Field Trips

Hello Families! 

We have a field trip coming up on January 21 to the Arizona Capitol. There will be permission slips going home this week. Additionally, there is a $15 charge for this trip because we will be taking an additional trip in late April to the Science Center. Most classes don't get to take two trips, but Mr. Gillingham and Mrs. Mason have allowed us because we study Arizona history in the second & third quarter (which is why we go to the Capitol Museum), and because the students put forth so much effort studying science for the AIMS Science assessment (which is why we want to take them to the science center). Your $10 contribution at registration and the tax credits we receive help to pay for the more expensive trip to the Science Center. The $15 we are asking for additionally will pay for the buses for this trip. 

I will need finger-print cleared chaperones for the trip. For both trips there will be official chaperones that will be responsible for students. However, for both trips parents are welcome to attend. You will only have to provide your own transportation and pay your own entrance fee into the Science Center. The capitol Museum tour is free. 

If you would like to be a chaperone for the upcoming Arizona Capitol field trip, please email me to let me know by Friday, January 10. Class parents are automatically selected as chaperones because of all the work they put in this year if they wish to come. If I have more parent volunteers than needed I will draw names for the available spots. I will send an email early next week to notify those chosen as chaperones. 

 Please feel free to email me if you have any questions! 

Quarter 3- Week 1

Hello Families! 

Welcome back! I hope that the break was full of fun and relaxing for your family. I had a wonderful, relaxing Christmas with my kiddos and husband. My parents and sister & brother-in-law came to visit from Kentucky on New Years and we got to celebrate again! I have soaked up the time off, but I am excited to get back with your kiddos next week! 

What's going on in 4A

• Quarter 2 grades with narrative evaluations are out! Please let me know if you were not able to access this on PowerSchool or if you have any questions. 

• Quarter 3 reading logs will be going home on Monday. Students should spend 20 minutes each night reading, and a parent should initial to confirm that this has been done. Previously these have been due each Monday, however this quarter they will not be turned in until the end of the quarter. Students should take care to keep up with their reading logs throughout the quarter.  

Lessons

Math: We will continue with geometry this week. Students will get more practice with measuring angels with a protractor and identifying acute and obtuse angels. There will be a test on Friday. Students should be practicing their math skills at home with flashcards, XtraMath, and/or Khan Academy. If your child needs their log in information for those sites, please let me know. 

Roots: This week we will learn 6 roots. There will be a comprehension check over these next week. Ideally, students should be spending a few minutes each night reviewing the new roots, as well as a few of the previous roots. 

Spalding: We will learn 10 words on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Thursday we will review all 30 words and test on Friday. 

Poetry: Students will begin memorizing "Concord Hymn" by Ralph Waldo Emerson. 

Science: Students will work in groups reading about either acid rain, biodiversity, climate change, deforestation, or desertification. Groups will create a poster on their topic and present this to the class in their groups on Thursday. 

I will be assigning 4 science readings at the beginning of each week. Students have the option of completing them all at once, or one a night during the week. We will be grading these on Fridays.

History: We will continue in our Arizona unit, learning about Americans in Arizona, the Mexican War, and Territorial Days.

Literature: We will review what we have read in Prince Caspian and continue reading! 

Quarter 2 Grades

Hello Families!

You will be able to access quarter 2 grades and my narrative evaluations soon.  The first paragraph covers sense of wonder & depth of inquiry. The second paragraph is participation, attitude, behavior, work habits and study skills. And finally, the third paragraph is on academics. 

You can find my comments under the "Homeroom" section. All paragraphs are in tact, but because of character limits, some evals are split into different subjects. Let me know if you have questions or are having trouble accessing your child's' grades or eval comments. 

I will update the blog over the weekend with what we will be learning about next week!

Happy Winter Break!

Hello Families! 

We made it to winter break! The class enjoyed a wonderful party today where students wrote letters to their future 18 year old selves and put them in an ornament for safe-keeping, watched Robin Hood, ate pizza and cookies, and exchanged books. The students all seemed very excited about getting a new book to read over the break! 

I wanted to thank each of you for the gifts Mrs. Baugh and I received today from the 4A families! Thank you for your contribution! And thank you to each family who sent in gifts this week! Your generosity is very touching. THANK YOU!

There is, of course, no homework over the break, but if your child would like to start the third quarter with some extra credit they can work on the winter review packet that went home yesterday. Remember that completed packets earn a pizza party! 

It would also be helpful for students to get some math practice in using Khan Academy and XtraMath over the break! I can track students XtraMath logins, and will give 2 points of homework credit in math for each day they login! I didn't share that with the students today, so that will be a surprise for them! Feel free to reach out to me with any questions you may have over the break.

Most importantly, enjoy this time off with your children! This break is well-earned! I wish each of you a very Happy Holiday Season! 

Quarter 2, Week 10

Hello Families!

The final week of this quarter, and of 2019 is finally here! I can hardly believe we are halfway through this school year. This will be a jam-packed short week!

What's going on in 4A

• We will be having a party to celebrate on Wednesday, December 18th starting at 10:30. You can find the sign up here. We will be doing a book exchange, so beginning Monday your child should bring in a new or gently used wrapped book. We want each child to be able to participate, so please let me know if you will not be able to provide a book for your child. 

