Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Family Chains went home today.  Students who were not finished were asked to bring home the supplies to finish them.  Please tear off your first link on Sunday, to keep the count down accurate.

Division using the Place Value Sections Method is becoming easier for many students and they are able to work independently using this method.  We will continue to practice this method for a few days next week and then learn the digit-by-digit method.

Homework:

Reading - read 20 minutes

Writing - Rough Draft of book should be revised and edited and begin publishing on Google Docs.

Math - study flashcards.

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Tomorrow is a Late Start Wednesday

There is no school on Thursday or Friday due to the Thanksgiving Break

We will do the Family Chain Activity tomorrow afternoon.  Please make sure that your child has the activity  sheet filled out.

Homework:

Reading - read 20 minutes

Writing - Book Review revised and edited, begin publishing on Google Docs

Math - study flashcards
Homework/Remembering 3-2, students were given the remembering side of this assignment on Friday so they should only have #12 on the remembering side and the four problems on the homework side to do.  We will only be doing the Place Value Sections Model on this assignment.  Anytime the instructions ask for the Expanded Notion method, please have your child do the Place Value Sections model to solve the problem.

Friday, November 22, 2013

We ended the school day with our Ice Cream Box Top party.

I sent home a letter today regarding our division unit.  It is similar to the note that I posted yesterday on my blog except I added an address for a video that explains each step of the Place Value Sections Method.  Please take time to watch this informative video - it is less than 5 minutes long.

Homework:

Reading - read 20 minutes

Writing - Personal Narrative due Monday
Rough draft of the 3 evidence paragraphs for the book review due Monday

Math - study flashcards

Family Chain Activity Sheet due Monday.

Thursday, November 21, 2013

We have started our division unit.  This was our second day of dividing with remainders and then checking our answers.  Your child will be learning two different methods for division.  I will teach them a method using an area model - a rectangle broken up into sections - and the digit-by-digit method - which is the traditional method most of us use.  When using the digit-by-digit method we are using The Long Family to help us learn the steps.  I have sent home The Long Family steps this evening so that you can use the same vocabulary that your child hears at school.  If your child did not bring this home, there is a copy on my math web page.  Also, it is very important that when I am teaching the area model that you don't teach your child the digit-by-digit method.  I know that parents are trying to be helpful but it is important for students to be proficient with each method.  I will send home our workbook page for the area model method so that you will have examples to follow.

Book Orders are due tomorrow, if you would like to purchase anything.

Homework:

Reading - read 20 minutes

Writing - Personal Narrative due tomorrow
Book Review - the rough copy of the three reason/evidence paragraphs are due Monday.  We will begin work on the concluding paragraph Monday.

Spelling - practice test

Math - study flashcards
Homework/Remembering 3-1

Science - finish constellation paragraph, if not completed with Mr. Viotto

Social Studies - Current Event due Friday

Family Chain Activity Sheet - due Monday

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

We earned our 6oth Cougar Paw today.  Stay tuned to learn what Acknowledgement we vote for.

Just a reminder that book orders are due by Friday, if you would like to purchase anything.

Homework:

Reading - read 20 minutes

Writing - Personal Narrative due on Friday, there will not be any more class time to work on it.

Spelling - define 7 words or illustrate 7 words

Math - study flashcards
Fluency Check 7

Social Studies - Current Event due Friday

Family Chain Activity sheet - due Monday, if not already turned in.

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

A note and activity sheet came home tonight regarding a Family Chain Activity.  Please read over the instructions and return the activity sheet by Monday.

Homework:

Reading - read 20 minutes

Writing - Personal Narrative - final copy due Monday but there will not be anymore class time to work on it.

Spelling - Repeated Sort or 5 sorting words in a comic strip

Math - study flashcards - we are beginning our division unit tomorrow and it can be very difficult for students who do not know their facts
Work on missing assignments

Monday, November 18, 2013

We had the opportunity to listen to Maplewood Middle School band, orchestra and choir.  Information went home today regarding the After Beat Music program offered at Clovis School.

Homework:

Reading - read 20 minutes

Spelling - Describe Sort

Writing - Some strudents still have not completed Batty Banquet.  Please get this complete ASAP.

Math - study flashcards
There is not a homework sheet because of the Unit Test today.  I encouraged students who had missing math to take advantage of this and work on their missing work.

Friday, November 15, 2013

Remember that Monday is Pajama and Slipper Day to celebrate our Classroom Cougar Paws.

Homework:

Reading - read 20 minutes

Math - study flashcards
Test Form B

Thursday, November 14, 2013

We currently have 51 Cougar Paws and now that WKCE testing is over we were able to vote on an Acknowledgement.  On Monday we will have a pajama/slippers day.

