Dear Families,

This week we have started using standard algorithm to solve long division problems. This week I will be assigning homework over the material covered in class. Long division is often a hard concept for students to learn quickly because there are so many steps involved. For the next week we are going to be reviewing it again and again to ensure students have a solid grasp on it. That being said, many students may feel frustrated with the topic or their homework. All I ask is that they are trying their best and are staying positive! 

This week we have started our long division unit by exploring the different strategies we already know. The first question was: There is a water bottle vending machine in the teacher's lounge. This morning the delivery man was filling the machine and he said it can hold up to 156 water bottles. I noticed that the water bottles came in packages of 6. That got me wondering....how many packages can the machine hold?
To answer this questions the students were paired up with a partner and discussed the different strategies they came up with. A few of them were:
·       repeated adding/skip counting
·       trial and error multiplication
·       number lines
·       drawing all 156 bottles first, grouping them into groups of six, then counting the number of groups.
·       arrays
·       repeated subtraction
·       long division

After students discussed their strategies they wrote them on a big piece of chart paper and we had a "gallery walk.. Students left thoughtful comments to their peers about their thinking and their strategies and then we shared!

November 7-29th RBE will be collecting food items that will be donated to Meals on Wheels. Meals on Wheels is an agency in Columbia that helps people get food to eat when it is difficult for them to get it on their own. 

4^th grade is in charge of donating canned peaches and individual boxes of raisins. If you have any you would like to donate send them in with your child! Thank you!

Yesterday we had Keith from Boone Electric come in to show 4^th grade an electricity demonstration. We learned about series circuits, parallel circuits, conductors, insulators,  and the danger of power lines. Thanks Keith!

Today in math we learned about the inverse relationship between multiplication and division. To help us practice we played division memory. The students loved the math spin on a traditional card game!

This week we have started our division topic. Our objective for the day was “we can use and draw models to solve division problems.”

Yesterday we started off by illustrating and sharing our thinking on big chart paper to the question:

We have 24 books and want to put the same amount on each shelf.  My book case has 6 shelves.  How many books should I put on each shelf?   

Here is a message our music teacher, Mrs. Sharp, wanted me to pass along!

Dear Parents,

Each day in music, classes can earn one beat of rhythm for their positive behavior. When 8 beats are completed, the class earns a celebration. I’m happy to report that Ms. Kempa’s class has completed their song!

On Monday, October 24^th, the students may bring an individual snack and a stuffed animal that fits in their backpack, to music. We will have a short extra recess at the beginning of music. Then we will watch a video and enjoy their snacks. Please allow them to bring a snack and small stuffed animal to school on Monday, the 24th. Thank you! Mrs. Sharp

http://mrssharpmusic.blogspot.com/

Eileen Sharp

k-5 Music Specialist

Rock Bridge Elementary

“Our kids are worth whatever it takes”    Spence Rogers