanza, rhyme, meter, rhyme scheme, line break) and figurative language.

Writing Writers are practicing ways to compose introductions for an expository essay.

Grammar We’ll be working on editing passages, as well as reviewing reflexive pronouns.

Social Studies We’re continuing to learn about the Texas Revolution.  The kids are really interested in the series of events!

**Upcoming Assessments**

TEA interim assessments

Poetry assessment

Reflexive pronouns

**At-Home Help**

You can help your child in ELA this week by:

1. Review reflexive pronouns at home.  Last week, we did a check for understanding and there was still a lot of confusion.  Here is a link to the chart the kids added to their journals at school and an extra practice worksheet.  
2. Ask your child to give examples of the figurative language we’ve been discussing in class.  (metaphor, simile, hyperbole, personification, idiom)  They can point out these examples in their daily reading and show them to you. 
3. Have your child read for 20 minutes each evening.

Announcements

Thank you for returning the parent-teacher conference forms.  For those of you who requested to discuss the data in more detail, Mrs. Thompson and I will be working to schedule those meetings this week.

Happy New Year!!

Hello Parents, 

We’ve made it to a new year, and I’m so excited to have all of my students back in class!  I hope you all had a wonderful break, and I hope you were able to make lasting memories with your families.  Here’s a look into the week ahead.

Reading We will continue discussing theme, summary, and plot.

Writing We’re beginning expository writing.

Grammar We’re learning about prepositions and prepositional phrases, as well as discussing pronouns.

**Upcoming Assessments**

None this week

**At-Home Help**

You can help your child in ELA this week by:

1. Have your child read for at least 20 minutes every night.  Talk about any words they’re unfamiliar with.  One of our goals is to increase the students’ vocabulary.

Announcements

Be on the lookout for parent/teacher conference forms to come home in Wednesday folders this week.  We will ask that you review and sign the forms and send them back to school.  A separate Google form will be emailed to you so that you may request to schedule a virtual conference if you’d like. 

Hello!

We made it to the last week of the semester!  Woohoo!!  This has been the most interesting school year ever, but I’m still so thankful to be with my special group of students each and every day.  I wish you all a very merry Christmas, and I hope you all have the best time making memories with your families over the break!

Here’s a peek into our week:

Reading We’re discussing theme.  Students are reading stories and trying to determine the message, moral, or lesson that can be learned from the text.

Writing Students will write responses to holiday book read-alouds.

Grammar Students will learn about quotation marks and their proper use.  We’ll follow it up with a fun activity using elbow noodles!

Social Studies We’re examining winter celebrations from around the world!

**Upcoming Assessments**

None this week

**At-Home Help**

You can help your child in ELA this week by:

1. Keep practicing context clues at home.  The best way to get better at deciphering the meaning of unknown words in text is to practice, practice, practice!  
2. Have your child read for at least 20 minutes every night.  Talk about any words they’re unfamiliar with.  One of our goals is to increase the students’ vocabulary.

Announcements

• Optional dress-up days this week:

Monday- holiday socks

Tuesday- holiday hats

Wednesday- holiday shirts

Thursday- pajama day (Polar Express movie day)

Friday- holiday best (sing-along and holiday party day)

• This is the last week in the 2nd marking period.  Grades are due on Friday.  Don’t forget to check the Home Access Center to view your child’s grades.  Please contact me if you have any questions or if you’d like to schedule a time to chat.

I can't believe there are only 2 weeks left of this semester!  We've got a busy week ahead, as well as lots of fun things to look forward to!  Thank you for continuing to support your child's learning at home.  Students are showing progress in BIG ways!  Nothing makes me happier!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend! 

Hugs, 

Mrs. Hebert

Reading Context clues practice continues, and we will start discussing theme.

Writing Students will write their second argumentative essay - which holiday is best? (graded)

Grammar We are continuing to practice plurals and possessives.  We will also review all grammar skills we’ve learned this year and show what we know with a grammar test on Friday.  Be on the lookout for a review sheet coming home on Monday.  Please review the skills with your child(ren) at home.

