Monday, December 14, 2015

December 14-18, 2015

We have a busy week ahead of us!  Please help your child stay on track.  We will have our Christmas party on Thursday at 1:15.  If your child is not caught up on his/her homework, they will need to catch up during the party.

Social Studies:  We will have a vocabulary quiz tomorrow and a Unit 2 test on Wednesday.  Hopefully, your child has been studying a little each night to ensure success!

Math:  We will continue with measurement this week.  We talked about perimeter last week and will begin area this week.  Many students are struggling with conversions.  Please practice these at home.  We will continue to work on them at school this week and after break.

Writing:  Your child should be prepared for their "How To" demonstration this week.

The grading period ends on Friday.  If your child has anything he/she wants to get regraded, I will need it by Friday.

Thanks for the support at home!

Monday, November 30, 2015

November 30-December 4, 2015

Here are some highlights for this week....

Writer's Workshop:  We have begun a "How To" project.  Your child should have picked a topic that they can demonstrate to the class.  We will work on writing/typing/assembling a "How To" book and then your child will need to show the class how to make or do something.  We will probably have our speeches the week of December 14th.

Math:  We have begun a chapter on measurement.  (Chapter 11)  Please help your child review measurement skills at home.  Also, please help your child stay up to date on his/her IXL lessons.

Social Studies:  We will be working on Unit 2 in our books.  We will have vocabulary quizzes along the way.

Don't forget....November reading logs are due tomorrow!

Field Trip:  We will be going to the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore for a field trip on December 10.  Your child will bring home a permission slip today.  This MUST be signed and returned by Thursday.  If are you interested in chaperoning the field trip, please send me a note.  I will need 3 parents.  If I have more than 3 volunteers, I will have a drawing.  Please let me know if you have any questions.


Wednesday, November 25, 2015

Marshmallow Challenge

Today, my class had to make a freestanding structure with a marshmallow, tape, string and spaghetti noodles. 


Monday, November 9, 2015

November 9-13, 2015

Here are some highlights for the week:

Math:  We have begun a unit on Geometry.  Your child will learn about lines, line segments, rays, angles, polygons and much more.  Please review these concepts with your child daily.

Writing:  We will finish up our list article genre.  Students should have their list article about Indiana landmarks completed by Wednesday.  We will share these with the class.  Our next writing project will be a "How To" that will include a demonstration.

Science:  We will have a test over heat on Tuesday.  I originally planned on having this test on Friday, but the students struggled with the study guide, so we reviewed the information today and I allowed the students to fix their study guides for a better grade.  We will go over the correct answers tomorrow (Tuesday) and students can study for the test.

Health:  We will start a new packet this week about teeth and dental hygiene.

Literacy:  We will continue to work on context clues.

I will not be at school on Thursday or Friday due to a conference out of town.  I will be checking my email when I can.  Please let me know if you have any questions.

Monday, October 5, 2015

October 5-9, 2015

Highlights for the week.....


Literacy:  We will begin adding activities for the students to complete during our literacy block.  We will work on a vocabulary center.

Math:  We will finish up chapter 2 and have a test on Friday.

Science:  We will have a vocabulary quiz on Tuesday over the words for landforms.  We will have a test on Wednesday over the information from the study guide.


Wednesday, September 30, 2015

This week

Here are some important things for this week....

Literacy:  I have added a Spelling center activity to complete by Monday.  The students need to pick 3 different spelling activities from a Tic-Tac-Toe board.  They will use their word study words for this activity.  If students do not like their grade, they can fix their work and turn it back in for a better grade.

Writing:  Small moment stories are due by Friday.  If your child is not happy with their grade, they can fix it and turn it back in for a better grade.

Math:  We will be finishing up chapter 2 this week.  There will be a text next Friday, October 9, 2015.

Science:  We have a vocabulary quiz over landforms on Tuesday and a test over all landforms concepts on Wednesday.

Reading logs are due by Thursday!


Monday, September 21, 2015

September 21-25, 2015

Weekly highlights.....

Literacy:  Your child should be reading at home.  Their goal is to read 420 minutes by the end of the month.  Their reading logs will be due next week.  We will continue to work in small reading groups to help develop skills at each student's level.

Writer's Workshop:  We will continue with our small moment stories.  Last week your child should have picked a particular small moment that they will want to publish.

Word Study:  Today we will begin working in our small groups.  Each group will be working on a different skill.  Each day in school, they will have a different activity to do with these words.  Every few weeks or so, the students will be tested on these skills to ensure retention.

Math:  We started guided math groups last week and it went rather well.  Students are grouped by ability, according to their pretest.  Each day they will work in 2-3 different stations.  They will also have homework that will come home today, that will be due on Friday.

Health:  We will have a test over our "Community Safety" packet tomorrow.  Students should bring their packets with them to school.

Picture Day is Wednesday!

Progress Reports were posted on Skyward on Friday.  Please let me know if you have any questions.

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Math book

Your child can access the math book at home.  Please follow these instructions:

Go to http://connectED.mcgraw-hill.com

Click on Create New Account

Enter the following redemption code:  X39D-GJO1-EF1O

Click Register

Enter their first name, last initial....student ID does not have to be entered.

Click finish.

September 14-18, 2015

Good morning!  Here are some highlights for this week:

Literacy Block:  We will continue to work on main idea and supporting details.  This is something that we talk about when reading and with writing.

Writer's Workshop:  We will continue to work on small moment stories.  We will also work on writing a paragraph in the correct form.

Word Study:  We are working on the /k/ ending sound.  Next week your child will be put into different groups to work at their level.

