Worm Race Results - September 29

All the children did a wonderful job creating their race tracks and choosing variables to encourage their worms to travel as fast as possible to the finish line. We had some close races!

Our winners were:

1st Place : Max

2nd Place: Tamara

3rd Place: Sean

4th Place: Andy

We had an exciting race day! Congratulations to all students for their hard work, great sportsmanship, and creativity!

Sulima's Scoop - Week on September 28

Weekly Reminders:
*Bullying program for 45 minutes each day (Monday - Thursday).
*Lesson 5 spelling pretest on Monday.
*Final magazine turn-in on Tuesday.
*Picture Day on Thursday.
*Lesson 5 spelling test on Friday.
*100 minute reading chart due Friday.
*W.O.W. assessment on Friday.
*Northeast map test on Friday.


Homeroom Happenings:

Science - On Tuesday, the children will bring in their worms and racetracks. They should also bring back the "race rules" packet which included a grading sheet and the design plan. We will conclude the week, by reviewing all the key words and concepts from the first few lessons. The children will be taking a test on this introductory chapter on Monday, October 5.

Social Studies - We will finish chapter 4, lesson 1 early in the week. During the remainder of the week, we will focus on the resources of the northeast. Our Northeast map test will be on Friday. The children will need to know the location and correct spelling of each state in the Northeast. If they identify the capital (spelling just needs to be close), they will earn 1/4 bonus point for each.

W.O.W. Words - The words of the week are ebullient, arrogant, meticulous, impetuous, and presumptuous. Please help your child review these personality words and to use these words in sentences.

Spelling - Our spelling words all contain "oi." Please continue to help your child practice their spelling words in cursive.

English - We will finish the unit 5 lessons by continuing to practice proper use of quotation marks. Our final lesson will be on writing titles correctly. We will fill out a "how to study" sheet on Wednesday and review on Thursday. Our test on this unit will be on Tuesday, October 6. All enrichment projects will be due the day of the test.

Reading - At the beginning of the week we will finish reading Akiak. The children will fill out a story map while they are reading the story. At the end of the week, we will begin our next novel study - Charlotte's Web. We will be using this book to do character studies and questioning.

Accelerated Math Menu:
Monday - Comparing and Ordering Decimals
Tuesday - Rounding Decimals
Wednesday - Checkpoint #2/"How to Study" sheet
Thursday - Review for Chapter 1 Test.
Friday - Chapter 1 Test.

Sulima's Scoop - Week of September 21

Weekly Reminders:

*Lesson 4 spelling pretest on Monday.

*Early Dismissal on Tuesday, 11:00.

*Magazine Turn-in Day on Tuesday.

*Soccer P.E. test on Wednesday.
*Math Check-up on Wednesday.
*Magazine Turn in Day on Friday.
*Lesson 4 spelling test on Friday.
*100 minute reading chart due Friday.

*Scholastic Book Orders due Friday.

Lunch in the Library:

On October 8, the IMC is the place to be! Come talk about books while we munch on lunch with other readers. Bring a chapter book you really enjoyed reading, and tell us about it! You'll also hear about other great books you might like to read.

**A flyer was sent home. Please sign the bottom portion and return to school if your child would like to join Mrs. Walsh-Rock for "Lunch in the Library."**

Classroom Happenings:

Science - We will put the scientific method to the test as we begin our worm study. Please help your child create a worm habitat (dirt, leaves, grass) and find a worm for Monday. The worm habitat should be in a small plastic tub. Butter, Cool Whip, Gladware containers would be the perfect size. If the container is too large it becomes difficult to locate and remove the worm. We talked about finding moist areas, like under a large rock, for finding worms. If anyone finds more than one worm, please send them in. Larger worms are better for observing. The skinny, short ones seem to just curl up the whole time the students are trying to observe them. Thank you for your help with this study!