Social Studies We’re testing our knowledge of the missions of Texas on Monday.  There will also be a social studies benchmark test on Thursday.

**Upcoming Assessments**

• Grammar test
• Argumentative writing 
• Missions of Texas Test
• Social Studies Benchmark

**At-Home Help**

You can help your child in ELA this week by:

1. Keep practicing context clues at home.  The best way to get better at deciphering the meaning of unknown words in text is to practice, practice, practice!  
2. Review grammar skills with the sheet coming home on Monday.
3. Have your child read for at least 20 minutes every night.  Talk about any words they’re unfamiliar with.  One of our goals is to increase vocabulary.

Announcements

• Be on the lookout for the grammar review sheet coming home on Monday
• We’ve been reminded once again how important it is to keep masks on when social distancing isn’t possible.  Please continue to reinforce this at home.  Masks must be worn over the mouth and nose. 

Good Evening!

 

We have a quiz over homophones coming up on Wednesday.  We've been doing lots of reviewing in class, but I wanted to provide a list of the words that are covered on the test so you can practice with your child at home.

 

our, hour

their, there, they're

rain, reign

by, bye, buy

threw, through

to, too, two

heard, herd

brake, break

hear, here

 

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Thank you!

Mrs. Hebert

 

Happy Thanksgiving, Creekview Families!

I hope you will all have a restful and relaxing week spent making memories with those you love the most.  I know I can speak for all Creekview staff and teachers when I say we’re thankful to be a part of such a wonderful and supportive community.  We are truly blessed!

Here’s a look at the week of 11/30/20:

Reading We’ll begin wrapping up elements of drama with more practice and a test on Friday.

Writing Students will finalize and publish their argumentative essays.  (They’re very good at persuasion!)

Grammar We’ll wrap up our studies of homophones and take a quiz on Wednesday before moving on to plurals vs possessives. 

**Upcoming Assessments**

• Elements of drama test
• Homophones quiz

**At-Home Help**

You can help your child in ELA this week by:

1. Practice writing skills by exchanging notes with your child.  Try switching up homophones and have them identify the errors. (EX: your/you’re, to/too/two, there/their/they’re, by/buy/bye, its/it’s, hear/here)
2. Keep practicing context clues at home.  The best way to get better at deciphering the meaning of unknown words in text is to practice, practice, practice!  This will also become the focus of our daily flex time for the week.
3. Have your child read for at least 20 minutes every night.

Announcements

• Please log in to the Home Access Center to review your child’s progress report grades.  Contact me if you’d like to schedule a time to chat!
• No school 11/23-11/27.  Happy Thanksgiving!

Hello Parents, 

As we move into a new week, our focus at school will be all about the life principle of gratitude.  In that spirit, I want to share with you a quote we’ll be sharing with your children all week.  “Gratitude turns what we have into enough.” - Anonymous

I hope you all enjoy the week ahead as we prepare for the Thanksgiving holiday.  Here’s a look at our week in 4th grade written in kid-friendly “I can” statements:

Reading I can identify the elements of drama.

Writing I can write an argumentative essay.  Students will brainstorm ideas for persuasive writing and will begin drafting their essay.

Grammar I can distinguish between and correctly use homophones in my writing.

Social Studies I can discover the Spanish missions of Texas.

**Upcoming Assessments**

• Elements of drama quiz

**At-Home Help**

You can help your child in ELA this week by:

1. Practice writing skills by exchanging notes with your child.  Try switching up homophones and have them identify the errors. (EX: your/you’re, to/too/two, there/their/they’re, by/buy/bye, its/it’s, hear/here)
2. Keep practicing context clues at home.  The best way to get better at deciphering the meaning of unknown words in text is to practice, practice, practice!
3. Have your child read for at least 20 minutes every night.

Announcements

• Context clues grades are coming home this week in the Wednesday folder. The final grade for this assessment is an average of your child’s 1st and 2nd attempt scores.  Many students still need extra practice using context clues, so we spent some time reviewing the passages on the test before students were given the opportunity to correct their errors.  You can find a copy of the passages they were given in their reading course in Schoology.  Please contact me with any questions.
• Please log in to the Home Access Center to review your child’s progress report grades.  Contact me if you’d like to schedule a time to chat!
• Next week (11/23-11/27) is a staff and student holiday.  I wish you all a happy Thanksgiving!

