January 27, 2020

Happy Monday everyone!

We have been really busy this month! Just a little bit about what your child has been learning....it's all great stuff :)

Math-

We have been learning to use partial products method so that we can multiply two, three and four-digit numbers by a one-digit number. 

We will then begin using the partial products method so that we can multiply two, three and four-digit numbers by a one-digit number.

Learning in this way gives students a visual for these multiplication procedures.


With all learning at Dickinson, we not only talk about the target of the learning (above), but the "WHY" for the learning as well. In this way, the student understands the relevance of learning in their life. The "WHY" for learning about up to 6 digit numbers is:

"So I can.....
Work with place value and understand the meaning.

Language Arts-

In this unit, students will examine the genre of historical fiction and investigate how literary elements are revealed in a historical fiction novel. They will come to appreciate that setting plays a particularly important role in historical fiction as it affects characters, events, and points of view. Point of view and perspective, including comparing and contrasting firsthand vs secondhand accounts of the same event and perspectives of different characters, is highlighted in this unit. Students will write one required narrative piece in which they demonstrate the use of important narrative writing techniques and may write other shorter choices pieces in various formats.  Vocabulary and grammar concepts will be taught explicitly initially and then integrated into the unit’s literacy activities. Students will also read informational text and conduct short research projects related to historical topics presented in their novels. Students will learn various summarization techniques and apply them to literacy activities throughout the unit. 

The Essential Questions and/or Enduring Understandings in this unit:  

• Exploring key characters and events from historical fiction allows us to develop new insights into the historical time period.
• Historical fiction brings history to life and engages the reader in the lives of historical characters and events
• Reading historical fiction illuminates today’s problems by examining those of other times

Book clubs using historical fiction books will begin soon. Please look to see what wonderful book your child is reading!

Social Studies-

We are working with groups to study the native people of Wisconsin. Each group has been assigned a Native American Tribe from Wisconsin to discover more about their culture "then and now." Students will then design a Google Slide Presentation on what they have discovered!

Vocabulary Parade

We had a great time at our Vocabulary Parade last week!

Please see the video of the fun!

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1F_kqkCxdeTNKjLEP7g6RldAtueLs7MRl/view?ts=5e2aeefe

There is much more learning on the way!

Parent  Volunteers

Please send me an email at mrussell@depere.k12.wi.us if you would like to be a volunteer in our classroom. Please let me know what time of the day is best for you and we'll get you started as soon as possible.

Also, if you would like to go on any field trips with our class, I will need you to complete a background check first. This is routine and every volunteer needs to have one on file.

Thank you for sharing your precious child with me!

Mrs. Russell

November  15, 2019

Happy Friday everyone!

We have been really busy this month! Just a little bit about what your child has been learning....it's all great stuff :)

Math-

We recently completed a Module that included:
Multi-digit arithmetic (addition)
Making sense of problems and solving them
Place value/rounding
Factors/multiples and prime/composite numbers
Measurement/area and perimeter



Students completed their assessments for this module and will bring it home for you to review soon.

With all learning at Dickinson, we not only talk about the target of the learning (above), but the "WHY" for the learning as well. In this way, the student understands the relevance of learning in their life. The "WHY" for learning about up to 6 digit numbers is:

"So I can.....
Work with place value and understand the meaning.

Language Arts-

In writing, students reviewed the differences among narrative, informational, and “hybrid” text (i.e., informational text with narrative features such as a biography). Students reviewed common text structures and their specific purposes. They learned the defining characteristics of a feature article in preparation for writing an original feature article. They applied their knowledge of text features and structures to organize information and enhance the information in their own original feature articles, understanding audience, and purpose.

Emphasis was placed on the close reading of informational text to learn through research--learning and practicing basic research skills and determining the most important and interesting information to include in their publications. 

Explicit instruction in vocabulary and grammar concepts were integrated into the unit’s literacy activities. Grammar focus is on crafting meaningful, fluent sentences as well as the introduction of relative pronouns and relative adverbs. 

As an outcome of this unit, students will publish their feature articles to an audience of peers.  Example of a feature article below:

Science-

We have concluded our Unit on Earth's Natural Hazards. Students were able to apply their knowledge of natural Earth processes to generate and compare multiple solutions to reduce the impacts of such processes on humans.

In the fourth grade performance expectations, students are expected to demonstrate grade-appropriate proficiency in asking questions, developing and using models, planning and carrying out investigations, analyzing and interpreting data, constructing explanations and designing solutions, engaging in argument from evidence, and obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information. Students are expected to use these practices to demonstrate an understanding of the core ideas.

There is much more learning on the way!

Parent  Volunteers

Please send me an email at mrussell@depere.k12.wi.us if you would like to be a volunteer in our classroom. Please let me know what time of the day is best for you and we'll get you started as soon as possible.

Thank you for sharing your precious child with me!

Mrs. Russell

September 13, 2019

Happy Friday everyone!

We have been really busy since the  beginning of school! Just a little bit about what your child has been learning....it's all great stuff :)

Math-

We are part way through learning how to read and understand 6 digit numbers. Your child is learning to represent (read, write and identify) up to 6 digit numbers so that he/she can work flexibly with numbers large and small.

With all learning at Dickinson, we not only talk about the target of the learning (above),but the "WHY" for the learning as well. In this way, the student understands the relevancy of the learning in their life. The "WHY" for learning about up to 6 digit numbers is:

"So I can.....
Work with place value and understand the meaning.

Language Arts-

In writing we prepared for and completed a beginning of the year opinion writing assessment. The students did a good job with that and are getting good at persuasion. You may notice that at home as well ;)

In reading we are focusing on "Close Reading". Close Reading strategies so that we can more deeply comprehend the words and actions of the characters. We have focused on the main character in our story and observed the difference in what she thinks, says and does. In this way we are able to take a closer look into the characters and help us understand their personality characteristics. Close Reading allows us to develop a much deeper understanding of a text.

Social Studies-

We have begun our Unit One-Mapping our State: A Place with a Past
We have been discussing how our state's geography helps make us who we are and shape what we do. We are discussing how our waterways influence where people settled and where cities grew. Also, we are talking about what features of different Wisconsin regions attracted people to settle and live there.

There is much more learning on the way!

Parent  Volunteers

Please send me an email at mrussell@depere.k12.wi.us if you would like to be a volunteer in our classroom. Please let me know what time of the day is best for you and we'll get you started as soon as possible.

Thank you for sharing your precious child with me!

Mrs. Russell