WEEK OF NOVEMBER 16-20, 2009
STILL SWIMMING ON Tuesdays and Thursdays. We will swim November 17, 19, 24
from 1-2 P.M.
Thanks for coming to Parent Conferences. I appreciated the feedback and the
chance to celebrate the successes of your children.
NEXT Book Project is posted on the link from my home page, due December 15, a
biography. Description was sent home Friday on lavender paper.
ARCHERY WILL CONTINUE THIS WEEK, TUESDAY AND FRIDAY for Fourth Graders. Stay
tuned for a possible special competition on Saturday.
LAST WEEK'S SPELLING LIST is still posted on this web site (for a couple
straggling sentence-writers) as well as THIS WEEK'S.
I am adding one more weekly assignment to our homework regime. It is a review
of words which your child has learned and needs to practice so that searching
for the meaning does not slow him/her down on the assessment tests. It is
expected that this will take no more than ten minutes. It is due on Fridays.
This is the spot to look for the week's homework tasks. Check out the other
links for announcements important to our class as well as schedules and more.
Math homework is assigned daily, spelling sentences are assigned weekly, and
science and social studies tasks are assigned intermittently. Most writing is
done in class. Students should take about 20 minutes to read each night. Book
projects are assigned monthly, for a total of six projects. We read silently
every day for 15 minutes in class.
It is the goal that all work is turned in promptly. All work that is turned in
by Friday can be graded on the weekend and be posted and returned by Tuesday.
THE SECOND BOOK PROJECT WILL BE DUE NOVEMBER 3. We will have 5-6 assigned
this year.
MATH--due the following day.
Monday--BLM 6.3 (fractions with diagrams; shaded is the leftover pizza)
Tuesday--Equivalent fraction practice; write yes or no for equivalent or not
Wednesday--SB 69 (just the one side)
Thursday--
LESSON 13 (at least the test wasn't on Lesson 13 for Friday the 13th last week.)
final --er sound and final --l sound.
*1. harbor
*2. final
*3. middle
*4. weather (hey, we know this one from science)
5. labor
6. model
*7. chapter
*8. special
9. sugar
10. bottle
*11. medal (this one is the one that's a prize)
12. collar
13. proper
*14. towel
15. beggar
*16. battle
*17. trouble
*18. shower
*19. uncle
20. doctor
Challenge:
Some students will use the Challenge list as their week's spelling lesson with
the added benefit of expanding their vocabulary. Students and parents should
decide carefully if they would like to "raise the bar" for themselves.)
Usually we will be practicing basic spelling patterns and commonly used (high
frequency) words.
New list words are introduced on Monday and examined for phonetic
patterns. Some students will be using the grade level list and others have
elected to challenge with a list of less common vocabulary with more complex
spellings. ALL students are directed to write their words in their notebooks
and have this task signed off before moving onto the related exercises in
their workbooks.
Sentences are due on Thursday. Each student needs to write a sentence
containing ONE spelling word used correctly. Each sentence must be at least
six words long, be thoughtful, and make sense. If TWO words can fit in a
sentence easily, they can be used, however students must write at least 15
sentences altogether (9 altogether for short list spellers) as we want to
develop our writing skills. Some students like to make up stories that use all
the spelling words, but, however imaginative, the stories must make sense.
Spelling tests are given on Friday after lunch.
READING
This week we have split into two groups, one reading a novel, "Zach's Lie by
Roland Smith, the other reading a couple more selections from the literature
book. Both groups will be reading novels after Thanksgiving. All are focused
on understanding strengths and patterns of writing and making sense of the
vocabulary and the stories.
WRITING
We are continuing to practice standard handwriting (Zaner-Bloser style) We
will use our spelling words for practice and include that in weekly classwork.
Some may need to be finished at home.
We will be applying ourselves to the six traits of writing: ideas,
organization, word choice, voice, sentence fluency, and conventions. (See
Links section for an on-line reference.) By the end of the year, we will be
writing thoughtful, well-organized paragraphs. We will continue to practice
standard grammar, spelling, and punctuation, and apply ourselves to revising
and editing before publishing, as recommended in the writing process.
Current Composition:
We are writing letters to servicemen and servicewomen who are overseas to send
for the holidays. If you have any old Christmas cards we can cut up and turn
into our own cards, send them along.
SCIENCE--We have begun a study of Weather, with a focus on instruments and
application of the various physics principles involved.
We are also working on recognizing science vocabulary in print and practicing
techniques of measuring and applying the metric system units.
SOCIAL STUDIES
The focus in fourth grade is on Alaska's geography, history, and economics.
We have begun our study of Alaska geography. We will be learning new terms,
identifying and locating a few dozen cities and towns, land features, bodies
of water.
***There will be various scored activities, two map tests (dates TBA), and one
final test on vocabulary and regional concepts the last week of the quarter.
We will be applying our understanding of economics as we explore the various
areas and communities of Alaska.
COMPUTERS
Our primary skill focus is to become highly competent at keyboarding using
home row. We will practice every week and take some timed tests. If students
can practice a little at home, they will increase their words-per-minute and
accuracy much faster.
Grades will be based on participation and individual progress as demonstrated
in accurate words per minute.
SPANISH
Conversation practice this week:
"Si vas a comer almuerzo de la escuela, leva su mano por favor." If you are
eating a school lunch, raise your hand, please.
NEWEST vocabulary:
We are learning how to greet each other with:
Hola
Buenos dias
Buenas tardes
Buenas noches
senor
senorita
senora
We have begun practicing dialogues that use greetings and friendly
conversation as well as what we want to do or what we like to eat.
HEALTH
Each week we will address a health topic. This week it is refusing to be
tempted by drugs and alcohol. We enjoyed a performance by a "Just Say No"
dance group from Juneau on Monday.
MUSIC
Students have two 40-minute sessions with Mrs. Land to learn the basics of
music and try out many styles of both music and movement. It is hoped that
students will be well-prepared to begin the band program as fifth graders.
ART
Students have one hour a week for instruction and workshop in various art
techniques taught by Ms. Danner. This week we will design our Christmas
plates. Yep, it's that time already--Halloween means Christmas plates!
