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Spelling: We reviewed long and short vowels today and we noticed that most long vowel words have two vowels in them (road, rode), but short vowel words usually have only one vowel (rad, rod).

Cursive: Cursive worksheet pp. 4-6 are available and due Friday.   

Reading: We read the Princess and the Pea to practice making predictions.

Writing: We talked about using details as proof in writing. For example, if a writer says there was a cool car. Prove it! Describe the car. Was it a fun party? Prove it! Tell about the games, decorations, and fun activities. Details help the writing become more believable to the reader.

Students also continued to draft their personal narrative in Google Docs. Homework is to continue drafting for 15 minutes. Your student can access their writing by going to Google Docs on a computer, tablet or phone and signing in with their Grand Blanc email address and password.

A personal narrative is due Monday, September 25. Your student should be almost finished with their draft at this point.

Math: We reviewed the idea that multiplication is repeated addition: 6 x 4 is the same as 6+6+6+6. Students also practiced math skills at Khan Academy today Homework is to practice math for 15 minutes using MobyMax or Khan Academy.

Science: Students completed an experiment that used picture models to compare the sizes of the earth and moon. Homework is to finish the Big Earth, Small Moon experiment if not finished in class.

The Energy Fair project is due Friday, September 29. Here are the Energy Fair directions.

Social Studies: Today was Constitution Day. We watched some SchoolHouse Rock videos about No More Kings and The Shot Heard ‘Round the World. Then we sang the Preamble to the Constitution to learn about the purpose of our government.

Notes:

• We talked today about a Daily Homework Time. This is a daily (Monday through Thursday) time of 40 minutes for students to work on math, writing, math facts, cursive, or other homework. Maybe it’s right after school, or at 5 pm, or right after dinner. The idea is that your student is working each day on something to make them smarter. Here is a sample schedule and more ideas.
• Our BioBlitz field trip is Friday, September 22. We are looking for some chaperones.
• Check out our class calendar to stay up-to-date.
• Sign up for a fall conference
• View links to all the websites we use in class.
• View grades, assignments, and attendance at JupiterGrades.

Our Mission:
All students in Room 130 will do their best and get ready for 5th grade.

Spelling: Students completed a spelling pretest today.

Cursive: Cursive worksheet pp. 1-3 were due today.  

Reading: None today due to extra time with spelling and math.

Writing: Students created digital portfolios today to store and share their work.

Students also continued to type their draft today using Google Docs. I told students to write enough so that the reader understands the story. For this first piece, one-half page typed is the minimum. Anything less will probably leave the reader with a lot of questions.

Homework is to continue drafting for 15 minutes. Your student can access their writing by going to Google Docs on a computer, tablet or phone and signing in with their Grand Blanc email address and password.

A personal narrative is due Monday, September 25. Your student should be drafting at this point.

Decorated writing portfolios were due today. If your student didn’t turn theirs in, they can do so on Monday if they want theirs laminated.

Math: Students practiced logging in to Khan Academy today and use it to practiced math skills. Homework is to practice math for 15 minutes using MobyMax or Khan Academy.

Science: None today due to art.

The Energy Fair project is due Friday, September 29. Here are the Energy Fair directions.

Social Studies: We started to learn about the reasons why we have a government and what life would be like without one. Homework is to finish the Life Without Rules notepage started in class.

Notes:

• We talked today about a Daily Homework Time. This is a daily (Monday through Thursday) time of 40 minutes for students to work on math, writing, math facts, cursive, or other homework. Maybe it’s right after school, or at 5 pm, or right after dinner. The idea is that your student is working each day on something to make them smarter. Here is a sample schedule and more ideas.
• Our BioBlitz field trip is Friday, September 22. We are looking for some chaperones.
• Check out our class calendar to stay up-to-date.
• Sign up for a fall conference
• View links to all the websites we use in class.
• View grades, assignments, and attendance at JupiterGrades.

Our Mission:
All students in Room 130 will do their best and get ready for 5th grade.

Spelling: Today was a preview of upcoming spelling words.

Cursive: Cursive worksheet pp. 1-3 are available in class and due on Friday. 

Reading: Students received new reading books today.

Writing: We talked about focusing on the best part of a story to tell. For example a student might want to write about Christmas break, but then focus on New Year’s Eve, and then zoom in to focus on just the evening of New Year’s Eve. Focusing on the best part let’s the writer spend their time on what is important.

Students also started typing their draft today using Google Docs. Homework is to continue drafting for 15 minutes. Your student can access their writing by going to Google Docs on a computer, tablet or phone and signing in with their Grand Blanc email address and password.

A personal narrative is due Monday, September 25. Your student should be drafting at this point.

Also, your student has received a colored file folder with their name written on the tab. Please have your student decorate the portfolio with pictures, drawings, stickers, magazine clippings, cards, or other things that can lay flat. This will be your student’s writing portfolio for finished work. Decorated portfolios are due Friday so they can be laminated.

Math: Students completed a STAR Math test today. Homework is to practice math for 15 minutes using MobyMax.

Science: We started an experiment to learn about what the size of the moon is compared to the earth.