Hello Parents, 

Somehow we’ve arrived at the last 2 weeks of school before Thanksgiving break!  I can’t believe how quickly the time is passing.  I hope you all had a relaxing weekend.  Here’s a look at the week ahead written in kid-friendly “I can” statements:

Reading I can use context clues to determine the meaning of unknown words in a story or passage.

Writing I can use my knowledge of correspondence to draft a letter to a family member or friend that I’m thankful for.

Grammar I can determine when to use good vs well, I vs me, and a vs an in a sentence.

Social Studies  Explorers!  I can determine what motivated people to explore new lands.

**Upcoming Assessments**

• I vs me/good vs well quiz
• Context clues assessment

**At-Home Help**

You can help your child in ELA this week by:

1. Practice writing skills by exchanging letters with your child.  Pay attention to grammar usage.
2. You can find context clues practice by clicking  here.  Also, read a chapter of a book together.  Point out and identify unknown words by using context clues.
3. Have your child read for at least 20 minutes every night.

Announcements

• Don’t forget to send a stamped envelope to school with your child on Monday.  We’ll be writing letters to a family member or friend telling them why we’re thankful for them.  Please also include the family member’s/friend’s address on a sticky note.  Your child will be addressing the envelope themselves and mailing it out!  

• Please encourage your child to keep their mask on over their mouth and nose while at school.  I know it can be difficult to wear them all day (especially for those of us who wear glasses), but it is important that we all work together to follow the rules.

Hello Parents, 

Happy November!  Time flies!  I hope you all had a fantastic weekend.  Here’s a look at the week ahead.

Reading I can use context clues to figure out the meaning of an unknown word in a story, passage, or text.  (prefixes and suffixes Mis- ,Sub-, -ment, -ity, -auto, -graph-, -meter-)

Writing Correspondence.  I can write letters.

Grammar I know when to use I vs me/good vs well in my writing.  (Ex:  My mom and I/ my mom and me - I am doing good/I am doing well)

Social Studies  Explorers!  I can determine what motivated people to explore new lands.

**Upcoming Assessments**

**At-Home Help**

You can help your child in ELA this week by:

1. Write letters to family or friends and mail them out!
2. Read stories together and try to decode the meaning of an unknown word by searching for clues in the paragraph, or in the sentence before, of, or after the unknown word.  (EX:  We tried to wipe up the spill, but the towel was already saturated and unable to soak up any more liquid.  What does the word saturated mean?  How do you know?)
3. Have your child read for at least 20 minutes each night.

Announcements

• Mrs. Hebert’s homeroom students will be presenting rise and shine this week!  Each child has a speaking part, so it is imperative that your child arrives each morning no later than 8:25.  If you anticipate any issues with this, please let me know ahead of time so arrangements can be made.  

• Don’t forget, Tuesday November 3rd is a student holiday.

• Picture day is Thursday November 5th.

Hello Parents, 

I hope you are all enjoying the gorgeous weather!  Don’t forget next week is red ribbon week.  Check the email from Dr. Shaughnessy for the calendar of dress up days.  I’ll be sharing lots of photos on Twitter!  Follow along @CES_MrsHebert

Here are our weekly targets in reading, writing, grammar, and social studies written in kid-friendly “I can” statements.

Reading  I can identify 1st and 3rd person point of view.

Writing  I can stretch my personal narrative sentences by using my grammar skills.

Grammar I can expand sentences by adding details with adjectives and adverbs.

Social Studies  I can show what I know about Native Americans in Texas.