Social Studies - We are beginning our tour of the five regions of the United States. We will begin in the Northeast. The students will be filling out a Northeast map early in the week. On the map they will list the state capital and state name. They will need to begin studying these states & capitals (bonus) and their locations for our Northeast region test on Friday, October 2. Spelling of state names will count. Students can receive 1/4 bonus point for each capital labeled correctly. Spelling of capitals just needs to be close. We will not fill out a "how to study" sheet for the region map tests.

W.O.W. Words - Our W.O.W. words of the week are: mediate, mediocre, medieval, media, and intermediate. Please review the meanings of these words with your child and encourage them to use the words in sentences. Children will be assessed on these words on Friday.

Spelling - We will be working with Lesson 4 spelling words this week. All of the words contain "ea." Continue to help your child study for our spelling tests and practice writing their words in cursive.

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English - The children will have English on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday due to early dismissal on Tuesday. This week, we will focus on more uses of commas and correctly using quotation marks. As of right now, it looks like our test on this unit will be on Tuesday, October 6. All enrichment projects (which are being done in school) will be due on the day of the test.

Reading - We will continue working on predictions. The children will also focus on visualization and story structure. We will also be reading and doing activities with a story called Akiak. Your child can visit the site listed below to find out more about the author and play the e-word game.

http://www.eduplace.com/kids/hmr/gr4/gr4_th1_sel1.html

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Accelerated Math Menu:

Monday - We will work on rounding whole numbers. The children will not always be asked to round to the greatest place value. For example: Round 23,785,345 to the nearest thousand. The answer would be: 23,785,000.

Tuesday - We will not have math due to the early dismissal.

Wednesday - The children will take an open-book/notes check-up today. It will assess the following concepts:

>Value of digits through billions

>Expressing numbers in standard form, word form, and expanded form

>Comparing whole numbers using < , > , and =.

>Ordering whole numbers from least to greatest or greatest to least.

>Rounding whole numbers.

Thursday & Friday - We will work on understanding decimal place value.

Sulima's Scoop - Week of September 14

Weekly Reminders:
*Lesson 3 spelling pretest on Monday.
*Beginning Band Meeting - Parents Only - on Monday night.
*Fourth Grade Math Assessment in my math class on Tuesday.
*Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing test on Wednesday.
*Beginning Band Parent Conferences on Wednesday and Thursday, 3:30-8:00.
*Children need to bring a recorder for music class on Friday.
*Chapter 2, lesson 2 & 3 social studies test on Friday.
*Lesson 3 spelling test on Friday.

Homeroom Happenings:
Science - We will continue working on our Introductory Chapter this week. Our focus will be on inquiry skills and the scientific method.

Social Studies - We will learn about our rights and responsibilities as U.S. citizens. The children will take a test on lesson 2 and 3 on Friday. We will fill out a "how to study" sheet on Wednesday. If your child brings their "how to study" sheet back on Friday. They will receive 2 bonus points on their test. The children will be allowed to use their textbook and notes during the test.

Vocabulary - The category for our words this week will be "at the mall." Our W.O.W. words are thrifty, negotiate, warranty, redeem, and rebate. Please discuss and use these words with your child throughout the week.

Spelling - We will work with lesson 3 words. The children will need to correctly add the suffixes "ful" and "less" to words ending in a silent e. Do not drop the "e" before adding the suffix. Continue to practice writing the spelling words in cursive with your child throughout the week.

English - We will continue our unit on Capitalization and Punctuation. The children will learn about correctly writing the names of places and things, writing abbreviations, and making lists using commas in a series.

Reading - On Monday, the children will fill out a "how to study" sheet for our vocabulary and comprehension test for Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing on Wednesday. The children will be allowed to use their notes and book during the test. If your child turns in their "how to study" sheet on the day of the test, they will earn 2 bonus points on their test.

