Interims

We received post cards from Santa Rosa, California and St. Louis, Missouri

I sent interims home on Friday attached to the Friday Folder Report. Please be sure to sign and return the bottom portion of the interim and the left side of the Friday Folder Report.

We are working on decimals this week. For fun decimal practice, click here.
The math test to be given on Thursday will probably take 2 days as it is a lengthy test. Things to know in order to do well:

• How to write numbers in standard, word and expanded form
• How to find the value of each digit in a number
• How to order numbers from least to greatest
• How to compare numbers using <>
• How to round numbers to the nearest 10, 100, 1,000 or 10,000
• How to estimate
• How to decide whether an answer is reasonable
• How to write money amounts using $ and .
• How to find change
• How to count money
• How to name decimals in word form and standard form
• How to compare decimals
• How to order decimals

We read chapter 6 in Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing today.

Quiz tomorrow on the Scientific Method aka the Design Process.

To do well, students should be able to:

• correctly identify the steps of the design process IN ORDER
• understand the concept vocabulary (inference, hypothesis, theory, variable, conclusion, observation)
• explain how many variables should be changed during an experiment
• explain what should be done if data does not support the hypothesis
• make observations and inferences

End of Units

This week we began reading Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume. The students really seem to enjoy hearing about fourth grader Peter Hatcher and the antics of his brother Fudge. We will take a quiz tomorrow on the first 5 chapters of the book.
In math we have spent our time counting money and making change. We will finish up this chapter on number sense next week with decimals and take a test on Thursday. The test will be the same format as Ohio's fourth grade math achievement test. To see what these look like, click here and scroll down to grade four. You can then choose to download the math tests that have already been given as well as the reading and writing tests.
On Tuesday students will take a science test on the scientific method. We have practiced using the design process (aka scientific method) on two labs and will continue to use it throughout the year. The test will reflect questions on the fifth grade science achievement test which can be accessed through the above link. Just scroll down to fifth grade and select science.

Black Out Over!

Thank goodness we are back in school! It seemed like most of the students and teachers were ready to get back in the routine.
Literature Projects will be presented this week with all of them expected to be completed by Friday. I'm sure everyone used the extra time last week to make their projects top notch!
We are reading Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing for the next two weeks, so there will not be a reading selection using the basal reader during that time.
In math we are working with money and decimals this week.
In science we continue to focus on the scientific method also known as the design process.
Don't forget that students are allowed/encouraged to correct graded work for extra points. This is the only type of extra credit that I offer, so please remind your child to take advantage of the opportunity.
Homework
Math-spiral review and workbook p. 9
Reading-draw the three main characters from Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing that were introduced in chapter 1
Science-review scientific method mini coloring book
S.S.-State Dailies (due Friday) and Weekly Reader

Postcard Alert!

We received our first two postcards today from the Esteps in Bradenton, Florida and Ms. Judy Browning in Rising Sun, Indiana! Thanks for participating!

Another Day Off

If you are reading this, congratulations-you have power! I hate missing this much school, especially when the forecast this winter is for lots of snow. If we are lucky enough to have school tomorrow, I will expect everyone to have finished their literature projects-you certainly have had plenty of time. Hope to see you tomorrow!

3 Days and Counting

This is for those of you who are lucky enough to have electricity right now and the time to check this site. We will NOT have a spelling test this Friday. We will begin reading Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing whenever school resumes, but there will not be a quiz on this book until we have finished reading up to chapter 5. We WILL still have our literature project presentations on Friday.
Hope to see you soon!

Spahr's Stars

Today many friends and family walked in memory of Mrs. Charleen Spahr. Mrs. Spahr was an inspiration as a teacher and as a person and is sorely missed.

Congratulations!

In AR news, both Courtney and Katherine have met certification goals and are invited to eat with their teacher on Sept. 30. It's not too late for the rest of the class-keep reading your accelerated reader books!

Four students really know their multiplication facts! Kyra, Katherine, Lydia and Terra have not missed a test yet and are all moving on to sixes. In order to pass a test, students must get 93% or better on a 2 1/2 minute 40 question test. Also moving on this week are Dominic, Courtney, Amber, Stephen, Lynzee, Hailey, Abbey and Westin!

I will no longer be sending home reading or math practice logs, but this does not mean that I don't expect students to be reading or practicing their multiplication facts. I encourage students to read more and practice their math skills each day in order to become more successful, but I will not be monitoring their practice at home.