**Upcoming Assessments**

Social Studies quiz over Native Americans in Texas

Point of view quiz

**At-Home Help**

You can help your child in ELA this week by:

1. Continuing to review compound, run-on, and sentence fragments as well as comma splice. 
2. Read stories together and discuss 1st and 3rd person point of view
3. Practice expanding spoken sentences in everyday conversation.  Example:  Instead of saying, “I’m cooking dinner”, say “I’m quickly cooking a hot, delicious dinner, so I can feed our extremely hungry family.”  Ask your child to identify the adjectives and adverbs you’re using. 
4. Have your child read for at least 20 minutes each night.

Reminders:

• Report cards are not being printed.  Please log in to the Home Access Center to view your child's report card.

• If your child has an accelerated reader chain please send it to school with them on Monday.  Mrs. Friedrichs will be awarding new charms for the 1st quarter.

• Please remember to send a refillable water bottle each day.  We still have several students coming to school without a water bottle, and we're unable to let them drink from the fountains.

• Students are still in need of their own set of headphones or earbuds.  We’re using Chromebooks daily, and it can be a distraction to others if students don’t use their headphones.

Hello Parents, 

We had another great week of learning and exploring in fourth grade, and we’re gearing up for another busy week! I hope you all were able to get out and enjoy the beautiful weather over the weekend!  

Here are our weekly targets in reading, writing, and social studies.

Reading  Readers will begin learning how to summarize.

Writing  Writers are beginning a new personal narrative.

Grammar We’re learning new parts of speech - adjectives and adverbs.

Social Studies We continue to research the Native American groups of Texas.

Reminders:

• This is the last week of the 1st marking period.  Please be checking the Home Access Center to view your child’s grades.

• Remember to send a refillable water bottle each day.

• Students are still in need of their own set of headphones or earbuds.  We’re using Chromebooks daily, and it can be a distraction to others if students don’t use their headphones.

Hi Parents!

 

Don't forget tomorrow is library day, so your children will need to bring their library books to school with them.  I usually remember to remind the kids, but I forgot today. Oops!

 

Have a good evening!

 

Leah

 

Hello 4th Grade Parents, 

We’re getting ready to begin our 6th week of school, and we’re so close to finishing out our first marking period of the school year.  Please log on to the Home Access Center to view your child’s grades to date.  As always, we appreciate the patience, love, and kindness we’ve received!  Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any concerns.

Here are our weekly targets in reading, writing, social studies, math and science.

Reading  We will be assessing character traits using text evidence.

Writing  We’ve wrapped up the rough draft of our first personal narrative, and we’ll begin typing the final version this week.

Grammar We’ll be assessing compound sentences, run-on sentences, conjunctions, and compound predicate this week.

Social Studies We’re discovering the Native Americans of Texas.

Reminders:

• Check the Home Access Center to view your child’s grades.

• Please remind your child to bring a refillable water bottle each day.  We are still having students forget to bring water bottles, and we are unable to drink from the fountains.

• Each child will need a pair of headphones or earbuds.  Please place them in a resealable bag labeled with your child’s name.

Hello 4th Grade Families!

We’ve completed our fourth week of school.  Time is going by so quickly!  We’re now past the middle point of our first grading period.  Progress reports will not be coming home for the first grading period due to its shortened length.  We encourage you to check on your child’s progress and grades through the Home Access Center.  We will be in touch to share concerns if and when we need to.  As always, if you have any questions please feel free to reach out.

Here are our weekly targets in reading, writing, and social studies.

Reading  Readers will be using text evidence to support their thinking regarding the changing feelings of characters. 

Writing  Writers will be drafting the middle part of their personal narrative about a special moment in time.

Grammar Students will be learning to use compound sentences to add variety to their writing. 

Social Studies Students will be focusing on the regions of Texas and identifying the characteristics of each. 

Reminders:

• Walk and roll to school day is coming up on October 7th.  All students are encouraged to walk, bike, or roll to school on Wednesday!

• Be on the lookout for Wednesday folders and conduct cards each week.  Conduct cards will need to be initialed and returned to school in your child's folder on Thursday. 

• Each child will need a pair of headphones or earbuds.  Please place them in a resealable bag labeled with your child’s name.

• Please remind your child to bring a refillable water bottle each day.  We are not currently allowed to drink directly from the fountains for safety reasons.