Mad Minutes

We have begun the routine of doing what we call "Mad Minutes" in class. The students are to answer as many question in one minute as they can. This routine will be to track improvement in automatic recall of addition and subtraction facts to 20. Many of our class members are still using counting strategies to answer single digit math questions and this makes adding to 10 000 a slow process. I will be sending these home daily.

We are also reviewing the standard algorithm of regrouping and borrowing in addition and subtraction. (this is the math all will recall from when you were in school) We have strong place value sense and this is a great start. From the assessments I have been doing, many have forgotten this process.

Please support from home by helping your child memorize all basic addition and subtraction fact to 20. (see previous posts for games and web sites.)

Best Regards,
Mrs. Diduch

Reading and Writing Resources

The Dolch Word Lists are words that Grade 4 students should be reading and spelling correctly. However all the kids are at different abilities and in class we are targeting the level each kid is at. Please see the link below for ways you can support the work being done in class. Have a great day!

https://sightwords.com/sight-words/dolch/

Math Resources for Extra Practice

I will be publishing great web sites that students can use at home to practice the concepts learned in class when at home.

Please be aware that most sites are American and the curriculum is a little ahead of what the Alberta curriculum is.

Math Prodigy (passwords were sent home in Sept. Please contact me if you need it sent again)
https://www.prodigygame.com/

Mathletics (passwords were sent home in Sept. Please contact me if you need it sent again)
https://login.mathletics.com/

Printable work sheets
https://webmathminute.com/sheets

Khan Academy (Lessons with Practice)
https://www.khanacademy.org/

Math Stories (word Problems)
http://www.mathstories.com/

Multiplication Games
https://www.multiplication.com/games/all-games

Place Value Practice
https://www.free-training-tutorial.com/place-value-games.html?1&

Manipulative Games
https://illuminations.nctm.org/

I hope this helps our little learners! Have fun and keep practicing!

MRS. DIDUCH

Word Work List Jan.27-Jan. 31

Contractions are this weeks focus. Grade 4 students should be successfully using common contractions in their writing.

1. didn't
2. that's
3. they're
4. you're
5. couldn't
6. haven't
7. we're
8. isn't
9. I'm
10. don't
11. it's
12. they've

Basic Facts Practice

As we move into our unit on Number Operations, students will benefit from having quick recall of their basic addition and subtraction facts. Here are a couple of games that you can play at home to practice.

I spy with my little eye

This card game is for two players. You will need one deck of cards with the picture cards removed (40 cards remaining).

Instructions

1. The cards are dealt face up in an array, either a 10 x 4 or 8 x 5 array.
2. The first player challenges the other one to find two cards next to each other that add to make a particular number. The first player says, “I spy with my little eye two cards that add to make ______.”
3. The second player then looks for 2 cards that add to make the number. The two cards to be added need to be next to each other either horizontally or vertically. The player then picks the cards up to add them to their pile. They do this with any other pairs that add to make the number as well.
4. If the second player misses any pairs that add to the number, then player one may claim them.
5. The players alternate taking turns and continue until all the cards are gone.
6. The winner is the player with the most cards at the end of the game.
7. As large gaps appear in the array, move the cards closer together to fill those gaps.

Variations

• You could change the operation that students use, for example, multiplication or subtraction.
• Allow your students to add three numbers together.
• You could also allow students to add pairs of cards diagonally.

First to add it up

This card game is suitable for 2 – 4 players. You will need one deck of cards and pencil and paper to keep track of each player’s scores. In this game, picture cards = 10 and ace = 1.

Instructions

1. Shuffle the cards and have them in the center facing down.
2. One player draws 3 cards from the deck and lays them face up in the middle.
3. Players must add the 3 cards to find the total. The first player to call the total of the 3 cards is awarded that number of points.
4. No points are awarded for an incorrect answer.
5. Play continues with each player having a turn at revealing the 3 cards.
6. The winner is the player with the highest number of points when all cards have been turned over.

Variations

• You could draw any number of cards, for example 2, 4 or even 5.
• Use multiplication instead of addition.

Fast facts

This card game is suitable for 2 players. You will need one deck of cards with the picture cards removed. In this game aces = 1.

Instructions

1. Deal out half the cards to each player with the cards facing down in a pile.
2. Both players take the card on the top of their pile and lay it face up in the middle.
3. The first player to call out the product of the two cards wins both cards.
4. If it is a draw the cards are left on the table. Turn 2 more cards over and whichever player wins, picks up all the cards in the middle.
5. The winner is the player with the most cards once all the card have been used.

Variations

• You could also use addition or subtraction.
• If you are just introducing multiplication to your students you could remove the cards that are beyond their ability at the moment, such as 7, 8 or 9.

Jan.20-25 Word Work List

This weeks words are focusing on time measurement words.

1. Tuesday
2. Wednesday
3. Thursday
4. Saturday
5. January
6. February
7. month
8. year
9. calendar
10. second
11. minute
12. hour

Word Work List Jan.13-17

This weeks words are focusing on double consonants and the syllable rule. Each syllable needs a vowel,

1. follow
2. matter
3. summer
4. dollar
5. scissors
6. address
7. office
8. blizzard
9. suppertime
10. wrapper
11. wallet
12. village

Math Night

Math Night - Thursday February 6th, 6pm - 8pm 
More information to follow. Please mark your calendar.

Busy Week Back

Hello all,

In reading this week we have learned about making inferences. We will be working on this reading strategy for awhile as it is proving to be tricky for most.

We are moving into looking at patterns in addition and subtraction as well as multiplication and division. Memorizing basic facts is encouraged. Please practice at home as well as the work we do here in class.

Next week we are focusing on paragraph writing. We will begin by analyzing a couple of paragraphs and then work towards writing our own.

Our Science unit of Wheels and Levers has begun and we have discussed the concept of friction. We are learning the Scientific process and how to do a scientific write up.

In Social studies we  are finishing up learning about Alberta's Natural Regions and will be comparing all. If your family has been to any provincial parks in Alberta please send in a photocopied picture so we can see the Natural Landforms found in Alberta. ex: hoodoos, foothills, mountains, Canadian Shield etc.

Please ensure your child is dressed warmly as the cold snap rolls into Calgary. We do have indoor recess if the wind chill is below minus 21. We will be outside otherwise. We are also looking for families to send in tools to play in the snow that can be kept at school such as ice cream buckets of other snow molds. Thanks in advance if you can help us out.

Have a great week end!
Best Wishes,
Mrs. A. Diduch

Welcome Back and Word Work List

Hello and a warm welcome back! It was wonderful to see the children today! I hope everyone had a restful break and are ready for a busy month. 😁

This week we are focusing on The 'i' letter sounds in our word work. There is the short and long sound when using silent 'e'. The letter 'y' also makes an 'i' sound and so do the following graphemes: 'igh' and 'uy'.

1. since
2. which
3. string
4. title
5. mind
6. decide
7. why
8. buy
9. right
10. write
11. cypress
12. bicycle

We are learning about complex sentences and the conjunctions: because, while, before and after. We are using these words to join to simple sentences. 

Our comprehension strategy is "Close Reading". We are learning to read, reread and annotate text to gain a deeper understanding. Another comprehension strategy we have learned about is making inferences.

This month the rotating Pillar of Care is mindfulness. Every afternoon after lunch the entire school will take 10 minutes to be mindful, deep breath and centre ourselves to prepare for the afternoon's learning.

In Math we are reviewing patterning and patterns in charts before we move into Number Operations: adding, and subtracting decimals, multiplication and division.

Have a wonderful night!

Best Regards,

Mrs. A Diduch