September 30th - October 4th, 2013

• Nature and Science Field Trip:  Friday, October 18th from 8:30-2:00.  Students will arrive at school early this morning as buses will depart at 8:45 a.m.  We will be touring the museum exhibits and also view the planetarium.  Permission slip and parent sign up forms will come home next week in Friday folders.
• Word Work/Spelling Tests:  Words are handed out each Monday and tests are Thursday. 

• As students work through our science unit,  they have shown great strides in accurately recording and demonstrating wonderful experiments.  Science notebooks are a critical piece to our science studies.  These notebooks integrate writing and scientific data collection and thought. Higher levels of thinking are required throughout all of our science units.
• Dissecting Sharks!: Students will be science note booking and dissecting sharks  coming Tuesday, October 15th, weather permitting. Students should wear old clothes that day. We have some aprons, but another old shirt over regular clothes would be helpful.
• Parent-Teacher conferences will be Wednesday, October 16^th and Thursday, October 17th. If you haven't already signed up for a time, please email me.
• Cookie Dough Delivery on Thursday, October 10^th. This is also the day of the limo ride.
• Early Release Day:  This Wednesday, October 24^th at 1:10.

1.  Math: Play the factor game below to sharpen your factor finding skills:

http://www.hoodamath.com/games/factorfeeder.html

2.  Please read the following text on Fingerprints and complete the diagram as instructed.

3.  MEGA MATH:

Students, we will use this link in computer lab on Monday, but you can check it out ahead of time if you'd like! The math gets more challenging the higher the letter in the alphabet.

MEGA MATH!

September 23 - 27th, 2013

Word Work/Spelling Test:  coming this week.  Students were given a spelling test and tested into certain levels of words. Words will be given to students on Monday and tested on Friday each week.

• We are starting our next Writing unit:  Poetry and Figurative Language.  If you have any kid friendly poetry books, I would love to borrow them for the next three weeks. Please make sure they are clearly labeled with your child's name.  Thanks in advance.

October 18          4th grade field trip to Denver Museum of Nature and Science

                              We will be leaving the school at 8:45 a.m.  Please plan to have your child                               to school by 8:30 that morning. We want to have as much time at the                                     museum as possible, thus the early departure.

• As students work through our science unit,  they have shown great strides in accurately recording and demonstrating wonderful experiments.  Science notebooks are a critical piece to our science studies.  These notebooks integrate writing and scientific data collection and thought. Higher levels of thinking are required throughout all of our science units.
• Book Fair:  October 14-18th. 

• Parent-Teacher conferences will be Wednesday, October 16^th and Thursday, October 17th. If you haven't already signed up for a time, please email me.

• Cookie Dough Delivery on Friday, October 27^th. This is also the day of the limo ride.

• Please remind your son/daughter that they must wait for you in the grassy area by the cafeteria when being picked up after school.  Students are not allowed to play on the playground equipment at this time, and for no reason should parents park in the hug and go zone!
• Early Release Day:  This Friday, October 27^th at 1:00.

1. Please read the following four paragraphs.  On a sheet of notebook paper, write the sentence that does not fit in the paragraph (this is a detail that should not be included with the rest of the text).

2.  Math homework:  follow this link and play the following math time game.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/ks2/maths/shape_space/time/play/

September 16th - 20, 2013

 ·    After giving the first round of our acuity test to students this past week, I noticed that many students struggle with determining the main idea, summarizing, and author’s point of view in reading and writing.  We will continue to spend time in class working on these skills.  Spending time at home to reinforce these strategies will only benefit your son/daughter.  I appreciate your help. 

·    Most students have done an awesome job keeping up with the weekly blog and completing the homework assigned. Included in this week’s blog is a rubric for at home writing prompts (under the important forms tab). Please encourage your son/daughter to read the rubric and edit and revise their writing before turning it in.

·    Thank you for helping your son/daughter study their multiplication facts!

·    Parent Teacher Conferences are October 16 - 17th. If you haven’t already signed up for a time, let me know.

·    Friday, September 27^th, early release at 1:00.  Limo Ride.

FIELD TRIP to Denver Museum of Nature and Science:  Friday, October 18th.

1. Please read below and complete the web on a piece of paper: 

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3. Writing Prompt: If you found $20 on the ground, explain what you would do with it.

• Notice that below we have attached the rubric for your writing prompt. Please share with your parents the discussions we had in class about following the prompt! This will also remain as a link under "Classroom Resources" on the top left side of the blog. 
  
  
  
  
  

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September 9th - 13th, 2013

Thank you for helping your son/daughter study their multiplication facts!

Parent Teacher Conferences, October 16 - 17th. If you haven’t already signed up for a time, let me know.

• Friday, September 27^th, early release at 1:00.
• Students are working on getting their class work and homework in on time. Students are responsible for bringing a late assignment note home for any missing homework.  This is a fourth grade expectation and a sign of responsibility.
• Students are doing an amazing job completing their homework and getting it in on time.  Thank you for your continued at home support with this.
• Picture Retakes:  September 11th.

• Please read the following text. Complete the graphic organizer on a sheet of notebook paper writing the main idea and supporting details:


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• In math, we are focusing on determining place value. It is so important that we understand how to determine place value before moving on to new concepts in math (such as division).   Mrs. Nisely had fun watching and playing this game about place values. Tell us what YOU think!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/ks2/maths/number/place_value_headings/play/

September 3rd - 6th, 2013

Picking a "Just Right" Book

What can we do to make sure that we grow as readers? How do we know if the books that we are reading are the best for our level? Mrs. Nisely and Mrs. Atkins recommend using the following methods for choosing the best books for you!

Thursday, August 29th was our school wide cookie dough kick off! What a fantastic fundraiser this has been for our school! Keep selling those cookies.

Monday, September 2, Labor Day, no school.

September 11th, individual picture retakes.

Early Release Day:  September 27th, dismissal, 1:00.

Parent Teacher Conferences, Wednesday, October 16th, Thursday, October 17th.

Students are working on getting their class work and homework in on time. Students are responsible for bringing a late assignment note home for any missing work. This is a fourth grade expectation and a sign of responsibility.

Homework Due:  Friday, September 6th, 2013.

a.  Look for a meaningful object or photo to bring and share.

b.  Write a paragraph describing a special time spent with a friend.

c.  Please go to the link below and play Meteor Multiplication. I worked through all six sates and final score was 23 math meteors in one minute.  See if you can beat me!? If you complete all six stages there will be an opportunity for your to print out a completion certificate. Print out the certificate and bring it to me by Friday and I'll pay you 5 paws!

http://www.hoodamath.com/games/meteormultiplication.html