How Many Days Until Christmas?

This week we are reading The Stranger, a really interesting book by outstanding author/illustrator Chris Van Allsburg. On Thursday students will take both a written and online test over the entire text, but tomorrow each student will illustrate a magic frame of the story. Ask for details!

On Wednesday students will participate in the second round of ThinkLink testing. ThinkLink is an online diagnostic assessment that provides teachers with a road map of the roads less traveled, ie., the items that really need to be taught/retaught to the students. We will finish the tests (in math and language arts) next Wednesday.
Friday brings with it many rewarding celebrations. Every student who met his/her AR goal for November will eat lunch in the classroom with treats provided by their teacher. So far 12 students have earned this privilege and time is not up! After recess students with no behavior issues for the month and no missing work at the time will get to watch the Good Behavior movie. Then the Rocket Club's first event will happen at 2:30 with prizes and treats!

Friday also brings report cards and the school newspaper. Please remember that the school fee is $60.00 for the year and covers a scant amount of the consumable materials used by your children (workbooks run around $15 apiece). At least $20 must be paid by Friday for your child to receive his/her report card. A subscription to the school newspaper The Roar of the Rocket costs $1 for the year. While every student receives the first page of the paper free of charge, subscription holders also get Grade Level News and Student Fun Pages. This month's edition mentions Bryce for her awesome singing on Veteran's Day, features artwork by Abby, and tells about the UDF field trip and the fourth grade read-in.

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus...and homework this week. The homework packet and new spelling activity list were passed out to students today. All homework is due on Friday as usual.

Today's Assignments:
Handwriting-cursive worksheet
Reading-vocabulary worksheet
Journal-How I Spent Thanksgiving and letter home to parents

Journal Journey-If you were unable/unwilling to send your child's journal on its journey, please return it to school with a note.

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.