Welcome to Week 10!

It has been truly remarkable to witness the growth of the Year 4s since the beginning of the year as we mark the halfway point of the year! All students should be very proud of their efforts in their learning. Wishing everyone a safe and happy holiday break, and I am very much looking forward to what the second half of the year brings!

Just a reminder about our homework expectations for Year 4, we only have two of these and they are;

Reading nightly (and getting reader diary signed)
Spelling Nightly (practice spelling in student's spelling books)

If your child has misplaced their reader diary or spelling book, please let me know and I will organise a replacement.

Read on to find more about all of the wonderful things that we have been learning about this term and will continue to learn about for the remainder of the term!

My email address is jtunks@sjeuroa.catholic.edu.au if you need to contact me.

Jake Tunks- Grade 4 Classroom Teacher

Literacy

Reading- We have been continuing on with novel studies this term as a part of OCHRE- the students really enjoy reading novels together as a class. Our novel that we have currently been reading is- The Arrival by Shaun Tan.

Here is the blurb; 'The Arrival is a migrant story told as a series of wordless images. A man leaves his wife and child in an impoverished town, seeking better prospects in an unknown country on the other side of a vast ocean. He eventually finds himself in a bewildering city of foreign customs, peculiar animals, curious floating objects and indecipherable languages. With nothing more than a suitcase and a handful of currency, the immigrant must find a place to live, food to eat and some kind of gainful employment. He is helped along the way by sympathetic strangers, each carrying their own unspoken history: stories of struggle and survival in a world of incomprehensible violence, upheaval and hope.'

Students have engaged in novel studies that focus on vocabulary, comprehension, writing, and spelling, all closely connected to our class texts. Each student will have their own copy of the texts to read along with during class. To finish our term, we will be studying poetry and will be looking at two poems, The Eagle by Alfred, Lord Tennyson and Who Has Seen the Wind? by Christina Rossetti.

Additionally, students can borrow books from the school library to take home as readers. Students will take home one book at their reading level, and one book that is interest based (reading for enjoyment). This term and throughout the year, we will emphasize various aspects of reading, including decoding, fluency, comprehension, and vocabulary expansion.

If your child is absent when we have been reading the novel, they have the chance to take the novel home to catch up on the chapter/section of the novel that they missed out on. I just ask that the novel is returned please so that they can continue reading it in class time.

Writing - Students have written recounts this term, they created a recount about the landing of the First Fleet and also a recount about an event from their own lives.

Students have currently been working on creating Vignettes in the same style as 'The Arrival' by Shaun Tan. A Vignette is a short and descriptive piece of writing that captures a brief period in time. Vignettes are more focused on vivid imagery and meaning rather than plot. We have also been working on Character Development and creating detailed descriptions of characters in our vignettes/narratives.

In addition, students are also learning how to improve their sentences by expanding them and making sure they have the right structure. Detailed sentences need who, what, where, when, why, and how.

Independent Reading - Reading a book that is familiar to you helps improve fluency, comprehension and decoding skills. Students have been borrowing books from the library for independent reading, one at their level, and one for enjoyment.

Handwriting - There is a strong focus on handwriting in Grade 4. Students all work towards receiving their pen licence. They begin on their ‘L plates’. They need to earn 10 stars on their L plates to receive their P plates (pen licence). A lot of students have already obtained their 'P Plates' which has been fantastic to see them demonstrating very neat handwriting. The neatness of writing has improved a lot compared to the start of the year, it has been remarkable to see the growth!

Typing- In addition to handwriting, students have also been practising typing on a weekly basis. We have been using a program called Typing Club which teaches children correct posture, hand/finger placement with the ultimate aim of producing fluent and accurate typists (a much needed 21st century skill!)

WHAT CAN I DO TO SUPPORT MY CHILD IN LITERACY?

Students need to be reading at least 4 times a week with a range of just right texts. Reading is a skill that needs to be practised in order to master.