Math:  We are going to be working with Chapter 2 in math.  Students will need to master estimating sums and differences.  We will be working in small groups for this math chapter.  They were given a  math assignment yesterday, that will be due on Friday.  Please make sure they are working on this daily.  Some of them may have finished it already and that is okay to work ahead.  Also, please practice math facts with your child at home.

Social Studies:  We will have a test over Unit 1 on Tuesday.

Health:  We will begin our first packet this week.

IXL:  Please check in with your child to make sure he/she is staying on track with IXL lessons.  If they are unable to finish them at home, they can come into my classroom at 7:45 to work on them each morning.

Tuesday, August 25, 2015

August 24-28, 2015

Welcome!  We are one day into our first week of school!  I am hoping this will be a great start to the year!  Here are some highlights for the week:

Literacy:  We will be going over the procedures and expectations for "Reader's Workshop."  Students will be reading independently every day.  We will be working on various skills throughout the year.  Students should be reading books that are not too challenging and not too easy.  They will be required to do many responses according to what they are reading.  Beginning in September, students will have a reading log to fill out.  They will be expected to read 420 minutes a month.

Math:  We have begun Chapter 1 in math which covers place value.  Students will always be divided into different groups according to their pretest for each concept.  I have told them to expect homework daily.  Students should also be practicing their math facts.

Social Studies:  We began Unit 1 yesterday.  Social Studies in 4th grade is all about Indiana history.  We started a vocabulary list.  We will have a quiz over these words on Friday.  This is something the students should be studying each day.

Writer's Workshop:  We will work on procedures and expectations for writing.  We will work on a variety of different genres.  Students will complete various projects throughout the year that center around writing.

We will be utilizing GoogleDocs this year.  This is something that students can access at home as well, so they can continue to work on different projects.  Please let me know if you have any questions at any time!

Monday, April 6, 2015

April 6-10, 2015

Welcome back!  I hope that everyone had a wonderful week off last week!  We are down to our last grading period of 4th grade and we still have a lot of work to do.  Here are some highlights for this week....

Literacy:  We will be working on figurative language.  Students should be able to identify and write the following:  similes, metaphors, personifications, idioms, hyperboles, alliterations and onomatopoeias.  Students should also be applying the information they gain from word study to their writing.

Science:  Students have a poster due on April 24th that should represent the theme "Local Heroes-Your Hardworking Pollinators."  Information and the poster went home before spring break.

Social Studies:  We have begun Unit 3 in Social Studies.  Students began their list of vocabulary words.  They will also get their study guides tomorrow.  We will fill out this as we go through the unit.

Math:  We are reviewing information from chapter 14: Decimal and fractions.  We will have a test on Friday.

Study trips:  We have a study trip this Wednesday to the Dunes National Lakeshore.  This will be outside, so please make sure your child is dressed appropriately.

Next Wednesday, we will be going to Buckley Homestead.  Permission slips for this came home today.  That study trip is also outdoors.

Next Thursday and Friday will be Grandparents' Day.  Information for that also came home today.

Report cards will be posted by Friday.

Hope everyone has a great week!

Monday, February 23, 2015

February 23-27, 2015

Highlights for the week....

Math:  We will continue to work through chapter 11 about measurement.  Please review concepts with your child at home.

Science:  We will have a test over force and motion on Tuesday.

Health:  We will have a test over the "No Smoking" packet on Thursday.  Students may use their packet for the test.

Student Treasure books:  Students should have started their rough drafts for their student treasure book.  These are due by Thursday.

ISTEP:  We will finish up our practice tests this week.  We will start the official test next Monday.  Please make sure your child is at school, on time, each day next week.  Children should eat a healthy breakfast and get plenty of rest.  Thank you for your help with this at home!


Tuesday, February 17, 2015

This week

Good afternoon!  This week we will be finishing up our unit on Force and Motion.  The test will be next Tuesday.  Study guides were due today for a grade.  We will go over these tomorrow in class.  Please study with your child at home.

In math, we will continue to work on measurement.  Please practice measuring things to the nearest inch, 1/2 inch and 1/4 of an inch.

Your child has a reader's response due in their reader's notebook about every two weeks.  Please check in with your child to make sure he or she is turning these in on time.

Please talk to your child about completing assignments on time.  There are a few students who are struggling with getting things completed.  If there is an issue with your child struggling with something, please let me know.  I believe most of it is due to them not filling out their assignment books daily.  :(  Progress reports went home on Friday.  If you have any questions or concerns, please let me know!


Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Tiger Tail Celebration

We have filled up another Tiger Tail for terrific behavior.  As a celebration of this accomplishment, we will have electronic time in our pajamas on Thursday!  Please let me know if you have any questions!!

Updates

Hello!  It has been awhile since I have updated this blog!  I apologize for not keeping up with it.  I just wanted to let you know some highlights of things to come.

Literacy:  Due dates have been assigned for each student's Reader's Notebook.  We have gone over many examples, so the students know my expectations.  We will also be working on comparing and contrasting in both reading and writing.  We have discussed how to compare/contrast different texts.  We will also be doing some research on alternative forms of energy and the students will create a slideshow presentation for this.

Math:  We will finish up our unit about Geometry and have a test on Friday.  Please review the concepts that we have gone over in class.  Our next chapter will be about fractions.

Science:  We will build our own circuits tomorrow.  We discussed the flow of electricity today and will continue over the next few days.  The next unit will be about force and motion.

Rocket Math:  We practice our multiplication/division facts daily through Rocket Math.  Please touch base with your child about what level they currently are working on.  If the students are "on track" they should already be working on division facts.  Please practice math facts with your child at home.