Good morning! I hope this email finds you well after the Thanksgiving holiday. We are back in action this week, and here are some of the concepts we're working on in the next few days:
Math - The students have been working on multiplying large numbers (i.e., 4287 x 4 and 34 x 91) and using that understanding to convert different measurements (such as weight, capacity, and length). After this week, the class will move into learning how to divide large numbers. There are a couple links below if you are interested in more information: Multiplication - https://hangingwithmrbauer.weebly.com/multiplying-large-numbers-resources.html Measurement - https://hangingwithmrbauer.weebly.com/measurementdata-resources.html Division - https://hangingwithmrbauer.weebly.com/dividing-large-numbers-resources.html Literacy - Read Aloud - The class has been enjoying The Phantom Tollbooth, a book about a boy who is very bored with life and enters into a mystery world full of unique characters and settings. There are so many examples of word play and idioms throughout! Comprehension - The class has been finalizing our unit on theme, and we will soon begin working with summarizing. There is a link below if you are looking for some brief explanations. Language - The class has done some review of different word formations, such as compound words. This week, we will be working with prefixes and suffixes and how adding those word parts changes the words. Writing - The class continues to work on their first opinion writing piece, chosen from their own personal list. Theme & Summary - https://hangingwithmrbauer.weebly.com/rl42---theme--summary.html Social Studies - Over the next several weeks, we will be learning about the Progressive Era. This will include a study of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire, child labor, women's suffrage, and food safety laws. Upcoming Dates - 3rd - Math DCA on Multiplication 10th - Literacy DCA on Theme/Summary 15th - Ms. Tobin's Last Day 22nd-1st - Winter Break Thanks for your continued support! ~Brandon
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Good afternoon everyone! I hope this email finds you well. We had a LOT of successes this week, and I'm very proud of how determined the class stays. Please take the time to read through this email, especially noting the dates at the end. Here's a look at what we've accomplished and where we are headed next.
Math - One of the content areas that was cut short due the pandemic was a focus on area and perimeter. I took a few days this week to give them a good overview of everything. Next week, we will continue to work with area and perimeter word problems as well as word problems with money, measurements, and line plots. If you could, it would be very beneficial to have your child continue working towards mastery on Area and Perimeter within 3rd grade Khan Academy over the next few days. Here are the links: 3rd Grade Area - https://www.khanacademy.org/math/cc-third-grade-math/imp-geometry 3rd Grade Perimeter - https://www.khanacademy.org/math/cc-third-grade-math/3rd-perimeter Literacy - Interactive Read Aloud - Our final read aloud of the year is The Westing Game, a Newbery Award winning novel about the mysterious disappearance of Sam Westing and his 200 million dollar estate he will leave one of his heirs. The kids are loving this one! Shared Reading - The class enjoyed participating in a readers theater of a retelling of Robin Hood. The kids analyzed text features, setting, character development and practiced their fluent reading. Independent Time - A main focus during this time has been researching a state for their state fair school presentations later this year. Due to Covid protocols, this event is drastically changed. Updates to come. Science - The kids have really enjoyed the current environments unit. We have watched the development of mealworms (a few have changed to beetles), explored isopod environments, created aquatic environments for goldfish and guppies, and are testing the viability of brine shrimp based on the amount of salt in water. Upcoming Dates May 10th - No School (Professional Learning) 12th - Prairie Creek Presents to Prairie View 21st - Prairie View 4th Graders go to Prairie Creek (3-4 pm) - this won't affect bussing 25th-28th - State Fair for Grade Levels 27th - Chalk the Playground June 1st - Prairie View Fourth Grade Celebration 3rd - Prairie View Fourth Grade Celebration (Rain Makeup Date) 4th - Last Day of School -- Brandon Bauer Good morning families! I hope this email finds you safe after some tough weekend weather conditions. Here's a look at what is coming up this week:
