Math Test and AIMS Science

Dear Parents,

Even with the late rain our field day was a big success. After playing games outdoors from 11:30-1:30 the rain and hail sent us in where we continued to have inside games. As always, our supportive families are such a blessing to our school. Many of you brought fruits, veggies, water, and cups. You helped set up and run games. You even helped us clean up in the rain! We couldn’t have done it without you.

This coming week will have a few changes from our “normal” schedule. (Admittedly, with all the special events that accompany the end of the year, our “normal” schedule is starting to become the exception rather than the rule!) On Monday we will have a science quiz on global warming, renewable and non-renewable resources, and erosion. This is to help the students prepare for the AIMS Science Test, which will most likely contain a large number of questions on these topics. For the quiz students should know what global warming is, why it is a problem, and the two main theories about what causes global warming that we have studied. They should know the definitions of resources, renewable resources, and non-renewable resources, and should be able to give examples of each. They should know what weathering and erosion are, especially wind erosion. All of the definitions are in their science notebooks, and Mr. Ohbayashi and I have verified with all the students that they have their science notebooks in their backpacks.

On Tuesday the students will take their AIMS Science Test. It will be in two parts. The students will take the first part of the test right away on Tuesday morning, and then they will have recess. After that, they will have the second part of the test. They will return to their normal schedule after lunch.

On Thursday we will have our first math test of the quarter. While I don’t like to give the students a math test right after they take their science test, this is, unfortunately, necessary. Deficiencies will be sent out the following week, and the students need to have taken some assessments so that teachers can make accurate decisions on which students might be deficient. I had initially told the students the math test would be Wednesday, but I have changed the test to Thursday in order to allow them some breathing room between tests. I have told the students this, but in case any of them forget, you can tell them from me that the day has been changed. Blogspot does not recognize the fraction symbol from Microsoft Words, so I could not post the study guide to my blog. Instead, I have attached it to the email I sent to all parents informing them that I updated my blog.

On Friday, students will have an opportunity to go to first grade and mentor some of the first grade students. First grade is also learning about the American Revolution, so fourth grade will share some of their knowledge with first grade. They will present “Paul Revere’s Ride” to the first graders, and they will make tri-cornered hats together. Please encourage your students to keep working on “Paul Revere’s Ride” so that they can be the best examples possible for the first grade students.

These are all the notes I have for you this week. As always, please email me at rwycklendt@archwaytriviumeast.org with any questions, comments, or concerns. Have a great weekend!

Sincerely,

Miss Wycklendt

Dear Parents,

Now that our long week of testing is over, students, teachers, and parents alike can breathe a sigh of relief. Of course, we are all looking forward to summer, and it seems closer than ever after state testing is finished. However, there is still plenty for students to learn, and we will keep teaching them until the end of the very last day.

Actually, fourth grade is still not quite done with their state tests because they still need to take the AIMS science test. The test will take place between April 11 and April 15, so not this coming school week but the next one, exact days TBA.

This week we will be returning to our usual class schedules for Monday through Thursday, but Friday will be Field Day. We will use this opportunity to build community and encourage teamwork and physical activity among our scholars. The event has an Olympic theme this year, complete with opening ceremonies, and an Olympic parade with class flags. Each class will create a flag that represents them, and two flag bearers will be chosen from each class to carry their class flag at the opening ceremonies.

The opening ceremonies will begin at 7:45am. We understand that this is a little earlier than usual, but we ask that all scholars be on campus by 7:35 in order to have our whole school together for the opening ceremonies. Students should go straight to the MPR when they arrive, not to their classrooms. If your student is chosen to be a flag bearer, they especially must arriver earlier because they will need to practice their part in the flag parade with Coach Brinson. They can meet her in the MPR at 7:35am.

Opening ceremonies end at 8:00am. Fourth graders will return to their classrooms, where they will have classes until 11:05. At 11:05 they will have an early lunch, and then they will head out to the back field for team games and activities until the end of the school day.

We are in need of parent volunteers to help run games and activities on field day! Coach Brinson is organizing the volunteers, so if you wish to volunteer you may email her at kbrinson@archwaytriviumeast.org. Thank you to all of you who have already volunteered.

