Moving into February! Here is the agenda for this week:
Reading - Leveled Reading - Dog theme
Math - Comparing and ordering decimals, decimals and mixed numbers, rounding decimals
Spelling - List 14 on spellingcity.com (suffixes: er and est)
English - Story writing
Science - Planets, Constellations, and Moon Phases
Social Studies - SE region partner projects
Spanish - Continue Unit 9 - plants and habitats
Wednesday will be the last day of our Super Bowl Reading Challenge. The Ligers are still in the lead, but it's anyone's game until the last quarter!!! Keep reading!! I will announce the winning team Wednesday afternoon.
We have postponed our Space Habitat project for a few weeks. The children have been lacking the self control needed to do such a huge project. They are going to have to work really hard over the next few weeks to show me they have what it takes to handle this project. I know they can do it! Temperance!!
Don't forget to send clean, empty cans.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Week of January 24th
Hi Families! Can't believe it's already the last week of January! I don't know about you, but I am so ready for the Spring already. This cold weather is not for me! I think being in the portables makes it tougher! We are warm in our class, but traveling outside to go anywhere gets old! Take a look at this week's agenda:
Reading - Last week on the genre, Mystery - Your child should have picked out a 2nd mystery book on his/her level by now. This book needs to be read and an AR test taken by February 4th. Skill focus - Cause and Effect
English - Daily English Review, Figurative Language
Spelling - List 13 on spellingcity.com (Suffixes) I will let the kids know Tuesday what the enriched list is for the week.
Math - 2 and 3 digit times 2 and 3 digit multiplication
We will also begin reading, saying, and writing decimals to the tenth place this week, as well as take another cumulative review test.
Science - Continuous study of the planets
Social Studies - Partner projects on important events, places, and people of the Southeast
Spanish - Test on Thursday over family member names. Study guide will go home on Tuesday. We will also begin a new unit this week over habitats and plant parts.
*******Things to note and remember************
Super Bowl Challenge - I have been so very proud of the kids on their reading!! We have 3 teams:
Ligers, Flaming Flamingos, and Grizzly Bucks. The Grizzly Bucks started out way in the lead. Then the Ligers came back with a vengeance, so they are now in the lead with the Flamingos in second. Keep reading!!! We will have a Super Bowl Party on February 4th to celebrate all the reading the children have been doing and to gear up for the Super Bowl on February 6th! The winners of our challenge, however, will get to eat lunch in the classroom with me and get a prize!
We will be starting a new challenge this week that involves MATH!! This challenge will last about 3 months!I will divide the class into 2 teams. Our objective is math mastery of skills we have covered. I try not to move too fast and work to mastery before we ever move to the next concept, but sometimes the kids will still forget unless they constantly see the old concepts. We do math twice a day. Our morning math is going to start being skills that we have already covered. I will be testing them over old concepts periodically. Before the test, I will send home a study guide to work on. The contest will involve the completion of these study guides. The children will earn 5 points for their team for the study guide being completed, and 10 points if it is signed by a parent. The children will also earn 15 points for an A on the test, 10 points for a B, and 5 points for a C. We will have a math celebration in May for all their hard work with an extra privilege for the winning team!
I need clean, empty, labels peeled off, vegetable or fruit cans. I need 25 by Friday. If every child brought one, we will have enough. Please remember. :) If you could send more than one, that would be great, just in case! I have a cool project planned!
I almost have enough to do our space habitats, but am missing several children's money. I went ahead and purchased all the duct tape myself, but I need your help to purchase the expensive plastic. If you have not sent your child's $2, please help us out. Thank you.
Reading - Last week on the genre, Mystery - Your child should have picked out a 2nd mystery book on his/her level by now. This book needs to be read and an AR test taken by February 4th. Skill focus - Cause and Effect
English - Daily English Review, Figurative Language
Spelling - List 13 on spellingcity.com (Suffixes) I will let the kids know Tuesday what the enriched list is for the week.
