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4th Grade - Mrs. Masso
From Saint Peter School
May 2012
Race Day was beautiful – the sun was shining and a breeze was blowing as we headed across the street to the Merchantville walking path. Then we began to run and walk for the allotted time. We all did a great job, especially our Race for Education lap winners – Nolan Doms and Sophia Cross! We'd like to thank all our sponsors for their generosity.
Thanks also to all the creative sneaker decorators out there who returned them with their contributions. The fourth graders created team logo plates and attached the sneakers to them. They’re on display in our hallway for awhile and then the students will be bringing them home. As you can see from the photo, they are awesome looking!
Students also worked hard to create posters that displayed ways to Save Our Planet. Students were allowed to work in teams of 2 or individually to complete this assignment. Some of them even included some 3D aspects to capture the attention of viewers.
We are busy preparing for our science trip on May 22. The students will join members of the NJ Audubon society to band shore birds and then have some hand-on collecting data about horseshoe crabs on Fortescue Beach. Journals will be used by the students to record their data, observations and sketches. Each student will be required to use the collected data for a report entitled Horseshoe Crab Study. The project will include a description of a horseshoe crab, a sketch of one, goal of the study, methods used to collect data, the data collected (including bar graphs with the assistance of Mrs. Leonard in computer class) and what they learned from the data. Watch for some photos in June!
Even though the days to the last day of school are speeding by, fourth graders continue to work hard to finish up their studies for the year. We’re busy with geometry and fractions in math, the sacraments and mysteries of the rosary in religion, how the government in Trenton works and of course, horseshoe crabs and shore birds plus “The Luckiest Man” story and Pour quoi Tales in reading. Fourth graders will need a vacation, for sure!
Some students continue to struggle with preparing for a test especially in Science or Social Studies, so I have included a few Study Tips for Parents from an article by Katherine Cook. “There is no magic formula that will help all children in their education, but there are some handy tips that might just give your child the boost they need to reach their potential. “
Association
For a lot of children, simply introducing an idea or set of material to learn is not nearly enough. Repeating the information in a way that not only allows the child to absorb details but lets them associate it with something already familiar can often help your student better understand and recall new material. This can mean providing math problems in a visual way or using songs to memorize important historical dates.
Review
Once the material has been laid out, it’s important to make sure your child is able to put it to use. For example, if they are studying spelling words, don’t just have them practice writing the word. Have them spell aloud as well. In most cases, visualizing the letters as they speak them will give them the upper hand when test time comes.
This goes for any subject from math basics to advanced biology. Having your child tell you about the subject matter not only lets you check to make sure they have an understanding of what has been taught but helps them to make sure they know the material well enough to discuss it.
Tests and Quizzes
One handy trick that many students find helpful is to test themselves with finished homework assignments before quizzes, and to use quiz questions as a practice test. As most teachers will use the same questions or similar ones that have been asked and answered previously, this will often give the child a change to take a test similar to what they will see on test day.
It is also important to remember that textbooks often come with review questions at the end of specific sections or chapters. That, along with bold-typed vocabulary words within the text, can often be all it takes to help your child prepare for tests. And remember to check captions and side notes that may also be included.
Remembering these basic study ideas can help any student prepare for school and possibly give them a little confidence. Preparation takes time, but it also can improve your child’s comfort and performance.