Math - We have done a lot of learning around how and why division of large numbers works. We will spend this week reviewing those main concepts. I will provide struggling students with additional small group and one-on-one time and those who are already proficient with additional enrichment opportunities. Coming soon will be a focus on factors, multiples, and patterns. I'm not sure if you are familiar with "Number Munchers" from the early 1990s, but some kids have already enjoyed playing that game as I did as a fourth grader! Literacy - Interactive Read Aloud - The class has been reading "How to Turn $100 into $1,000,000". I've been using this to help teach nonfiction standards (including summarizing, text structure, and context clues). If your child has started asking you about earning an allowance or working on odd jobs around the house, they might be on their way to a million! Shared Reading - We have just completed working on understanding text structure, including chronological order, descriptions, cause/effect, problem/solution, and compare/contrast. The class took a short test on Friday. Those who did well will continue to get additional enrichment/independent time, and those who are still working on it will receive small group and one-on-one instruction. Writing - The class has recently finished writing an opinion writing piece about a topic of their choice. We will continue to polish those in the upcoming weeks. The class has had opportunities to work on writing on topics they are most interested in, and we will begin learning about how to write "essays" (aka "Expository Text") coming soon! Social Studies - The class just finished learning about key events from the Progressive Era (including child labor, immigration, improvign working conditions, voting rights, labor unions, protests, and many others). We will take a break from Social Studies for several weeks as we work with our next two Science kits. Science - The class has started their first investigation on energy by trying to light up light bulbs with just a bulb, a battery, and a wire. It is always fun watching the literal light bulbs turn on in real life and in their minds as they understand the why/how of it working. We will move into conductors and insulators as well as switches and lighting multiple bulbs this week. Upcoming Dates - 2nd - aReading Test (rest up for tomorrow!!!) 3rd - School Spirit Day 12th - Division Test 18th - "Fall" Picture Day 25th - Backwards/Wacky Day Just a reminder that your child needs to charge his/her computer every night at home. I've had too many kids becoming careless and irresponsible about this, knowing that there is a charger at school. Unfortunately, when too many kids are irresponsible, that inevitably is going to leave someone out. Thanks for reminding your child to charge his/her computer each night. This will be a routine that will serve them well in the coming years. Please let me know if you have any questions. It has been a great start to 2021 at Prairie View! ~Brandon Good afternoon everyone! I wanted to reach out and let you know about everything we are working in class these days!
Math - In 4th grade, one big focus is learning how to divide large numbers using many different strategies (not just "long division"). We have been working on interpreting what remainders actually mean in context, and the class has used their math face knowledge to help divide multiples of 10/100/1000 by a single digit number (i.e., 500 / 5 = 100). This week, we will be working on dividing numbers based on place value, and I will also show the class how to divide using area models. Literacy - Last week, during interactive read aloud, we finished The Phantom Tollbooth and enjoyed watching the movie on Friday. We will move into nonfiction text for read aloud to match our shared reading instruction. I am going to be reading "How to Turn $100 into $1,000,000 to the class over the next few days, focusing on main ideas, summary, text structure, and many other comprehension strategies. In writing, the class started planning out their first opinion writing pieces. We will continue that this week and be ready to publish them early next week. Social Studies - The class is close to finishing their study of the Industrial Revolution. Last week focused on titans of industry, and it sounds like a handful of students went home and watched at least part of "The Men Who Built America". After learning about these captains of industry, we are going to be moving towards the Progressive Era, where the class will be learning a bit about child labor, worker's rights, and changes in laws over the 1800s and early 1900s. Upcoming Dates January 18th - No School (clerical day for teachers) 21st - aMath Screener 28th - Scarves/Hats Day It is such a treat to work with this class each day! Please make sure to have your child keep plugging in that computer and filling that water bottle for school each night. Thanks for your continued support! ~Brandon Good afternoon everyone, and welcome to the last 4th grade update of 2020. This year has been one for the ages, with lots of ups and downs. I'm honored to be able to work with your child each and every day!