Math - 2 and 3 digit times 2 and 3 digit multiplication
We will also begin reading, saying, and writing decimals to the tenth place this week, as well as take another cumulative review test.
Science - Continuous study of the planets
Social Studies - Partner projects on important events, places, and people of the Southeast
Spanish - Test on Thursday over family member names. Study guide will go home on Tuesday. We will also begin a new unit this week over habitats and plant parts.
*******Things to note and remember************
Super Bowl Challenge - I have been so very proud of the kids on their reading!! We have 3 teams:
Ligers, Flaming Flamingos, and Grizzly Bucks. The Grizzly Bucks started out way in the lead. Then the Ligers came back with a vengeance, so they are now in the lead with the Flamingos in second. Keep reading!!! We will have a Super Bowl Party on February 4th to celebrate all the reading the children have been doing and to gear up for the Super Bowl on February 6th! The winners of our challenge, however, will get to eat lunch in the classroom with me and get a prize!
We will be starting a new challenge this week that involves MATH!! This challenge will last about 3 months!I will divide the class into 2 teams. Our objective is math mastery of skills we have covered. I try not to move too fast and work to mastery before we ever move to the next concept, but sometimes the kids will still forget unless they constantly see the old concepts. We do math twice a day. Our morning math is going to start being skills that we have already covered. I will be testing them over old concepts periodically. Before the test, I will send home a study guide to work on. The contest will involve the completion of these study guides. The children will earn 5 points for their team for the study guide being completed, and 10 points if it is signed by a parent. The children will also earn 15 points for an A on the test, 10 points for a B, and 5 points for a C. We will have a math celebration in May for all their hard work with an extra privilege for the winning team!
I need clean, empty, labels peeled off, vegetable or fruit cans. I need 25 by Friday. If every child brought one, we will have enough. Please remember. :) If you could send more than one, that would be great, just in case! I have a cool project planned!
I almost have enough to do our space habitats, but am missing several children's money. I went ahead and purchased all the duct tape myself, but I need your help to purchase the expensive plastic. If you have not sent your child's $2, please help us out. Thank you.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Week of January 18th
Hope the kids are enjoying their 3 day weekend! :) Here is what's ahead:
Reading - We will continue our "mystery" month. All the assignments for their first mystery are due this week by Friday. Next, they are to choose a 2nd mystery on their reading level to have read by the end of the month. The only grades for the 2nd mystery are their AR test result and a quick fluency check by me.
Spelling - List 12 on spellingcity.com I will let the children know the enriched list tomorrow.
English - Daily English Review (I don't always list this, but we do this every week.) Skill focus: Contractions and Pen Pal Letters
Science - Planets If you have not sent in your $2, please do so by Tuesday.
Social Studies - SE Region of the USA We will be looking at the landforms, resources, and location of the SE states on Tuesday and then dive right into the wonderful, rich history of the SE on Wednesday! This is a fascinating unit, the children always enjoy. I make a lot of the learning student-led with this unit. I assign the kids each a partner to become experts on an important person, event, or place of the SE. They will do 2 inclass projects on their topic and then teach the rest of the children about what they learned. We then put all the events and people into a timeline, so that the children will understand the order of happenings...such as Pocahontas and Harriet Tubman living in different centuries!
Math - Double Digit Multiplication We will be practicing for mastery of this important skill all week. I taught the children 2 ways to get to the right answer. I will let them now choose what way best fits them.
Reading - We will continue our "mystery" month. All the assignments for their first mystery are due this week by Friday. Next, they are to choose a 2nd mystery on their reading level to have read by the end of the month. The only grades for the 2nd mystery are their AR test result and a quick fluency check by me.
Spelling - List 12 on spellingcity.com I will let the children know the enriched list tomorrow.
