October 28th - November 1st, 2013

• Our Shark investigation was fantastic! Students worked hard to complete this lesson while science note booking. 
• Halloween Fall Festival, Wednesday, October 31st - parties 2:15-3:30. Students may bring a costume to school on the morning of the 31^st 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 31^st.
• Hearing and vision: November 6^th.
• Report Cards: November 15th.
• Comp Day, no school:  November 25th.
• Thanksgiving Break November 26-29th.
• Hawk Quest Assembly: October 31st from 10:30 - 11:30.

1.  Math Homework:  most days, if we complete the in class math lesson, students are expected to bring home a practice homework page.  This page is a great support to exactly what we are working on in class.  Students are also encouraged to work on several of our online sites to promote their math learning.

IXL.Com is an excellent resource new to our classroom.  Students can pick grade levels of practice to either pick up on skills in past grades or push their thinking on grade level or advance to 5th or 6th grade learning. Student work is tracked thru this program and I am able to see the work they have done. To log on:

Google Search:  IXL.com

username:  mathrocks2013

Password: nisely04

Students are also encouraged to go to  https://www-k6.thinkcentral.com/content/hsp/math/hspmath/na/common/mega_math_9780547585062_/launch.html                    for additional practice on the skills we are directly working on in class.

2.  Science:  Please watch the following video and be ready to discuss your learning in class. Go to the following link and search for "Star Dust": http://www.symphonyofscience.com/videos.html

3.  Creating and writing project:  Due:  October 31st.

 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 31^st. 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 31^st, we will share our stories while we enjoy banana splits (with new bananas of course!).

Attached you will find a rubric that will be used to grade you project.

Reminders:

·         The paper should be typed in 12 point, Times New Roman Font.

·         The paper should be a minimum of 1 page typed, double spaced

October 21 - 25th, 2013

• Thank you to parents that took the time out of your busy schedules for conferences this past week. I loved the opportunity to talk about your son/daughter!
• Shark Investigation:  Wednesday, October 23rd, in the morning.  Shark tables will be set up outside, so we need a warm sunny day for our lesson.    Please wear old clothes and bring an old shirt to cover clothing.
• Early Release Day:  Wednesday, October 23rd, 1:00.

Fall Parties, 2:15-3:30. Students may bring a costume to school on the morning of the 31^st 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 31^st.

1.  Please read the following prompt and respond in a one page, paragraph form. Remember to construct interesting, and detailed sentences! You must use a circle and flee map.  The final copy, flee map and circle map will be due next Friday, October 26th.  Share with your parents!

If you could choose one food to never eat again, what would it be? Why?

2.

MATH

Let's practice our math facts!  Play the game below for 15 min. 3 times before Friday.  Here's the clencher...you have to click all the clouds!  Have mom or dad sign in your planner that you fulfilled the requirement and I will pay you 5 PAWS.

http://www.multiplication.com/games/play/flying-high

October 14th - 18th, 2013

• Parent-Teacher Conferences on Wednesday, Thursday, October 16th and 18th. Reminder forms were sent home with students in their planners.

     Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedules to attend.

• Denver Museum of Nature and Science Field Trip:  This coming Friday, October 18th.  Students will need to arrive at school early this day!  8:30 we will prepare to board buses for our trip to the Museum.  Students will pack their own drinks and lunch.  

• Early Release Day:  Wednesday, October 23, 1:00 dismissal.

• Fall Festival Parties and Parade, October 31, 2:15 p.m. 

November 15      Reports Cards go home!

November 25      Comp Day, No School

November 26-29 Thanksgiving Break
December 4        Early Release Day 1:00 Dismissal

1. This assignment is on going and due on Thursday, October 31st.

  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 31^st. 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 31^st, we will share our stories while we enjoy banana splits (with new bananas of course!).

Attached you will find a rubric that will be used to grade you project.

Reminders:

·         The paper should be typed in 12 point, Times New Roman Font.

·         The paper should be a minimum of 1 page typed, double spaced.

Click on this link to practice your math skills:     MEGA MATH

October 7th - 11th, 2013

Fourth Grade Nature and Science Field Trip! :  Friday, October 18th from 8:30-2:30.  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 slips and parent sign up forms are attached to each child's Weekly Reaction sheet in Friday Folders this week.  Permission forms and money need to be turned in by next Friday, October 11th.

Parent-Teacher conferences will be Wednesday, October 16th and Thursday, October 17th.  Your student recorded your conference time in their planner. Please check this time and contact me if we need to reschedule.

Cookie Dough Delivery on Thursday, October 10th.  This is also the day of the limo ride. 

Early Release Day:  October 24th at 1:00 p.m.

1.  Click on the Mega Math word link below to play our math games that directly tie to our math Expressions unit.  Remember the higher the letter is in the alphabet, the more challenging the game.

MEGA MATH


2. Creating and writing project:  Due:  October 31st.

 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 31^st. 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 31^st, we will share our stories while we enjoy banana splits (with new bananas of course!).

Attached you will find a rubric that will be used to grade you project.

Reminders:

·         The paper should be typed in 12 point, Times New Roman Font.

·         The paper should be a minimum of 1 page typed, double spaced

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!