Math - We just finished our geometry unit, which included geometric shapes, angles, polygons, types of shapes (triangles, quadrilaterals, etc.). We will begin division upon our return, first completing some review on third grade division. There are some resources on our "Hanging with Mr. Bauer" website (link at the bottom of this email), so feel free to have your child utilize these links if they would like to over break. Literacy - Interactive Read Aloud - The kids have thoroughly enjoyed The Phantom Tollbooth and Milo's travels through Lands Beyond. Ask your child about it - I could only imagine what s/he would say! Shared Reading - We have just completed our theme/summary unit for fiction. The kids have worked on identifying the themes (the lesson or moral) in stories, and they have learned how to write summaries, including topic sentences and choosing a few words to talk like "The Croods" before using their own words to summarize the story. Language - During these past few days, I've continued working on understanding our fun English language, including working with descriptive words, similes, metaphors, multiple meaning words, and many others. My hope is that they will develop a love of "Dad Jokes" by the end of the year. So far, my success rate with funny jokes is right around 5%, so they are coming around (just kidding...haha!). Social Studies - The class has spend these days back in school learning about different ways people traveled and communicated. We have also spent some time learning about Thomas Edison and the different uses for electricity. Once back, we will be learning about some of the progressive changes made to improve the workplace, and then we will move into our Science energy unit. I want to extend a sincere thank you to you for helping make this first half of 4th grade work. Virtual learning went about as well as I could have imagined, and I love the positive spirit, energy, work ethic, and humor this class brings to school every day. It is a pure joy working with each of them. Please enjoy the next several days, and try to find time for yourself too. I can't wait to start with the kids in 2021! Good morning! It was great to see everyone back after a beautiful weekend. Here is what I have planned for the week:
Math - After revisiting key concepts with multiplication last week, we are going to start working with fourth grade concepts for the next three or four weeks ahead. If you are interested, I've made a video that encompases the progression of the multiplication lessons. It is rather long, but I want to make sure you have the information to see where we are starting and to see where your child will be heading. 4th Grade Math Progression Literacy - Interactive Read Aloud - In Wonder, Via's boyfriend Jeremy has been telling his perspective of Auggie's family; the students are learning that while Auggie receives so much attention, Via is also seeking to find her identity outside of being "Auggie's sister"; Shared Reading - the class has started to explore different thematic subjects (compassion, teamwork, determination, etc.) and theme statements such as "To have a friend, you need to be a friend" and other "fortune cookie"/"cat poster" saying; Writing - Students continue to finish up with their personal narratives and have begun working on their second Science - The class has most recently been exploring topographic maps and profile maps of different mountains, and they have also had an opportunity to look at Mt. St. Helen's eruption in 1980. We will also be exploring different "rapid changes" from natural disasters, including earthquakes and floods. Social/Emotional Learning - This week, the class will be learning about understanding complex feelings. Children at this age begin to recognize that feelings can be complicated, and our lessons this week will help them better understand those feelings. Upcoming Dates - 30th - Halloween "Party"...this will be a small celebration within the classroom, erring on the side of safety Thank you again for contributing to what has already been a great start to the school year. I will be contacting each of you In a handful of days to look at times for virtual conferences, but don't worry about those details yet. Best wishes, Brandon Good afternoon everyone! We wrapped up another great week of school. I'll send a more complete message later, but I wanted to send you some information about multiplication facts. With school closure last year taking away about 70 days of instruction, I'm going to do everything I can to help everyone get caught up with what they missed.
