Homework

During the month of October each student will be responsible for creating 10 journal entries. Students were given a list of 20 writing prompts to help them start. The goal is for 3 entries to be completed per week so that we can spend October 27-31 taking one of the pieces through the writing process.
The mystery literature project is due on October 17. I am sending home the directions to make a story skeleton just in case you can't think of a project to do with your mystery. If you would rather do a different project, that is fine. If you can't decide on a book to read or need help making a selection, there are many people who can help. The Owensville branch of the Clermont County Public Library has a table devoted to our literature projects. Mrs. Fetter and Mrs. Sumner have access to lots of mysteries in the school libraries. Mrs. Lindsey and I also have books in our classrooms that we can share.
Today's assignments:
Read chapter 9 in Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing and complete worksheet.
Complete the diagnostic assessment in the math text for chapter 2 (p. 60-61).
Complete the place value practice sheet "Artistic Find".
Weekly State Dailies is due on Friday.
Complete first entry in writing journal for October.
Rewrite edited paragraph answering the question "Would you like to spend the day with Fudge?" Use details from Chapter 6 of Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing to explain your answer.

Paragraphs

Although students begin writing paragraphs in second grade and should have mastered paragraph writing in third grade, our class needs much work on this skill. In order to write a good paragraph, students must first be able to write in complete sentences. Please encourage your child to always write and speak in complete sentences. Answering a question with, "No, because..." is not a complete sentence.
For more help on paragraph writing, check out the following sites:
Paragraphs: This site has all of the rules in paragraph writing, including grammar skills like punctuation and capitalization.
Paragraph Punch: This site offers one free tutorial that is very helpful.
Descriptive Paragraph: This site tells how to begin each sentence.
Sandwich Chart: This is a graphic organizer to use when writing a paragraph.
How to Write an Apple: This site goes through the writing process step by step.
Writer's Window: This is a fun way to get writing ideas.

Happy October!

We are beginning a measurement unit in science. Our focus will be on selecting the correct tools to use in measuring capacity(volume), length, weight, and temperature. For practice measuring, check out the following sites:

• The Ruler Game


• Fun Brain Ruler Game


• Measuring Pencils (they use the British spelling of centimetres)


• Interactive Measurement Games


• Measurement Powerpoints

We will finish our measurement unit by estimating and measuring pumpkins. Each student will need to bring in a pumpkin by October 27 for these activities. (The pumpkin should not be bigger or heavier than a fourth grader can carry on the bus.) Our pumpkin science study will coincide with the reading aloud of the book Me and the Pumpkin Queen by Marlane Kennedy who visited our school yesterday.

We are extending our study of Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing for another week or so due to our very interrupted October schedule.

October 2: Math test

October 6: PTO meeting

October 9: Market Day

October 10: Picture Day

October 14: COSI on Wheels

October 15: Field trip to Sycamore Park (pack lunch, wear outdoor clothes)

October 17: Mystery literature projects due; Attitude movie; end of first quarter

October 22: 2 Hour Early Release

October 24: Report Cards

October 30: Grandparents' Day; Evening Program

October 31: Walk-a-thon

Interims

We received post cards from Santa Rosa, California and St. Louis, Missouri

I sent interims home on Friday attached to the Friday Folder Report. Please be sure to sign and return the bottom portion of the interim and the left side of the Friday Folder Report.

We are working on decimals this week. For fun decimal practice, click here.
The math test to be given on Thursday will probably take 2 days as it is a lengthy test. Things to know in order to do well:

• How to write numbers in standard, word and expanded form
• How to find the value of each digit in a number
• How to order numbers from least to greatest
• How to compare numbers using <>
• How to round numbers to the nearest 10, 100, 1,000 or 10,000
• How to estimate
• How to decide whether an answer is reasonable
• How to write money amounts using $ and .
• How to find change
• How to count money
• How to name decimals in word form and standard form
• How to compare decimals
• How to order decimals

We read chapter 6 in Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing today.

Quiz tomorrow on the Scientific Method aka the Design Process.

To do well, students should be able to:

• correctly identify the steps of the design process IN ORDER
• understand the concept vocabulary (inference, hypothesis, theory, variable, conclusion, observation)
• explain how many variables should be changed during an experiment
• explain what should be done if data does not support the hypothesis
• make observations and inferences

End of Units

This week we began reading Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume. The students really seem to enjoy hearing about fourth grader Peter Hatcher and the antics of his brother Fudge. We will take a quiz tomorrow on the first 5 chapters of the book.
In math we have spent our time counting money and making change. We will finish up this chapter on number sense next week with decimals and take a test on Thursday. The test will be the same format as Ohio's fourth grade math achievement test. To see what these look like, click here and scroll down to grade four. You can then choose to download the math tests that have already been given as well as the reading and writing tests.
On Tuesday students will take a science test on the scientific method. We have practiced using the design process (aka scientific method) on two labs and will continue to use it throughout the year. The test will reflect questions on the fifth grade science achievement test which can be accessed through the above link. Just scroll down to fifth grade and select science.

Black Out Over!

Thank goodness we are back in school! It seemed like most of the students and teachers were ready to get back in the routine.
Literature Projects will be presented this week with all of them expected to be completed by Friday. I'm sure everyone used the extra time last week to make their projects top notch!
We are reading Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing for the next two weeks, so there will not be a reading selection using the basal reader during that time.
In math we are working with money and decimals this week.
In science we continue to focus on the scientific method also known as the design process.
Don't forget that students are allowed/encouraged to correct graded work for extra points. This is the only type of extra credit that I offer, so please remind your child to take advantage of the opportunity.
Homework
Math-spiral review and workbook p. 9
Reading-draw the three main characters from Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing that were introduced in chapter 1
Science-review scientific method mini coloring book
S.S.-State Dailies (due Friday) and Weekly Reader

Postcard Alert!

We received our first two postcards today from the Esteps in Bradenton, Florida and Ms. Judy Browning in Rising Sun, Indiana! Thanks for participating!