Throughout the rest of the week, the students will use their predication skills to solve "Puzzlers". They are given a made up word which stands for something. They have to use the clues that I give them to figure out the word. We will also be working with prefixes, suffixes and rootwords this week along with figuring out probable outcomes to a story by using context and picture clues.

Accelerated Math Menu:
Monday: We will play a game reviewing all the fourth grade concepts we have covered. Don't forget to bring your "how to study" sheet back tomorrow for 2 bonus points on your test.

Tuesday: The children will take the fourth grade assessment. Each child will also receive a fifth grade textbook and workbook.

Wednesday: We will begin a unit on place value by studying place value to the billions.

Thursday: We will work on comparing and ordering whole numbers.

Friday: The children will learn how to play the "place value" game. They will also receive an extra gameboard to be able to play at home.

Sulima's Scoop - Week of September 7th

Thank You!

I would like to thank all of the parents who were able to attend Curriculum Night on Thursday. I enjoyed sharing information with you about the fourth grade program. I would also like to thank the parents who "volunteered" to come up and help with the presentation. You all did a WONDERFUL job - gold stars for all of you! For those of you who were unable to attend due to work, childcare, or other commitments, please look through the items that will be sent home with your child. If you have questions, please e-mail me or send a note.

Weekly Reminders:

*No school on Monday - Labor Day.

*Please remember to review the 4th grade policy sheets with your child and send back the signed slip ASAP.

*Lesson 2 spelling pretest on Tuesday.

*Lesson 2 spelling test on Friday (in cursive).

*Magazine Drive Kick-off Assembly on Friday.

*Back-to-School Bingo Night on Friday (Mrs. Sulima will be attending.)

If you would like to donate a new or slightly used backpack, you can have your child bring it to school, or if your child is attending Bingo Night on September 11th, the backpacks can be brought that evening.

Homeroom Happenings:

Science - We will continue our focus on inquiry and the scientific method.

Social Studies - The children will work on a patriotic quest. We are learning about the three levels of government: local, state, and national. The children are also exploring the three branches of government: Legislative, Executive, and Judicial.

Vocabulary - Due to the Labor Day Holiday, we will not be doing W.O.W. words this week. We will only do W.O.W. words on 5 day weeks.

Spelling - We will work with the lesson 2 words. The rule for the week is do not drop the silent e when adding ly. Please help your child practice their words (lesson 2 or alternate) in cursive.

English - Our first unit on capitalization and punctuation will begin this week. The children who passed out of specific lessons will be working on enrichment projects (in school) on the days that I teach the lessons that they have already mastered. English lessons will be on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday only.

Reading - The children will present their "how to" speeches on Tuesday. They should come prepared with note cards, that list the steps in order, and pictures, props, or other items. I want the children to have fun with this first speech! We will also continue to read Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing this week. I hope the children are enjoying this book. It is a book that always makes me laugh.

Accelerated Math Menu:

Monday - No School.

Tuesday - Continue to review using mental math to divide, estimating quotients with compatible numbers, and division with remainders.

Wednesday - We will take a 5-minute multiplication drill. The children will also take a check-up on estimating products, algebra, using mental math to divide, estimating quotients with compatible numbers, and division with remainders.

Thursday - We will review all the 4th grade concepts we have covered this school year by listing what will be tested on the 4th grade assessment that will be on Tuesday, Septemeber 15. The children will fill out their first "how to study" sheet.

Friday - We will review for the 4th grade assessment by continuing to practice division with remainders. Don't forget to bring your "how to study" sheet back on Tuesday for 2 bonus points on your 4th grade assessment. I will not accept "how to study" sheets before or after test day.

Great Links for Practicing Your Multiplication Facts:

http://www.gamequarium.com/multiplication.html

http://www.helpingwithmath.com/by_subject/multiplication/mul_games.htm

http://www.kidsnumbers.com/multiplication.php

http://www.funbrain.com/tictactoe/index.html

http://www.funbrain.com/math/index.html

http://www.funbrain.com/osa/index.html