All this week, the students were able to review different math strategies to help them solve multiplication facts. One of the more helpful strategies, the distributive property, was part of homework last night as well as tonight. This, in my mind, is the ultimate strategy to help your child solve ANY multiplication fact. Also, this Friday (and every Friday), your child is bringing his/her XtraMath progress report for multiplication home. Please look at this and review your child's progress over the weekend. Your child completes an XtraMath session every day, and s/he graphs their progress and sets goals every day as well. Next, your child has started taking 6020s each day. This is a 60-second/20-problem timed test focusing on one multiple (for example, "Times 2" or "Times 8"). They also have a sheet in their data folder that allows them to track their progress. I use these 6020s to help "diagnose" particular multiples students are struggling with. Every time your child completes all 20/20, s/he moves to the next highest multiple. If your child doesn't complete 20/20 with 100% accuracy, I will be providing the following steps: 1.) Skip counting on a number line; 2.) Worksheet practice focusing on that particular multiple; 3.) Conceptually based flash cards that show the particular fact (i.e., a 6 x 3 array when asking 6 x 3); 4.) Other possible resources, including a "wrap up" tool, "multiple slider", fact triangles, and multiple spinner. Oftentimes I will send some of these resources home for extra practice. Here's where I need your help: with those resources, feel free to do as much as possible, but don't feel as if your child needs to work on their facts for more than 10 minutes each night. However, I do tell the kids that the more they practice, the quicker they will understand. I don't want anyone having to get into a power struggle at home, and hopefully your child will quickly begin to see their progress. Thank you so much for your support at home, not just with multiplying, but in every facet of the day. I know this year has thrown many curveballs, but hopefully we can hit a few of them out of the ballpark. Have a wonderful evening! ~Brandon Hi everyone! We had another great week in fourth grade! Mr. Bauer and I saw the students accomplishing great things this week in Math, Literacy, and Science. Below you will see what the students have been learning this week:
Math - Students learned about estimating sums and differences, adding whole numbers, and subtracting whole numbers. Each day we learned a new mental math strategy for addition and subtraction. Please feel free to have your child show you his/her progress on Khan Academy, they worked hard this week and should be proud of themselves. As always, they are welcome to continue working on their progress at home. Literacy - Interactive Read Aloud - We are continuing to enjoy Wonder. This past week we started and finished Part Three, which is told from Augusts’ best friend, Summers’ point of view. We started Part Four, which is told from August’s ex-best friend, Jack Will’s point of view. We continue engaging in discussion questions, making inferences, and expanding our vocabulary knowledge. Shared Reading - In whole class, the students learned how to describe settings and events in both stories and dramas. Independent/Small Group - We continued small group reading this week with the drama Save the Birds and the short story The New Ally. When students are not in their small groups, they have the opportunity to work on “Read to Self.” Writing - Students continued working on their personal narratives. We learned about events in personal narratives, the main problem/event, conclusion, and transition words. They have made great progress in their personal narratives. Science - This week we finished up with stream tables. Students continued learning about erosion and deposition. We took a field trip to our schoolyard to identify erosion and deposition. Students were introduced to fossils and created their own fossils. We began our engineering project, where students are working in small groups to create a structure that will withstand the changing landform. Upcoming Dates - 7th - School Spirit Day 12th - Character/Setting/Plot Reading Test 30th - School Halloween Celebration (details coming later) Thank you all again for allowing me the opportunity to teach your students. I continue to learn from them and be amazed by them each day. They are going to make it very hard to leave at the end of this week. Please let me or Mr. Bauer know if you have any questions! Ms. Tandy/Mr. Bauer Good morning families! I hope this email finds you well. I apologize for being a couple days late with my weekly update (I prefer to send them on Fridays to recap what we focused on this week and looking forward to the upcoming week).
