FICTION BOOK REPORT
STEP 1;
Choose a book. Your book must have a least 150 pages. Bring your book to school. I will approve it. Your book must be approved by January 6, 2012.
STEP 2:
Plan a daily reading and writing schedule. Read a little every day. Fold a sheet in half. Now, your have a great book mark and you can take notes as you read. As you read your book, answer the questions on your bookmark. Your notes are due on January 23, 2012.
STEP 3:
Write your first draft, using your bookmark notes. Due on January 30, 2012. Your first paragraph is about:
Your first paragraph is about the characters and setting.
1. Who are the characters?
2. What is the setting?
3. How do the characters and setting change?
Your second paragraph is the plot.
1. What is the problem in the story?
2. What steps did the character take to solve the problem?
3. What was the solution?
Your third paragraph will be inferences.
1. What did you learn from the book that the author did not tell you?
2. How did you infer this?
Your last paragraph is your opinion.
1. What did you think of the book?
2. Why did you like or not like the book?
3. Do you think others would enjoy this book? Why?
STEP 4: Final draft due on February 7, 2012.
1. Recopy your first draft.
2. Write a title page. Include the book title, author’s name, date the book was
Published, and your name and date.
3. Make a cover for your report.
4. Put your report in your binder in the Reading section, bring to school.
5. Turn your report in on time.
CONGRATULATIONS YOU HAVE WRITTEN A BOOK REPORT!!
STEP 1;
Choose a book. Your book must have a least 150 pages. Bring your book to school. I will approve it. Your book must be approved by January 6, 2012.
STEP 2:
Plan a daily reading and writing schedule. Read a little every day. Fold a sheet in half. Now, your have a great book mark and you can take notes as you read. As you read your book, answer the questions on your bookmark. Your notes are due on January 23, 2012.
STEP 3:
Write your first draft, using your bookmark notes. Due on January 30, 2012. Your first paragraph is about:
Your first paragraph is about the characters and setting.
1. Who are the characters?
2. What is the setting?
3. How do the characters and setting change?
Your second paragraph is the plot.
1. What is the problem in the story?
2. What steps did the character take to solve the problem?
3. What was the solution?
Your third paragraph will be inferences.
1. What did you learn from the book that the author did not tell you?
2. How did you infer this?
Your last paragraph is your opinion.
1. What did you think of the book?
2. Why did you like or not like the book?
3. Do you think others would enjoy this book? Why?
STEP 4: Final draft due on February 7, 2012.
1. Recopy your first draft.
2. Write a title page. Include the book title, author’s name, date the book was
Published, and your name and date.
3. Make a cover for your report.
4. Put your report in your binder in the Reading section, bring to school.
5. Turn your report in on time.
CONGRATULATIONS YOU HAVE WRITTEN A BOOK REPORT!!
Grade Four Quarterly Newsletter
January, 2012
Happy New Year! Thank you for all the wonderful gifts I received. Your generosity was very much appreciated.
Here is an update about what has happened and what will be happening in Grade Four.
Religion
During Christmas week the students performed the play “The Baker’s Dozen- A Saint Nicholas Tale” scripted by Aaron Sheppard. The students focused on reading the text with expressive voices, gestures, and costumes while learning about generosity. The students seemed to have fun while learning about how a baker’s dozen came to be. In December, the fourth graders also made shoes for St. Nicholas day for their buddies. Why did they make shoes? St. Nicholas had a reputation for secret gift giving, such as putting coins in the shoes of children. Just imagine the look of surprise when the Kindergarten children found gold coins in shoes the fourth graders made for them. St. Nick also left coins for the fourth graders as well!
Now that the holidays are over the students are learning about how the Holy Spirit guides us in making choices that show God’s goodness. Next, the students will learn about the Sacrament of Confirmation. The following chapter focuses on the Ten Commandments. Finally, we are preparing and looking forward to Catholic Schools Week.
Reminder - Mass Club is every Monday at 7:30 A.M. for those who wish to attend.
