Practice Tests Complete

After a week of practice tests, I think everyone is happy to be finished. We reviewed all three tests together as a class. Overall, our class was most successful on the reading test. I look for everyone's scores to improve in math since students have been focusing on number sense and have not yet touched data analysis, geometry or fractions. In the writing area, editing for
misspelled words and improper grammar will definitely need to be addressed, as well as writing to express feelings.

Next Week:
Science: Weather

Reading Story: Eye of the Storm

Homework: Spelling 50 points and packet

Don't forget that Wednesday, January 16 is an early release day.

Report cards will be sent home on Friday, January 18.

Upcoming Dates:

1/16: Early Release

1/18: Report Cards

1/21: No School-Martin Luther King Day

2/1: Biography Literature Project due

2/6: Cyclones Field Trip

2/14: Valentine's Day Party

2/15: No School

2/18: No School-Presidents' Day

2/19: Conferences 3:30-6:30

2/20: Conferences 3:30-6:30; Early Release

And the Winner Is...

Congratulations to Lexie Bradford, the winner of the 2008 CNE Elementary Spelling Bee! Congratulations go out to all of the students who participated as well! The WCPO-TV regional bees take place March 1, at the Duke Energy Center, 525 Elm Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202.

The schedule for March 1 is as follows:
12:00 noon WCPO-TV Region II Spellers (OH schools) check-in.
1:00 p.m. WCPO-TV Region II Bee begins (OH schools).
4:45 p.m. WCPO-TV Region II Bee (OH schools) concludes and a champion is named; prizes are awarded to all participants.

Today we took the Adelina's Whales test. Many students also chose to take their spelling test today. Don't forget to complete homework packets and spelling homework tonight. Math workbook p. 49 is due if it was not finished in class. Tomorrow is the last day to turn in any work because it is the end of the six weeks. Report cards will come home next Friday, January 18.

Math Test

Yesterday we finished reviewing the reading practice OAT as a class. Overall, this class did a fine job. I hope to review the math test today, and finish up tomorrow if necessary. Both the reading and math tests will come home Friday. I will also send the writing test home Friday IF we are able to review the entire thing, otherwise it will come home next week.

Tomorrow
Reading Test: Adelina's Whales-A key concept and fourth grade indicator that will be on this test is generalization.

• Generalization: A generalization is a broad statement that applies to many examples. A valid generalization is supported by facts and logic. Clue words that indicate a generalization include most, many, usually, sometimes, few, seldom, all, and generally. Examples of a generalization are the following:

1. Every neighborhood has special features, such as buildings and traffic signs.
2. Families around the world have common needs and meet them in different ways.
3. Goods and services are found in local communities.
4. Michigan has many characteristics which makes it different from other states.
5. Whales in Lagun San Ignacio are not afraid of people.
6. Children face many choices for their future.

http://www.ehhs.cmich.edu/~dnewby/generalization.html

Spelling Bee: 1:30 Parents are welcome to attend.

Today's Assignments
Reading worksheet 114
Grammar worksheet 45, 47
Math-practice test p. 188-189

Tomorrow:
Math OAT

The practice Ohio Achievement tests (OATs) that students took this week will be sent home for parental perusal. The reading scores from Monday look good overall, but the all of the students would benefit if they were more specific in their short answer and extended response answers. When students are asked to use information from the selection, they should not put the information into their own words, but use it as it is stated in the selection.

Testing Week

Congratulations Room 220 Spelling Bee participants! Jessica, Holly Sa., and Jared will be representing our class on Thursday in the CNE Elementary Spelling Bee!

Mr. Fiore updated his website over the weekend. Check out the cool photos of his class!

We will be giving the practice Ohio Achievement Tests (OAT) this week so it is especially important that students be present and on time each day. We give the practice test for three reasons: to familiarize the students with the format and feel of the test, to identify specific academic indicators that need to be covered more thoroughly, and to identify students who would benefit from before-school tutoring. The test that the students take is an actual OAT test given in a previous year. Today students took the reading OAT given in March 2005. Students can access, take, and print this test by visiting Ohio's portal to Ohio Statewide Testing. Each student has been given a userID (first initial, last name followed by 046326, example- Suzi Smith ssmith046326) and so is able to create a new account, log in, and see the assignments that I have chosen for my class to take. I will give extra credit for each test taken. The tests are long, but they are the exact OATs that have been given in the past, the answers are given immediately after the student posts a response, AND they do NOT have to be taken all at one time. Students may begin a test, do a few questions, and then, as long as they do not SUBMIT the test, come back to work on that test at a later date.

Today's assignments:
Read "Adelina's Whales".

Later this week:
Wednesday: Math OAT
Thursday: Reading Quiz "Adelina's Whales; Spelling Bee 1:30
Friday: Writing OAT; Spelling test; Spelling homework due; Homework packet due

Welcome Back!

Finally, we're back in a routine! I hope everyone enjoyed the extended vacation and the time spent with family and friends. I certainly did.

Today we began the QUEST program with presenter Julie Brown. Lions Quest assists students in developing positive social skills, self-discipline, responsibility, good judgment, and the ability to get along with others and lead healthy, drug-free lives. It also encourages family involvement. Topics included are community building, listening skills, responsible choices, conflict resolution, and refusal skills. Because this program is funded by the United Way, Clermont County Youth Services is able to provide this program at no cost to our district.

Tomorrow we will have our homeroom spelling bee. Words will be chosen from the official spelling bee website. Click here to access those words. Three students will be selected from each third and fourth grade homeroom to represent their classes in the CNE Elementary spelling bee next Thursday at 1:30 p.m. Guests are welcome to attend the bee. The winner of the bee will participate in the Greater Cincinnati Scripps Howard Spelling Bee.

*Students are not required to participate in the bee; however, once a student accepts a bid as one of the top three representatives in the class I expect that student to fulfill that responsibility and participate in the school bee.

Today's Assignments:
How to Get Better Test Scores: Lesson 1-Context Clues
Buckle Down Reading: Lesson 8-Getting to Know the Author

No School Today

Enjoy the snow!
See you tomorrow.