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Spelling: Today students converted short vowel sounds into long vowel sounds by adding a vowel to each word (got to goat, fed to feed) . Students have the Unit 1 spelling worksheets (download here), which will be due at the time of the spelling test. Find more information, including spelling lists, by clicking on the Spelling link.

Cursive: Cursive pp. 14-17 were made available and are due Friday.

Reading: Today, we started our shared reading book, Esperanza Rising.

Writing: We reviewed that the format of the writing prompt for the MEAP test will be familiar to students, even if the subject will be different. We practiced using a list to help us think of possible topics to write about.

Math: We started learning about geometry today, beginning with a review of points, lines, and line segments, as well as naming lines and segments.

Science: Students shared their magnet posters to tell the class what they know and think they know about magnets. We also made magnet minibooks to record our notes and ideas about magnets. Some students still need to secure a poly envelope to protect their book. I have them in class for $0.50.

Social Studies: We starting reading about the Mississippi River and students shared their WordSplash preview sentences.

Behavior Update:

• Yellows: 3 magnets
• Oranges: 2 magnets
• Reds: 0 magnets

Ask your student what kind of choices they made.

Notes:

• Howdy, Y’all! Bring Western-wear tomorrow for our Reward Poster Western class photo!
• Students volunteered this week to bring juice for our “Paper and Coffee” Fridays. The class calendar in the sidebar shows upcoming juice volunteers. A paper was also sent home today with the schedule.
• Here is the school supply list. I have dry erase markers for $0.25 and poly envelopes for $0.50.
• Check out our class calendar to stay up-to-date.

Spelling: Today we reviewed long and short vowel sounds. Students have the Unit 1 spelling worksheets (download here), which will be due at the time of the spelling test. Find more information, including spelling lists, by clicking on the Spelling link.

Cursive: Cursive pp. 14-17 were made available and are due Friday.

Reading: We learned today that just because a piece of text looks hard, doesn’t mean it is hard to read. We also learned that tests are written in a weird language, and students who are ready for the odd words (like selection, mostly about, central theme, determine, according to) will be able to better understand them.

Writing: Students put together their writer’s folders today.

Math: Today was a scavenger hunt in the Student Reference Book (SRB). Homework is to complete Journal p. 2.

Science: Students made magnet posters to tell the class what they know and think they know about magnets. Some students still need to secure a poly envelope to protect their book. I have them in class for $0.50.

Social Studies: We made Regions minibooks for notes, and students were given the Southeast Water WordSplash worksheet. Homework tonight is to write two preview sentences using words from the wordbank. We’ll finish the worksheet tomorrow in class.

Behavior Update:

• Yellows: 2 magnets
• Oranges: 2 magnets
• Reds: 0 magnets

Ask your student what kind of choices they made.

Notes:

• Howdy, Y’all! Bring Western-wear on Friday for our Reward Poster Western class photo!
• Students volunteered this week to bring juice for our “Paper and Coffee” Fridays. The class calendar in the sidebar shows upcoming juice volunteers. A paper was also sent home today with the schedule.
• Here is the school supply list. I have dry erase markers for $0.25 and poly envelopes for $0.50.
• Check out our class calendar to stay up-to-date.

Spelling: Today was a word preview of upcoming spelling words. We began Unit 1 today and students received the Unit 1 spelling worksheets (download here). Find more information, including spelling lists, by clicking on the Spelling link.

Cursive: Cursive pp. 14-17 were made available and are due Friday.

Reading: Students looked at different genres of text: maps, recipes, magazines, picture books and poetry. They noticed that there were things about each of the genres that sometimes made them difficult to read, but other features that made them easy to read at times. We talked about using the easy-to-read features to help understand the more difficult parts of the text.

Writing: Students received writer’s folders and inserts today.

Math: Today was the first Mad Minute (an addition test), which is a one minute timed math facts test in which students aren’t allowed to skip around. Students also received their hardcover Student Reference Book (SRB) and softcover math journal. Homework was to complete Math Boxes 1.1.

Science: Students received their magnetism and electricity science book. Some students still need to secure a poly envelope to protect their book. I have them in class for $0.50.

Social Studies: We went to the computer lab during this time to take our first computer-adapted STAR reading test. The class average reading level was 4.07, so our goal this year is to reach 5.07 by June!

Behavior Update:

• Yellows: 1 magnet
• Oranges: 2 magnets
• Reds: 0 magnets

Ask your student what kind of choices they made.

Notes:

• Howdy, Y’all! Bring Western-wear on Friday for our Reward Poster Western class photo!
• Students volunteered this week to bring juice for our “Paper and Coffee” Fridays. The class calendar in the sidebar shows upcoming juice volunteers. A paper was also sent home today with the schedule.
• Here is the school supply list. I have dry erase markers for $0.25 and poly envelopes for $0.50.
• Check out our class calendar to stay up-to-date.

Spelling: We began Unit 1 today and students received the Unit 1 spelling worksheets (download here).

Cursive: Cursive pp. 14-17 were made available and are due Friday.

Reading: We discussed the Five Finger Rule, which helps students to select books that are “just right” for them. The method is simple: a student reads a whole page of text (usually from a chapter book) and holds up a finger for each word that they don’t understand (names don’t count). Five or more unknown words means the book is too hard, none at all means the book might be too easy, one to four unknown words means the book is “just right.” This rule of thumb can help students make good book choices at school, home and the library.

Writing: None today due to technology.

Math: None today due to creating a mission statement. The class decided that our mission statement would be “Every student in Room 130 will leave ready for fifth grade.” They also chose to track multiplication and division math facts, class reading levels and number of magnets moved to see if we are getting ready for fifth grade.

Science: None today due to introducing spelling.

Social Studies: None today due to working on the mission statement.

Behavior Update:

• Yellows: 1 magnet
• Oranges: 0 magnets
• Reds: 0 magnets

Ask your student what kind of choices they made.

Notes:

• Students volunteered today to bring juice for our “Paper and Coffee” Fridays. The class calendar in the sidebar shows upcoming juice volunteers. A paper was also sent home today with the schedule.
• Here is the school supply list. I have dry erase markers for $0.25 and poly envelopes for $0.50.
• Check out our class calendar to stay up-to-date.

Today students actually had to do some work! We started the day with a Cursive Quiz. Some students struggled with converting the printed text into cursive, so this might be a practice opportunity for some families.

We also performed skits to teach the class how to handle our class library books. Students focused on avoiding bending, tearing, writing in, throwing and smashing open books.

In the afternoon, the entire fourth grade performed skits on showing positive behavior in the hallways, cafeteria, bathrooms, during tests and for guest teachers.

We wrapped up the day with Team Day. Students were challenged to solve the following problems as a team:

• Untangling a group that was holding hands in a big tangle
• Fitting their group on an ever-shrinking sheet
• Trading group positions while only standing on plates
• Moving a hula hoop to the floor with everyone using only one finger and everyone keeping their finger on the hoop at all times
• Untying a knotted rope from a tree without letting go of the rope

In spite of a few bumps and bruises (some to egos) and the weather keeping us from going outside, students seemed to see that problems were solved better and faster when the groups worked together. Many thanks to the parents and family members who helped facilitate the team-building activities and make Team Day a success!

Behavior Update:

• Yellows: 2 magnets
• Oranges: 1 magnet
• Reds: 0 magnets

Ask your student what kind of choices they made.

Notes:

• Here is the school supply list. I have dry erase markers for $0.25 and poly envelopes for $0.50.
• Check out our class calendar to stay up-to-date.