First, I wanted to let you know that I will be in contact with you throughout this week in efforts to build a "Return to Learn" summary about your child in efforts to make the transition back to the classroom as smooth as possible. Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns about this. Math - This past week, the kids have had a chance to thoroughly explore place value of numbers through the millions, including comparing and ordering large numbers as well as understanding that moving to different place values can be done by multiplying by 10 or dividing by 10. In this week's lessons, the kids will have an opportunity to use that knowledge to round numbers up to the millions to any place value. Literacy - Interactive Read Aloud - The class has been enjoying Wonder by RJ Palacio, the story of a boy with physical differences that goes to 5th grade (his first time in a general school setting). We use this story to teach vocabulary, comprehension, and fluency, but also work on experiencing empathy towards other people. Shared Reading - We have been working with using details and examples from text to support our answers (as mentioned to the kids: "You should be able to point right to the answer in the text") as well as making inferences about the text, which you cannot just point to the answer in the text. Independent/Small Group - We have been working on building stamina for "Read to Self" time, which sets clear guidelines and expectations for student reading behavior during that time. Each group of kids have already passed the 15 minute mark for being focused and engaged with the text! Writing - Your child has been learning about writing 4th grade personal narratives, something they have experienced in previous years as well. This year, we will focus on more advanced writing techniques, such as adding dialogue, developing the setting, and using more complex punctuation. Science - The class has been conducting experiments dealing with soil composition and weathering. They have had a chance to look at different soils and see how they "settle" when mixed with water. We have also conducted some experiments with weathering, including physical weathering (rocks physically breaking down) and chemical weathering (watching acids break down rocks). We will also analyze the soils in our schoolyard this week. Second Step - Second Step is a program that helps with students' social/emotional learning. The current focus has been all about empathy towards people in our lives. We watched a song, tried guessing other people's favorites, and "walked in other people's shoes" (but not literally...I was asked to do that in a lesson when I was in elementary school and thought it wasn't very sanitary...and that was pre-pandemic). Our next focus will be "Listening with Attention", which is something I know you will enjoy at home too! Upcoming Dates - 21st - No School (Professional Learning) 22nd - All Students Come to school 23rd - MAP Reading Test 24th - Crazy Socks/School Spirit Day 25th - School Spirit/Homecoming 30th - MAP Math Test Thanks for everything you have done to help make the beginning of the school year a success. Know that you and your family are greatly valued! -- Brandon Bauer Good morning families! It was so nice to work with your child last week. Ms. Tandy and I loved having the opportunity to work with the class, discuss new routines, and teach some introductory lessons. We are looking forward to another successful week. Here's a look at what the students will learn in the coming days:
Math - We are learning all about place value up through one million. This includes the values of different digits in different places, comparing and ordering larger numbers, and the relationship between a digit in one place value and another place value. Literacy - The kids have had an opportunity to discuss all about good fit books, how to choose books, when abandoning books is an option, and the different kinds of fiction and nonfiction. This week, the kids will continue reading Wonder as our whole class read aloud, work on identifying details within a text to support their comprehension, and begin brainstorming and drafting their personal narratives. Science - Last week, the class had the opportunity to analyze four different soil samples. We started with the question "Which one is soil?" It was a bit of a trick because they were all types of soil, not just the ones with "the black dirt in the mix". We will continue to work with soil this week, and the students will also begin learning about erosion and deposition. Virtual Learning - A list of assignments is posted on Google Classroom. Hard copies of some assignments will be sent home, and (if possible) online assignments are linked within Google Classroom. Cohort A will be receiving their assignments/packet for at home learning at the end of school tomorrow (Wednesday). That should be returned the following Monday. Cohort B received their assignments/packet for at-home learning last Friday, and they should return it to school this Thursday. Please do your best with virtual learning, and if you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to us and we can help you out :-). Have a wonderful week, and try to stay dry! ~Mr. Bauer & Ms. Tandy -- Brandon Bauer 4th Grade Teacher Prairie View Elementary Mobile - (319) 621-9720 "We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams." -Willy Wonka Find our classroom online! Website: hangingwithmrbauer.weebly.com Facebook: facebook.com/withmrbauer/ Twitter: @withmrbauer |
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AuthorBrandon Bauer...4th Grade Teacher - Best job in the world! Archives
November 2021
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