Week 23 (January 30-February 3, 2012)

Click to see who’s our next Star of the Week.

Secure email accounts have been created for your student.  You will be able to access his/her email account at any time.  However, no one can use them until your consent form (sent out last Thursday) is signed and returned.  Fourth grade will make use of these accounts often.

Thanks to everyone who helped at/participated in the Medieval Feast.  I’m told lots of photos and video are on the way.

Science Fair is February 2.  Click here for the details.  I’ve fielded a bunch of questions this weekend.  Regarding your hypothesis, try to frame them as “if/then” statements.  Some student examples:

• “If carbonation increases chemical reactions, then adding baking soda to pop will increase the release of gases at a greater rate than other liquids.”
• “Since metal can handle the heat created by electricity, then an aluminum cup will keep a drink hot for a longer time than other materials.”

Class pictures will be taken this Friday.  Students must wear school uniforms.  No non-Legacy Academy sweatshirts may be worn in the pictures.

Flashcards. In the box.net sidebar to your right, “Week 23″ includes Quizlet.com links to flashcards for:

• Open Court vocabulary, and
• multiplication facts

Thanks to Mrs. Cook, first grade, for sharing.

Please check this blog and their planners each night:

Math.  All Tapes, and some Keyboards, will test this week. I’ll be reteaching concepts to select groups again this week.  All students need practice on multiplication facts and how to divide.

      Keyboards and Tapes should practice their multiplication facts daily at http://quizlet.com/421821 .

Daily Oral Language (DOL). Students edit two sentences daily in class using neu.annotate, an iPad app. Additionally, students will edit two similar sentences weekly for a quiz grade (to see if they can apply their newfound editing knowledge).

Spelling. Students are now copying their spelling words into their planners on Mondays:

• NOTE: everybody has the same spelling list this week
• NOTE:  they will be doing sentences that incorporate their spelling words, therefore, NO SPELLING TEST this week

Vocabulary. All students take a five word vocabulary test every Friday.

All testing in my classes will occur this Friday as follows (again, you can download printable study guides for reading and language arts at “Week 23″ in the sidebar on the right):

• Daily Oral Language (DOL). They’ll practice test on some of the sentences edited each morning in class. Look for:
  • –Practice sentences, and
  • –Answer key (available Monday night)
• Spelling.
  • –Spelling list (available Monday night)
• Vocabulary.
  • –Vocabulary words (available Monday night)
• Open Court. The reading comprehension exam will be comprised of short answer and multiple choice questions. It is always an “open book” test.
  • –“Shadow of a Bull“ (study guide is NOT available online)

Week 22 (January 23-27, 2012)

Click to see who’s our next Star of the Week.

Permission slips for the Medieval Feast (this Friday, January 27) were sent home last week in your kiddo’s planner.  Click here to go to Mrs. Waide’s blog, and find her “History” section for information about the festivities.

Science Fair is February 2.  Click here for the details.

Flashcards. In the box.net sidebar to your right, “Week 22″ includes Quizlet.com links to flashcards for:

• Open Court vocabulary, and
• multiplication facts

Fluffy, the cat, is a lifelong learner

Please check this blog and their planners each night:

Math.  They will pretest this week.  I will again be reteaching concepts to all groups this week.  For example, there are students that have not mastered basic arithmetic algorithms, while others need support with multi-digit multiplication and division.

      Keyboards and Tapes should practice their multiplication facts daily at http://quizlet.com/421821 .

Daily Oral Language (DOL). Students edit two sentences daily in class and will test on some of the same sentences each Friday. Additionally, students will edit two similar sentences weekly for a quiz grade (to see if they can apply their newfound editing knowledge).

Spelling. Students are now copying their spelling words into their planners on Mondays:

• NOTE: everybody has the same spelling list this week
• NOTE:  they will be doing sentences that incorporate their spelling words, therefore, NO SPELLING TEST this week

Vocabulary. All students take a five word vocabulary test every Friday.

All testing in my classes will occur this Thursday and Friday as follows (again, you can download printable study guides for reading and language arts at “Week 22″ in the sidebar on the right):

• Daily Oral Language (DOL). They’ll practice test on some of the sentences edited each morning in class. Look for:
• –Practice sentences, and
• –Answer key (available Monday night)
• Spelling.
• –Spelling list (available Monday night)
• Vocabulary.
• –Vocabulary words (available Monday night)
• Open Court. The reading comprehension exam will be comprised of short answer and multiple choice questions. It is always an “open book” test.
• –“The Story of Susan La Flesche Picotte“ (study guide is available online)

Week 21 (January 16-20, 2012)

Click to see who’s our next Star of the Week.

Science Fair is February 2.  Click here for the details.

Flashcards. In the box.net sidebar to your right, “Week 21″ includes Quizlet.com links to flashcards for:

• Open Court vocabulary, and
• multiplication facts

FaceTime for apes: orangutans use iPads to video chat with friends in other zoos

Please check this blog and their planners each night:

Math.  They will pretest this week.  I will be reteaching concepts to all groups this week.  For example, there are students that have not mastered basic arithmetic algorithms, while others need support with multi-digit multiplication and division.

