December 12 - 15th, 2016

• No take home note or reaction sheet for winter break! The only homework over winter break required from student's is the Reading Log. Enjoy your holiday break!

• Santa's Wishlist
• Genius Hour, News from Mrs. Curran:
  It's getting fun!  We learned how to do screen casting!  After the kids have finished animating, imaging, and choosing their layouts, they can screen cast - record their presentation.  This is the final part before presenting.
• Dates to Remember:

• December 21 - Last day of school before winter break
• January 9th - Students return from break.

Literacy - Weekly Reading Log (150+ minutes)

Math - As always, continue to practice your multiplication facts! IXL is an amazing resource to reinforce all of the math we have been learning this year!  See the "Classroom Resources" on the left hand side for math games and videos.

We have been working very hard this year, and been very good, learning and growing as fourth graders (aka fifth-graders-in-training). Unfortunately, our supplies are dwindling! If you need some ideas for stocking stuffers, we are running low on spiral notebooks, PENCILS, composition books, and dry erase markers.

December 5th - 9th, 2016

• Students continue to impress me with their writing and the way they take time to brainstorm, plan, edit and revise their in class writing and any at home writing! Thank you for having conversations with your son/daughter regarding the writing they have completed in the classroom and at home. I'm so pleased to see  many students  using strong descriptive words, beautiful language, and graphic organizers in the power paragraphs we've been working on in class. 

• Please be practicing your math facts. There are math games linked in the "Classroom Resources" as well as multiplication videos.

Dates to Remember:

• December 9 - Geo Bee
• December 21 - Last day of school before winter break
• January 9th - Students return from break.
  
  Literacy - 
• Weekly Reading Log (150+ minutes)
• Work on President's Piece  
• Remember to be using rich vocab, details and beautiful descriptive language! Please see the rubric listed as "Writing Rubric" under Classroom Resources.
• 
  
• Math - 
• • Practice your multiplication facts! See the "Classroom Resources" on the left hand side for math games and videos.

November 14th - 18th, 2016

• No Blog post next week!  Happy Thanksgiving Break!

• Still Needed:  Nine volt batteries. 

• Free Park Passes: President Obama enacted this program to get all 4th graders a free pass to the parks for them and their families. It is a great program:

        https://www.everykidinapark.gov/get-your-pass

• Grandparents Day: Friday, November 18th from 1:35 to 2:30. Students are encouraged to dress up on this day in order to represent our school and show respect to our guests. Also, we are looking for someone willing to contribute some snacks for our guests on Grandparent's Day. Nothing too elaborate, just something for the grandparents to snack on while visiting the class.  Some ideas include finger foods like banana bread, brownies, mini muffins, cheese and cracker trays, fruit or veggie trays, cookies, etc.  Also needed are plates, napkins, and forks 

• No President writing this week. Please be working on your Turkey Piece. Dress your Turkey is due on Thurs
  day!

• Please be working on your multiplication facts for our weekly fluency tests! You may miss a maximum of 4 problems to move on to the next level.

Dates to Remember:

• November 18 - Grandparents Day (1:35 - 2:30)
• November 21st-  25th - Thanksgiving Break

• Weekly Reading Log (150+ minutes)

• "Dress This Turkey!" Writing: 
• This Turkey Needs Dressing! Students received a turkey copied on card stock. Cut out the turkey, and use scraps of cloth, paper, foil, glitter, and your imagination to dress up a spiffy he or she turkey. Be sure to name him or her and then, write a story about your terrific turkey. Your dressed turkey, and turkey story are due Thursday, November 17th. See the rubric above.
• 
  

November 7 - 11th, 2016

• Needed:  For our science energy unit,  each student needs to bring in a nine volt battery....

          Student name should be attached on masking tape. 

Students have been doing very well  making sure they have their president's pieces well written and turned in. For better writing, the rubric has been attached below and is also linked in the link menu.

• Students complete a  multiplication fluency test each week! Please be practicing your math facts. There are math games linked in the "Classroom Resources" as well as multiplication videos, and IXL.COM is a wonderful support in practicing these facts. 
• Thank you to all the parent helpers and contributors to our fall party. A special thank you to Mrs. Roberts for planning the party! We had a wonderful afternoon of games, crafts, parade, and food! Thank you for spoiling us! 

