Thursday, November 8, 2007

Tomorrow is Friday

Things to have finished for tomorrow:
  1. Study for spelling test.
  2. 50 points worth of spelling activities.
  3. Homework packet (A Not So Amusing Amusement Park, Math Spiral Review, and State Dailies).

Today we worked on vocabulary in science, took a reading test, started reading Frindle by Andrew Clements, took a multiplication quiz in math, and began a Native Americans of Ohio booklet. We also played Bafflegab in language for our creative writing journal.

We will have an emergency evacuation practice tomorrow. This is just a practice that we are required to do because of the crazy world in which we live. Our job is to keep your children safe!

Wednesday, November 7, 2007

Journal Time

Today we began daily journal writing which we will continue to do each day. In each entry students are expected to write in letter/journal format three things that they learned that day. The journals are to be read by the parents who are asked to initial the entry for verification that the entry has been read. Parents are invited, but not required, to respond to the entry.

In science we are beginning a new unit on matter. Students took a pre-assessment today called an anticipation guide. I will use that to determine the direction in which we head and to differentiate instruction based on student need.

Today's Assignments
Math workbook 33
Reading What's Cooking? graphic organizer

Homework
Spelling 50 points
math spiral review, state dailies, and amusement park worksheets

Tuesday, November 6, 2007

49 shopping days until Christmas!


Our trip to United Dairy Farmers' Norwood manufacturing plant was a great success. Although our trip took longer than expected (stuck in traffic, missed an exit), the staffers at UDF were very patient and there to meet us when we arrived. The students seemed to enjoy visiting the freezer (50 degrees below zero) when their nose hairs froze and eating the ice cream at the end of the tour. Visiting the vat room was NOT a favorite because it smelled like sour milk and sanitizer. All in all, I think it was an excellent tour. The hairnets were just a bonus!

All students were required to write a note of thanks to our tour guide Pat. We are working on writing good letters with lots of details.

This week we are reading a play, Grace and the Time Machine. Our class is doing a great job not reading the stage directions out loud (even though there are long pauses while we read them silently). We will have a reading test on Thursday and our usual spelling test on Friday.

In math students took a pretest on chapter 3.

Thanks to all of the parents who attended conferences. It was nice to meet and/or see you and talk about your children.

Thanks too, to the parents who provided dinner for the teachers! It was a long night, but a worthwhile one.

Saturday, November 3, 2007

Next Week

Thanks for participating in the Harvest for Hunger. We collected over 400 cans, boxes, bags, and bottles of food that were delivered to the Owensville United Methodist food pantry and the St. Vincent de Paul pantry at St. Louis and greatly appreciated.

Don't forget that our trip to UDF is on Monday. Dress warmly and wear sneakers or other rubber soled shoes that won't slip.

Monday is also conference night. A time reminder was sent home on the Friday folder report.

Many students chose to take home their homework packets on Friday. Those that didn't can get them on Monday. There is spelling homework this week with a test on Friday.

No School on Tuesday!

Literature projects were a great success! Everyone had something to share-some even included food. The next project is due in December. The genre is informational text so a different planning guide was sent home with students on Friday.

Enjoy your weekend!

Thursday, November 1, 2007

November News

The grandparents' day program was very successful. Many students were very happy to have their grandparents, uncle, aunts, and parents show their support.

Today we finished reading Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing. All students are expected to take the Accelerated Reader test on the book. We also spent lots of time working on our learning contracts. Students who are interested in following Peter's and Fudge's adventures can read more in Judy Blume's Super Fudge and Fudge-a-Mania. There will be some time tomorrow to finish up contracts.

In math, we discussed the distributive property. See math text p. 132 for today's lesson. All fourth grade students are expected to memorize the multiplication facts 0-12. While most fo our class knows their facts, a little practice never hurts! www.aplusmath.com has fun practice drills. The math assignment was page 31 in the workbook.

Tomorrow is our good behavior/no missing work movie. Students with missing work will be given the opportunity to complete that work in a quiet environment.

Next week:
On Monday we travel to UDF. In the evening I will see many of you at conferences.

Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Happy Halloween!




Twelve students met their AR goals for October. Congratulations to Molly, Nick, Logan, Tyler, James, Riley, Taryn, Holly, Abby, Holly, Kallie, and Tim! Special Congrats to Nick and James, our repeaters from September!




Tomorrow is Grandparent's Day/Program Day. The first program will be at 9:30 for parents. At 12:00, students will present the program for grandparents, then go to lunch with the grandparents. The final performance will be at 7:00 in the evening.




Today's Assignments:


Finish math worksheet 29-30.


Finish reading chapter 8 in Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing. Work on contract.

Finish Matter worksheet.


Have a safe Halloween!

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Tuesday

In science we began our physical science unit. Following are the indicators which will be addressed:

Physical Sciences

1. Identify characteristics of a simple physical change (e.g., heating or cooling can change water from one state to another and the change is reversible).

2. Identify characteristics of a simple chemical change. When a new material is made by combining two or more materials, it has chemical properties that are different from the original materials (e.g., burning paper, vinegar and baking soda).

3. Describe objects by the properties of the materials from which they are made and that these properties can be used to separate or sort a group of objects (e.g., paper, glass, plastic and metal).

4. Explain that matter has different states (e.g., solid, liquid and gas) and that each state has distinct physical properties.

5. Compare ways the temperature of an object can be changed (e.g., rubbing, heating and bending of metal).

In math, we started chapter 3. Much time has been spent learning such specific vocabulary as zero property, identity property, associative property, and commutative property. Students were assigned workbook p. 29.

We finished chapter 7 in Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing today. Students were then given more time to work on their learning contracts. Since we are not switching classes for the rest of the week, more time will be spent in class finishing up the contract activities.

Please remember that all assignments with grades that are unacceptable may be corrected and resubmitted for partial credit. We will combine the original grade with the fixed grade to get an average which will be posted to the gradebook.