English - Daily English Review (I don't always list this, but we do this every week.) Skill focus: Contractions and Pen Pal Letters
Science - Planets If you have not sent in your $2, please do so by Tuesday.
Social Studies - SE Region of the USA We will be looking at the landforms, resources, and location of the SE states on Tuesday and then dive right into the wonderful, rich history of the SE on Wednesday! This is a fascinating unit, the children always enjoy. I make a lot of the learning student-led with this unit. I assign the kids each a partner to become experts on an important person, event, or place of the SE. They will do 2 inclass projects on their topic and then teach the rest of the children about what they learned. We then put all the events and people into a timeline, so that the children will understand the order of happenings...such as Pocahontas and Harriet Tubman living in different centuries!
Math - Double Digit Multiplication We will be practicing for mastery of this important skill all week. I taught the children 2 ways to get to the right answer. I will let them now choose what way best fits them.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Week of January 10th
Hi Families! It looks like this week will be a really cold one! Make sure your kiddos are bundled up! We will be doing lots of long distance walks to various classes such as computer, library, music, etc.
This week's agenda:
Reading - Mysteries -leveled readers - We have been working on vocabulary related to mysteries. Ask your child what a red herring is. :) The children are also doing an Ingredients to a Mystery checklist, a Suspect List, a Components to a Mystery Report, as well as a Surprise Window Book Report.
Spelling - Contractions - List 11 on spellingcity.com Enriched spelling will start back up this week. I will let the children know what list.
English - Prepositions and Possessives
Math - Double Digit Multiplication - Practice at home with your child on this important skill. It will be hard for some of them, especially if they do not know their multiplication facts.
Science - Space - We will be looking at comets, the zodiac, and will become detectives solving meteorite mysteries! For the last couple of years my students have made space habitats. This is the coolest project! We not only relate science to it, but math as well! The children have loved this project. This year because of limited funding, Mr. Rainey will not be able to purchase the supplies for this project. The children really want to do it and I want them to do it as well, so I am asking each child to contribute $2 towards this worthwhile project. Please help us out by sending $2 to school by Friday. My husband helps me purchase the materials at Lowes and cuts the pieces for me. It is a pretty big undertaking and I want to give him time to do this. Thanks in advance for your support. I really appreciate having such involved and supportive families.
Don't forget the Mitten homework assignment is due on Wednesday!
This week's agenda:
Reading - Mysteries -leveled readers - We have been working on vocabulary related to mysteries. Ask your child what a red herring is. :) The children are also doing an Ingredients to a Mystery checklist, a Suspect List, a Components to a Mystery Report, as well as a Surprise Window Book Report.
Spelling - Contractions - List 11 on spellingcity.com Enriched spelling will start back up this week. I will let the children know what list.
English - Prepositions and Possessives
Math - Double Digit Multiplication - Practice at home with your child on this important skill. It will be hard for some of them, especially if they do not know their multiplication facts.
Science - Space - We will be looking at comets, the zodiac, and will become detectives solving meteorite mysteries! For the last couple of years my students have made space habitats. This is the coolest project! We not only relate science to it, but math as well! The children have loved this project. This year because of limited funding, Mr. Rainey will not be able to purchase the supplies for this project. The children really want to do it and I want them to do it as well, so I am asking each child to contribute $2 towards this worthwhile project. Please help us out by sending $2 to school by Friday. My husband helps me purchase the materials at Lowes and cuts the pieces for me. It is a pretty big undertaking and I want to give him time to do this. Thanks in advance for your support. I really appreciate having such involved and supportive families.
Don't forget the Mitten homework assignment is due on Wednesday!
Friday, December 31, 2010
Week of January 3rd!
Happy New Year Everyone! 2011.....it hardly seems possible! Better hold on tight to your cute little 4th graders because you will blink and they will be in middle school like my baby girl! Cherish them, make time for them, cuddle them, play with them. Can you tell I'm feeling a little emotional.....my soon to be 14 year old is away at Winter Retreat with our church youth group and I am missing her like crazy!! Giving her roots was the easy part, but giving her wings is very hard on this mama!
