Reading Month Fun!

March is Reading Month is Here!

Here is a video summary of all of the events happening during the month of March.

This year for March is Reading Month (MIRM) we will be doing some key community-building literacy events interspersed throughout the month. The first is the Read It Forward program, where we attempt to get all students and staff at A2 STEAM to read the same book. The book is currently a mystery, but will be revealed on Wednesday, March 1st. To find out more about the Read It Forward program, watch this short video: https://goo.gl/0ghd8h

The second big event is the annual Used Book Sale, happening on Thursday, March 30th from 4:30-7:00pm in conjunction with the Expo. All items will cost a $.50 and all proceeds will go toward boosting the Media Center program at A2 STEAM. Used book collection will take place from March 1st - March 24th. Look for more information about what items you can donate soon.

Please consider volunteering throughout the month of March at a time convenient to you to sort books, set up the event, handle money for a ½ slot during the sale, or clean up after the sale. If you are interested in volunteering, please follow this link to the Sign-Up Genius. Thank you in advance for your contributions!

We will also be hosting a local Michigan author, Jack Cheng, who will speak about his new book, See You in the Cosmos, for students in Grades 6-8. This event is hosted by Nicola’s Books and will take place during 7th hour on Thursday, March 9th. Students will have the opportunity to purchase the book in advance and have it signed by the author.

Lastly, students have a chance to “get caught” reading. Simply take a picture of your student with their favorite book and email it to Ms. Reader (reader@aaps.k12.mi.us) to be added to our community Get Caught Reading wall.

Let’s get ready to READ A2 STEAM!!

A Fantastic Opportunity for Girls

Info about the event:

http://femmes.studentorgs.umich.edu/events/femmes-saturday-science-capstones/

Registration:

http://femmes.studentorgs.umich.edu/winter-2017-capstone/

Weekly Update Feb 24th

Here’s what we've been up to:

Math: Division, division, division.  We are working on division.  There are currently four strategies floating around our room.  The first is using pictures to help.  This is an effective strategy, but not efficient and we are working to limit the use of this strategy in 4th grade.  The second strategy is partial quotients.  Many students are working to increase their understanding and comprehension of this strategy.  Your son or daughter may be bringing home a practice page for this strategy over the weekend.  A third strategy is good, ole long division.  This is  not a 4th grade expectation, but many knew it already or wanted to learn.  The final strategy is called Short Division.  It is like long division, but without all of the writing.  Ask your student which strategy they are using.  

Read Aloud:  This week we continued to focus on informational texts and learning more about the national parks. We determined answers to our two questions and started to debate a bit about whether oil drilling and mining should take place in or near the national parks.  Ask your son/daughter their opinion on this.  

Reading: This week we finalized our thinking about the two questions, "Why were the national parks created?" and "Should they continue to be protected?"  Next week we will begin working on posters that highlight our learning.   Ask your student how they will showcase their learning? 

Writing:  We had a chance to share our realistic fiction stories with our classmates and had some time to do some revision.   Ask your student to let you read their writing.  

PBL: We started our new unit on the regions of the United States.  It is called Every Kid in a Park and students will learn about the different regions and plan a trip to a specific national park with a group of five.    Ask your student what they have learned so far.  

Now, Spring has sprung?  Maybe?  Please send an extra pair of shoes to help keep the mud in our room to a minimum.  Thanks in advance!

Do you know our mission and vision?

Weekly Update for Feb. 21st

Here’s what we've been up to:

Math: We have started Unit 6.  This unit is all about division and using multiplication to help you.  So far, we have covered extended division facts and using division to figure out area problems.   Please use IXL or the Study Links to practice these skills.   We are also loving Reflex math.  Have your student show you their account if they have not done so yet.  

Read Aloud: We spent last week learning about national parks through a few informational read alouds.  We are focusing our learning around these two driving questions.  Number one is "Why were the national parks formed?" and the second is "Should they continue to be protected?"   Ask your student what he/she thinks about these questions.  

Reading: Guided Reading will shift focus to informational.  They will be learning more about the national parks as they focus on those same two questions.   Ask your student what they are learning about this week.  

Writing:  We are finishing up our realistic fiction this week with some last minute revising and editing.  Then on Thursday and Friday, they will begin publishing their writing.    Ask your student what they will be writing about.  

PBL: We started our new unit on the regions of the United States.  It is called Every Kid in a Park and students will learn about the different regions and plan a trip to a specific national park with a group of five.    Ask your student what they have learned so far.  

Now, Spring has sprung?  Maybe?  Please send an extra pair of shoes to help keep the mud in our room to a minimum.  Thanks in advance!

Sci Fi Tuesday Author Visit!

Here is our class list!

Student
Christofer
Sadie
Emma
Nola
Isabel
Isaiah
Lorenzo
Cate
Peter
Seyyed
Kinga
Louis
Elia
Miles
Cadence
Andrew
Kayln
Sean
Isaac
Emil
Dunn
Leul
Saoirse
Isaac

Weekly Update 2.13

Here’s what we've been up to:

Math: We are almost finished with Unit 5!  We will be doing a unit review on Monday and taking our final test on Tuesday.  Student will come home with a review page on Monday.    Please help your student with anything that feels challenging to them.   We are also loving Reflex math.  Have your student show you their account if they have not done so yet.  

