Friday, September 30, 2016

October 3rd - 7th, 2016



  • Students will start working on Class President's Reports Monday, October 3rd. I I will  model and work through one president piece this week, these will be recurring writing pieces for every week. 
    • On Monday, our new class president will present information about their life, family members, passions, hobbies, and two stories they want to share. Students will take two column notes on the new president. 
    • By Friday, each student in our class will have:
      1. turned their notes into a rough draft. 
      2. revised their rough draft (add, change, take out to improve writing) 
      3. edited their drafts. (correct spelling and punctuation) 
      4. written a final polished copy to be turned in on Friday. 
    • All of these steps are to be done at home each week, except the note taking.
  • The date for the Shark Dissections still is to be decided. Information to follow about dates, times and volunteers.
  • A reminder again that Parent Teacher Conferences are scheduled for Wednesday, October 12 and Thursday the 13th. If you haven't signed up for a spot, please do so as soon as possible!! If you are unable to come to one of the times listed, please email me at snisely@jeffco.k12.co.us and we'll find another time on another day.

  • This past week in science: Scientists know that taping into their schema creates a platform for new learning.  Students each posted their background knowledge about sharks on a wall wisher board for other students to read.  The research component of the scientific method has begun.  An article about sharks was read and students used evidence from the text to prove true or false statements.  Students then pushed their thinking as they learned research based facts about sharks and they used the skill of writing to learn to reinforce new thinking.

  • Genius Hour update from Mrs. Curran:
This week we have studied what to look for when deciding if a site is safe and appropriate.  We then have researched and found several sources to use for their topics and bookmarked them.  During our conferences we’ve noticed that the kids need to specify their subject question or phrase in order to get to a good source they really need to answer their question. 
Dates to Remember:
  • October 12 - 13th Parent-Teacher Conferences
  • October 14 - No School
  • October 31 - Morning assembly, afternoon Fall Parade and Parties
  • November 4 - Early Release
  • November 10-18 - Book Fair
  • November 11 - Report cards and awards assembly

Top Banana Contest

Here’s an “ap-peel-ing” contest, and a fun and creative way to celebrate October’s top holiday. First, design a costume for either a real or plastic banana. Use a variety of materials, such as paper, cloth, paint, glue, markers, glitter, yarn, or whatever. Create a setting and a nameplate for your banana. Bring your completed project to school on October 31st. We will have a “parade” of costumed bananas and a panel of judges will choose the four “top bananas”. Awards will be given for the Top Banana, Scariest Banana, Most Creative Banana, and Funniest Banana. 


For a language arts connection, each student will write a story featuring their banana as the main character. This project will be completed at home as homework. The afternoon of the 31st, we will share our stories while we enjoy banana splits (with new bananas, of course!). The paper should be typed in 12 point, Times New Roman Font and a minimum of one page, double spaced. Attached you will find a rubric that will be used to grade you project.

Friday, September 23, 2016

September 26th - 30th, 2016


  • As students work through our science unit, they have shown great strides in accurately recording and demonstrating wonderful thinking and scientific drawings.. 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.  This week and next week students will be tested on the Scientific Process.
  • Parent Teacher Conferences are scheduled for Wednesday, October 12 and Thursday the 13th. I have created a SignUp Genius page for parents to sign up for conferences; you should have also received an email with the link to the page. If you didn't receive the email or haven't signed up for a conference spot yet, click the link below to sign up:
http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c084fa4ac2ea5fb6-fall1

  • Mrs. Curran Genius Hour update:
The students have worked on finishing their proposals for their topics and we have begun the discussion and exploration of safe and purposeful sites to research their topic using their deep, level 4 questions.


Dates to Remember:
  • Friday, September 23rd - Early Release (1 PM) & Carnival
  • Picture retakes, September 27th. 
  • October 12 - 13 - Parent-Teacher Conferences
  • October 14th, no school. 
  • Fall parade and parties, October 31st.