Because of the emphasis on physical activity, students are not expected to come to school in official school uniforms on field day. However, they are still expected to be dressed in a manner appropriate to serious students (no tank tops, spaghetti straps, sandals). The family handbook contains information on appropriate non-uniform clothes. You all should have copies of the handbook at home. Otherwise, you can view it online at http://archwaytriviumeast.org/images/TriviumEast/2015-16/School_Info/archway%20trivium%20east%20family%20handbook%202015-2016%20final.pdf . The relevant portion of the handbook is on page 51, the Outdoor and Field Day Dress Code. Please look it up so that your student arrives at school appropriately dressed and does not need to call home for a change of clothes.

In math class this week we will be learning about equivalent fractions and simplifying fractions. We will return to the math lab for computer sessions and will also have math in the classroom. Online math homework will continue to be assigned.

Starting this week, there will be some changes to online math homework. We want to be sure all of our students are equipped with the best knowledge possible to enter fifth grade. One thing that will be a huge help to them in fifth grade is to complete the entire fourth grade online math program. At this point, the large majority of our students are set to complete the full program before the end of the year and will even have extra time to complete their walls of mastery.  However there is a small number of students who need to spend some extra time in order to complete the program. In order to support these students and help them structure their time so they are not cramming, they will be assigned some extra time doing online homework each night. In order to communicate clearly with parents about students’ homework needs, we will be using the following system:

1.       Students will be divided into two groups, a green group and a red group.

2.       Students in the green group are students who are on target to complete the online math program, assuming they continue to attend classes and complete their homework.

3.       Students in the red group are students who will need to spend some extra time in order to complete the program.

4.       If your student is in the red group, you will receive an email letting you know they are in the red group. Please respond to the email so that we can continue to communicate about your student’s needs. If you do not receive an email, your child is in the green group.

5.       Students’ agendas will contain the online homework assignment for the green group and the red group. Most days it will be 20 minutes of online homework for the green group and 30 minutes of online homework for the red group. Your student should complete the assignment that is appropriate to their group.

6.       If your child is in the red group, their consistent effort may bring them into the green group. If this happens, I will email you personally to let you know. Please continue to have your student complete the red group homework until I email you about their change to the green group.

We always want to be sure we are giving our students the best possible structure and support to succeed in all areas of school. With consistent effort, we are confident that all our students will complete the fourth grade program. If you have any questions, always feel free to contact me.

In science, we will wrap up our study of ecology and review some previously taught topics, such as magnets and electricity. This means that some of the homework and assignments will be based on past homework, so it is especially important for your students to use their science notebooks for homework.

I have one final note for you regarding “Try Again” assignments. At the end of last quarter, I mentioned that I was going to start sending “Try Again” assignments home in students’ Friday folders so that parents would know when and where to look for them. However, last week I started handing back “Try Again” assignments directly to students instead of putting them in Friday folders in order to give students as much practice as possible for their AZ Merit review. However, now that AZ Merit is over, I am going to put all “Try Again” assignments in students’ Friday folders. They can complete them and return them from there.

These are all the notes I have for you this week. If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at rwycklendt@archwaytriviumeast.org.

Sincerely,

Miss Wycklendt 

Testing Week

Dear Parents,

Happy Easter! I hope you all had a restful, joyful holiday with your families.

Thank you to all of you who came out for our MOD Pizza fundraiser on Thursday. I came at 6:45pm, and I saw many Trivium East families. As always, we appreciate your loyal support of our school.

Today (Monday, March 28) re-enrollment packets are due. Please be sure to get those packets in so that your child has a spot reserved in fifth grade next year. If you have any questions about the packet or are maybe running just a little late with it, please call the front desk and let our wonderful receptionists know. If we don't hear from you, there is the possibility that your child's spot could be given to a student on our waiting list, but we would rather not do that! Personally, I have had a fantastic year teaching your students, and it would be great to see them come back for fifth.

This week, as you all know, is the week of AZ Merit testing for English and math. (Science testing will take place soon but not this week; date TBA). The schedule of tests is as follows: Writing test Monday morning; math test 1 Tuesday morning; reading test 1 after math test on Tuesday morning; math test 2 Thursday morning; reading test 2 after math test on Thursday morning.

