Week of 9/15

Hi students and families!

This week looks like this:

Reading: Literature circles - The children are really enjoying literature circles and doing a terrific job!

Math: estimating sums and differences, adding and subracting large numbers - The kids, overall, struggled with the concept of estimating sums and differences, so we are going over it again this week. If you saw low grades on a couple math papers with that concept, please know that I didn't take a grade on them. Hopefully, this week I can see some light bulbs going on with it!!

Social Studies: early people of Oklahoma

Spanish: We have not started Spanish because they do not have my smartboard hooked up to cable yet. However, this week we will get to start it because I did some searching and found the programs on the internet. If I waited for the technology department, it may be Christmas! They are very behind!

Spelling: Look for the words on the blog tomorrow. We will be having 2 tests weekly, one on Thursday, and one on Friday. If your child gets an A on Thursday, he/she does not have to take the test on Friday.

I wanted to talk to you a little about responsibility and time management. 4th grade is a big growing year in those areas. The work gets harder and the children are learning a lot about how to manage their time wisely and what happens when they don't. Some children breeze through this process quite easily, while others really struggle. I am really working hard to help them along in this process, by giving them cues, such as saying "10 more minutes before we move on"; visuals, such as boards that display due dates of long term assignments, and unfortunately, I have to give consequences as well, when work is not turned in on time. I can assure you, that in time all of this will pay off. Most children get a better idea of how to manage their work and time much better by the 2nd 9 weeks. It is pretty magical how it happens!! As I stated before, some children are already pros at time management. If your child, however, tends to have homework quite often, or seems stressed about the work, it is probably because he/she is struggling in this area.

We have had a lot of sickness going around. If you would like to send your child a bottle of antibacterial hand wash, such as Germ X, please do so. The children can keep a small bottle in their desks.

That is all for now. Remember to look on the blog tomorrow for the spelling list and the enriched spelling list. Your child should bring home a paper list as well, of the regular words.

Thanks to those that donated a bag of candy!! It helps a lot!!!