Behind the Scenes - Week of September 3

Weekly Spotlight:
*No school on Monday - Labor Day.
*Fourth and Fifth Grade Curriculum Night on Wednesday, 6:30 - 7:30 (Parents Only)
*Math MAP Testing on Thursday.
*Spelling Test on Friday.  Three spelling activities are due, on Friday, for both regular spellers and challenge spellers.

Curriculum Night:  Fourth grade Curriculum Night is scheduled for Wednesday, September 5th, starting at 6:30 p.m. This is an important evening that will highlight significant 4th grade information. Parents will begin the evening in the gymnasium.  Then you will meet with your child's math teacher.  You will end the evening in your child's homeroom.

MAP Testing:  We will be taking the Math MAP test on Thursday.  Please make sure your child is well rested and eats a healthy breakfast.

Coming Attractions:
*Reading MAP Testing on Monday, September 10
*Beginning Band Parent Meeting on Monday, September 10, 7:00-8:00
*Magazine Drive Kick Off on Tuesday, September 11
*Beginning Band Sign-up on Thursday, September 13, 3:30 to 7:30 p.m.- Band Room
*Beginning Band Sign-up on Monday, September 17, 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. - Band Room
*Magazine Turn-In on Tuesday, September 18
*Magazine Turn-In on Tuesday, September 25
*Picture Day on Thursday, September 27
*Last Magazine Turn-In on Thursday, September 27
*Early Dismissal on Friday, September 28, 2012, 11:00 a.m.

Homeroom Happenings:
Spelling - The children took a spelling pretest on Friday.  If they missed 2 or less, they have become a challenge speller.  They should have chosen challenge spelling words.  Check your child's spelling pocket for their list.  If your child missed 3 or more, they are working on the regular weekly spelling list.  This week, both challenge and regular spellers will choose 3 activities, from a list of over 20 activities, to complete using their spelling words.  These 3 activities should be done in your child's spelling spiral and are due Friday.  Please have your child use both front and back of pages in their spelling spiral.  On Friday, challenge spellers have the choice of keeping their pretest score or retaking the weekly spelling test for a higher grade.

English - Your child's Unit 2 English Contract is now in their English pocket.  We will begin our first English lesson on Tuesday.  This week we will cover the following lessons:  What is a noun?, Common and Proper Nouns, Singular and Plural Nouns, and Nouns ending in y.  Please have your child explain their contract and the enrichment option they have chosen.  All enrichment work will be done at school.

Science - We were unable to begin any science lessons last week. This week we will cover science safety and tools.

Social Studies - This week, we will begin our unit on Government.  The children will have vocabulary to review throughout the week. They should bring home their Social Studies spiral which will have the words and their definitions.  

Mrs. Sulima's Math Class:
Monday - No school.
Tuesday - Expanded form using Powers of Ten.  HW:  Review X6, X7, X8, and X9.
Wednesday - Thousandths (decimals and fractions).  HW:  Review X6, X7, X8, X9, and WB pg. 3.
Thursday - No math due to MAP testing.
Friday - Decimals greater than one.  HW:  Review X10, X11, X12, and WB pg. 4.

Behind the Scenes - Week of August 27

Weekly Spotlight:
*First day of school (full day) on Monday.
*Math placement tests for students new to the district on Tuesday.
*First day of math class on Wednesday.

Coming Attractions:
*No school on Monday, September 3.
*Fourth Grade Curriculum Night (parents only) on Wednesday, September 5.
*Beginning Band Sign-up on September 13 & 17.
*Picture Day on Thursday, September 27.
*Early Dismissal on Friday, September 28, 11:00.

Homeroom Happenings:
Spelling - We will not have a spelling unit this week.  Since there is no school on Monday, September 3, we will take our first spelling pretest this Friday.  The children will have their first spelling test on Friday, September 7.  Spelling homework will be due the day of the test.

English - The children will take their first English pretest on Wednesday.  After I grade these pretests, each child will receive an enrichment contract.  If they passed out of any lessons, they will be working on an enrichment project while I teach the lesson.  Your child's contract will be in the English pocket of their binder by Friday.  We will begin our first English lesson on Tuesday, September 4.

Reading - We will begin the year with a review of all the reading strategies covered in 3rd grade.  The children will receive their first novel study this week.  We will be reading Escaping the Giant Wave by Peg Kehert.  

Science - Our first study in science will be on safety and tools.

Social Studies - We will begin the year with a mini-unit on Government.  The children will be completing a Patriotic quest over the next two weeks.

Mrs. Sulima's Math Class:
*We will begin switching for math on Wednesday.  Our first unit will be on place value.  The children will also be practicing their multiplication facts each night.  Mastery of facts through 12 X 12 is expected at the beginning of the school year! 

Behind the Scenes - Welcome Back!!

Our "Open House" is tomorrow, Friday, August 24, from 1:30-3:00.  Bring your supplies.  There will be a checklist to complete during your visit.  I look forward to meeting each and every one of you!

Check back here often for Mrs. Sulima's "Behind the Scenes."