Splashing Water & Fantastic Fractions

Dear Parents and Students,

Hooray for a great celebrations last week at PTC! Thank you for attending such an important meeting of your students' progress. Each student truly shined with delight as we shared the highlights of their growth as a 4th grader. I truly enjoy learning and growing with them each day. Thank you for allowing me the privilege to teach your Bobcats!

Science continues to bring splashing and smoking thrills. This week we continued to explore Utah's water resources & water cycle by observing and experimenting with water. On Wednesday, we tried an experiment to make a cloud. After several attempts and creative ideas, our experiment did not turn out. However, our super scientists students were optimistic through it all. Students have discovered how the water cycle is all around us everyday: dew, frost, precipitation, steam when cooking, water on a glass of juice, steaming windows, and so much more. How many can you and your students point out each day? Click here for a YouTube video example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msSVQ903T8k.

Imagine you and your students baking cookies together. Suddenly you realize you need 1/2 cup of sugar, but you only have a 1/4 measuring cup clean. What can you do? Like this situation poses, students will be using some problem solving and reasoning skills to learn about adding and subtracting fractions. I would encourage you to help your students use fractions in real life. They sure our becoming number smart while helping you grocery shop, cook, and more. I can't wait to here all the real life adventures of fractions they are experiencing with you at home. :)

Lions, tigers, and BEAVERS oh my! In connection with our study of Utah trappers, students will have an opportunity to meet a mountain man this week. What great adventures he will share of past daring adventures of Utah's trappers.

Our curriculum goals for the week include:

Reading: Historical Fiction Genre
Spelling: Long/Short Vowels, Accented Syllables, Prefixes/Suffixes
Writing: Creative Writing: "Drippy's Travel Through the Water Cycle"
Math: Adding & Subtracting Fractions
Science: Water Cycle
Social Studies: Trappers and Traders

I love learning and growing with your students each day. Thank you for all your support through emails, phone calls, donations, and bright smiles.

Mrs. Yates

Shouting Hooray for Brilliant Bobcats!

Dear Parents and Students,

Hooray for a great celebrations last week at PTC! Thank you for attending such an important meeting of your students' progress. Each student truly shined with delight as we shared the highlights of their growth as a 4th grader. I truly enjoy learning and growing with them each day. Thank you for allowing me the privilege to teach your Bobcats!

On Tuesday, we had a special visit from the Salt Lake Aquarium's Water Van. Their presentation on Utah's water resources was a great "splash" with experiments and animals! Students explored Utah's water resources & water cycle by observing environment models and animals. We will continue to explore the water cycle over the next few weeks with many "soaking" water adventures.

Imagine you and your students baking cookies together. Suddenly you realize you need 1/2 cup of sugar, but you only have a 1/4 measuring cup clean. What can you do? Like this situation poses, students will be using some problem solving and reasoning skills to learn about adding and subtracting fractions. I would encourage you to help your students use fractions in real life. They sure our becoming number smart while helping you grocery shop, cook, and more. I can't wait to here all the real life adventures of fractions they are experiencing with you at home. :)

Our curriculum goals for the week include:

Reading: Historical Fiction Genre
Spelling: Long/Short Vowels, Accented Syllables, Prefixes/Suffixes
Writing: Traits of Writing - Animal Investigation Report & Biographies
Math: Adding & Subtracting Decimals
Science: Water Cycle
Social Studies: Spanish Explorers

I love learning and growing with your students each day. Thank you for all your support through emails, phone calls, donations, and bright smiles.

Mrs. Yates

Loving 4th Grade

Dear Parents and Students,

Happy Valentine's Day! I hope you will enjoy this joyful holiday with those you love. I sure love learning and growing with your students each day!

Wow! It is hard to believe our second PTC has arrived. Your Bobcats continue to learn and grow in so many ways. I am proud of their hard work and determination. It is neat to see their eyes light up as they see their own progress. I hope as report cards come home this week you and your students will discuss the highlights of this semester.

I am looking forward to meeting with you on Wednesday and Thursday this week. Please watch for your report cards on Monday. Take some time to look over the report card with your students. Please make sure to focus on what is going well, and concerns we can discuss. Thank you for allowing me the privilege to teach your Bobcats!

Digging through dinosaur history has been a thrilling learning experience these past few weeks. Students have been captivated by these monstrous "giant lizards" roaming the earth so long ago. They have become great paleontologists! This week we will begin to explore the Water Cycle. On Tuesday, we will have a special visit from the Salt Lake Aquarium's Water Van. Their presentation on Utah's water resources in always a great "splash" with experiments and animals!

We have been studying decimals and fractions over the past few weeks. Students are really developing some great problem solving and reasoning skills. They sure our becoming number smart! I hope you will take some time to point out the many times a day we all use fractions and decimals, ie shopping, gas station, budgeting, setting the table, sharing and more. How many ways can you think of together?

Our curriculum goals for the week include:

Reading: Historical Fiction Genre
Spelling: Long/Short Vowels, Accented Syllables, Prefixes/Suffixes
Writing: Traits of Writing - Animal Investigation Report
Math: Multiplication, Division, Fractions & Decimal Review
Science: Water Cycle
Social Studies: Spanish Explorers

I love learning and growing with your students each day. Thank you for all your support through emails, phone calls, donations, and bright smiles.

Mrs. Yates

Creative Classmates!

Dear Parents and Students,

Even though the weather has kept our class cooped inside all week, the students have explored many exciting things. I was grateful for their enthusiasm and patience in keeping entertained while staying inside. It is fun to watch them play and interact together. Dominoes, chess, checkers, and dramatic plays are the favorites. Thank you Bobcats for the fun this week!

Digging for dinosaur history has been a thrilling learning experience this week. Students have been captivated by these monstrous "giant lizards" roaming the earth so long ago. I am impressed by their amazing inferences about fossil clues left behind that lead to information about the past. Fossils tell wonderful stories of our environment, landscape, and history. Invite your students to share their fossil learning adventures with you. Look out on Monday for a science treasure coming home! On Monday students will be able to break apart the fossils we made together in class. Way to go Bobcat paleontologists!

On Thursday, students began a dinosaur or animal investigation. Students are reading and researching about an animal of their choice. After becoming an "expert," students will create a mini-poster to share the fantastic facts they have learned. It has been fun to hear all their learning connections and growth. They are quick to tell me, "Mrs. Yates, did you know . . .?" or "Mrs. Yates look at this animal/dinosaur's adaptations!" Seeing their creativity and connections is truly the magic of teaching!

Our curriculum goals for the week include:

Reading: Historical Fiction Genre
Spelling: Long/Short Vowels, Accented Syllables, Prefixes/Suffixes
Writing: Traits of Writing - Animal Investigation Report
Math: Compare and Order Decimals
Science: Fossils
Social Studies: Spanish Explorers

I love learning and growing with your students each day. Thank you for all your support through emails, phone calls, donations, and bright smiles.

Mrs. Yates