Upcoming events:
Sept. 16-COSI on Wheels visits CNE (parent volunteers needed-contact the office)
Sept. 17: Two hour early dismissal
Sept. 19: Literature Projects due; interims coming home
Sept. 30: Author Marlane Kennedy visits
Oct. 9: Market Day pick up at the Elementary ($$$ goes to kindergarten)
Oct. 10: Picture Day
Oct. 15: Field trip to Sycamore Park "Fantastic Fossils"
Oct. 17: Literature Projects due; end of quarter
Oct. 20-24: Book Fair (parent volunteers needed-contact Mrs. Fetter)
Oct. 22: Two hour early dismissal
Oct. 24: Report cards coming home
Oct. 30: Fourth Grade program

Market Day

Today was the first Market Day of the year and came with the expected glitches associated with a new time, new place, new day, and new committee. We survived them all and thank everyone who supported the students and teachers by purchasing quality food with all the profits going directly to the sixth grade teachers this month. You can order Market Day online or by sending in the paper form and support CNE teachers (thus the students) every month.

Don't forget to read each week for at least 2 hours. Students need to spend at least as much time practicing their reading and math as they do practicing a sport. We can't expect them to magically get it and succeed if they (with our support) don't put in the necessary practice time.

Homework:
Math-Spiral Review and workbook page
S.S.-State Dailies
Reading-StoryWorks "Lost in the Blizzard"
Spelling-worksheet

Literature Projects are upon us

If your child has not selected a book for his/her literature project, you may want to take an active part in helping them make a selection. The genre for the project (due Sept. 19) is realistic fiction. What is realistic fiction? Click here for a very good explanation. In short, realistic fiction is a made up story that could really happen.

Authors who have written very good realistic fiction are Judy Blume, Beverly Cleary, Barbara Park, Robert Kimmel Smith, and Cynthia Rylant.

For other ideas and suggestions of realistic fiction, check out these online book lists.

• Contemporary Realistic Fiction


• Realistic Fiction


• Genre Study book list

Homework:

S.S.-State Dailies

Math-Spiral Review 1.5

Spelling-3x each

Keep reading and studying multiplication facts each night!

Letters Home from Yosemite

This week's story is called Letters Home from Yosemite. To practice the vocabulary online, click here. We will have a reading comprehension test on Friday.

There will also be a math quiz on numbers and number sense. Can your child read a number correctly? Can they write it in standard form and tell the value of each number? For example, in the number 365,415 the digit 6 is worth 60,000 because it is in the ten thousands place. Having an awareness of numbers up to the hundred thousands was a third grade expectation. In the fourth grade students are expected to also know the millions period (one millions, ten millions, hundred millions).

93 Degrees...

In the spirit of science, we decided to measure and graph the temperature in our classroom. The highest temperature reached today was 93 degrees. We plan to continue our data collection tomorrow.
Homework:
Finish sentences-12 total using spelling words, 3 of each type: exclamatory (!), declarative (.), imperative (.), and interrogative (?). The difference between declarative and imperative=declarative is a statement and imperative is a command.
Finish writing prompt in journal.
Continue reading and practicing multiplication facts.

This week has been very difficult with the news of Mrs. Spahr's death and the heat. If you have any questions, please contact us.

Week 3

I can hardly believe we're already reached the third week of school. A few reminders are in order. Please don't forget to read for 2 hours each week and turn in the completed reading log each Friday. Also, remember to study your multiplication facts for at least 4 sessions of 10 minutes (or more) each and complete the practice log. I do take grades on multiplication timed tests since my students were expected (by the state of Ohio) to master the multiplication facts in THIRD grade.

In spelling this week, we will write the words in cursive on Tuesday, use them in complete sentences (interrogative, imperative, declarative, and exclamatory) on Wednesday, edit on Thursday, and take an editing test on Friday.

In this week's math, we will continue expressing numbers in various forms: standard 12, 435; expanded 10,000 + 2,000 + 400 + 30 + 5; and word twelve thousand four hundred thirty-five. Short word is a combination of standard + word: 12 thousand 4 hundred 35. Students are also expected to understand the place value of any given number up to the millions place.
We are not working on decimals yet, but that is in the not so distant future!

Our reading this week will focus on the text selection The Horned Toad Prince. Students should also have chosen their realistic fiction book for the Sept. 19 literature project and have an AR book for our daily silent reading. We will also continue to work on reading fluency Monday-Thursday with our Six Minute Solutions.

The language focus for the week will continue to be the four types of sentences.
Create your own worksheet by clicking here or take the Quia Quiz by clicking here Quia Quiz on sentences.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me. My contact information is available on the school website.