Read Aloud: We are going to take a short break from Hoot to learn more about national parks with an informational text.    Ask your student what he/she learned about national parks.  

Reading: Guided Reading will shift focus to informational.  They will be learning more about the national parks as they focus on this question, Why were national parks formed?   Ask your student what they are learning about this week.  

Writing:  We are finishing up our realistic fiction this week with some last minute revising and editing.  Then on Thursday and Friday, they will begin publishing their writing.    Ask your student what they will be writing about.  

PBL: We started our new unit on the regions of the United States.  It is called Every Kid in a Park and students will learn about the different regions and plan a trip to a specific national park with a group of five.    Ask your student what they have learned so far.  

Winter came back!  It has been very wet and cold outdoors.  Please keep sending in boots so they have an extra pair of shoes they can wear in our classroom to keep it as dry as possible.  They CAN NOT go to afternoon recess without boots, coat, and gloves.  Thanks in advance!

Don't Forget!

Wanna Run?

Registration is open for Girls on the Run! Our program at A2Steam is open to all 3^rd – 5^th grade girls and will meet afterschool on Wednesdays and Fridays from 3:15pm – 4:45pm March 15th through May 26th. All registered participants will receive a healthy snack at each lesson, along with a program t-shirt and water bottle, a parent guide book, Girls on the Run cinch sack, and entry into the incredible Girls on the Run 5k on Sunday, May 21st (all students, staff and families are welcome to come run/walk with our girls!).

Girls on the Run’s curriculum based program is MUCH more than a running program. Click here to learn more and to register. Space is limited and registration ends February 17th. *Financial assistance is available and volunteers may receive discounted or waived registrations for their daughters. The more volunteer coaches we have them more girls we can reach. Email  info@girlsontherunsemi.org for more information.

Help us Collect Box Tops!

Weekly Update 2.6

Here’s what we've been up to:

Math: We are in the middle of another fractions unit.  This week we focused on adding and subtracting fractions with like denominators.  We also practiced reducing fractions.  Many students have this down.  Next week we will reteach and practice subtracting fractions because several students needed this support.  This would be a great thing to work at home on.  A great problem to practice is 4 1/4 - 2 3/4 =  Ask your student if they can solve this.  If not, this would be a great thing to work on.  We also got a great new program called Reflex math.  Have your student show you their account.     

Read Aloud: We are finally several chapters into Hoot.  We love this book!  There are some great themes and discussions points throughout.  We spent a lot of time on first and third person.    Ask your student about the differences between these.  

Reading: Guided reading is still going strong.  Most groups will be finished with their book this week and will begin a realistic fiction book.   Ask your student what book they are reading this week.  

Writing:  We continued with our realistic fiction writing unit this week.  Ask your student what they will be writing about.  

PBL: We started our new unit on the regions of the United States.  It is called Every Kid in a Park and students will learn about the different regions and plan a trip to a specific national park with a group of five.    Ask your student what they have learned so far.  

Winter came back!  It has been very wet and cold outdoors.  Please keep sending in boots so they have an extra pair of shoes they can wear in our classroom to keep it as dry as possible.  They CAN NOT go to afternoon recess without boots, coat, and gloves.  Thanks in advance!

Regions Project PBL Letter

February 1, 2017

Hello 4th grade STEAM parents,

We are writing to tell you about an exciting project we are about to start.

As you might know, in our school we use the teaching method of Project Based Learning, or PBL, to help students learn better. A project motivates students to gain knowledge, and they remember it longer. Projects give students the chance to apply the skills they learn in school to personally relevant and real-world situations. Your child also learns skills in PBL such as how to think critically, solve problems, work in teams and within a time constraint and make presentations. These skills will help students succeed in the future, both in school and in today’s work world.

Our project is called Every Kid in a Park and it will last about three weeks. Students will learn about the five regions of the United States, physical and human characteristics, use maps and practice math operations with large numbers.  The project’s Driving Question, which focuses our work, is What national park would be the best fit for my family and me for a vacation? What route would we take, what would we see along the way, how much would it cost, how long would it take? Students will be involved in using paper and digital maps, researching regions of the US and National Parks, calculating costs and distances, writing about their upcoming journey and creating a commercial for a National Park. Your child will work in a team, guided by all the 4th grade teachers.

At the end of the project students will make presentations at our Spring Expo. This presentation will take place at A2STEAM and is scheduled for March 30. We hope you will be able to attend.

Students will be assessed individually on their content knowledge, their collaboration skills, and their presentation skills. As parents or guardians, you can discuss the project at home, encouraging your child to think hard and ask questions about the topic.

We are seeking any parents with photos of National Parks or anyone with a AAA membership who could help us get materials.  Please contact Ms. Culver (culverhallt@aaps.k12.mi.us)  if are able to help in these two areas.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions about the project!

Sincerely,

Ms. Culver, Ms. Bertelson, Ms. Huntely and Ms. Jones