April showers bring May flowers...

We should have a botanical garden in May with as much rain as we have had!

Math: Math Minute 56; Problems of the Day

Reading: Got TOFGN tests back; Six-Minute Solution; Jackie's Nine - Justice; Consonant digraphs "nk" and "ng"
Reading homework: If your project is not complete, that is still homework

Social Studies: Considered the song "Home on the Range" as part of our tour of the Midwest

Science: Ch. 11 test

Parents!

Hello!

I am in the midst of completing a special project for the students, and I need some help. It requires some baby photos of the students. If you have a photo I can scan, I promise I will return it in good shape. If you have a photo that is already digital, would you mind sending it to me via e-mail? I am hoping to round up all photos by May.

Thanks!

Only one (late) reminder for tomorrow: Mark chart slips are due and the students have a science test tomorrow.

Happy Sunday!

Gone for a few

I will be gone to meetings for a couple of days (Wednesday and Thursday). The students and I discussed what the next few days will entail, and the information should be written in their planners. Grade sheets will not go home this week.

Math: Students will have a math assessment this Friday. Most of the assessment will be based on multiplication and division of three- and two- digit numbers. One part of the assessment will cover recognizing points in the first quadrant of the coordinate grid. Students will spend class time on Wednesday practicing their skills. A good deal of Wednesday and Thursday will involve students working on Problems of the Day.

Language Arts: Students will complete spelling/phonics activities. They will read and answer questions about a booklet about Thomas Edison. Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing projects are due on Friday. Students should be finishing these and preparing to present their projects. The students had a final chance today to discuss the grading rubric and ask questions before the due date.

Social Studies: We are now discovering the Midwestern states. Students will spend time working on puzzles that include different points of interest in each of the 12 Midwestern states, as well as their nicknames.

Science: Test on Chapter 11 Monday. Students have many things from which to study. They are expected to make a study guide (started in class) with the various terms from the chapter. On Wednesday, they will finish a crossword puzzle that will help them review. On Thursday, they will read and discuss some science-related articles.

Popcorn Friday is this Friday! Money is due Thursday for interested students. Twenty-five cents a bag! What a deal!

Spring?

The snow is melting, but it's still freezing. Makes you wonder which part of the globe is "warming."

I was absent yesterday. In my absence, some students made poor behavior choices. Those students served lunch detentions today. We will be having a field trip at the end of the year for students who follow our code: they are courteous, cooperative, and committed members of the Irving School community. We have spoken of this in class and more will be sent home on this. When students are disruptive for a guest teacher, they are not following this code. If this behavior is consistent, the students involved will not join us for our trip. The Friday mark chart slips will relay information about individual student behaviors, particularly in the three key areas of our code.

I have two absences scheduled for next week for Wednesday and Thursday. This offers an opportunity for students to demonstrate improved behavior.

Math: got assessments back; completed Math Minute 51; checked yesterday's classwork

Reading: Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing review; corrected vocabulary puzzles; got spelling/phonics assessments back and reviewed them
Reading homework: Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing test tomorrow; prepare 4-point essay (question on study guide); prepare folder

Social Studies: Geography Challenge for the Midwest

Science: no class today

A big assessment day tomorrow

Sorry for the late posting today! A lot of things got in the way tonight.

Math: Math Minute Review
Math homework: Math Minute assessment tomorrow; look over Math Minutes 46-50 and the study guide

Language arts: Jackie's Nine (Integrity); "gh" as the sound of /f/ activity; got information about TOFGN assessment; took TOFGN Reading Counts! test
Language arts homework: Assessment tomorrow on first 6 spelling/phonics activities; get TOFGN assessment packet signed

Social studies: Test review
Social studies homework: Ch. 6 test tomorrow; study review guide and billboard activity; know the states of the Southeast on a map

Science: Matter group work wrapped up; chapter review begun

No grade sheets tonight

Grade sheets will not be going home this week. The planner is still headed home for a signature.

Math: Spring Training; multiplication assessment
Math homework: Worksheet for students who needed extra practice

Language Arts: Finished Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing; Six-Minute Solution; Silent "gh" crossword

Science: Matter group work

Social Studies: Discussed "billboard" test question
Social Studies homework: Prepare "billboard" test question (sheet should have come home); study state locations on a map for the Southeast