Reading
We are now reading “Grass Sandals- The travels of Basho.” Basho, a seventeenth century Japanese poet, travels through Japan describing the aspects of nature that touch his heart and mind. In response to this selection, the students will write Haiku poems and share their poetry with the class. Next, we will read, “A Place Called Freedom” by Scott Russell Sanders. Students will learn about a family of freed slaves who help set up a thriving community in Indiana in 1832. We will focus on applying fact and opinion concepts as well as judgments and decision.
Students should also be working on a fiction book report due on February 7, 2012.
Language Arts
The students are now working on persuasive writing compositions. They had to decide on a topic, do research, and organize facts and opinions. The students are learning about the writing process. In Unit 4, the students will identify different kinds of adjectives. They will also compare tow or more people or things. In the near future they will learn about and practice explanatory writing.
Math
We are now finishing Chapter 4, multiplication concepts. As soon as we finish we will move to division concepts. The students will have to find number patterns in division, and will have to find quotients with and without remainders. In addition, they will have to find averages. After division, students will explore the concept of fractions. Students will learn about equivalent fractions, and mixed numbers. They will also estimate, compare, and order fractions.
Most Friday afternoons we go to the computer room and access “Progress in Mathematics” online program. Students use virtual manipulatives to deepen their understanding of all math concepts. We also use the math minutes game to reinforce math facts.
Social Studies
Students visited the Massachusetts Legislature website, and took an online picture tour of the State House. They prepared for State Representative Peterson’s visit by studying how an idea becomes a law. On the day of his visit, I was very proud of the Fourth Graders because they we attentive, respectful and they asked mature questions. Some students said they were truly inspired by Representative Peterson, and now those same students are running for office in Assumption School StudentGovernment.
We are finishing Chapter 5 this week- “People of the Northeast.” The students will then study about the people and events that shaped the Southeast. We will also read about The Trail of Tears. In addition, this chapter also discusses The Civil War, The Civil Rights Movement, and Modern Cities of the Southeast.
Finally, I am using a primary source, Lyddie by Katherine Paterson in the classroom to teach Social Studies concepts. Lyddie is a historical fiction novel about an impoverished mid 19 century farm girl from Vermont who moves to Lowell, Ma to work in the Mills. Students are learning about life during the industrial revolution, slavery, and social injustices as we read how difficult life was in the late 1800’s.
Science
The students just finished learning about sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic rock. Now they will by studying the planets. Students will learn how the motions of the Earth Moon system around the Sun produce the daily, monthly and yearly cycles that we use to measure time. They will also study how the Earth is different form other planets in our solar system.
As always, thank you parents for your support!
Mrs. Fitzgerald
January, 2012
Happy New Year! Thank you for all the wonderful gifts I received. Your generosity was very much appreciated.
Here is an update about what has happened and what will be happening in Grade Four.
Religion
During Christmas week the students performed the play “The Baker’s Dozen- A Saint Nicholas Tale” scripted by Aaron Sheppard. The students focused on reading the text with expressive voices, gestures, and costumes while learning about generosity. The students seemed to have fun while learning about how a baker’s dozen came to be. In December, the fourth graders also made shoes for St. Nicholas day for their buddies. Why did they make shoes? St. Nicholas had a reputation for secret gift giving, such as putting coins in the shoes of children. Just imagine the look of surprise when the Kindergarten children found gold coins in shoes the fourth graders made for them. St. Nick also left coins for the fourth graders as well!
Now that the holidays are over the students are learning about how the Holy Spirit guides us in making choices that show God’s goodness. Next, the students will learn about the Sacrament of Confirmation. The following chapter focuses on the Ten Commandments. Finally, we are preparing and looking forward to Catholic Schools Week.
Reminder - Mass Club is every Monday at 7:30 A.M. for those who wish to attend.
