Happy Friday! It is hard to believe that it is already April  nd that our time together is going so fast! The last few months of school go by really quickly, and I am trying to hold onto my hat!

Here's a rundown of what we did this week:

In math, we are learning a variety of strategies for double digit multiplication. I sent home a family letter today, so be sure to check your child's backpack. Overall, what we want students to be able to do by the end of 4th grade is to break the numbers apart into tens and ones, and to use what they know about multiplying by 10 to multiply by 20, by 30, etc.  One of the strategies we use for this is called the "open area model." This is what it looks like:

Your children should all know how to do this, so ask them to explain it to you! It is not the algorithm that we all learned when we were in school, but it is a type of algorithm and is methodical and clear.  I am really proud to see these students begging for more multiplication problems. They know that practice makes perfect, and they are enjoying being successful! We move onto longer division next week, which will be a whole different ball of wax....

In reading, we are continuing to learn strategies to help us determine the themes and messages of our historical fiction books. The students are still reading in clubs, and they are discussing their books in order to push each other to think more deeply. This is hard -- they much prefer to simply retell what happened in the chapters. But they are beginning to have some deeper discussions! They are a work in progress.

Our literary essays are coming along. At this point, everyone has a thesis and they are working to find direct quotes from their books to use as evidence. This is another super important skill that is hard. You can't just use any old quote; it has to be one that helps you prove your point!  I hope to be finishing these essays up by the end of next week or early the week after. We will move onto a new unit after vacation.

We finished up our science unit this week. The students learned so much about how humans use natural resources to make electricity. They understand which resources are renewable and which are not, and they get that ALL methods of making electricity have some consequences for our planet. I'm thinking one (or  more) of them will grow up to save the world! Next week we will begin a unit on geology and tectonic plates.

Mr. Bouchard helped our class make a video about Green Up Day for Green Up Vermont's video competition. I have no idea if we have any chance of winning, but it was really fun to make this video! Enjoy: Green Up Video  Thank you, Mr. Bouchard!

Over the next few months, I am hoping to get parents involved in a variety of field trips, Camp Swampy, and some end-of-the-year festivities. If you are interested in being involved or chaperoning, please visit the MMU website, go to the Families tab, and click on Volunteering. You can complete the forms necessary for a background check so that we can ask you to help.  Thank you! I sure hope I can get you all involved in our class somehow!

I think that is everything for this week. Please be in touch if you have any questions or concerns. Happy weekend!