The tests have a target time limit, but they are not timed. This means that if a child does not finish within the target time, they can take the time they need to finish in the fifth grade math lab before going back to class to start their next test. This will not affect their score.

Once a student starts a test, they must finish it. They do get a recess break and bathroom breaks, but other than that, they must finish their test in order to have a valid score. Please do not take your children out of school on these days. If you come looking for you child, we will, of course, get him or her for you, but taking him or her out of school will invalidate his or her test. This means your child will not have an AZ Merit score in that subject this year. Similarly, please do not allow your children to be absent on testing days unless there is a true emergency.

These days of tests are often intense for stu,dents, and so to reduce pressure we are having the science tests for fourth grades on a different week as I mentioned before. There will also be no homework assigned Monday through Thursday this week. Each day, after tests are complete, the students will resume their normal class schedule. However, there will be a heavy emphasis on science and history, to balance out the math and English testing.

In science this week we will continue our study of ecology. One of the main topics this week will be global climate change, as required for the state science exams. I understand this can be a sensitive topic for many reasons, so I wanted to explain a little bit about how we will be teaching it. We will go over the evidence that it exists, and then we will discuss theories on why it exists, including the theory held by some that this is part of a natural earth cycle, and, of course, the prevailing theory that it is caused by air pollution. We will discuss the need for caution regarding our use of fossil fuels and the potential for practical solutions. After we finish discussing climate change we will begin studying weathering and erosion. If you have any questions you can always contact me.

These are all the notes I have for you this week. As always, feel free to email me at rwycklendt@archwaytriviumeast.org with any questions.

Sincerely,

Miss Wycklendt

A Week Before Easter!

Dear Parents,

Welcome back from spring break!  In our first week back I would like to give a huge thank you to everyone who worked so hard to make our fieldtrip to the MIM a success! Thank you to the generous donors who made it possible for our students to experience the MIM for the price of bus fare! Thank to Mrs. Dixon and Mrs. Walters, our classroom parents who coordinated so many aspects of the field trip and worked so hard to communicate with all the parents! Thank you to Mr. Ohbayashi, who was responsible for coordinating much of the field trip on the school’s end.  Thank you to our parent chaperones, Mrs. Penn, Ms. Pacheco, Ms. Lipman, Mrs. Connery, Mrs. Copeland, and Mrs. Ball, who guided our students safely through bus rides, museum exhibits and lunch time! Thank  you to all of you parents who volunteered to be chaperones and were not selected in the lottery; it was encouraging to see so much support for our class! Thank you to all of the parents who joined us at the MIM and at the park; it was fun to have you!

Tuesday is our MOD Pizza fundraiser! If you purchase pizza from MOD and present the flyer sent in our school newsletter this week, a portion of your purchase will go to support our school. If you need a copy of the flyer, feel free to contact the school, and we will be happy to make sure you have one.

This week is, of course, the week before Easter. In preparation for Easter, our students have off all day on Friday. Other days will run on their normal schedule.

As you may be aware by now, our school will have state standardized tests in math and English next week. This week in math we will be learning and reviewing a few topics related to these tests. Topics will include a review of place value, a review of adding and subtracting mixed numbers, some work on patterns, and some simple geometry. In order to help the students get into the rhythm of standardized testing, homework this week will be in multiple choice format on topics related to the state test. Please be prepared to support your students in case they need a little extra help during these temporary changes.

As I have also previously mentioned, the fourth grade students have been and will continue to be reviewing for their standardized science exam. In Arizona, fourth grade students are required to take a standardized science exam. Students in other grades are not required to do so. Therefore, if you have students in more than one grade at Trivium East, only your fourth grade students will need to take a science exam. In order to reduce any sense of pressure the students may feel, the science exam will not take place next week with the math and English tests. It will take place in the fifth week of the quarter.

On a related note, the week of state tests is extremely important. Students are required to take the exams, and the school is not in full control of the exam dates. Therefore, we ask that you do not allow your students to have unexcused absences next week.. Absences due to illness, accidents, etc. are unfortunate and sometimes unavoidable, but please only allow absences that are truly necessary. Thank you.