Reading
We are now reading “Grass Sandals- The travels of Basho.” Basho, a seventeenth century Japanese poet, travels through Japan describing the aspects of nature that touch his heart and mind. In response to this selection, the students will write Haiku poems and share their poetry with the class. Next, we will read, “A Place Called Freedom” by Scott Russell Sanders. Students will learn about a family of freed slaves who help set up a thriving community in Indiana in 1832. We will focus on applying fact and opinion concepts as well as judgments and decision.
Students should also be working on a fiction book report due on February 7, 2012.
Language Arts
The students are now working on persuasive writing compositions. They had to decide on a topic, do research, and organize facts and opinions. The students are learning about the writing process. In Unit 4, the students will identify different kinds of adjectives. They will also compare tow or more people or things. In the near future they will learn about and practice explanatory writing.
Math
We are now finishing Chapter 4, multiplication concepts. As soon as we finish we will move to division concepts. The students will have to find number patterns in division, and will have to find quotients with and without remainders. In addition, they will have to find averages. After division, students will explore the concept of fractions. Students will learn about equivalent fractions, and mixed numbers. They will also estimate, compare, and order fractions.
Most Friday afternoons we go to the computer room and access “Progress in Mathematics” online program. Students use virtual manipulatives to deepen their understanding of all math concepts. We also use the math minutes game to reinforce math facts.
Social Studies
Students visited the Massachusetts Legislature website, and took an online picture tour of the State House. They prepared for State Representative Peterson’s visit by studying how an idea becomes a law. On the day of his visit, I was very proud of the Fourth Graders because they we attentive, respectful and they asked mature questions. Some students said they were truly inspired by Representative Peterson, and now those same students are running for office in Assumption School StudentGovernment.
We are finishing Chapter 5 this week- “People of the Northeast.” The students will then study about the people and events that shaped the Southeast. We will also read about The Trail of Tears. In addition, this chapter also discusses The Civil War, The Civil Rights Movement, and Modern Cities of the Southeast.
Finally, I am using a primary source, Lyddie by Katherine Paterson in the classroom to teach Social Studies concepts. Lyddie is a historical fiction novel about an impoverished mid 19 century farm girl from Vermont who moves to Lowell, Ma to work in the Mills. Students are learning about life during the industrial revolution, slavery, and social injustices as we read how difficult life was in the late 1800’s.
Science
The students just finished learning about sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic rock. Now they will by studying the planets. Students will learn how the motions of the Earth Moon system around the Sun produce the daily, monthly and yearly cycles that we use to measure time. They will also study how the Earth is different form other planets in our solar system.
As always, thank you parents for your support!
Mrs. Fitzgerald
November, 2011
What a busy first quarter we have had! The students completed a service project at Butler Farm in Millbury. As you can see from the pictures they seemed to really enjoy this project! They also did a fantastic job on their Saints projects! Thank you everyone for your oversight and assistance with both projects. In the classroom the students have been working very hard in all subject areas.
Religion
In Religion the students were introduced to the Ten Commandments and God’s Covenant. We are now learning about the Beatitudes. They have also learned my favorite prayer, Hail Holy Queen. Next, we will cover The Commandments and the law of love. The students will also learn about conflict resolution as we discuss and perform skits that address common conflicts that occur in Elementary school.
Reading
The students have already read seven stories! The genres included; realistic fiction, fantasy, historical fiction, Social Studies and Science articles. Some concepts we focused on included sequence of events, making inferences, cause and effect, and reading comprehension. We will continue to work on developing these skills.
Language Arts
In Language Arts we have covered different kinds of sentences, complete subjects, predicates, and nouns. The students wrote personal narratives, and will now begin to write stories that compare/ contrast different topics. We have also focused on singular and plural possessive nouns. Next, we will be learning about verbs.
