Next in Science

Our next unit of study in science will be life science. The fourth grade Ohio indicators tell us that fourth graders should learn about plants.

Indicators for grade 4
1. Compare the life cycles of different plants including germination, maturity, reproduction and death. (ORC Resources)
2. Relate plant structures to their specific functions (e.g., growth, survival and reproduction). (ORC Resources)
3. Classify common plants according to their characteristics (e.g., tree leaves, flowers, seeds, roots, stems). (ORC Resources)
4. Observe and explore that fossils provide evidence about plants that lived long ago and the nature of the environment at that time. (ORC Resources)
5. Describe how organisms interact with one another in various ways (e.g., many plants depend on animals for carrying pollen or dispersing seeds). (ORC Resources)

Premier Plant Publications is a webquest that will serve as the project for the life science unit. Students will also work towards completion of a contract which will require each student to do the following: 5 inquiry stations (aka experiments), 5 information stations, 3 versatiles, and 2 AR books by May 23.

Testing Week

The students got off to a roaring start yesterday with perfect attendance! Each student also earned a rubric score of "4" for effort on the test which gave them an extra recess at the end of the day. Today we blasted off again with perfect attendance for the math test! So far, so good on the effort as well.

Just a reminder that there is no homework this week, but literature projects are due on Friday.

Postponed

The final literature project is now due on May 2.

We are in need of clean baby food jars with lids.

There will not be any homework next week.

Testing Changes

Due to some changes in our testing requirements, we will now be giving the OATs on Monday (reading), Tuesday (math), and Thursday (writing). We will begin testing promptly at 9:00 and must turn in our tests by noon. If you must schedule an appointment during the school day, please try to do so in the afternoon. Studies show that students do better in testing situations that are familiar, so being in their homeroom with their classmates and homeroom teacher (me) is the optimal place for most students. Students may bring in healthy snacks and water bottles as usual, but thanks to the parents who volunteered, snacks will also be provided each day of testing.

Literature projects are due Friday. Students are expected to be prepared with text-to-text, text-to-self, and text-to-world connections as well as a well thought out opinion and recommendation. Students are also expected to be able to identify and explain the characters, the plot (problem and solution), and the setting. Finally, a project should accompany the oral presentation.

Earth science contracts are also due on Friday. Students have been provided ample time (three weeks) to complete 6 experiments, read 2 non-fiction books, and finish 2 Versatile puzzles. We will spend Thursday and Friday making final touches to their oral presentations and posters about erosion, weathering, and deposition.

What a Class!

Congratulations to Jessica who set a new school record in the chair sit. She stood against the wall knees bent to a 90 degree angle for 3 hours and 21 minutes!

Congratulations to James, Tim, Jessica, Bailey, and Holly Su who all made the Millionaires' Club special event! The top 12 students (by most words read) in fourth grade will go to the Newport Aquarium in May. James has read over 3,000,000 words this year setting a new school record. Tim read over 800,000 words, Jessica and Bailey more than 500,000 each and Holly over 400,000 words. Wow!

Congratulations to all of the CNE students performing in The Music Man! We saw a sneak preview of the musical and loved it! Bailey, Lexie, Abby, Bryce, Jenna, and Taryn did a great job and looked adorable too!

Homework:
Writing BuckleDown Form A
Packet

Don't forget: Carnival tomorrow RAIN or SHINE!
Please keep collecting money for the Walk-a-thon! Our school is halfway to our goal of $11,000.00!

Happy Wednesday!

Movies: I'll be there Friday for the 5:00 show! There=Milford Showcase Cinema!

Students who are in the play: Don't forget to turn in your weekly homework tomorrow!

Market Place Tomorrow

Yes, it is our turn for Market Place. Students may bring any school appropriate item that their parents have approved to sell. Please check the items so that little brother or big sister is not missing anything. The Market Place has turned out to be quite a success. Other classes have opened their own Market Place days as well. The students are really thinking about products that will sell and how to price their products competitively. They also put lots of thought into the location of their stores.

Math geometric cities are due tomorrow.

Spring seems to be busy for everyone. I would love to see everyone on Friday night at the movie theater, but I know that the kids and their families are involved in a little bit of everything. If I don't see you at the movie, have a great time and enjoy baseball, soccer, softball, play practice or whatever activity is filling your time. Holly Su said Nim's Island is really good!

Our class has 5 of the top 12 AR readers as of today. James, Tim, Jessica, Bailey, and Holly Su are #1, 2, 4, 6, and 7 respectively. Nick and Caitlin have a chance to break the top 12 if they read like crazy. The top 12 readers (by word count) will get to go on a behind the scenes tour of the Newport Aquarium in mid-May. The official count will be taken on April 17 and winners notified.

Our AR has a new parent feature. Several students chose to bring the letter home today that explains how parents can access their child's reading record and see quizzes taken, overall records, and goals. You can also sign up to receive instant email notification each time your child takes a test. I signed up with my first grader and was very pleased with all of the options available. The advanced search feature is really nice, but as the kids said, it's too bad this was not available earlier as it would have really helped with literature projects. If the letter did not come home today, look for it in Friday's folder.