• Social Studies Update from Mrs. Russ: This week in SS we have been exploring maps!  We created a map of Africa showing the 3 major regions: Desert, Savannah, and Rain Forest. We also added some major geographic features: Lake Victoria, Nile River, Mt. Kilimanjaro, and the Great Rift Valley.  We are also exploring different maps and asking the question, "What is the purpose of this map, what is it trying to tell or show me?"  This all ties back to the essential learning:  The Geography of where we live affects how we live. Next week we will be talking about the unifying characteristics of region: Landscape, climate, plants and animals, rainfall, and natural resources.  A fun and educational at home connection would be to let your child explore the continent using google earth.  Really zoom in on those important geographic areas, the banks of the Nile, the Nile Delta, the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, landscape around the equator, and the differences between the Kalahari and the Sahara Deserts.  

Dates to Remember:

• November 4 - Early Release
• November 10-18 - Book Fair
• November 11 - Report cards and awards assembly

1.  Social Studies:  On Google Earth explore the continent!  Zoom in on those important geographic areas..... the banks of the Nile, the Nile Delta, the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, landscape around the equator, and the differences between the Kalahari and the Sahara Deserts.  

2.  No President's report this week!

3.  Math IXL.COM  on division....... E.4, E.5, E.6, E.7, E.8, E.9. 

4.  Turkey Project! 

• "Dress This Turkey!" Writing: 
• This Turkey Needs Dressing! Students received a turkey copied on card stock. Cut out the turkey, and use scraps of cloth, paper, foil, glitter, and your imagination to dress up a spiffy he or she turkey. Be sure to name him or her and then, write a story about your terrific turkey. Your dressed turkey, and turkey story are due Thursday, November 18th. See the rubric below.

October 31st - November 4th, 2016

• Multiplication Facts:  A large number of students continue to struggle with their multiplication facts!  Not knowing their facts puts them behind in understanding knew math concepts!  We started long division on Friday.  Please have your son/daughter practice their facts and build this basic math foundation.  IXL is a great tool for this! The markers are: D1 and D2

• Fall parties are this week! On Monday, students may bring a costume to school on the morning of the 31st and will be given 15 minutes to change before the school-wide parade begins. Please no masks. This is a school rule.

• Banana Costume and writing are due October 31st. Please make sure to have completed both the writing portion and bring your banana on Monday!
• Genius Hour Update from Mrs. Curran:  

  Our focus has been on taking copious notes on our slides as well as keeping our audience in mind so that engagement will be high when we get to the presentation piece of our project.

Dates to Remember:

• 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

1.  Writing:  President Piece will be due on Friday.

2.  Writing:  Banana Project Due Monday!   

3.  MATH:   In addition to a few homework assignments given throughout the week, students should login and work on  IXL:  E1, E2, E3, E4, E5, E6

October 24th - 28th, 2016

• Shark dissection was a wonderful success!  Through observation, research, data collection, scientific drawings, and a question that could be proven, students synthesized and were able to determine if their hypothesis was correct.  Thank you to all the parent helpers!
• Multiplication Facts......  many students this year do not have their facts down and spend a great deal of time counting up.  Our math is rigorous in fourth grade and as we move into long division, fractions, and multistep problems, it's critical students know their facts without hesitation. IXL has a wonderful multiplication drill that all students would benefit from.  
• Fall parade and party:  A huge thank you goes out to Mrs. Roberts for taking on the task of organizing our fourth grade fall party! She will be in contact with you regarding supplies and food needed for this event. Monday, students may bring a costume to school on the morning of the 31st and will be given 15 minutes to change before the school-wide parade begins. Please no masks or any weapons.  This is a school rule.

•  Students may bring a costume to school on the morning of the 31st and will be given 15 minutes to change before the school-wide parade begins. Please no masks or any weapons.  This is a school rule.
• Banana Costume and writing are due October 31st. Please make sure to have completed both the writing portion and bring your banana on Monday!
• Dates to Remember:
  • 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
  
  
  
• NO PRESIDENT report this week!  

• Literacy:  Banana Project!  Due Monday, October 31st.  See past blog for rubric and guidelines. 

• MATH:  Students were given new logins for IXL!  These logins should be glued into student planners.  Students are required to spend time this week either working on Multiplication fact practice ( D1 and D2) and/or D11, D10, D14, D17, D18, D19.  
• IXL records student time and also success with these problems and sends me a report each week.  Please encourage your son/daughter to reinforce the skills we have been learning in class!