Since we are in fourth quarter, students may now wear shorts with their uniforms. All other dress code standards remain in effect.

These are all the notes I have for you this week. If you have any questions, comments or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,

Miss Wycklendt

Field Trip Week!

Dear Parents,

Welcome to week 28, the final week of third quarter! This week we have our long-awaited trip the MIM on Tuesday. If you have not handed in a permission slip and $10 bus fee for your student, you have one last chance to do so tomorrow. Otherwise, you student will become an honorary third grader for the day!

A few students have asked me about the results of their recent math and science tests, and I have been happy to discuss the test with them. If parents would like to know the results of the tests, they can always contact me. In order to improve communication with parents regarding tests and help parents gain clarity about the tests, I did send one math test and one science test home this quarter. However, in order to meet administrative requirements, I need to keep some tests on file for students' records. From here on out, I will attempt to send approximately every other test home, starting with the first math and science tests in fourth quarter. When tests are taken on a Friday, as they usually are in my classes, you can expect to see them in the students' Friday folders on the following Friday. For tests that are not being sent home, please wait one week before inquiring about tests results, and I will be sure to have your students' tests graded and ready to discuss at that time.

In science class this week we will briefly cover some topics that may appear on the state test but are not ordinarily covered by our curriculum. These include natural disasters, erosion, and environmental concerns. In math we will continue to work with fractions, converting mixed fractions and improper fractions and finding equivalent fractions.

We also have our final meth test of the quarter this week. For those that are interested, here is the study guide:

1. Fractions are equal parts of a whole. The denominator of the fraction is the bottom number. It tells us how many parts make up one whole. The numerator is the top number. It tells us how many parts are being considered.

2. There are also two other main, important ways to think about fractions. One of them is as division. The numerator then becomes the dividend of the division problem and the denominator becomes the divisor. For example, 3/4 = 3÷4. 5÷7 = 5/7. 255/100 = 255 ÷ 100. 35/17 = 35÷17. Students should be able to change fractions to division problems and division problems to fractions.

3. The last main concept of fractions is typically unfamiliar to Americans. It is as follows: We can think of a fraction x/y as the amount each person gets if you divided x items among y people. (I would NOT expect students to understand the algebraic language, but it is  usually easier to generalize ideas for adults in algebraic language.) For example, if there are 4 pizzas and 7 people, divide each pizza into 7 slices and each person gets four slices, one from each pizza. Each of the 4 slices is 1/7 of a pizza, so each person gets 4/7. (It may help to write names of seven people, draw four circles, divide them into seven parts, and draw lines from each person's slices to their name to see that this actually works. It took me awhile to understand this concept when I was first introduced to it.) Similarly, 9/4 could mean 9 pizzas divided among 4 people. If you divide each pizza into 4ths and give each person one slice per pizza, each person gets 9/4. Students should be able to model this concept by drawing a number of shapes equal to the numerator, dividing those shapes into parts equal to the denominator, and shading one part from each.

4. Proper fractions are fractions where the numerator is less than the denominator. Improper fractions are fractions where the numerator is greater than or equal to the denominator. Because proper fractions have a numerator less than the denominator, they are always less than 1. (Take 7/8: if you have one pie divided into 8 slices and your family eats 7 slices, they have not yet eaten the whole pie.)   Improper fractions with numerators and denominators equal are equal to 1. (Take 8/8: if you divide a cake into 8 slices and eat all 8 slices, you've eaten the whole cake. Also, any number divided by itself equals 1.) Improper fractions with numerators greater than the denominators are greater than 1. (Take 9/8: if you have two cakes divided into 8 slices and you eat 8 slices of one cake and 1 slice of another cake, you've eaten one whole cake and an extra slice.)

5. Students should know and be able to give examples of proper fractions and of both kinds of improper fractions. They should be able to accurately compare fractions to 1 using <, >, and = signs.

6. When using the greater than/ less than sign the rule is that the larger end always goes toward the larger number. 56 < 57; 56 > 55. 3/4 < 1; 5/4 > 1.