      Keyboards and Tapes should practice their multiplication facts daily at http://quizlet.com/421821 .

Daily Oral Language (DOL). Students edit two sentences daily in class and will test on some of the same sentences each Friday. Additionally, students will edit two similar sentences weekly for a quiz grade (to see if they can apply their newfound editing knowledge).

Spelling. Students are now copying their spelling words into their planners on Mondays. NOTE: everybody has the same spelling list this week.

Vocabulary. All students take a five word vocabulary test every Friday.

All testing in my classes will occur this Thursday and Friday as follows (again, you can download printable study guides for reading and language arts at “Week 21″ in the sidebar on the right):

• Daily Oral Language (DOL). They’ll practice test on some of the sentences edited each morning in class. Look for:
• –Practice sentences, and
• –Answer key (available Monday night)
• Spelling.
• –Spelling list (available Monday night)
• Vocabulary.
• –Vocabulary words (available Monday night)
• Open Court. The reading comprehension exam will be comprised of short answer and multiple choice questions. It is always an “open book” test.
• –“The New Doctor“ (study guide is available online)

The Joy of Books [video]

What a great bookstore!

Week 20 (January 9-13, 2012)

Report cards went home today.  Check your child’s Monday folder.

Click to see who’s our next Star of the Week.

Martin Luther King Day. No school next Monday, January 16.  Your student can listen to Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech by clicking here.

Science Fair is February 2.  Click here for the details.

Flashcards. In the box.net sidebar to your right, “Week 20″ includes Quizlet.com links to flashcards for:

• Open Court study guide and vocabulary, and
• multiplication facts

Untitled by Alex Shoykhetbrod

Please check this blog and their planners each night:

Math.  They will test this week:

• (Math group) Keyboards classwork for this week are lessons 32-35.
• (Math group) Tapes classwork classwork for this week are lessons 32-35.
• Keyboards and Tapes should practice their multiplication facts daily at http://quizlet.com/421821 .

Daily Oral Language (DOL). Students edit two sentences daily in class and will test on some of the same sentences each Friday. Additionally, students will edit two similar sentences weekly for a quiz grade (to see if they can apply their newfound editing knowledge).

Spelling. Students are now copying their spelling words into their planners on Mondays. NOTE: everybody has the same spelling list this week.

Vocabulary. All students take a five word vocabulary test every Friday.

All testing in my classes will occur this Thursday and Friday as follows (again, you can download printable study guides for reading and language arts at “Week 20″ in the sidebar on the right):

• Daily Oral Language (DOL). They’ll practice test on some of the sentences edited each morning in class. Look for:
• –Practice sentences, and
• –Answer key (available Monday night)
• Spelling.
• –Spelling list (available Monday night)
• Vocabulary.
• –Vocabulary words (available Monday night)
• Open Court. The reading comprehension exam will be comprised of short answer and multiple choice questions. It is always an “open book” test.
• –“Emily’s Hands-On Science Experiment“ (study guide is available online)

Science Fair, February 2

Don’t start cussin’ me.  I found out about this last Friday, January 6.  We are all scrambling and in this together.

Every fourth grader is required to complete a science fair project for the Legacy Academy Science Fair on February 2.

They will receive a project grade in science for the 3rd quarter.

A written report will NOT be required for fourth graders.  However, the written steps the student followed to reach their conclusions will be part of their project board display.

First deadline:  your students must give me their idea for a project by Friday, January 13.

Look in your kiddo’s Monday folder for their science fair packets.  There will be two items:

1. The “Dear Parents” letter which includes information on:

• types of science fair projects (note:  I highly recommend fourth graders consider an invention project versus an investigation, but it is their call),
• judging,
• preliminary timeline, i.e., when stuff is due for my review,
• project steps, i.e., how to proceed with an investigation,
• 10 steps to an invention project, and
• various judging rubrics (you are only concerned with the last one for “elementary” students.

2. The student project planner, i.e., the working document for your student’s project.

For those of you that can’t wait till Monday evening to review the packets, you can view/download documents by clicking on each item:

• Preliminary packet,
• Project timeline;
• Science fair project planner

Week 19 (January 2-6, 2012)

Click to see who’s our next Star of the Week.

Flashcards. In the box.net sidebar to your right, “Week 19″ includes Quizlet.com links to flashcards for:

• Open Court vocabulary, and
• multiplication facts

Please check this blog and their planners each night:

Math.  They will not test this week:

• (Math group) Keyboards classwork for this week are lessons 32-35.
• (Math group) Tapes classwork classwork for this week are lessons 32-35.
• Keyboards and Tapes should practice their multiplication facts daily at http://quizlet.com/421821 .

Daily Oral Language (DOL). Students edit two sentences daily in class and will test on some of the same sentences each Friday. Additionally, students will edit two similar sentences weekly for a quiz grade (to see if they can apply their newfound editing knowledge).

Spelling. Students are now copying their spelling words into their planners on Mondays. NOTE: everybody has the same spelling list this week.