Math
In Chapter 10/ Geometry, the students learned to identify, name, and draw points, lines, and line segments. They also learned about rays, and angles; and how to classify lines and angles. They explored transformations and half turn symmetry. Then they located, named, and graphed ordered pairs on a coordinate grid. In Chapter one, the students deepened their understanding of place value, money, and problem solving. We are now practicing subtraction and addition problems with three or more addends. We continue to study multiplication facts both in class and on the computers using the Progress in Mathematics online program. In Chapter 2, students will begin to understand the meaning of subtraction, and they will find missing addends, minuends, and subtrahends. They will add and subtract mentally and estimate sums and differences.
Social Studies
Social Studies is one of the most difficult subjects, yet the students appear to be very interested in Social Studies concepts. First we studied major landforms, rivers and mountains. Then we moved on to American People. Third, we learned about government and elections. Next, we will read about the People of the Northeast Region. We are using the Icivics website as well as the Weekly Reader website to learn about our government.
Science
Finally, in Science we studied weather. Chapter six focused on what causes weather, and how to predict weather. The students also learned how ocean water and fresh water are different. You probably noticed I skipped a couple of chapters. I did this so we can learn about the most important fourth grade Science concepts. Now, the students are learning about Electricity and Magnetism. Recently the students made both a series circuit and parallel circuits in the Science Lab. Next, they will explore magnetic fields, and how electricity is transformed to magnetism.
As you can see the students are working very hard. I love how they are so curious and how they welcome challenges. They are such a blessing from God!
Thank you for all your assistance,
Mrs. Fitzgerald
What a busy first quarter we have had! The students completed a service project at Butler Farm in Millbury. As you can see from the pictures they seemed to really enjoy this project! They also did a fantastic job on their Saints projects! Thank you everyone for your oversight and assistance with both projects. In the classroom the students have been working very hard in all subject areas.
Religion
In Religion the students were introduced to the Ten Commandments and God’s Covenant. We are now learning about the Beatitudes. They have also learned my favorite prayer, Hail Holy Queen. Next, we will cover The Commandments and the law of love. The students will also learn about conflict resolution as we discuss and perform skits that address common conflicts that occur in Elementary school.
Reading
The students have already read seven stories! The genres included; realistic fiction, fantasy, historical fiction, Social Studies and Science articles. Some concepts we focused on included sequence of events, making inferences, cause and effect, and reading comprehension. We will continue to work on developing these skills.
Language Arts
In Language Arts we have covered different kinds of sentences, complete subjects, predicates, and nouns. The students wrote personal narratives, and will now begin to write stories that compare/ contrast different topics. We have also focused on singular and plural possessive nouns. Next, we will be learning about verbs.
Math
In Chapter 10/ Geometry, the students learned to identify, name, and draw points, lines, and line segments. They also learned about rays, and angles; and how to classify lines and angles. They explored transformations and half turn symmetry. Then they located, named, and graphed ordered pairs on a coordinate grid. In Chapter one, the students deepened their understanding of place value, money, and problem solving. We are now practicing subtraction and addition problems with three or more addends. We continue to study multiplication facts both in class and on the computers using the Progress in Mathematics online program. In Chapter 2, students will begin to understand the meaning of subtraction, and they will find missing addends, minuends, and subtrahends. They will add and subtract mentally and estimate sums and differences.
Social Studies
Social Studies is one of the most difficult subjects, yet the students appear to be very interested in Social Studies concepts. First we studied major landforms, rivers and mountains. Then we moved on to American People. Third, we learned about government and elections. Next, we will read about the People of the Northeast Region. We are using the Icivics website as well as the Weekly Reader website to learn about our government.
Science
Finally, in Science we studied weather. Chapter six focused on what causes weather, and how to predict weather. The students also learned how ocean water and fresh water are different. You probably noticed I skipped a couple of chapters. I did this so we can learn about the most important fourth grade Science concepts. Now, the students are learning about Electricity and Magnetism. Recently the students made both a series circuit and parallel circuits in the Science Lab. Next, they will explore magnetic fields, and how electricity is transformed to magnetism.
As you can see the students are working very hard. I love how they are so curious and how they welcome challenges. They are such a blessing from God!
