Readers Workshop

During this unit,, students will learn strategies for reading non-fiction. In particular,

students will learn the skills that are essential for researchers. Students will read in such a

way that they can summarize a text, leaning on the text structure to help them determine im-

portance. For the second half of the unit, students will study extreme weather and other nat-

ural disasters.

The priority standards for this unit are:

Main idea(s) and supporting details/summary

Analyzing parts of a text in relation to the whole

Analyzing craft

Cross text(s) Synthesis

Writers Workshop

In this unit, students will learn how to write well within an expository structure. As stu-

dents learn the key qualities of essay writing, they will learn to write within a traditional the-

sis-driven essay structure. Students will also learn to include and elaborate on a wide variety

of evidence.

The following standards will be addressed:

Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons and infor-

mation.

Introduce a topic or text clearly, state an opinion and create an organizational structure in

which related ideas are grouped to support the writer’s purpose

Provide reasons that are supported by facts and details

Link opinions and reasons using words and phrases

Provide a concluding statement or section related to the opinion

presented.

Parent Newsletter

Fourth Grade October-November2016

Math Workshop

Students are currently working on Chapter 2, multiplying by 1-digit num-

bers. Students will investigate strategies for multiplying 2-,3-, and 4-digit num-

bers by the numbers 2-9. You can expect to see homework that provides prac-

tice with multiplication by 1-digit numbers.

The following standards will be addressed:

Operations and Algebraic Thinking

4.OA.1.

Interpret a multiplication equation as a comparison, e.g., interpret 35 = 5

×7 as a statement that 35 is 5 times as many as 7 and 7 times as many as 5.

Represent verbal statements of multiplicative comparisons as multiplication

equations.

4.OA.2.

Multiply or divide to solve word problems involving multiplicative compari-

son, e.g., by using drawings and equations with a symbol for the unknown

number to represent the problem, distinguishing multiplicative comparison

from ad ditive comparison.

4.OA.3.

Solve multi-step word problems posed with whole numbers and having whole

-number answers using the four operations, including problems in which re-

mainders must be interpreted. Represent these problems using equations

with a letter standing for the unknown quantity. Assess the reasonableness

of answers using mental computation and estimation strategies including

rounding.

Number and Operations in Base Ten

4.NBT.5.

Multiply a whole number of up to four digits by a one-digit whole number,

and multiply two two-digit numbers, using strategies based on place value

and the properties of operations. Illustrate and explain the calculation by

using equations, rectangular arrays, and/or area models.

Science Students are currently learning about animal adaptations. They are using the scientific

method in order to answer the question, “How can animals survive in the extreme cold of the Artic

and Antarctic?” They have conducted background research and they have created hypotheses.

Social Studies Students are continuing to learn about Native Americans. In addition, they are learning

about the geographic features of New York State and New York City. Academy Clubs

Academy Clubs are off to a great start! Clubs began on Friday, October 14th. The first

round of clubs will continue through January. After this, students will showcase their work for

their peers at our Club Showcase. Students will then select a new club and round 2 of clubs will

begin in late February. Fall Festival

On Tuesday, October 25th, students danced the evening away at our Annual Fall Festival! Stu-

dents played games, took pictures at the photo booth, got their faces painted and some students

even got henna tattoos. Our haunted house was a scary success!

Upcoming Events Parent Teacher Conferences: Thursday, November 3rd

Picture Day: Monday, November 7th

Election Day, NO SCHOOL Tuesday, November 8th

Veteran’s Day, NO SCHOOL: Friday, November 11th

Thanksgiving, NO SCHOOL: Thursday, November 24th and Friday, November 25th

Special Visitors and Assemblies

On Tuesday, October 14, member of the New York State Assembly, Francisco Moya,

visited The Academy. Francisco represents Corona, Jackson Heights, and Elmhurst. He

visited many classrooms and even held a mock assembly debate!

Music Assembly On Wednesday, October 15th, students attended a Music Technology Assembly with

Brent Daniels. Brent is an award-winning producer, composer, sound designer, and record-

ing artist who uses the latest in music technology to sculpt sound and create music. Brent

showed students the important relationship between the technology they have in their

classrooms and the creation of the music and sounds they hear on their iPods and on TV,

movies, and video games. Students participated in the program and helped Brent create

unique, on-the-spot sounds. By the end of the show, all students helped to create an origi-

nal song! Brent shared an important message: how important a student’s education, great

study habits and positive decision making are for one’s success in any career.

Student of the Month

Congratulations to our students of the month!

Fourth Grade

401: Angelin Chabla, Daniel Ascenio

402: Katherine Romero, Ahnaf Inan

403: Madelynn Lagulay, Jose Moyotol

404: Miram Atwa, Justin Zheng

405: Marycarmen Valdin, Jose Vega

406:Vanessa Lin, Atiane Cabrera

407: Sheryln Santos, Christopher Vega

408: Diya Patel, Farib Gazi

409: Ibrahim Khalil

Fifth Grade

501:Melody Jiang, Alex Young

502:Ibrahim Vohra, Allison Jiang

503:Melanie Tang, Areeb Khan

504:Yuri Wang, Jessica Qiu

505:Sumaya Suma, Joaquin Jumarito

506:Sharon WIjaya, Anandhu Pookkulangara

507: Arpita Saha, Yao Chen

508: Choying Tenzin, Farhan Khan

509:509: Ignacio Diaz

My Writing Goals for the unit are:

Introduce a topic clearly and group related information in paragraphs and sections

Develop the topic with facts, definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information

and examples related to the topic

Link ideas within categories of information using words and phrases

Use precise language and domain-specific vocabulary to inform about or explain the topic

Provide a concluding statement or section related to the information or explanation pre-

sented

Other: _______________________________________________________

My Reading Goals for the unit are:

Main idea(s) and supporting details/summary

Analyzing parts of a text in relation to the whole

Analyzing craft

Cross text(s) Synthesis

Other: _______________________________________________________

My Math goals for the unit are:

Interpret a multiplication equation as a comparison, e.g., interpret 35 = 5 ×7 as a statement

that 35 is 5 times as many as 7 and 7 times as many as 5

Represent verbal statements of multiplicative comparisons as multiplication equations

Multiply or divide to solve word problems involving multiplicative comparison, e.g., by using

drawings and equations with a symbol for the unknown number to represent the problem,

distinguishing multiplicative comparison from ad ditive comparison.

Solve multi-step word problems posed with whole numbers and having whole-number an-

swers using the four operations, including problems in which remainders must be interpret-

ed. Represent these problems using equations with a letter standing for the unknown quan-

tity. Assess the reasonableness of answers using mental computation and estimation strate-

gies including rounding.

Other: _______________________________________________________