Hope you have had a magical and wonderful Christmas! Can't believe the break is over, but it will be nice to be back in a routine!
Remember that Monday your child may bring a game from home, including an electronic one. We will have some game time while we settle in to our new classroom.
I don't have my lesson plans at my fingertips (they are in a box in my class marked "important stuff"), but I do know the main things we will be doing ! :)
Reading: Leveled reading groups studying the genre: Mystery.....We will be exploring plot, character, and setting.
Science: Space
Math: 2 and 3 digit by 1 digit multiplication
We will be doing spelling and English as well, but can't remember the specifics. The children will get a new spelling list Monday.
I wanted to thank you so very much for the thoughtful cards and gifts I received for Christmas. It touched my heart deeply to be thought of so warmly. The children will receive a thank you note in the mail from me sometime soon. I also wanted to update you on our Boxes of Hope project. It was a beautiful scene to watch unfold! The children all did a wonderful job. I think they really enjoyed this project and hopefully learned a little about the true spirit of Christmas...the giving of ourselves. :) Thank you for helping to make it so special.
Talk to you soon!
Hope you have had a magical and wonderful Christmas! Can't believe the break is over, but it will be nice to be back in a routine!
Remember that Monday your child may bring a game from home, including an electronic one. We will have some game time while we settle in to our new classroom.
I don't have my lesson plans at my fingertips (they are in a box in my class marked "important stuff"), but I do know the main things we will be doing ! :)
Reading: Leveled reading groups studying the genre: Mystery.....We will be exploring plot, character, and setting.
Science: Space
Math: 2 and 3 digit by 1 digit multiplication
We will be doing spelling and English as well, but can't remember the specifics. The children will get a new spelling list Monday.
I wanted to thank you so very much for the thoughtful cards and gifts I received for Christmas. It touched my heart deeply to be thought of so warmly. The children will receive a thank you note in the mail from me sometime soon. I also wanted to update you on our Boxes of Hope project. It was a beautiful scene to watch unfold! The children all did a wonderful job. I think they really enjoyed this project and hopefully learned a little about the true spirit of Christmas...the giving of ourselves. :) Thank you for helping to make it so special.
Talk to you soon!
Friday, December 17, 2010
Week of 12-20
Merry Christmas Families!
Just a short post to let you know what we will be up to for our 3 day week:
Practice Testing
Review Work
Fun Work
Christmas Movie
Kindergarten Buddies
Packing up our belongings to move to our portable
****Things to Remember****
Banana Split Reward Party - Tuesday at 1:00
Christmas Party - Tuesday at 2:15
Box Buddy Gift Exchange - Tuesday morning
Just a short post to let you know what we will be up to for our 3 day week:
Practice Testing
Review Work
Fun Work
Christmas Movie
Kindergarten Buddies
Packing up our belongings to move to our portable
****Things to Remember****
Banana Split Reward Party - Tuesday at 1:00
Christmas Party - Tuesday at 2:15
Box Buddy Gift Exchange - Tuesday morning
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Week of December 13th
Hello Families! Here is the agenda for this week:
Math - Adding and Subtracting with Decimals
Reading - Leveled Independent Reading
Spelling - Christmas Words
Social Studies - First of all I wanted to say "WOW"....the kids rocked at their American History Test! I was so impressed with the majority of their test scores! They did so well! I could tell most of them studied with test scores like A's, B's, and C's! Now let's rock the classroom again this week! We will be finishing up our NE Region Posters this week. (Due Thursday) We will also take a NE Region Location Test on Wednesday and a NE Region Capitals Test on Thursday. I will send home a study guide on Monday. This first location test usually gets some of the kids. Make sure to spend some time helping your child study for this test. It can get kindof tricky remembering where all those New England states are. The test will include the states and they will match them with their correct location. The capital test will be matching as well, and the children need to study for this too. I try really hard to teach the children about that BIG word called PROCRASTINATION. They have got to learn how to use their time wisely and to not put off things until the last moment. This is an important skill necessary for future success! As a mother of an 8th grader, I'm telling you the truth. :) As my pastor's 8 year old daughter told her daddy. "School is a lot like Mario Brothers with each level getting harder!" I thought that was a clever analogy! We as parents and teachers need to prepare our children for that next level!