1.  Weekly Reading Log (150+ minutes)

2.  Solve the following math problems on a piece of notebook paper and check with the inverse operation:
       a.  5,670 -  4,999 =                 b.  435 +  789   =      c.  689,432  -  199,090 =

3.  Log on to IXL.com using your username and password complete the following:
       C1, B1, B3, B9

4, Click on the link below, and watch the video.  Write a paragraph about a time you used perseverance and you never gave up in school and outside of school. 


 https://www.pinterest.com/pin/AYCbOlLqDhrY8DjObiO7YOVqw4q3f5GBhhf6ZHCWEgg_h0k6BzuIS0I/









Sunday, September 18, 2016

September 19th - 23rd, 2016



  • 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.
  • Parent Teacher Conferences are scheduled for Wednesday, October 12 and Thursday the 13th. I have created a SignUp Genius page for parents to sign up for conferences; you should have also received an email with the link to the page. If you didn't receive the email or haven't signed up for a conference spot yet, click the link below to sign up:
    • http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C084FA4AC2EA5FB6-fall1

Dates to Remember:
  • Friday, September 23rd - Early Release (1 PM) & Carnival (4:00-8:00)
  • October 12 - 13- Parent-Teacher Conferences
  • October 14th - No School
  • October 31st - Fall parade and parties in the p.m.


Literacy - 
  • Weekly Reading Log (150+ minutes)
  • Please read the following text on fingerprints and complete the diagram as instructed.

Friday, September 9, 2016

September 12th - 16th, 2016


Weekly Updates Blog Header.jpg


  • It was wonderful meeting many of you at curriculum night last Wednesday.  I have included our classroom packet of information in your son/daughter's Friday folder if you were not able to attend.  Also, please watch the following linked video on Growth Mindset to better understand our learning and thinking in the classroom:

                         https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wh0OS4MrN3E


  • One of our sweet parents let me know that if you have a fourth grader you can sign up for a free year pass for the Federal  Parks, Lands and Water!  Here is the information in case you are interested.
http://hip2save.com/2016/09/08/do-you-have-a-4th-grader-score-one-year-of-free-access-to-federal-parks-lands-waters/#.V9HaYjcQ9yI.email


  • Please check you son/daughter's planner each night and sign that you have seen it each day.  Also, on Fridays reading logs are due and need to also be signed by adults.  Thank you ahead of time for helping to reinforce the planner as a valuable tool.

  • Multiplication Facts must be memorized by all students!  As students learn more and more fourth grade math it become critical for students to know their facts automatically so they don't fall behind.  We will start testing of these facts next week.

What is happening in the next few weeks?
Sept. 13 North Area Boundary Change Meeting @ Meiklejohn 5:45-6:45 p.m.
Sept. 17 Outdoor Lab Open House from 9:30 – 2:30
Sept. 21 PTSA meeting 4:15 – 5:00 p.m.
VAULT meeting 5:00 – 6:00 p.m.
North Area Boundary Change Meeting @ West Woods 6:00-7:00 p.m.
Sept. 23 Early Release at 1:00 p.m.
PTSA Carnival from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Sept. 26 North Area Boundary Change Meeting @ Wayne Carle MS 6:00-7:00
Sept. 27 Picture Retakes
Oct. 12 Parent/Teacher Conferences 3:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 13 Parent/Teacher Conferences 3:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 14 NO school


Homework Blog Header.jpg



 



1.  Literacy:  Students are required to read 150 minutes each week to meet standards.

2.  Literacy:  Please watch the following video and write a paragraph about how the Character  Ormie,  in the video, showed fixed or growth mindset.  Give details from the video.

click on or copy paste the link in your browser:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xd63g3d8qOs&list=PLnah-hqu5MaQY5t2GjBAwt9E7iJFYPsOA

Friday, May 13, 2016

May 16-20, 2016


This is a super busy time of year; make sure you know what's happening so you are prepared and ready!

  • Field Day is on May 17th this week! PTSA is sponsoring a lunch for those students staying on campus during lunch. Please check with me if you plan on taking your son/daughter off campus for lunch. Make sure your child has sunblock and appropriate clothing (no dresses / skirts / sandals, etc), as this is an active day! Also, please remember a water bottle!
  • We have a field trip to Lookout Mountain on May 18th, this week! Please be prepared with sunscreen and a sack lunch as we will being eating lunch there, and will be outside for a portion of the trip! Lookout Mountain has informed us that we CAN have parent volunteers, and we need three volunteers per class.
  • Owl pellet dissections are on May 23rd. Each class would like 4-5 helpers. This is a wonderful, hands-on lab. If you are able to help, please contact your homeroom teacher
  • The wax museum was a wonderful success! Students did a fantastic job researching their person of choice, and the presentations were great! Well done, everyone!

Dates to Remember:
  • May 17 - Intermediate Field Day
  • May 18 - Lookout Mountain Field Trip
  • May 23 - Owl Pellet Dissection
  • May 25 - Fourth Grade Class Picnic, 10:00-12:45



Literacy - Weekly Reading Log (150+ minutes)