October 17th - 21st, 2016

• Students have been doing very well on making sure they have their president's pieces well written and turned in. For better writing, the rubric is  linked in the link menu on the side of this blog post. 

• Fall Party Room Mom Help:  Mrs. Robert's will be organizing the fall party this year!   She will be contacting you soon regarding additional supplies and help she needs.  Thank you to Mrs. Roberts!!! 
• Parent/Teacher conferences:  Thank you to all the parents that attended.

• The date for shark dissecting has been set for Friday, October 21st, weather permitting. Our dissecting lab will be set up on the patio right outside our classroom. Rain Date on Monday, October 24.  Students are encouraged to bring an old t-shirt or apron that can be worn on top of normal clothes to protect their clothing.  Please email me if you are interested in helping! Times for shark dissections are:
• Set up sharks and lab tables 8:00 - 8:50
• Mrs. Nisely's class from 9:00 -9:50
• Mrs. Curran's class from 10:00 - 10:50
• Mrs. Russ' class from 11:00 - 11:50
• Clean up and dispose of sharks 11:50-12:10
• Fall parties are this next week! On Monday, students may bring a costume to school on the morning of the 31st and will be given 15 minutes to change before the school-wide parade begins. Please no masks or any weapons.  This is a school rule.
• Banana Costume and writing are due October 31st. Please make sure to have completed both the writing portion and bring your banana on Monday!
• Dates to Remember:
  • 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
  
   Literacy - 
  • Weekly Reading Log (150+ minutes)
  • Work on President's Piece () 
  • Remember to be using rich vocab, details and beautiful descriptive language!
  • Top Banana Contest due October 31st.
    

October 10th - 13th, 2016

• The date for shark dissecting has been set for Friday, October 21st, weather permitting. Our dissecting lab will be set up on the patio right outside our classroom. Rain Date on Monday, October 24.  Students are encouraged to bring an old t-shirt or apron that can be worn on top of normal clothes to protect their clothing.  Please email me if you are interested in helping! Times for shark dissections are:
• Set up sharks and lab tables 8:00 - 8:50
• Mrs. Nisely's class from 9:00 -9:50
• Mrs. Curran's class from 10:00 - 10:50
• Mrs. Russ' class from 11:00 - 11:50
• Clean up and dispose of sharks 11:50-12:10

• HELP NEEDED: We need a room mom or dad to help organize our parties this year.  If you are available to help, please let me know.

• Fall Parties are on October 31st. If you'd like to volunteer or be our room mom/dad this year, please let me know.  Students are allowed to bring a costume for the parade later in the day, however it should not take longer than 15 minutes to get changed. Remember, no masks are allowed due to school rules!
• Parent/Teacher conferences this week. Please, 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.

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

Literacy - 

• Weekly Reading Log (150+ minutes)
• Work on President's Piece (Taylan) 
• Remember to be using rich vocab, details and beautiful descriptive language!
• Top Banana Contest due October 31st (see last weeks blog post)

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.

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/

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.

September 12th - 16th, 2016

• 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

 

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

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

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Literacy - Weekly Reading Log (150+ minutes)

May 2-6, 2016

• Flex Day Testing is this week and next week! If you haven't signed up, please do so as soon as possible via SignUpGenius. If you don't remember your time slot, please check the SignUpGenius, linked below:

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c084fa4ac2ea5fb6-may2016

• We have a field trip to Lookout Mountain on May 18th! Keep an eye out for permission slips going home in Friday folders, please return them with $3 as soon as possible!

• For our biography projects, student's final presentation will be our “wax museum” presentation and a written biography, on Wednesday, May 11th at 8:50 - 9:45 a.m. Students will come to school dressed as their notable person. School clothes need to be brought to school to be changed into for the remaining day.

• The coming weeks are going to be incredibly busy, and will be going by quick, so please be prepared and aware of what's happening!

Dates to Remember:

• May 6 & 9 - Flex Day Testing (by appointment only)
• May 11 - 4th grade Wax Museum
• May 11 - 4th grade Musical
• May 17 - Intermediate Field Day
• May 18 - Lookout Mountain Field Trip

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Literacy - Weekly Reading Log (150+ minutes)