***Side note: We will still remember to have fun though and enjoy 4th grade as we stretch and grow!***
English - We will finish up our Owl Reports. They are due Thursday as well.
We will get back to Spanish in January.
****THINGS TO KNOW AND REMEMBER****
Show and Tell will be Thursday. (No pets...sorry)
Friday is Polar PJ Day! Your child may wear their pajamas and slippers. We will be doing learning stations in the morning that include reading, science, social studies, math, and art. In the afternoon, we will watch the movie Polar Express and drink hot cocoa and eat s'mores! This should be a fun day!!
Box Buddy packages are due Tuesday, December 21st. Remember, this is a wrapped gift for a secret friend that includes:
1) 5 Thoughtful Compliments
2) Acrostic Poem
3) Letter of Encouragement
4) Drawn and Colored Picture or Collage
5) Handmade Gift
We have been working secretly behind homemade tents on our desks :) on the first 3 or 4 items, but the children need to make their handmade gift at home as well as wrapping their package with all 5 things inside it. Please help me to help your child follow through with this special and worthy project. It would be awful if your child's secret friend didn't get a special package that day because your child didn't finish it. I love each and every one of my students and I am putting my trust in them and you to complete this assignment. I don't want anyone left out. The children and I talked about how this gift will be probably one of the hardest gifts they will ever make and give, but oh what a lesson in the giving of ourselves!! Hopefully, they will realize that in blessing others, they will in turn be blessed, probably more. :)
I want to thank all my volunteers that helped on Gingerbread House Making Day! What a crazy, but fun day!! Thanks in advance for all who signed up to help on Polar PJ Day this Friday! Also thanks to those who are donating to our Banana Split Party! Look for those two information notes to come home on Monday if you signed up.
Math - Adding and Subtracting with Decimals
Reading - Leveled Independent Reading
Spelling - Christmas Words
Social Studies - First of all I wanted to say "WOW"....the kids rocked at their American History Test! I was so impressed with the majority of their test scores! They did so well! I could tell most of them studied with test scores like A's, B's, and C's! Now let's rock the classroom again this week! We will be finishing up our NE Region Posters this week. (Due Thursday) We will also take a NE Region Location Test on Wednesday and a NE Region Capitals Test on Thursday. I will send home a study guide on Monday. This first location test usually gets some of the kids. Make sure to spend some time helping your child study for this test. It can get kindof tricky remembering where all those New England states are. The test will include the states and they will match them with their correct location. The capital test will be matching as well, and the children need to study for this too. I try really hard to teach the children about that BIG word called PROCRASTINATION. They have got to learn how to use their time wisely and to not put off things until the last moment. This is an important skill necessary for future success! As a mother of an 8th grader, I'm telling you the truth. :) As my pastor's 8 year old daughter told her daddy. "School is a lot like Mario Brothers with each level getting harder!" I thought that was a clever analogy! We as parents and teachers need to prepare our children for that next level!
***Side note: We will still remember to have fun though and enjoy 4th grade as we stretch and grow!***
English - We will finish up our Owl Reports. They are due Thursday as well.
We will get back to Spanish in January.
****THINGS TO KNOW AND REMEMBER****
Show and Tell will be Thursday. (No pets...sorry)
Friday is Polar PJ Day! Your child may wear their pajamas and slippers. We will be doing learning stations in the morning that include reading, science, social studies, math, and art. In the afternoon, we will watch the movie Polar Express and drink hot cocoa and eat s'mores! This should be a fun day!!