Enjoy the break in the weather!

Scheduling

The science contract due date has been pushed back a week to give students ample time to prepare their presentations and complete the rather lengthy experiments. Presentations/projects are due on April 25 now.
Literature projects are also due on April 25, but students have known about this project for a very long period of time, so no extensions will be given. This month's genre is historical fiction. We will use the original rubric with the student's choice of project.
Scheduling a time to see Nim's Island and working around everyone's schedule is quite impossible, so I would like to change the date to Friday, April 18, to accommodate the majority. Since movie times for Milford Showcase Cinemas are not available as of this writing (movietickets.com), I am unable to tell you the time. Prices change at 6:00, so if there is a time close to 6:00, but a bit earlier, I thought we'd aim for that time. Any feedback is welcome!

And the Winner Is...

I will be at the Milford Showcase Cinema on Saturday at ______ to see Nim's Island. (Times have not yet been posted for Saturday's shows, but it will be around 5:30.) Anyone who wants to join me is certainly welcome. The more the merrier!

Our science contract/project is due next Friday with a test the following week. We will go to the computer lab on Monday and Wednesday to work on gathering information for the projects.

Voting for the Movie

Don't forget to vote for the day to see the movie. If your computer is not letting you vote, just send in a note with a vote. One vote per family please.

Today we reviewed for our reading quiz, discussed and practiced identifying and supporting generalizations, chose groups for math projects, and began working on our science projects. We also completed Buckle Down Lesson 12.

Tomorrow is our make-up day for book fair!

Six of the students in our class will be performing in the high school musical this year. The Music Man will be presented at UC Clermont's Theater on April 24 and 25. Lexie, Bailey, Bryce, Abby, Jenna, and Taryn all have roles as do many other students from various grades.

I can't wait to see them perform!

Don't forget Book Fair is this week!

Student Experts

This week we began our study of the earth's changing surface. Groups of students are working to become experts in a certain area of geological study. Next week the experts will teach their peers about weathering; erosion and deposition; landslides and floods; earthquakes, volcanoes, and tsunamis; and mountain building. Posters are being created, books being written, and models being made. I can't wait to learn from the experts!

Interims are coming home today. If you have any questions or concerns about science, reading, or language arts, please contact me at 732.0661 ext. 439 or putnam_s@cneschools.org. If your concerns are about math, Mr. Fiore can be reached at 732.0661 ext. 444 or fiore_b@cneschools.org. Concerns about social studies should be addressed to Mrs. Wood at 732.0661 ext. 454 or wood_r2@cneschools.org.

Camp Campbell Gard information is also in today's Friday Folders IF your child is not going to Washington D.C. It is an extended day trip, not an overnighter, but having been to Camp Campbell Gard and experiencing their programs, I would highly recommend this trip! We will focus on science, social studies, and teamwork and end the day with a campfire. What's not to like?

Even though the book fair is next week, I did send home a book order because it offers the book Nim's Island. Students have been able to make lots of connections with this book and their science studies! If you haven't voted for a preference to see the movie, don't forget to do so. I will let you know next week which day won!

Enjoy the weekend-it looks like we might actually get some decent weather!

Next Week: Book Fair

Next week is our "Reading Road Trip" book fair. Since Right to Read week is also next week, we will celebrate by sticking with the theme.

Monday-Bring in a stuffed animal and beach towel (to read on).

Tuesday-Dress Hawaiian style (no flip flops or bathing suits please).

Wednesday-Dress for an outdoor adventure and bring in a snack.

Thursday-Dress as a "Tacky Tourist".

Friday-Dress for a dude ranch adventure.

Our class will be visiting the book fair on Tuesday.

Upcoming Events:

April 18: End of Grading Period

April 25: Literature Project due (historical fiction)

April 25: Report cards

May 9: Interims

May 9: Girl Health "Talk"

May 13: Millionaire's Club outing

May 14: Fourth graders visit the Middle School

May 21-23: Trip to Washington D.C.

May 23: Camp Campbell Gard

May 26: No School-Memorial Day

May 27: Track and Field Day

May 30: Last day of school

Wacky Wednesday

Walk-a-Thon update: Faith and Holly Sa each sponsored herself for the Walk-a-thon!



In math we learned about quadrilaterals-the differences can be easily confused, and reviewed triangles.
Science focused on earth changing events-volcanoes and earthquakes.
In language we worked on test prep in our Buckle Down Writing books (Lessons 5 and 14).
We also worked on test prep in reading.

Walk-a-thon Kick Off

Starting today we have Walk-a-thon. All the money you sponsor will go to C.N.E Elementary and the students! All the money has to be turned in by April 18. Also make your checks out to C.N.E Elementary. TRY TO MAKE $25.00.
By Taryn, reporter

Congratulations to Holly Su, Jessica, Caitlin, Bryce, and Morgan who each made her AR goal for March! We celebrated with a Xavier cookie pie!

Today's Assignments
S.S. worksheet
Math worksheet
Reading vocabulary
Science preassessment