Week of January 9th, 2012

Hi Families!  Hope you had a joyous Christmas!  January will be a busy month for Corderman's Kiddos!  Here is what is on the agenda:

Reading - We started the Mystery genre this past Wednesday.  I assigned each of them a mystery on 4th grade level or on their individual level.  We talked about vocabulary words such as alibi, suspect, evidence, etc..  The children will be writing about clues, suspects, and possible red herrings while reading their stories.  They have really been excited about this genre! We will also focus on the skill: making predictions.

Math - This week we will finish up multiplying large numbers, 3 digit x's 3 digit and start division.  We will begin by focusing on division facts and then next week move on to long division.

Spelling - Suffixes, List 13 on spellingcity.com.  I will start enrichment words again next week.

English - We will begin writing stories.  These stories will actually be published!!  More information will follow.

Social Studies - We will begin to study the history of the Southeast Region.  The children will be assigned a partner.  With their partner, they will research a person, place, or event from the Southeast and complete a project over that topic.  They will then teach the rest of the class about thier topic. 

Science - We will begin studying about Space!

*********FYI**********
We have started the Super Bowl Reading Challenge!  We are competing against the other 3 4th grade classes as well as a 5th grade class.  We hope to win!  Winning requires READING AT HOME and taking AR tests with an A or a B grade.  Hopefully, you received the information about this challenge on Wednesday.  On February 7th, we will have a Super Bowl Party to celebrate all the reading!  We talked about being a TEAM player and participating. (Together Everyone Achieves More)  I explained to them that if they are to participate in the party, they have to participate in the reading. :) The winning class will get the coveted Reading Trophy to display in their room!  

I sent home 2 Homework Assignments on Friday.  One assignment is to create a Solar System Model.  In the past, my families have really enjoyed this project and have come up with some awesome models!  This project is due on January 23rd.  The other assignment is related to our 100 Days of School celebration.  The children are to collect 100 of one item and display it in a unique way.  All the 4th grade classes are participating and we will be voting on each other's displays.  6 small trophies will be awarded in my class for the top amount of votes!  This project is due on February 1st.  Have fun and don't procrastinate! :)

Week of 12/19

Wow!! Christmas is a week away! I'm such a planner, but I'm behind on my Christmas shopping this year! Ugh! Thursday will be my day to finish I guess, along with my child's dr. appt. and my dog's grooming appt.! I know you are just as busy! Tis' the season!! This week we will mostly concentrate on Reading, Math, and Christmas Fun!!  Activities to remember:


Art Lesson from our Art Teacher - Tuesday at 1:00
Christmas Party - Tuesday at 2:15
Polar Pajama Day - Wednesday (Learning Stations 10:00 - 12:00)   


Spelling Bee and Geography Bee winners!!!!! - Spelling Bee - Colby Vanhooser 1st place, Alexis Goben 2nd Place   Geography Bee - Kylie Little and David Sandoval (Tied for 1st place after 2 playoffs!)    Great job kids!!      

Week of 12/19

Hi Families! Hope you are enjoying the busy, but wonderful Christmas season! The children have been busy little beavers this week! They have been multiplying large numbers, turning their owl research into nicely written reports in paragraph form, (This is challenging because there is so much to remember.....complete sentences with capitalization and punctuation, indention, paragraph form, holes on the left side of the paper, not going past the margins, having enough content!!!) dissecting owl pellets, a challenging, but beautiful art project, leveled book assignments, etc.... Wow! So proud of them though....they are doing awesome!!  Here is next week's agenda:

Reading - Leveled books with assignment

Spelling - Christmas words

English - Pen pal letters

Science - Ben Franklin and Thomas Edison

Math - 2 digit X's 2 digit multiplication

We will also be doing benchmark testing in reading and math on Tuesday and Wednesday. 

One other important note:  We had class spelling and geography bees this week.  Monday will be the playoff class bees.  The winners of the geography bee are: Kylie, Rebekah, David, Gabi, Makayla, and Colby.  The winners of the spelling bee are Haylie, Cyson, Colby, Rebekah, and Alexis.  Monday's playoff will determine our class winners that move on to the school bees.  I sent home study guides on Wednesday.

Week of 12/5

Hi Families!! Hope you've had a great weekend! Here is the agenda for the week:

Reading - We will be reading a nonfiction article on owls, as well as an owl legend and answering some comprehension questions.  The children will create an owl book with important facts about owls.  They will need to know these facts for their test on Thursday.  They will also be continuing their leveled books this week.  Some are already done and ready to start on the related work.  Wow!  These kids are such readers!! We have the 2nd highest amount of AR points in the school!  I'm so proud of them for all that reading!!  The more you read, the better reader you become!

English - Last week, the children researched a type of owl.  This week they will take their notes and turn them into a report.