7. Mixed numbers are numbers expressed with two parts, a whole part and a fractional part. 4 1/2 is a mixed number with a whole part of 4 and a fractional part of 1/2. The fractional part of a mixed number must always be a proper fraction. Students should be able to identify and give examples of mixed numbers and their whole and fractional parts.

8. We can convert improper fractions to whole numbers or mixed numbers by dividing. Improper fractions that divide evenly become whole numbers. 10/5 = 10÷5 = 2. Improper fractions that divide and have remainders become mixed numbers. The whole number answer to the division problem becomes the whole part of the mixed number, and we write the original denominator of the improper fractions as the denominator of the remainder, and this fraction becomes the fractional part of the mixed number. 13/5 = 13÷5 = 5 R3 = 5 3/5.

9. We can convert mixed numbers to improper fractions by multiplying the denominator of the fractional part by the whole part and adding the fractional part to the resulting fraction. 3 1/4  3x4 =12 12/4 +1/4 = 13/4, so 3 1/4 =  13/4. Intuitively, this should make sense. Division and multiplication are inverse operations; the one undoes the other. If we convert improper fractions to mixed numbers by dividing, it makes sense that we would convert mixed numbers back to improper fractions by multiplying. Also, think about it this way: if you have 3 1/4 pizzas and you divide the three whole pizzas into 4 parts each, 3 pizzas x 4 fourths per pizza = 12/4 of pizza  Now add the extra 1/4 from the fractional part of the mixed number 12/4 + 1/4 = 13/4.

10. Students should be able to convert improper fractions to mixed numbers and vice-versa.

These are all the notes I have for you this week! If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please email me at rwycklendt@archwaytriviumeast.org.

Sincerely,

Rebecca Wycklendt

Week 27

Dear Parents,

I’m sure you’ve all heard from your students, but we had a great time at our school’s official Jump Rope for Heart event on Friday! Congratulations to our winners. Thank you also to all of you who donated to the worthy cause of heart research in support of this event.

Our field trip is coming up, and I must say, I am impressed and excited by all the parent interest in the event. So many parents volunteered to chaperone that we couldn’t take all of you up on your generous offers! However, if you would still like to participate, you can meet us at the museum at 9:30am and stay with us for as long as you would like. You would have to pay the full adult admission price and also bring lunch if you wish to eat with the students. (Our students are going to the museum on a grant, so the $10 field trip fee is just to cover the bus.) All students will be traveling by bus to and from the museum, so you will have to go back to school to pick up your student after the event.

On a related note, please have your field trip admission slips in ASAP—the official due date is today, but if you still have a slip to turn it, please get it in! The students are all very excited for the trip, and we want to have the whole class join us. Please get those slips in so your students can come! I did send an email with a copy of the permission slip attached, but if you didn’t get it or if you have any questions regarding the trip, please let me know.

I am going to be making a few changes to classroom procedures starting on this week. The first major change will be with “Try Again” assignments. As most of you know, I have been handing back “Try Again” assignments as I grade them, so when students receive the assignments varies. In order to improve communication between parents, students, and teachers regarding these assignments, I am going to change this procedure. From now on, I will put “Try Again” assignments in the students’ Friday folders with the rest of their graded work. That way, parents will be better able to help their students keep track of what they have done well and what they need to redo. I already handed back a few “Try Again” assignments in Friday folders this last week, so be sure to keep your eyes open for them and encourage your students to complete them.

The second change will be regarding online homework. Students who do not complete their online homework are sent to homework club during afternoon recess to complete it. This will still occur. However, in addition, students who do not complete their online homework will receive a UPL infraction as a reminder to students that homework is required and as a means of communicating with parents regarding students’ online homework. Under some circumstances, students will be given the opportunity to complete online homework early at school. Under such circumstances, I will sign and date notes for students who have completed their online homework early at school.  