• Next week Tuesday and Wednesday are half days. The dismissal schedule is as follows: 11:45 K-2 Dismissal, 12:05 3-5 Dismissal, 12:25 Students with Prep siblings. Wednesday is also a Spirit Wear day. There will be no clubs or tutoring next week. 

• We will celebrate our December birthdays on Tuesday, December 17th. If your child has a December birthday and you would like to bring in a treat for the class, please send that in on Tuesday. 

• We will be cleaning out our desks on Wednesday morning before the party. Please send in a sturdy tote bag with your child on Wednesday. They will empty the contents of their desk into this back and keep it on their backpack hook over the break so the desks can all be sanitized. 

• I will send the students home with an optional Math/ELA packet to work on over the break. If students complete the packet they will start Quarter 3 off with some extra credit and get a pizza party with me! 

Lessons

ELA: 

Students will have a practice test for homework over the weekend. We will review this on Monday and have a cumulative test on Tuesday. 

Math: 

We will spend the remainder of this quarter reviewing and practicing fractions. There will be no math homework. 

Poetry: 

Students will be reciting "A Flag Goes By" on Monday this week. 

Roots: 

There will be a cumulative roots test over all 44 words we have learned so far this year.

Science: 

We started learning about the scientific method this week and will be doing a science experiment on Monday. Students will write a hypothesis and make a prediction about the solution rate of an Alka-Seltzer tablet. 

History: 

We will continue learning about Arizona's ancient people and settlers.

Literature: 

We will continue to enjoy reading Prince Caspian. Students should write a 5-7 sentence chapter summary at the end of each chapter. 

Important Dates

Monday: Poetry Recitations, Roots Test

Tuesday: Grammar Test, HALF DAY

Wednesday: Party! and HALF DAY

Quarter 2, Week 9

Hello Families!

First of all, thank you for all your well wishes while I was out with the flu this week! Mrs. Baugh kept things going Tuesday-Thursday this week and I am very grateful! 

Also, thank you for the birthday wishes! I came back on Friday to homemade cards and gift, and the class mom's brought in a thoughtful gift basket for me from all of you. I am touched by your generosity

What's going on in 4A

• We started with 2 people out sick Friday, and sent 3 more home during the day. We sanitized our classroom pretty thoroughly Friday afternoon! There seems to be something going around! If your child is not feeling well, please keep them home. We may be in the final week of the quarter, but we will get them caught up when they are feeling better. 
• On that same note, we are accepting donations for hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes, and tissues. We could also use some more packages of lined paper. Thank you for your generosity!

Lessons

ELA: We are moving back into grammar for the remainder of this quarter! We will be learning about predicate adjectives, demonstrative pronouns, state of being verbs, and comparative & superlative adjectives. We will have a cumulative test next week. 

Math: We will finally be starting our geometry unit this week. Monday students will learn about angles & degrees. We will review this on Tuesday and test on Wednesday. Thursday we will have Khan Academy and Friday we will learn about constructing angles less than 180*. Students should be reviewing their math facts each night either by using flashcards or by using Xtramath. Xtramath is free to use on a computer or web browser. There is an app, but there is a charge. If your child needs their log in information, please reach out. 

 

Poetry: Students should continue to practive "The Flag Goes By". We will recite this next week. 

Spalding: We will learn 30 new words this week. 

History: We will be starting a new unit on Arizona history! Students are finished with their previous history notebook (as long as they have completed the test) and may keep that at home. I will be passing out a new notebook Tuesday.

Science: We will have our Meteorology test Monday. Wednesday we will be starting a new unit on the scientific method. 

Literature: We have started reading Prince Caspian. All students should have a copy of the book in their desk. If your child does not have a book, please let me know and I will help them check one out from the library. 

Important Dates:

Monday: Science Test

Wednesday: Math Test

Friday: Spalding Test

. 

Quarter 2, Week 8

Hello Families!

I hope that you all have enjoyed a wonderful and relaxing Thanksgiving break! My break did not go quite as planned. Both of my children came down with the Flu, which put a damper on our plans! We did enjoy plenty of rest and Christmas movies, though!

We only have 2 full weeks, plus a few days, and we will be done with this quarter! Wow!

What's happening in 4A

• The Archway Arete Winter Festival is this Saturday, December 7th! Join us for a fun time, and make sure to buy a raffle ticket to support the 4th grade basket! 
• We are running low on hand sanitizer and lined paper. If you'd like to help support our class, you can send these items in with your student! 

Lessons: 

Roots: Student will learn 3 new roots this week. There will be a cumulative roots quiz at the end of the quarter students should be preparing for now by spending a few minutes each day reviewing their flashcards. 

ELA: Students will continue to work on their second expository essay.

Poetry:  We will begin memorizing "The Flag Goes By" by Henry Holcomb Bennett.

Math: We have finished our unit on fractions, and this week we will start a new unit on Geometry! We will begin the week with a cumulative review, then we will move into studying angles and degrees. 

Spalding:  Students will learn 10 new words on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. We will review the 30 words on Thursday, and test on Friday. 

Science:   The extra credit project from page 115 is due Monday! We will be finishing up our Meteorology Unit this week by learning about weather forcast and the differences between weather and climate. Students will be filling out their study guide to prepare for a test next Monday. 

History: We will finish unit and current notebook this week! We will learn about the Black Death and fill in our Study Guide on Tuesday, and have our unit test on Friday. 

Important Dates

Tuesday: Math Test (Cumulative)

Friday: Spalding Test, History Test