Friday, December 7, 2007

2 Hour Delay


We watched Bill Nye today in science. In math we estimated then multiplied and did page 72. We took a spelling test and completed a grammar verb review. We also finished ThinkLink testing and read chapter 4 in The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.
Next week we will finish The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. We will also STAR test to get new reading levels. There is no spelling next week. Santa Shop make up time will be on Monday and Tuesday.

Thursday, December 6, 2007

Snow Days

I hope everyone enjoyed the day off yesterday!
Today's Assignments
Math - p. 71
S.S. - Northwest Ordinance worksheet
Science - continued working on Changes in Matter stations
Reading - read chapter 3 The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.
Language-power verbs

Tomorrow's Plans
  • take spelling test
  • do ThinkLink testing
  • turn in spelling packet
  • turn in homework homework
  • other stuff:)

Tuesday, December 4, 2007

Rocket Club

Today's Assignments:
Reading-The Best Christmas Pageant Ever chapter 2
Math-multiplication (3 digit by 1 digit) workbook p. 68
Science-Changing Matter centers
Social Studies-tribe work

Homework:
Anything not finished in class
packet
spelling

Please note that there have been some significant changes in Rocket Club qualifications. The majority of the Elementary teachers felt that last year's requirements were not stringent enough for this elite group, so a committee was formed and changes made. This year's requirements are as follows:
  • No more than 3 absences.
  • No more than 6 tardies/early dismissals.
  • No more than 3 missing assignments. If an assignment is missing for multiple days, it will count for multiple missing assignments.
  • No red cards.
  • No more than 3 yellow cards.
  • In fourth grade preparation for classes is also a requirement. Students may not come to class unprepared more than 4 times without consequences. Since we switch classrooms and teachers 3 times per day, students may be marked for lack of preparation more than once per day.

Please encourage your child to be prepared, do his/her work on time, and follow directions. I would love to see every student be a member of this elite group, but it does take effort to achieve.

Monday, December 3, 2007

Meet the Herdmans


We will be reading The Best Christmas Pageant Ever until Christmas break. We are trying something different with this novel unit-each student has received a packet of all of the work that is due when we finish the book in two weeks. We will read and discuss one chapter per day together, but students may work at their own pace as long as they complete the minimum requirements per day. At the end of the book, each student will take two computerized tests on the book-one is an AR quiz and the other is a literacy skills test. There will NOT be a written test on this book.
Literature Projects are due on December 17, but may be presented earlier if time allows. Informational text is the genre for this report. When choosing a text, help your child choose a topic that really interests him/her. If the book seems a bit short, have your child read more than one book. For another copy of the report requirements/planning sheet, click here.
Today's Assignments
Math quiz
Social Studies worksheet
Science worksheet
This Week's Homework:
Packet
Spelling
Next Week:
No spelling :)

Thursday, November 29, 2007

Big Day Tomorrow

Today's Assignments
Science-Project Matter (due Monday)
Math-reviewed for test (Monday); p. 284 # 1-13 for extra credit
Language-Singular Possessives p. 100
Reading-test on The Stranger (written and AR)

Tonight's Homework

  • anything not finished in class
  • spelling 50 points
  • packet (science, math, state dailies)


Tomorrow's Events
AR lunch: Caitlin, Jared, Nick, James, Hunter, Caleb, Faith, Morgan, Lexie, Bryce, and Holly Su (It's not too late for the rest of you!

Rocket Club: Jared, Nick, James, Hunter, Jenna, Faith, Taryn, Jessica, Holly Su, Lexie, and Tim
Congratulations on being part of this elite group!

Goodbye Kallie! Good luck at your new school!

Welcome Bailey! We're glad to have you!

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

No Switch Wednesday

We did our first round of ThinkLink testing today taking the Language Arts test which has questions for reading, writing, and grammar. Overall the class did very well, but we are still having problems with inferencing and topic sentences. We will address these in class.

Today's Assignments
Math p. 65
Social Studies test-lots of A's and B's
Language Arts-finish magic frame and summary; fact/opinion; cause/effect
Science-work on Project: Matter

Tomorrow we will:
  • take a written test on The Stranger
  • take an AR test on The Stranger
  • do lots of other things:)

The Christmas party is quickly approaching on December 19. Shawnta Nipper will be our parent volunteer in charge of planning this celebration. A letter requesting your help/donations will be in this week's Friday Folder. Fourth graders do NOT exchange gifts at the party. If your child is in the giving spirit, he/she is welcome to bring a new, unwrapped gift to be donated to a local charity.

Our scheduled Santa Shop day is Monday, December 3. More information is coming in this week's Friday folder.

If you have any items to donate to this week's auction, please send them tomorrow or Friday.

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Terrific Tuesday

Today we started a matter project in science. Students are to create a mobile of mini-projects about matter. We read the requirements of each mini-project and reviewed the evaluation criteria for the whole project which is due Monday, December 3. Students will receive time in class on Wednesday and Friday to work on the project, but if it is not completed on Friday, it will need to be finished at home over the weekend. Late projects lose 10 points. The only material needed from home is a hanger.

Tomorrow students will take a social studies test. They reviewed in class today and were provided with a study guide. Hopefully everyone remembered to bring theirs home-they were reminded at the end of the day!

In math we continue with multiplication. Students seem to understand the process of 2 digit by 1 digit multiplication, but are still struggling with facts. Unfortunately, the only way to learn the multiplication facts is to memorize them and practice them. They do not go away, but they do not change either. Aplusmath.com has fun games to help practice multiplication facts and other key math skills.

Don't forget to finish the homework packet and spelling activities!