Spelling - List 12 on spellingcity.com   Compound words

Math - Last week we began double digit multiplication.  This week we will continue to work on this.  Boy, did the children learn quickly how hard it is, when you don't know your facts!  Ouch!  We were consistently taking speed tests until a few weeks ago when we started computers and had less time.  Many children completely quit studying as a result of that.  They really need to work on times daily, even just for 10 minutes.  Even some of the children that passed their speed tests through 12's had forgotten a lot.  I told the children we would make time for speed test for the next 2 weeks.  I have some that are so close to passing them all and want that opportunity.  We did take 2 speed tests last week.  They knew what days they were having them too, but I don't think many took the opportunity to study though.  I did have a few pass and move on. As it stands, I have about half the class that have passed all the facts, 4 or 5 that are on 7's or 8's and the rest are on 9's or above.....pretty darn good, if they will keep reviewing so they will retain them. :)

Science - We will be dissecting our owl pellets this week! Gross, but fun!!

Social Studies - We are done with the Northeast.  We will take a hiatus from social studies until January when we start the Southeast region.

I sent home a note Friday about materials needed for gingerbread houses.  These materials are: 6 graham crackers, 1 tub of frosting, and 1 package of candy. ( We talked about what might make good candy for gingerbread houses, so seek your child's input.)  These items are due on December 14th.  Thanks so much!!

Week of November 28th

Hey Families! Hope you are enjoying your Thanksgiving holiday!  Here is next week's agenda:

Reading - We will finish up our Owls in the Family book this week.  The children will begin a new leveled book as well.  We will work on comprehension, setting, predicting, visualizing, inferring, and character analysis.

Spelling - Owls in the Family vocabulary words (under Owls on spellingcity.com)  December is a very busy month, so we will take a temporary break from spelling enrichment until after Christmas.

English - Adjectives, Adverbs, and Pronouns

Math - Line graphs, circle graphs, and Venn diagrams

Social Studies - NE Region Posters   We will take a test over the locations of the Northeast states on Thursday and a test over the Northeast states/capitals on Friday.  I sent home a study guide 2 weeks ago so the children could be looking over them, but if they need a new one, I will be glad to copy some more. They need to let me know.

Science - Owls   I ordered the owl pellets! Thanks to all who contributed to this worthwhile project!!  Hopefully, they will come in soon!!

Week of November 21st

Short Week!  These 2 days will be filled with activities ranging from Owls to Thanksgiving to Graphing!!  Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday!!!

Week of November 14th

Hey Families!! Here is a look at next week:

Reading - We will begin the book Owls in the Family.  We will work on both literal and inferential comprehension questions as well as new vocabulary with this story.  The children also have a leveled book by Roald Dahl assigned by me to complete.  They will be graded on their AR test and a conflict/resolution flip chart pertaining to their book.

Spelling - List 11 - contractions  The enriched list are the "U" words.

English - Adverbs

Math - Pictographs, Bar Graphs, and Double Bar Graphs

Social Studies - More on the American Revolution, Boston Tea Party, Ellis Island  We will take notes on the American Revolution on Monday and have a test on Thursday over it. 

Science - Owls

The turkeys are awesome!! I will be hanging them up soon! Such creativity was used !! Their turkey speeches are funny too!

Please remember to send in $2 for owl pellets by Wednesday.  Thanks to those who have already done so!

Don't forget to be looking for and pressing leaves this weekend.

Most of the children did super on their human body test! So very proud of them!! 

Don't forget  to fill out the address booklet for our easy fundraiser and send it in Monday.  The children will get a prize for participating and our school earns $2.75 per booklet returned.  Thanks for your help!

Thanks for all you do to help make this school year successful! I absolutely LOVE your children! They are gifts!

Week of November 7th

It's been a windy, but beautiful weekend!! Hope you've enjoyed yours!

Agenda:

Reading - We will finish up the BFG this week! It's been a very enjoyable story! The children have finished their leveled books and will complete their story maps this week.  The maps are due on Wednesday.  I will then give them a new leveled book by Roald Dahl. (The same author of  BFG!)

Spelling - List 10....."schwa" words   The enriched list are the "T" words.

English - Adjective Comparatives, Adverbs

Math - Telling time, elapsed time, calendar elapsed time

Social Studies - 13 Colonies and William Bradford, Woodland Indians, George Washington  Last week, I sent home a paper that included the states and capitals of the Northeast Region.  I told the children that they need to keep this paper in a safe place, like on the frig., and to be getting familiar with these states and capitals. Our tests over these won't be for a couple weeks, but it's always good to be looking over them ahead of time. :)

Science - Human Body   We will take notes and create a study guide on Wednesday for a test over the human body on Friday.  Be on the lookout for the study guide!

***Don't forget to bring in your disguised turkey homework project.  It is due this Friday. ***

***I'm noticing the changing leaves.  They are beautiful!  Every year, we do a really cool art project with pressed leaves!  I want the children to be looking for leaves in a variety of shapes, colors and sizes.  Then they should press them.  These pressed leaves will be due next Friday, November 18th.  I will send home a more specific "how to" this week. ***