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Spelling: Students made their Words to Learn lists today from words they missed on the last spelling test. This is your student’s spelling list to student for the next test.

Cursive: Ten cursive sentences, seven or more words each, are due Fridays.

Reading: Today was a reading day in Literature Circles. Some groups worked on chunking and context clues as reading strategies. Students also received their latest STAR reading level. Our February class average STAR reading level was 5.46, which is over our yearly goal of 5.40! The class has made over a year’s improvement by February! Great work students and families! Let’s see how high we can all go together!

Writing: We finished writing notes about Core Democratic Values today.Our next piece with be a persuasive letter to the editor about a topic chosen by each student. Here’s an overview of the project, and here’s a checklist to help with writing the letter. This piece will be due March 6.

The piece after that will be our final fiction project of the year. Students will write a novel. You read that right. Each student will write their own novel, with a word goal minimum of 1,500-3,000 words, based on their reading level (each student’s minimum writing goal is equal to their reading level multiplied by 500). The novels will be written in Google Docs (docs.mrhowd.com) to make use of the word count feature. Final novels will be uploaded to lulu.com and published as paperback books, which can be purchased for reasonable prices. So yes, students will actually write and publish their own novels. This project is based on the National Novel Writing Month Young Writers program. Complete details will follow soon. Students were asked today to start thinking about their novel topic, characters, plot and setting. With the average fourth grader needing to write about 133 words each school day, students will need to start this project by “hitting the ground running.”

Math: We practiced decimal addition and subtraction with money today. Homework is to complete Journal pp. 91 and 93. There will be a MiniQuiz tomorrow over decimal addition and subtraction.

Science: We reviewed open and closed circuits today. Homework is to complete an Open and Closed Circuit Scavenger Hunt: students were asked to find and write down five examples of open and closed circuits around their houses.

Social Studies: Students made quilt squares out of construction paper shapes. Homework is to finish the quilt square if not one of the 12 students that finished during class.

Behavior Update:

• Yellow magnets: 1
• Orange magnets: 0
• Red magnets: 0
• STAR Awards: 0
• Magnets moved this week (goal: 10): 1
• Hours with no yellow magnets (record: 58): 5
• Days with no orange magnets (record: 39; previous score: 25): 8

Check your student’s Personal and Social Growth grade at SnapGrades to see if your student moved their magnet.

Notes:

• View grades, assignments, attendance and even the report card at SnapGrades.
• Check out our class calendar to stay up-to-date.
• This week’s juice volunteers: Abigail and Kayla L.
• Sign up for Spring Conferences here

Spelling: None today due to creating class goals for tracking missing assignments and completed work.

Cursive: Ten cursive sentences, seven or more words each, are due Fridays.

Reading: Today was a discussion day in Literature Circles. Some groups worked on chunking and context clues as reading strategies.

Writing: We continued to write notes about Core Democratic Values today.

Our next piece with be a persuasive letter to the editor about a topic chosen by each student. Here’s an overview of the project, and here’s a checklist to help with writing the letter. This piece will be due March 6.

The piece after that will be our final fiction project of the year. Students will write a novel. You read that right. Each student will write their own novel, with a word goal minimum of 1,500-3,000 words, based on their reading level (each student’s minimum writing goal is equal to their reading level multiplied by 500). The novels will be written in Google Docs (docs.mrhowd.com) to make use of the word count feature. Final novels will be uploaded to lulu.com and published as paperback books, which can be purchased for reasonable prices. So yes, students will actually write and publish their own novels. This project is based on the National Novel Writing Month Young Writers program. Complete details will follow soon. Students were asked today to start thinking about their novel topic, characters, plot and setting. With the average fourth grader needing to write about 133 words each school day, students will need to start this project by “hitting the ground running.”

Math: We reviewed decimal addition and subtraction today. Homework is to complete the decimal addition and subtraction worksheet, if not done in class.

Science: Students made a circuit with a switch and a motor, and used the switches to make opened and closed circuits. We also learned how to draw schematic diagrams. Homework is to complete the circuit drawings and response sheet, if not done in class.

Social Studies: We learned that slaves may have used secret messages coded into quilt squares to communicate on the Underground Railroad. View the presentation below:

Homework is to plan the color design of a quilt square handed out in class.

Behavior Update:

• Yellow magnets: 0
• Orange magnets: 0
• Red magnets: 0
• STAR Awards: 0
• Magnets moved this week (goal: 10): 0
• Hours with no yellow magnets (record: 58): 10
• Days with no orange magnets (record: 39; previous score: 25): 3

Check your student’s Personal and Social Growth grade at SnapGrades to see if your student moved their magnet.

Notes:

• View grades, assignments, attendance and even the report card at SnapGrades.
• Check out our class calendar to stay up-to-date.
• This week’s juice volunteers: Abigail and Kayla L.

Spelling: Today was a spelling and skill test.

Cursive: Ten cursive sentences, seven or more words each, are due Fridays. This week’s cursive will be due Monday due to today’s spelling test.

Reading: None today due an assembly on bullying.

Writing: We made Core Democratic Value minibooks and wrote notes about these values:

• truth
• diversity
• common good
• patriotism

Our next piece with be a persuasive letter to the editor about a topic chosen by each student. Here’s an overview of the project, and here’s a checklist to help with writing the letter. This piece will be due March 6.The piece after that will be our final fiction project of the year. Students will write a novel. You read that right. Each student will write their own novel, with a word goal minimum of 1,500-3,000 words, based on their reading level (each student’s minimum writing goal is equal to their reading level multiplied by 500). The novels will be written in Google Docs (docs.mrhowd.com) to make use of the word count feature. Final novels will be uploaded to lulu.com and published as paperback books, which can be purchased for reasonable prices. So yes, students will actually write and publish their own novels. This project is based on the National Novel Writing Month Young Writers program. Complete details will follow soon. Students were asked today to start thinking about their novel topic, characters, plot and setting. With the average fourth grader needing to write about 133 words each school day, students will need to start this project by “hitting the ground running.”

