March 2-6, 2015

• We have some new baby birds in our classroom! We are incredibly excited to be introducing these new pets to our classroom. When they are a bit older, we will need a family to adopt these birds as the cage we currently have does not have enough space to accommodate the entire family. Please consider adopting!  We actually have the opportunity to set two students up with two birds and a cage!  

• PARCC Testing is this week. The Reading/Writing portions are March 3, 4, and 5. The math portions are in two weeks on March 17 and 18. CMAS Social Studies is next month on April 14, 15 and 16. These are state standardized tests, so make sure your child is getting a good breakfast and is well rested! 

• New year, new testing!  This year fourth grade students will be the first to take the new PARCC test instead of the traditional CSAP or TCAP.  The test will be administered electronically using our school's lap tops. The following link will give students an opportunity get familiar with testing format, tools, and sample questions.  Please preview the following site to become familiar with the testing format.
• http://parcc.pearson.com/practice-tests/
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• Dates to Remember

• March 3-20 - PARCC Testing
• March 6 - Report Cards
• March 23 - 27 - Spring Break

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Science -

Solar System

Fourth Grade Science: Final Project

The final project for our Space Science unit will include your choice of the following projects: 

• You work at a calendar company and have been asked by your boss to create a calendar for your company. You do not have a background in Space Science. The calendar you will design will be marketed to lovers of Space Science. The calendar must include photos of objects in space or drawings which demonstrate Space Science concepts you have learned. 
• You will create two models to demonstrate your understanding of the concepts of day and night, months, year, and seasons. Examples include clay (or other material) models, poster boards, etc.

In  addition, you will be required to complete the following:

• Write a Reflection on how the position of the sun, moon and position of the earth affects time. This should be at least a paragraph in length and touch on all the concepts we have learned, including lunar phases, orbit, rotation, seasons, and time of year, as related to the position of the sun, moon and earth. 

Your Final Project will include either 1) Space Science calendar and Reflection or 2) Two models and Reflection. This will be due either March 19 and 20, 2015, depending on your science day.

Math - Daily Assigned Homework pages & Missing Work!

Literacy - Weekly Reading Log (150+ minutes)

February 23-27, 2015

• Thank you so much for taking time out of your days to come out for Parent-Teacher Conferences!

• PARCC Testing is coming up soon. The Reading/Writing portions are March 3, 4, and 5. The math portions are March 17 and 18. CMAS Social Studies portions are April 14, 15 and 16. These are state standardized tests, so make sure your child is getting a good breakfast and is well rested! 

Dates to Remember

• February 25 - Early release Day, 1:00 PM
• March 3-20 - PARCC Testing
• March 6 - Report Cards
• March 23 - 27 - Spring Break

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Math - 

• Complete the following math fraction problems.

1. Mary and 4 of her friends want to share 6 pizzas. How much pizza will each girl get? 
2. Bob and his 2 brothers want to share 8 cherry pies. How much pie will each boy get?
3. John eats 1/2 of a PBJ every day for 9 days. How many sandwiches did he eat all together?
4. Clarissa eats 1/3 of a Snickers bar every day for 10 days. How many Snickers bars did she eat in all?

Literacy - Weekly Reading Log (150+ minutes)

February 9-13, 2015

• Parent Teacher Conferences are between February 10th and 17th, from 3:30 PM to 5:30 PM. A class sign-up genius has been created; please sign up for a slot ASAP! Even if you've already signed up, please check the sign up genius to make sure you still have the slot you signed up for as we had some technical difficulties!!
• http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c084fa4ac2ea5fb6-spring

• Valentine's Day Parties (February 12th, 2:30-3:30) - If students are planning on bringing in valentines for friends this day, they must bring in a valentine for each member of our 24-student class. Please see the list of students added to a note in the Friday folder regarding the party. Students may create a valentine bag or box to bring to school on the 12th. Prizes will be awarded to the top three creative boxes.

Dates to Remember

• February 10-17 - Parent Teacher Conferences
• February 11 - Class Pictures
• February 13-16 - Presidents' Weekend, No School
• February 25 - Early release Day, 1:00 PM
• March 23 - 27 - Spring Break

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No Additional homework this week!  Other then in class work not completed, daily math homework and reading log.

Moon Phases for Science

https://drive.google.com/a/jeffcoschools.us/folderview?id=0B6CKadlh27aRfmI4dTBEczN6MUxKM0dJdGF3ekNxWVNOeUZHYnpUNm5xQS1MNkdCMmxQVEU&usp=sharing

February 2nd - 6th, 2015

Spelling Bee:  Saturday, January 31st. Good luck to the student's participating!

• Class Pictures:  Wednesday, February 11th.


•     Valentines Day Parties, February 12^th, 2:30-3:30. If students are planning on bringing in valentines for friends this day, they must bring in a valentine for each member of our class.  Please see the list of students added to a note in the Friday folder regarding the party. Students may create a valentine bag or box to bring to school on the 12^th.  Prizes will be awarded to the top three creative boxes.
• Mid term grades will be coming home next week in Friday folders.  Friday, February 6th.  
• Parent teacher conferences are February 10th - 17th.  Please sign up via our class created sign up genius.  The following link will take you to this sign up: 

click here to sign up for conferences!

• President's Weekend, no school:  Friday, February 13th - Monday, February 16th.  Student's will resume school on Tuesday, February 17th. 

• Early Release:  Wednesday, February 25, 1:00. 

•  1.  Science:  click on the following link and answer these questions:

http://astro.unl.edu/naap/lps/animations/lps.swf

a.  The moon goes through one cycle of phases each time it orbits earth.  How does this model show evidence of this?  Explain.  Hint use what we learned about lunar phases to defend your answer.  This is one of my favorite interactive models of learning!!!!

2.  All students are encouraged to log onto IXL.com and continue minutes in math learning.  Here are the links to follow that support our fraction work:   Q. 12,  Q. 15, Q.17.   I'm looking forward to seeing all students log in with minutes this week.