Box Buddy packages are due Tuesday, December 21st. Remember, this is a wrapped gift for a secret friend that includes:
1) 5 Thoughtful Compliments
2) Acrostic Poem
3) Letter of Encouragement
4) Drawn and Colored Picture or Collage
5) Handmade Gift
We have been working secretly behind homemade tents on our desks :) on the first 3 or 4 items, but the children need to make their handmade gift at home as well as wrapping their package with all 5 things inside it. Please help me to help your child follow through with this special and worthy project. It would be awful if your child's secret friend didn't get a special package that day because your child didn't finish it. I love each and every one of my students and I am putting my trust in them and you to complete this assignment. I don't want anyone left out. The children and I talked about how this gift will be probably one of the hardest gifts they will ever make and give, but oh what a lesson in the giving of ourselves!! Hopefully, they will realize that in blessing others, they will in turn be blessed, probably more. :)
I want to thank all my volunteers that helped on Gingerbread House Making Day! What a crazy, but fun day!! Thanks in advance for all who signed up to help on Polar PJ Day this Friday! Also thanks to those who are donating to our Banana Split Party! Look for those two information notes to come home on Monday if you signed up.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Week of 12 -6
Good Day Families!
Here is this week's agenda:
Reading - We will begin leveled books this week. The children will be doing a book report in class when they finish their books.
English - Owl research reports
Spelling - Time and Calendar words List 9 on spellingcity.com
Math - Money!
Science - Disecting Owl Pellets! Fun! We will also have a test on owl facts on Thursday. We will create an owl fact study guide on Tuesday to go home.
Social Studies - NE Region Posters. We will also be reviewing the (NE Region) American History. That study guide will go home on Tuesday as well. That test will be on Friday.
****Things to note or remember****
Science(Owl) Test - Thursday
Social Studies (Amer. History) Test - Friday
Gingerbread Houses - Friday - Don't forget to send in: 1 container of frosting, 6 graham crackers, and 1 large bag of candy by Thursday. If you can help out by mixing the candy and putting it into bags on Thursday or Friday morning, I would greatly appreciate it! Let me know. The gingerbread house event will be around 1:15 ish on Friday, so parents that signed up for that, please come around that time. Thanks so much!!!
Box of Hope and Inspiration - I sent home a letter about this special project on Friday. Please help your child at home with this. We will work in class some on it too, but not for all of it.
Thanks for your continued support and help!! I greatly appreciate it, but mostly I appreciate your sweet children. They are an absolute joy to me!!
Here is this week's agenda:
Reading - We will begin leveled books this week. The children will be doing a book report in class when they finish their books.
English - Owl research reports
Spelling - Time and Calendar words List 9 on spellingcity.com
Math - Money!
Science - Disecting Owl Pellets! Fun! We will also have a test on owl facts on Thursday. We will create an owl fact study guide on Tuesday to go home.
Social Studies - NE Region Posters. We will also be reviewing the (NE Region) American History. That study guide will go home on Tuesday as well. That test will be on Friday.
****Things to note or remember****
Science(Owl) Test - Thursday
Social Studies (Amer. History) Test - Friday
Gingerbread Houses - Friday - Don't forget to send in: 1 container of frosting, 6 graham crackers, and 1 large bag of candy by Thursday. If you can help out by mixing the candy and putting it into bags on Thursday or Friday morning, I would greatly appreciate it! Let me know. The gingerbread house event will be around 1:15 ish on Friday, so parents that signed up for that, please come around that time. Thanks so much!!!
Box of Hope and Inspiration - I sent home a letter about this special project on Friday. Please help your child at home with this. We will work in class some on it too, but not for all of it.
Thanks for your continued support and help!! I greatly appreciate it, but mostly I appreciate your sweet children. They are an absolute joy to me!!
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