Thank you for all your assistance,
Mrs. Fitzgerald
Assumption School
Parent Orientation
September 8, 2011
Dear Parents,
Welcome! I hope everyone had a fun and restful summer. Thank you for participation and support for the community garden!
The following information describes some important aspects of the curriculum throughout the year. More information will be provided as needed.
Parent Teacher Communication
If you wish to contact me during the school day, please contact the office. I may not be able to return your call immediately but I will call you back as soon as possible. I am available for appointments before and after school. You can also contact me via e-mail. My e-mail address is Fitzjackie@charter.net
Homework
I encourage you to take an active part in your child’s work such as reviewing finished work, guiding your child to stay on task, and providing a quiet work area. Homework will be issued Monday through Thursday and homework should tad approximately 45 minutes per day. Time will vary for each student depending on the child’s concentration and work habits. Students will write their daily assignments in their homework assignment books. Graded work which receives a grade of 69 or lower needs to be signed and returned.
Book Reports/Projects
Students will expand their reading interests and explore new genres of reading this year. Book reports may include: fiction, historical fiction, mystery, and a biography of a Saint.
Study Group
Study group will be held every Monday from 3 - 4PM. It is important that your child doesn’t fall behind because every lesson builds on the previous one. Study group will help to get your child caught up in any subject. It will also help a student better understand more challenging concepts. If you want your child to attend please send a note.
Safe Environment Workshop
Remember if you want to help in any capacity you must attend a workshop. A CORI and a signed Code of conduct form is also necessary. If you have already completed these, you do not need to do it again.
Curriculum
Religion –Blest Are We
We have begun this year talking about the Bible and the importance of prayer. The students will be learning to pray the Rosary, The Ten Commandments, and prayers such as the Hail Holy Queen. In Unit One the students will learn how God’s goodness shines forth in his creation and in his constant love.
Reading
Students reviewed vocabulary from Sarah, Plain and Tall. The students’ worked with their clock partners to look up vocabulary words in dictionaries. Students also reviewed story elements including characters, settings, and plot from Sarah, Plain and Tall. Hopefully, this helped them to prepare for the assessment.
Unit 1 MacMillan /McGraw Hill
The theme in this unit is Reflections. Students will learn how stories let us share the experiences of others. The skills for this unit include; making inferences, story elements, problems and solutions, multiple meaning words, and antonyms and synonyms.
Language Arts-MacMillan /McGraw Hill
Unit 1
Students will identify the four types of sentences. They will learn about simple and complete subjects, predicates, and how to combine sentences. Next, students will write personal narratives.
Math- Progress in Mathematics-Sadlier Oxford
In our Math books we are beginning with Chapter 10- Geometry. In this chapter students will identify lines, line segments, rays, and angles. They will also identify circles and different types of polygons. Next, they will classify transformations, and they will use ordered pairs to name points on a coordinate grid. For morning work students will also work on multiplication tables as well as other math concepts to reinforce skills. Students will also l take timed tests for their multiplication tables each quarter.
Social Studies
Unit 1 Living in the United States
Students will study regions, climates, landforms, and resources in the United States. This unit also focuses on The Constitution of the United States and laws that protect our rights.
Science- Scott Foresman
Unit B- Earth Science
In Chapter 6 students will discover how ocean water and fresh water are different. Other concepts include how the water cycle gives us fresh water and how we predict weather. Students will identify instruments used to measure weather. In Chapter 7, students will discover how hurricanes form and learn why we can’t always see a tornado.
A prayer for our new school year:
Father of all mercies
We ask that you would bless
The youngest and littlest of learners,
The most helpless and powerless of persons,
With Your infinite and loving mercy,
Granting them the strength to learn, concentrate,
And act appropriately towards
Their teachers and fellow students.
We also ask that You would watch over them,
At home and at school
And grant them proper direction
So that they may learn
Of Your wonderful virtues.
We ask this in the name e of your son, Jesus Christ.