Students can also be working on their Energy Fair project. Here are the Energy Fair directions. The Energy Fair project is due Friday, September 29.

Social Studies: Today was a leadership lesson. We thought about what good leaders do, who some good leaders are, and how our class can be leaders in the school.

Character: Our focus on character this week has been about the idea that “Other People Matter.” We’ve talked about cheering for the success of others, thinking about our words and actions, helping people when they struggle, and giving people attention.

Notes:

• School Supply list
• Need to update your contact information or send in your email address or phone number? Do that here.
• Parents and family members, find out more information about our class here.
• Check out our class calendar to stay up-to-date.
• Volunteering information, including forms to be filled out if you would like to volunteer in class or chaperone a field trip
• Sign up for a fall conference
• View links to all the websites we use in class.
• View grades, assignments, and attendance at JupiterGrades.

Our Mission:
All students in Room 130 will do their best and get ready for 5th grade.

Spelling: We looked at the list of core spelling words today.

Cursive: Cursive worksheet pp. 1-3 are available in class and due on Friday. 

Reading: Students completed a STAR Reading test today.

Writing: We started prewriting for our personal narratives by planning the beginning, middle, and end of the narrative in a bulleted list using Google Docs. Homework is to continue prewriting. Your student can access their writing by going to Google Docs on a computer, tablet or phone and signing in with their Grand Blanc email address and password.

A personal narrative is due Monday, September 25. Your student should be prewriting at this point

Also, your student has received a colored file folder with their name written on the tab. Please have your student decorate the portfolio with pictures, drawings, stickers, magazine clippings, cards, or other things that can lay flat. This will be your student’s writing portfolio for finished work. Decorated portfolios are due Friday so they can be laminated.

Math: Students practiced math facts and math skills using MobyMax again today.  Homework is to practice math for 15 minutes using MobyMax.

Science: We got new space science books today and also made a minibook to record important ideas.

Students can also be working on their Energy Fair project. Here are the Energy Fair directions. The Energy Fair project is due Friday, September 29.

Social Studies: None today due to art.

Notes:

• School Supply list
• Need to update your contact information or send in your email address or phone number? Do that here.
• Parents and family members, find out more information about our class here.
• Check out our class calendar to stay up-to-date.
• Volunteering information, including forms to be filled out if you would like to volunteer in class or chaperone a field trip
• Sign up for a fall conference
• View links to all the websites we use in class.
• View grades, assignments, and attendance at JupiterGrades.

Our Mission:
All students in Room 130 will do their best and get ready for 5th grade.

Spelling: I shared with students a list of core spelling words today. This will be your student’s spelling list for the next two years! Spelling tests will draw from this list at random, and words will repeat as the year goes on. Visit the spelling page for more details on how spelling will work in 4th and 5th grade.

Cursive: Cursive worksheet pp. 1-3 are available in class and due on Friday. 

Reading: We practiced signing in to STAR Reading today. This is software we will use monthly to track our reading growth. We’ll take a STAR Reading test tomorrow.

Writing: We learned how to “dig up buried stories” by drawing a map of a familiar place (own house, grandma’s house, vacation spot). Students drew an X on each place they could remember an interesting memory. Hopefully this gave everyone some ideas about what they might want to write about for their first personal narrative.

A personal narrative is due Monday, September 25. Your student should be brainstorming ideas at this point and have hopefully decided on a topic to write about.

Also, your student has received a colored file folder with their name written on the tab. Please have your student decorate the portfolio with pictures, drawings, stickers, magazine clippings, cards, or other things that can lay flat. This will be your student’s writing portfolio for finished work. Decorated portfolios are due Friday so they can be laminated.

Math: Students practiced signing in to MobyMax today using the address go.mrhowd.com/mm. Students also practiced math facts and reviewing 3rd grade math using MobyMax today.  Homework is to practice math for 15 minutes using MobyMax. From now on, the daily homework assignment in math will be to work on math for 15 minutes at home using some of the math software tools we use at school. Students can sign in to MobyMax using a desktop computer, laptop, or possibly even a tablet or phone.

Science: We started science by making sure everyone has a science folder. About 10 people didn’t have one. I’m asking students to get a poly envelope to use to store science papers and our softcover books. If your student doesn’t have a science folder, I have them for $0.75 in class, or you can find them at office stores.

We also talked about a class project called the Energy Fair. This project will teach us that there are different forms of energy and that we can find them all around us. Here are the Energy Fair directions. The Energy Fair project is due Friday, September 29. I told student in class that the sign should be simple. No need to get a giant posterboard with a lot of extra information. Just a title and the forms of energy are enough.

Social Studies: None today.

Notes:

• School Supply list
• Need to update your contact information or send in your email address or phone number? Do that here.
• Parents and family members, find out more information about our class here.
• Check out our class calendar to stay up-to-date.
• Volunteering information, including forms to be filled out if you would like to volunteer in class or chaperone a field trip
• Sign up for a fall conference
• View links to all the websites we use in class.
• View grades, assignments, and attendance at JupiterGrades.

Our Mission:
All students in Room 130 will do their best and get ready for 5th grade.