This week in math we will continue our study of fractions, emphasizing the relationships between mixed fractions, improper fractions, and proper fractions. In science class we will have a test on the geology learned so far and on states of matter. The test will be on Friday. The study guide for the test is below:

Science Test Study Guide

1.       Groups of atoms bonded together are called molecules.

2.       The three (main) states of matter are solid, liquid, and gas. Matter changes states according to its temperature. A solid that gets heated becomes a liquid, and a liquid that is further heated becomes a gas.

3.       Heat gives atoms and molecules energy. Atoms and molecules are always moving, at least a little, but when they get heated they move more quickly. The hotter they get, the faster they move. The faster they move, they more space they need in which to move. This need for more space causes atoms to spread out from one another, which we experience as a change in state from solid to liquid and then from liquid to gas.

4.       Cooling down has the opposite effect on atoms. They slow down, and they need less space to move. As a result, the atoms are able to stay closer together.

5.       Because the atoms n solids are moving so slowly, solids keep their own shape. Because the atoms in liquids and gasses are moving more quickly, liquids and gasses do not hold their shape. They take the shape of whatever container they are in.

6.        The earth is divided into three main layers, the crust, the mantle and the core.

7.       The crust is extremely thin compared to the mantle and the core. In drawings of the earth, the crust is represented as the outline of the drawing.

8.       There are two kinds of crust, oceanic crust and continental crust. Continental crust is the crust found on land. It is mostly made of solid rock covered by thin layers of dirt. Oceanic crust is the crust found under the ocean. It is mostly made of solid rock covered by thin layers of sand.

9.       The mantle is the middle of the earth’s main layers. It is divided into the lithosphere, the asthenosphere and the mesosphere.

10.   The lithosphere is composed of huge slabs of solid rock called “plates.” The plates fit closely together, like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. The gaps between the plates are called “faults.”

11.   The plates of the lithosphere float on the asthenosphere. The asthenosphere is made of hot, liquid rock called “magma.”

12.   The mesosphere is the lowest layer of the mantle, beneath the lithosphere and asthenosphere. The mesosphere is made of solid rock (not plates).

13.   The core is the innermost of the earth’s three main layers.  It is divided into the outer core and the inner core. The outer core is made of super-heated magma. The inner core is made of extremely hot, dense solid iron.

14.   The deeper into the earth you go, the hotter it is.

15.   Earthquakes occur when heat rises from the inner core and causes the magma of the asthenosphere to move and bubble. (Think of water in a pot.) This moves the plates of the lithosphere, which float on the asthenosphere. When the plates of the lithosphere move, they sometimes bump into each other, causing earthquakes.

16.   Mountains are also formed by the plates of the lithosphere bumping into each other.

17.   Volcanoes occur when liquid magma from the asthenosphere bubles up through the faults between plates.

I know this looks like a lot of material, but your students should already know it. These are exactly all of the things we have covered in class in the last 5 weeks, no more, no less, so they have had a lot of practice and review on these topics.

These are all the notes I have for you for the week! If you have any questions, comments or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,

Miss Wycklendt

Week 26

Dear Parents,

I hope you all had a fabulous weekend! We are already only three weeks from the end of the quarter, after which will be a week of break. This week will be a fairly normal week; no tests (at least in my classes) and no half days or days off.

In math class this week, we will continue our study of fractions, emphasizing the connections between mixed fractions and improper fractions and working on comparing fractions. In science, we will continue our study of the earth’s interior and also examine earthquakes, volcanoes, and mountains.

As spring approaches, we also approach the time when schools must administer state standardized tests. At Great Hearts, our philosophy on standardized tests is that we do not “teach to the test.” We teach students important human skills each day, giving them opportunities to engage in meaningful ways with important ideas on a variety of subjects. We develop knowledge in specific areas, of course, but we also teach students communication skills, reading comprehension skills, and critical thinking skills. These skills will benefit student throughout their whole lives, and they also aid students when taking standardized tests. This eliminates the need for us to spend our time “teaching to the test.” At the same time, we feel it is unfair to students to expect them to take tests on material they have not seen. For this reason, we will use some of our class time in the upcoming weeks to introduce students to material that would otherwise not be directly covered in our curriculum.

 These are all the notes I have for you for the week! If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please email me at rwycklendt@archwaytriviumeast.org.

Sincerely,

Miss Wycklendt