Amen. --David Bennett
Thank You,
Mrs. Fitzgerald
Parent Orientation
September 8, 2011
Dear Parents,
Welcome! I hope everyone had a fun and restful summer. Thank you for participation and support for the community garden!
The following information describes some important aspects of the curriculum throughout the year. More information will be provided as needed.
Parent Teacher Communication
If you wish to contact me during the school day, please contact the office. I may not be able to return your call immediately but I will call you back as soon as possible. I am available for appointments before and after school. You can also contact me via e-mail. My e-mail address is Fitzjackie@charter.net
Homework
I encourage you to take an active part in your child’s work such as reviewing finished work, guiding your child to stay on task, and providing a quiet work area. Homework will be issued Monday through Thursday and homework should tad approximately 45 minutes per day. Time will vary for each student depending on the child’s concentration and work habits. Students will write their daily assignments in their homework assignment books. Graded work which receives a grade of 69 or lower needs to be signed and returned.
Book Reports/Projects
Students will expand their reading interests and explore new genres of reading this year. Book reports may include: fiction, historical fiction, mystery, and a biography of a Saint.
Study Group
Study group will be held every Monday from 3 - 4PM. It is important that your child doesn’t fall behind because every lesson builds on the previous one. Study group will help to get your child caught up in any subject. It will also help a student better understand more challenging concepts. If you want your child to attend please send a note.
Safe Environment Workshop
Remember if you want to help in any capacity you must attend a workshop. A CORI and a signed Code of conduct form is also necessary. If you have already completed these, you do not need to do it again.
Curriculum
Religion –Blest Are We
We have begun this year talking about the Bible and the importance of prayer. The students will be learning to pray the Rosary, The Ten Commandments, and prayers such as the Hail Holy Queen. In Unit One the students will learn how God’s goodness shines forth in his creation and in his constant love.
Reading
Students reviewed vocabulary from Sarah, Plain and Tall. The students’ worked with their clock partners to look up vocabulary words in dictionaries. Students also reviewed story elements including characters, settings, and plot from Sarah, Plain and Tall. Hopefully, this helped them to prepare for the assessment.
Unit 1 MacMillan /McGraw Hill
The theme in this unit is Reflections. Students will learn how stories let us share the experiences of others. The skills for this unit include; making inferences, story elements, problems and solutions, multiple meaning words, and antonyms and synonyms.
Language Arts-MacMillan /McGraw Hill
Unit 1
Students will identify the four types of sentences. They will learn about simple and complete subjects, predicates, and how to combine sentences. Next, students will write personal narratives.
Math- Progress in Mathematics-Sadlier Oxford
In our Math books we are beginning with Chapter 10- Geometry. In this chapter students will identify lines, line segments, rays, and angles. They will also identify circles and different types of polygons. Next, they will classify transformations, and they will use ordered pairs to name points on a coordinate grid. For morning work students will also work on multiplication tables as well as other math concepts to reinforce skills. Students will also l take timed tests for their multiplication tables each quarter.
Social Studies
Unit 1 Living in the United States
Students will study regions, climates, landforms, and resources in the United States. This unit also focuses on The Constitution of the United States and laws that protect our rights.
Science- Scott Foresman
Unit B- Earth Science
In Chapter 6 students will discover how ocean water and fresh water are different. Other concepts include how the water cycle gives us fresh water and how we predict weather. Students will identify instruments used to measure weather. In Chapter 7, students will discover how hurricanes form and learn why we can’t always see a tornado.
A prayer for our new school year:
Father of all mercies
We ask that you would bless
The youngest and littlest of learners,
The most helpless and powerless of persons,
With Your infinite and loving mercy,
Granting them the strength to learn, concentrate,
And act appropriately towards
Their teachers and fellow students.
We also ask that You would watch over them,
At home and at school
And grant them proper direction
So that they may learn
Of Your wonderful virtues.
We ask this in the name e of your son, Jesus Christ.
Amen. --David Bennett
Thank You,
Mrs. Fitzgerald