When you are reading with your child, please record what you have read and the date in your child’s diaries. We check diaries each day to see how home reading is going. This is a vital part of the children’s schooling.

If your child takes home a classroom text can you please ensure you look after these and return them to school weekly.

Students are also sent home spelling lists each Monday to practice nightly.

Read at least 4 times a week with your child.
Fill in the diary, date, name of book, notes (teachers and LSO’s check this daily).
Encourage them to sound out, not guess.

Numeracy

In maths we have recently been learning about measurement and area as well as 2D Shapes. Students calculated perimeter and area of different shapes using rulers and measuring tapes. When working on 2D shapes students explored the different features of shapes, lines of symmetry in shapes and even created their own Mandalas using symmetry and 2D shapes.

This week we begin Data Representation where students will be reading graphs and tables, conducting surveys and creating their own graphs and tables to show information that they have collected.

Students work in whole class, small groups and independently during our maths sessions.

Ways you can support your child at home with maths;

Practising times tables and related division facts by using flash cards or posters. (let me know if you need any of these and I can lend some flash cards out).
Using arrays to assist with multiplication and division.
Encouraging your child to use maths in everyday life at home. E.g helping add up the cost of things, measuring in the kitchen or outside etc.

Homework Expectations

Students are expected to read at least 4 times a week, fill in their reader diary with the date, name of book, notes (teachers and LSO’s check this daily).

Spelling- students get new spelling words each Monday to practice nightly. These spelling words are glued into their spelling books. Practising nightly will assist students having success in our spelling tests each Friday. The spelling words are derived from our work in OCHRE literacy, so students have multiple exposures to these words.

Inquiry

The unit we are currently completing in Inquiry is called Food and Fibre. We have been looking at how food is grown, prepared and cooked and also how clothes are manufactured and the impact of 'Fast Fashion'. Students have researched where different foods are grown in Australia and around the world and have also researched the foods they eat in a day to see where they are grown and produced.

Religious Education

Currently we are learning about The Sacraments of Initiation. These are Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist. We have been learning about the symbols and rituals involved with each of these Sacraments, most recently exploring Baptism.

Last Friday our Year 4 class went down to Burton's IGA to shop for donations for St. Vincent De Paul Society in Euroa. Our students had $5 each and had to carefully consider what to buy for those in need. As a class we spoke about non-perishable items that would come in handy for those in need and also value for money. It was a great experience for all students, and they were very thoughtful in their selections and also represented our school very well out in the community.

The Resilience Project

Most recently in the Resilience Project we have been looking at Gratitude.

Students will be working in small groups to create a board game that focuses on Gratitude and what Gratitude can look like. It is a unique way of getting students to think about how they can be thankful for what they already have and not thinking about things that they don't have.

Specialists

Specialist days have changed slightly for the remainder of this term.

STEM and P.E are on a Monday.

Art and Japanese are on a Wednesday.

Please ensure your child wears the correct sports uniform on a Monday until further notice.

Library

Grade 4 students will go to the Library to borrow every second Friday afternoon (when assembly is not on).

Could all students please bring their satchels and books on our Library day so that they can borrow/return. If any students have outstanding books from the library, can they please return these. Happy reading!!

School Hats and Drink Bottles

Just a friendly reminder that this term, students are to wear their school hats and to bring their own drink bottles.

Key Dates for the Remainder of Term 2

Friday 27th June- Whole School Mass 12.30PM - Feast of the Sacred Heart

Wednesday 2nd July- Semester 1 Reports Released to Families

Friday 4th July- End of Term 2 finish at 2.15pm

Monday 21st July- Term 3 Begins

Let's Find Our Voice

Last Thursday, our Year 4 and 5 students were invited to FCJ College Benalla alongside, St Joseph's Benalla and St Mary's Mansfield students, to watch the rehearsal of the performance 'Let's Find Our Voice'. This performance was a joint effort by FCJ Year 7 students and members of the Benalla community. It was a fantastic experience for all of our students as they watched some terrific musical performances and danced and sang along!

Book Week Term 3! Please see below information