Farkle McBride

I hope everyone enjoyed Thanksgiving and was able to spend time with loved ones. I was lucky enough to do both!

Next week we will be taking our second round of ThinkLink tests. By comparing this test with the first test taken earlier in the year, we hope to have some evidence to point us in the right educational direction for your child.

In reading we will read the book The Stranger by Chris Van Allsburg. Students will be expected to take both a written and computerized test on this book.
This week we will continue with our study of matter by investigating physical changes and creating a working definition for physical changes. We will then spend December exploring chemical changes and deciding how the two types of changes are different-or are they?

Journal Journey

Tonight's homework is to come up with a person that you think would participate in our Journal Journey assignment. In class today, each student wrote an introductory letter describing him/herself and the project. Tomorrow we will be revising and rewriting this letter into a new composition book that will be sent home in order to be mailed to the person you picked to participate in this activity. When selecting a participant, please choose someone who will write an entry in the journal, send a postcard to school, and keep the journal moving by mailing it to one of his/her friends or family members. If you are unable to come up with a suitable person, please let me know and I will share one of my relatives with your child.

In reading we are reading and discussing Molly's Pilgrim. This book has a great message about tolerance and acceptance.

Tomorrow will be the science quiz which was postponed from last week.

Oops!

Sorry, I didn't realize I haven't posted for 2 days, but since everyone is getting their work turned in, I guess the students are doing a great job of keeping you informed.
Today we took the spelling test, practiced multiplying instead of doing repeated addition, and worked in our test preparation workbooks.
On Monday students will complete a science assessment in which they will explain everything they know about matter and how it is measured. They have seen the requirements and know that this is coming.
Enjoy your weekend!

Wednesday is Early Release Day!

Don't forget that tomorrow students will take the AR test on So You Want to Be President by Judith St. George. They have heard the story aloud 3 times and read it at least once with a partner or alone.

Homework
Math p. 60 if not finished in class
Spelling 50 points
Packet

Next Week:
A new grading period begins Monday, November 19. We do have school on Monday and Tuesday, but there will be no homework other than work that is not completed in class. We will be reading Molly's Pilgrim and continuing our study of physical science. On Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday enjoy eating turkey, shopping, watching football, and spending quality family time!

Join Us for America's Biggest Bedtime Story!

This year, popular children's author and entertainer John Lithgow will lead the celebration of National Young Readers Day with a special bedtime reading of The Remarkable Farkle McBride!

What: Webcast
When: November 13, 2007
Where: www.bookitprogram.com/bedtimestory
Time: 4:00 p.m., CST (viewable all night long)

Wednesday is Pajama Day with a 2 hour early release time.

For ideas and explanations of the new spelling activities (they will start November 26), click here. There will be no spelling next week.

In science we reviewed volume and matter, then completed a worksheet and scavenger hunt about the properties of matter.

Monday Again

We hope you and your family will join us on November 13th by watching John Lithgow's webcast of The Remarkable Farkle McBride on www.bookitprogram.com (available all evening beginning at 4:00 p.m.CST). On Wednesday, our class will take an online quiz in hopes of winning prizes!

Unfortunately I had to leave school this morning due to my son's illness. Luckily it was only a slight ear infection brought on by a really obnoxious cold virus. I left the students in the capable of hands of Mrs. Weatherspoon and am sure she did a wonderful job.

In science students learned how to measure volume using the displacement method and practiced measuring mass in our exploration of matter.
In reading we (hopefully) started So You Want to Be President which we will read again tomorrow.
Be sure to read your child's take home journal each night to learn what he/she thought was most important about the day. I can't wait to read them tomorrow to find out how the day went.

Enjoy the weekend!

Since we are learning about physical science (matter, chemical/physical changes) and the last time fourth graders learned about this topic was first grade, they may need a review. For fun and interactive learning, try these sites from the BBC:
Characteristics of Materials
Gases Around Us
Solids and Liquids
Changing States

Your students may tell you about a practice evacuation drill we held today. This is if there is ever a need to evacuate completely from the school grounds. Students did a great job today.

Monday will be honor Veteran's Day. Please be sure to wear your red, white, and blue.
Wednesday is early release and pajama day.

For next week:
homework packet
spelling 50 points

Next week's reading selection is So You Want to Be President. The textbook contains an excerpt, but we will be focusing on the entire nonfiction text. During the two days of Thanksgiving week we will read Molly's Pilgrim which reveals another meaning of the word "pilgrim". Then between Thanksgiving and Christmas we will abandon the textbook completely in order to read The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.

Friday is the end of the grading period which means that all work must be turned in this Friday. Usually you would receive report cards the following Friday, but since that falls during the Thanksgiving break, report cards will be sent home the week of November 26.