MrHowd.com

Parents and students,

The Fourth Grade Music Program is coming:

• Date: Thursday, December 21
• Time: 7:30 pm, please arrive by 7:15 pm in the classroom
• Location: Meet in the classroom at 7:15 pm; program in the small gym

Appropriate dress:

• Boys: Consider wearing dress pants and a nice, clean shirt (one with a collar would be nice)
• Girls: Consider wearing dresses/skirts or nice pants and a nice, clean shirt

For more information, please contact Ms. Serena Elrod at (810) 591-5926 or [email protected].

Spelling: Today we reviewed possessive pronouns (their, our, my, his, her, it) and plural possessive pronouns (theirs, ours, mine, his, hers, its). Students learned that plural possessive pronouns do not have apostrophes. We will have a spelling test on Monday, and the skill test will assess consonant digraphs (ph, th, wh, sh, ch) and words with digraphs. The unit 3 spelling packet will also be due on Monday.

Cursive: Cursive worksheets pp. 36-38 were made available this week and are due on Friday.  

Reading: Today was a reading day in Literature Circles. Ask your student what their book was about, what their favorite part was, and what their Literature Circles job was.

Writing: None today due to the half day schedule. The next piece of writing will be due December 1.

Math: We played a game called “Subtraction Target Practice.” It’s easy to play at home. Start with the number 250 written down on a sheet of paper. Draw two cards (Uno cards or playing cards). The player decides how to arrange the cards to form a two digit number. This number is subtracted from 250. Repeat drawing and subtracting. The goal is to be the closest person to zero without creating a negative number. Play with two or more people. Variations: start with a number larger than 250, or select three cards to make a triple-digit number.

Science: We made electricity mini-books today. Homework is to finish decorating the mini-books.

Social Studies: We made Branches of Government (executive, legislative, and judicial) flip charts. The chart is worth ten points (one point each for the branch name, a description of its job, and a picture illustrating the branch, and one point for quality and neatness). Homework is to finish the flip chart if not done in class.

Behavior Update:

Ask your student what kind of choices they made.

Notes:

• Conferences have begun. Click here for a list of conference times.
• Juice Volunteers for Friday, December 1: Shawn and Alison. Click here for a full list of juice volunteers.
• Book orders are due on Friday, November 17. Visit the Online Book Order page to order by credit card online.
• We are looking for donations of cardboard tubes (toilet tissue, paper towel, wrapping paper) for class projects. The tubes can be sent in any time during the year; this project will be on-going. Thanks for any help you can give!

Spelling: Today students practiced inserting there/their/they’re homophones into sentences.

Cursive: Cursive worksheets pp. 36-38 were made available this week and are due on Friday.  

Reading: Students received their new Literature Circles books and determined their daily reading assignment.

Writing: Today we began a unit on narrative writing (story). We learned today that all stories have three elements:

1. People (characters)
2. Places (setting)
3. Plot (the action)

Students also worked on prewriting and should be ready to start drafting tomorrow.

Math: We continued playing a game to pratice determining data landmarks such as minimum, maximum, range, mode and median. At the conclusion of the game, students took a short MiniQuiz to assess their knowledge of data landmarks. We also learned a new method of subtracting, called the “trade-first method.” This method is very similar to the one students already use, with the difference being that all the trading (or borrowing) is done first, before doing any subtracting. Homework is to finish math journal pp. 46 and 49.

Science: We reviewed the recent conductors and insulators experiment. Students learned that electrical conductors are metal, and insulators are not. 

Social Studies: We played Jeopardy with student Jeopardy questions, and that assignment was collected for a grade. We also watched to SchoolHouse Rock videos about a bill becoming a law and the branches of government.

Behavior Update:

Ask your student what kind of choices they made.

Notes:

• Conferences have begun. Click here for a list of conference times.
• Juice Volunteers for Friday, December 1: Shawn and Alison. Click here for a full list of juice volunteers.
• Book orders are due on Friday, November 17. Visit the Online Book Order page to order by credit card online.
• We are looking for donations of cardboard tubes (toilet tissue, paper towel, wrapping paper) for class projects. The tubes can be sent in any time during the year; this project will be on-going. Thanks for any help you can give!

Writing: Students looked over the rubric for their last writing piece, and two students shared their writing with the class. We also had technology during this time.

Math: Students completed a subtraction timed test. Students also played a game to pratice determining data landmarks such as minimum, maximum, range, mode and median.

Science: Students finished the electrical conductors and insulators experiment from Thursday. Homework is to finish this experiment if not done in class.

Social Studies: We read about the executive (sees that laws are carried out) and judicial (makes judgments about laws) branches of government, we created some additional Jeopardy questions, and we played Jeopardy using the questions students created. Homework is to finish the Jeopardy assignment from Thursday and to quiz their families on the Jeopardy questions. Click here for the Jeopardy worksheet and directions.

Behavior Update:

Ask your student what kind of choices they made.

Notes:

• Conferences begin tomorrow. Click here for a list of conference times.
• Juice Volunteers for Friday, December 1: Shawn and Alison. Click here for a full list of juice volunteers.
• Book orders are due on Friday, November 17. Visit the Online Book Order page to order by credit card online.
• We are looking for donations of cardboard tubes (toilet tissue, paper towel, wrapping paper) for class projects. The tubes can be sent in any time during the year; this project will be on-going. Thanks for any help you can give!

Click here for a list Fall conference times. The office also has a list of times and can be reached at (810) 591-5827.