Vocabulary. All students take a five word vocabulary test every Friday.

All testing in my classes will occur this Thursday and Friday as follows (again, you can download printable study guides for reading and language arts at “Week 19″ in the sidebar on the right):

• Daily Oral Language (DOL). They’ll practice test on some of the sentences edited each morning in class. Look for:
• –Practice sentences, and
• –Answer key (available Monday night)
• Spelling.
• –Spelling list (available Monday night)
• Vocabulary.
• –Vocabulary words (available Monday night)
• Open Court. The reading comprehension exam will be comprised of short answer and multiple choice questions. It is always an “open book” test.
• –“The Bridge Dancers“ (study guide is available online)

Week 18 newsletter (December 12-16, 2011)

Please have your student bring in his/her favorite Christmas/holiday/seasonal book. We will be reading them aloud in class throughout  this week. I’ll try to make certain they are returned to you in one piece.  The Grinch, for example, would be excellent.

Holiday Break.  Friday is a half-day. I’m not certain when our party starts. I’ll let you know

Thank you for making Market Day a success.

Click to see who’s our next Star of the Week.

Online parent surveys can be completed through December 23.  An invitation/link will be sent to you via email.  You will receive credit for two volunteer hours upon its completion.

Flashcards. In the box.net sidebar to your right, “Week 18″ includes Quizlet.com links to flashcards for:

• Open Court vocabulary and study guide, and
• multiplication facts

Please check this blog and their planners each night:

Math.  They will pretest and test much of this week:

• (Math group) Keyboards should have completed all classwork thru lessons 30-31.
• (Math group) Tapes should have completed all classwork thru lessons 30-31.
• Keyboards and Tapes should practice their multiplication facts daily at http://quizlet.com/421821 .

Students will be catching up any missing assignments and working together on a couple of small group math activities.

Daily Oral Language (DOL). Students edit two sentences daily in class and will test on some of the same sentences each Friday. Additionally, students will edit two similar sentences weekly for a quiz grade (to see if they can apply their newfound editing knowledge).

Spelling. Students are now copying their spelling words into their planners on Mondays. NOTE: everybody has the same spelling list this week.

Vocabulary. All students take a five word vocabulary test every Friday.

All testing in my classes will occur this Thursday as follows (again, you can download printable study guides for reading and language arts at “Week 18″ in the sidebar on the right):

• Daily Oral Language (DOL). They’ll practice test on some of the sentences edited each morning in class. Look for:
• –Practice sentences, and
• –Answer key (available Monday night)
• Spelling.
• –Spelling list (available Monday night)
• Vocabulary.
• –Vocabulary words (available Monday night)
• Open Court. The reading comprehension exam will be comprised of short answer and multiple choice questions. It is always an “open book” test.
• –“The Milkmaid and Her Pail“ (study guide is available online)

Market Day 2011

Our fourth graders sold at a rate of approximately $10 a minute, grossing over $900 today.  It was packed, raucous, and memorable.

Images will be posted later (the iPad was not ideal for action images, by the way).  This video provides a glimpse of the good craziness of Market Day.

Week 17 (December 5-9, 2011)

Click to see who’s our next Star of the Week.

Online parent surveys can be completed through December 23.  An invitation/link will be sent to you via email.  You will receive credit for two volunteer hours upon its completion.

Scholastic Book Fair (December 5-9). Students will be dismissed to make purchases throughout the week.

Market Day is Friday, December 9. Here are some helpful hints for your biz kids.  Volunteers are needed for setup and tear down.  Contact Mrs. Waide or me.

Flashcards. In the box.net sidebar to your right, “Week 17″ includes Quizlet.com links to flashcards for:

• Open Court vocabulary,
• Open Court spelling, and
• multiplication facts

Please check this blog and their planners each night:

Math.  They will test this week:

• (Math group) Keyboards classwork for this week are lessons 30-31.
• (Math group) Tapes classwork classwork for this week are lessons 30-31.
• Keyboards and Tapes should practice their multiplication facts daily at http://quizlet.com/421821 .

Students will be catching up any missing assignments and working together on a couple of small group math activities.

Daily Oral Language (DOL). Students edit two sentences daily in class and will test on some of the same sentences each Friday. Additionally, students will edit two similar sentences weekly for a quiz grade (to see if they can apply their newfound editing knowledge).

Spelling. Students are now copying their spelling words into their planners on Mondays. NOTE: everybody has the same spelling list this week.

Vocabulary. All students take a five word vocabulary test every Friday.

All testing in my classes will occur this Thursday and Friday as follows (again, you can download printable study guides for reading and language arts at “Week 17″ in the sidebar on the right):

• Daily Oral Language (DOL). They’ll practice test on some of the sentences edited each morning in class. Look for:
• –Practice sentences, and
• –Answer key (available Monday night)
• Spelling.
• –Spelling list (available Monday night)
• Vocabulary.
• –Vocabulary words (available Monday night)
• Open Court. The reading comprehension exam will be comprised of short answer and multiple choice questions. It is always an “open book” test.
• –“Medicine: Past and Present“ (study guide is NOT available online)