Math: Students worked on math skills today.

Science: None today due to the bullying assembly.

Social Studies: None today due to Michigan State Representative Paul Scott reading to our class.

Behavior Update:

• Yellow magnets: 1
• Orange magnets: 0
• Red magnets: 0
• STAR Awards: 0
• Magnets moved this week (goal: 10): 7
• Hours with no yellow magnets (record: 58): 2
• Days with no orange magnets (record: 39; previous score: 25): 2

Check your student’s Personal and Social Growth grade at SnapGrades to see if your student moved their magnet.

Notes:

• View grades, assignments, attendance and even the report card at SnapGrades.
• Check out our class calendar to stay up-to-date.
• This week’s juice volunteers: Alexis and Jennifer

Spelling: We practiced writing sentences for words with multiple meanings. Tomorrow will be a spelling and skill test over words with multiple meanings.

Cursive: Ten cursive sentences, seven or more words each, are due Fridays.

Reading: None today due to the Talent Show. Great work Chloe and Jennifer, our Talent Show participants!

Writing: Students spent some time planning for their future novel (see below for more details).

Our next piece with be a persuasive letter to the editor about a topic chosen by each student. Here’s an overview of the project, and here’s a checklist to help with writing the letter. This piece will be due March 6.

The piece after that will be our final fiction project of the year. Students will write a novel. You read that right. Each student will write their own novel, with a word goal minimum of 1,500-3,000 words, based on their reading level (each student’s minimum writing goal is equal to their reading level multiplied by 500). The novels will be written in Google Docs (docs.mrhowd.com) to make use of the word count feature. Final novels will be uploaded to lulu.com and published as paperback books, which can be purchased for reasonable prices. So yes, students will actually write and publish their own novels. This project is based on the National Novel Writing Month Young Writers program. Complete details will follow soon. Students were asked today to start thinking about their novel topic, characters, plot and setting. With the average fourth grader needing to write about 133 words each school day, students will need to start this project by “hitting the ground running.”

Math: None today due to the Talent Show.

Science: None today due to Musical Practice.

Social Studies: None today due to Musical Practice.

Behavior Update:

• Yellow magnets: 0
• Orange magnets: 0
• Red magnets: 0
• STAR Awards: 0
• Magnets moved this week (goal: 10): 6*
• Hours with no yellow magnets (record: 58): 10
• Days with no orange magnets (record: 39; previous score: 25): 1

*Unfortunately, six students move their magnets yesterday with a guest teacher, including three orange magnets. Check your student’s Personal and Social Growth grade at SnapGrades to see if your student moved their magnet.

Notes:

• The Fourth Grade Musical is tonight! Students should meet in the classroom at 6:45 pm, dressed nicely (preferably with black slacks/skirts and white shirts/tops).
• View grades, assignments, attendance and even the report card at SnapGrades.
• Check out our class calendar to stay up-to-date.
• This week’s juice volunteers: Alexis and Jennifer

Spelling: We reviewed rules for adding suffixes:

• Just add the suffix;
• Drop the silent e;
• Double the final consonant;
• Change the y to an i;
• Add es

Cursive: Ten cursive sentences, seven or more words each, are due Fridays.

Reading: Today was a discussion day in Literature Circles.

Writing: I introduced our next two writing pieces. Our next piece with be a persuasive letter to the editor about a topic chosen by each student. Here’s an overview of the project, and here’s a checklist to help with writing the letter. This piece will be due March 6.

The piece after that will be our final fiction project of the year. Students will write a novel. You read that right. Each student will write their own novel, with a word goal minimum of 1,500-3,000 words, based on their reading level (each student’s minimum writing goal is equal to their reading level multiplied by 500). The novels will be written in Google Docs (docs.mrhowd.com) to make use of the word count feature. Final novels will be uploaded to lulu.com and published as paperback books, which can be purchased for reasonable prices. So yes, students will actually write and publish their own novels. This project is based on the National Novel Writing Month Young Writers program. Complete details will follow soon. Students were asked today to start thinking about their novel topic, characters, plot and setting. With the average fourth grader needing to write about 133 words each school day, students will need to start this project by “hitting the ground running.”

Math: None today due to musical practice. The Fourth Grade Musical is this Thursday at 6:45 pm.

Science: We started our study of electricity by reviewing electrical circuits. Students made circuits with a battery, bulb and one wire, then two wires, then with a switch.

Social Studies: We learned that slaves escaping on the Underground Railroad sang songs with double, secret meanings. The songs taught slaves when to escape, how to find north, where to walk and which rivers to follow.

Behavior Update:

• Yellow magnets: 0
• Orange magnets: 0
• Red magnets: 0
• STAR Awards: 0
• Magnets moved this week (goal: 10): 0
• Hours with no yellow magnets (record: 58): 15
• Days with no orange magnets (record: 39): 25

Check your student’s Personal and Social Growth grade at SnapGrades to see if your student moved their magnet.

Notes:

• View grades, assignments, attendance and even the report card at SnapGrades.
• Check out our class calendar to stay up-to-date.
• This week’s juice volunteers: Alexis and Jennifer