We won the Box Tops contest and will be having an ice cream party next week sponsored by the PTO.  Thank you to those who contributed to our class total..

Homework:

Reading - read 20 minutes

Spelling - practice test

Writing - We began writing our book review today.  We started with just the introduction, making sure there was a hook so our audience would want to continue reading the review.

Math - study flashcards
Homework/Remembering 2-18

Social Studies - Current Events

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

For Math today we learned about a two-step process for rounding and estimating numbers with 4-digits.  I had students tear out their workbook page to bring home with them so that you would have examples to follow if there are any questions.  Basically the number in the thousands place is not rounded but multiplied by the one-digit number.  The number in the hundreds place is rounded before multiplying by the one-digit number.  The answers for the thousand and hundred estimation are then added together to get the estimation.

Homework:

Reading - read 20 minutes

Spelling - define 7 words OR illustrate 7 words

Writing - We began brainstorming for our introduction paragraph for a book review.  You can find the rubric for this project on my web page under writing.

Math - study flashcards
Homework/Remembering 2-17

Social Studies - Current Events.

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

I am sorry that there was not a blog yesterday but I was home sick.

November Book Orders went home today.  If you are interested in purchasing anything, please do so by Friday, November 22

I have stapled a copy of the Spelling/Word Sort Activities that are done at school and those that need to be done at home near the front of your child's agenda.  This is the same information that was given out at Parent/Teacher Conferences.

Reminder that tomorrow is a late start.

Homework:

Reading - read 20 minutes

Writing - Batty Banquet, if not already turned in

Spelling - Repeated Sort OR 5 words in a Comic Strip.

Math - study flashcards

Social Studies - Current Events.

Friday, November 8, 2013

WKCE testing is done for the year, unless your child needs to make-up a test because of an absence.

Reminders for next week:

• Spelling will begin again next week
• Monday -  the Veteran's Day Assembly will be from 8:30 - 9:15.  Fourth grade students are asked to wear white.
• Tuesday - students will be dismissed at 12:00.  Students will have the option of eating a bag lunch at school before they are dismissed.
• Wednesday - Late Start

Homework:

Reading - read 20 minutes

Writing - Batty Banquet, if not already turned in - this was due Tuesday

Math - study flashcards

Thursday, November 7, 2013

We will be having a Veteran's Day Assembly Monday morning.  4th graders need to wear white.

Homework:

Reading - read 20 minutes

Math - study flashcards
Homework/Remembering 2-15

Social Studies - Current Event due Friday.

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

We will have 1 WKCE test tomorrow and 2 on Friday.  We will then be finished with the state testing.

A note will be going home tomorrow reminding parents about Late Start Wednesday.  Please take note of these dates.

There are still a few students who did not turn in their October Reading Minutes.  If you have misplaced the calendar, a note in their agenda will work.

Homework:

Reading - read 20 minutes

Language - Batty Banquet.  This was due Tuesday.  It was typed in Google Docs so your child can access it at home though their school G-mail account, if the project is not complete.

Math - Study flashcards.  Many students understand the process of long multiplication but continue to get problems incorrect because of not knowing their facts.  Our next chapter will be long division.  Please continue to study the flashcards.  It will make things easier for your child.  If you lost the flashcards from the beginning of the year, please let me know and I will send more home.

Homework/Remembering 2-14 - on the Homework side, only EVENS need to be done.

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

We have 2 WKCE tests tomorrow.  Please make sure that your child is well rested so that they can do their best on the test.

Please turn in October Reading Minutes, if you have not already done so.

Homework:

Reading - read 20 minutes

Writing - Batty Banquet

Math - study flashcards

Science - worksheet

Monday, November 4, 2013

We will have 2 WKCE tests tomorrow.   Please make sure that your child is well rested so that they can do their best on the test.

Tonight is the Stevi B's Fundraiser for PTO.  Your child was given a sticker today that will allow them 2 free game tokens if they show it to the cashier.

Please turn in October Reading Minutes, if you haven't already done so.

We will not have spelling this week, due to WKCE testing.

Homework:

Reading - read 20 minutes

Writing - Batty Banquet, due tomorrow, if not already turned in.  This was typed on Google Docs so your child can get access to it through their school Google account.

Math - study flashcards
Homework/Remembering 2-13.  Starting today, your child may use the area model or short-cut method for all multiplication problems, regardless of the directions.

Science - worksheet

Friday, November 1, 2013

Please remember that WKCE testing begins on Tuesday.  We will have 7 tests beginning on Tuesday and ending on Friday.

October Reading Minutes are due, if you have not already sent them in.

Homework:

Reading - Read 20 minutes

Math - Study flashcards
Homework/Remembering 2-12